Question # 388: Times and Places for Du’aa (Supplication) to be answered

Question # 388: What are the times, places and situations where du’aa’ is answered?

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer:

Du’aa’ (supplication) is one of the greatest acts of worship. Although it is desirable at every moment, there are times when du’aa’ is more desirable and Allah is most receptive to receiving the du’aa of His servants:

• During Laylatul Qadr (Night of the Decree/Power)
• During last third of the night
• Between the adhan and the iqamah
• Before the salaam/tasleem during the Salah (Prayer)
• When prostrating (in sujood)
• When a fasting person breaks his/her fast
• When saying the du’aa’ of Prophet Yunus (as)
• When it is raining
• While drinking Zamzam water
• At a certain time of the night
• At a certain time on Friday
• When a calamity befalls and the person says “Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon, Allahumma ujurni fi museebati w’ukhluf li khayran minha”
• When hearing the crowing of a rooster
• When fighting in the path of Allah
• When the soul of the deceased has departed
• After the sun has passed its zenith and before Dhuhr
• Visiting a sick person
• When getting up from the night (sleep)
• When traveling (Du’aa’ of a traveler)
• On the Day of Arafah
• Du’aa’ of the one who has been wronged
• Du’aa’ of a father for his child
• Du’aa’ of a righteous person for his parents

Long Answer: Du’aa’ (supplication) is one of the greatest acts of worship. The Prophet, (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Du’aa’ is worship,” then he recited the verse: “And your Lord said: “Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation). Indeed, those who scorn My worship will surely enter Hell in humiliation!”” (Soorah Ghafir, 40:60) (At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Abu Daawood)

Du’aa’ is something desirable at every moment. One can supplicate any time during the, day or at night, but there are times when Du’aa’ is more desirable and Allah is most receptive to receiving the Du’aa of His servants.

• Laylatul Qadr: It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم): “If I know what night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say during it?” He said: “Say: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwan tuhibb ul-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive me).” 
• Du’aa’ in the depths of the night [(the last third of the night)], the time before dawn, the time when Allah descends to bestow His bounty upon His slaves, to meet their needs and to relieve their distress, when He says: “Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?” (Narrated by al-Bukhari) The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “When half or two-thirds of the night are over, Allah descends to the first heaven (sky) and says: ‘Is there anyone to invoke Me, that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone asking for My forgiveness, so I may forgive him,’ until the beginning of Fajr time.” (Muslim)
• Following the prescribed prayers. According to the hadith of Abu Umaamah, it was said: “O Messenger of Allah, which du’aa’ is heard?” He said: “In the last third of the night, and following the prescribed prayers.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi; classed as hasan by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi) There was some difference of scholarly opinion concerning the phrase dabr al-salawaat al-maktoobah (“following the prescribed prayers”) – does it mean before the salaam or afterwards? Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah and his student Ibn al-Qayyim were of the view that it is before the salaam. Ibn Taymiyah said: “The word dabr refers to something that is part of a thing, like dabr al-haywaan (the hindquarters of an animal).” (Zaad al-Ma’aad) Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: “What has been narrated of du’aa’ following the prayer is before the salaam and what has been narrated of dhikr following the prayer is after the salaam, because Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “When you have finished As-Salaah (the congregational prayer), remember Allah standing, sitting down, and (lying down) on your sides” (soorah an-Nisa’a, 4:103) (Kitaab al-Du’aa’ by Shaykh Muhammad al-Hamad)
• Between the adhan and the iqamah. It is narrated in a sahih report that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “A du’aa’ offered between the adhan and iqamah is not rejected.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi. See also Saheeh al-Jaami’)
• When the call for the prescribed prayers is given and when the ranks are drawn up for battle, as it says in the marfu’ hadith of Sahl ibn Sa’d: “There are two that will not be rejected, or will rarely be rejected: du’aa’ at the time of the call for prayer and at the time of battle when the fighting begins.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood; it is a sahih report. See Saheeh al-Jaami’)
• When rain falls, as it said in the hadith of Sahl ibn Sa’d that is attributed to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم): “There are two which will not be rejected: du’aa’ at the time of the call (to prayer) and when it is raining.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood and classed as sahih by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Jaami’)
• At a certain time of the night, as the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “During the night there is a time when the Muslim does not ask for the good of this world and the Hereafter but it will be given to him, and that happens every night.” (Narrated by Muslim)
• A certain time on Friday. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) mentioned Friday and said: “During it there is a time when a Muslim slave does not stand and pray and ask Allah for something, but He will give it to him,” and he gestured with his hand to indicate how short that time is. (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim) The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “There is an hour on Friday in which a Muslim does not ask Allah for anything but He gives it to him.” (Muslim)
• When drinking Zamzam water. It was narrated from Jabir that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Zamzam water is for that for which it is drunk.” (Narrated by Ahmad and classed as sahih by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Jaami’)
• When prostrating. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “The closest that a person is to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a great deal of du’aa’ then.” (Narrated by Muslim)
• When hearing the crowing of a rooster, because of the hadith: “When you hear the crowing of a rooster, ask Allah of His bounty, for he has seen an angel.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari; Muslim)
• When saying the du’aa’, “Laa ilaaha illa anta, subhaanaka, inni kuntu min al-zaalimeen ([none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers – Soorah al-Anbiya’, 21:87]).” It was narrated in a sahih hadith that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “The prayer of Dhu’l-Noon (Yoonus) which he said when he was in the belly of the whale: ‘Laa ilaaha illa anta, subhaanaka, inni kuntu min al-zaalimeen ([none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.’ No Muslim recites this du’aa’ concerning any matter but Allah will answer him.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as sahih in Saheeh al-Jaami’)
• If a calamity befalls him and he says, Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon, Allahumma ujurni fi museebati w’ukhluf li khayran minha (Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return; O Allah, reward me in this calamity and compensate me with something better than it). (It was narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh that Umm Salamah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) say: “There is no calamity that befalls one of the Muslims and he responds by saying ‘Innaa Lillaahi wa innaa ilahi raaji’oon, Allahumma ujurni fi museebati w’ukhluf li khayran minha (Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return; O Allah, reward me in this calamity and compensate me with something better than it),’ but Allah will compensate him with something better than it.”
• The prayer of people after the soul of the deceased has been taken. According to the hadith, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) entered upon Abu Salamah (after he had died) and his eyes were open. He closed them and said: “When the soul is taken, the gaze follows it.” Some of his family got upset and he said: “Do not pray for anything but good for yourselves, for the angels say Ameen to whatever you say.” (Narrated by Muslim)
• Du’aa’ for one who is sick. Muslim narrated that Umm Salamah said: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “When you visit a sick person, say good things, for the angels say Ameen to whatever you say…” When Abu Salamah died, I came to the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and said: “Abu Salamah has died.” He said: “Say: O Allah, forgive me and him, and compensate me well.” She said: I said: And Allah compensated me with one who was better for me than him: Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم).
• The prayer of the one who has been wronged. In the hadith it says: “Fear the prayer of the one who has been wronged, for there is no barrier between it and Allah.” Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim) And the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “The prayer of the one who has been wronged will be answered, even if he is an evildoer, for his evildoing is only against himself.” (Narrated by Ahmad. See Saheeh al-Jaami’)
• The du’aa’ of a father for his child – i.e., for his benefit – and the du’aa’ of a fasting person during the day of his fast, and the prayer of the traveler. It was narrated in a sahih report that our Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “There are three prayers that are not rejected: the prayer of a father for his child, the prayer of the fasting person and the prayer of the traveler.” (Narrated by al-Bayhaqi; see Saheeh al-Jaami’; al-Saheehah) The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “There are three people whose supplications cannot be rejected (i.e. they are granted), a just Imam, a fasting person when he breaks the fast, and a victim of injustice.” (At-Tirmidhi, Al-Albani: Sahih)
• The du’aa’ of a righteous person for his parents, as stated in the hadith narrated by Muslim: “When the son of Adam dies, all his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, a righteous son who will pray for him, or beneficial knowledge.”
• Du’aa’ after the sun has passed its zenith and before Dhuhr. It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn al-Saa’ib that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) used to pray four rak’ahs after the sun had passed its zenith and before Dhuhr, and he said: “This is a time when the gates of heaven are opened and I want a good deed of mine to ascend during this time.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and its isnad is saheeh. See Takhreej al-Mishkaat)
• Du’aa’ when getting up from the night (sleep), and saying the du’a that was narrated for that time. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “Whoever awakens from the night and says Laa ilaaha ill-Allah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamd, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay-in qadeer. Subhanallah, wa la ilaha illa Allah wallahu akbar wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (There is no god but Allah Alone, He has no partners, His is the Sovereignty, to Him belongs praise and He is over all things Capable. Glory be to Allah, there is no (true) God but Allah, and Allah is Most Great and there is no power and no strength except with Allah), then he says: Allahumma ighfir li (O Allah, forgive me), or he makes du’aa’, his prayer will be answered, and if he does wudu and prays, his prayer will be accepted.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari)
• It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “The best of du’aa’ is du’aa’ on the day of ‘Arafah, and the best that I and the Prophets before me said is ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allah wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer (There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the dominion, to Him be praise, and He has power over all things).” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi; classed as hasan by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Targheeb) It was narrated from Talhah ibn ‘Ubayd ibn Kurayz in a mursal report: “The best of du’aa’ is du’aa’ on the day of ‘Arafah.” (Narrated by Malik in al-Muwatta’; classed as hasan by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Jaami’)

(The above answer is based on various answers provided by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid and Islamweb.net, a web site belonging to the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in the State of Qatar on the topic)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam