Watch out for the best times to make du’a. So we can reap as much benefit as possible
Among the times are
1. After the Last Tashahud of Prayer and Before the Tasleem
Ibn Mas’ud narrates: I was once praying, and the Prophet (SAW), Abu Bakr and Umar (were all present). When I sat down (in the final tashahhud), I praised Allah, then sent salams on the Prophet, then started praying for myself. At this, the Prophet (SAW) said: ‘Ask, and you shall be given it! Ask, and you shall be given it!’ [at-Tirmidhi #593 – hasan, Mishkat al-Misbah #931]
During prayer, a worshipper speaks privately to his Lord, praising Him, invoking Him, and prostrating to Him. Then at the end of the prayer, if the worshipper supplicates to his Lord, the likelihood of his supplication being answered increases. The Prophet sallalhu alaihi wasalam makes supplication after the tashahud. It is not compulsory though.
Let’s start learning them one by one Insya Allah
http://sunnahfollowers.net/prayer/DuaTashahud.php
2. When a Rooster Crow
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: ‘When you hear a rooster crowing, then ask Allah for His bounties, for it has seen an angel, and when you hear a donkey braying, then seek refuge in Allah from Shaitan, for it has seen a Shaitan’ [Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad, Sahih al-Jami #611]
3. Last Third of The Night
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: ‘In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah (SWT)) descends to the lowermost heaven and says; “Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?.”‘ [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi]
Amr ibn Absah narrated that the Prophet said: ‘The closest any worshiper can be to His Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.'[at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa’i, al-Hakim – Sahih]
When people are sleeping and busy with worldly pleasures Allah (SWT) gives the believers an opportunity, or an answer hour if they can fight sleep and invoke Allah (SWT) for whatever they need. The Prophet (SAW) said: ‘There is at night an hour, no Muslim happens to be asking Allah any matter of this world or the Hereafter, except that he will be given it, and this (occurs) every night.’[Muslim #757]
4. When You are Prostrating
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW), said: ‘The nearest a slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (SWT) much in it. [Muslim, abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i and others, Sahih al-Jami #1175]
A slave of Allah is closest to his Lord while he is prostrating perhaps because of servitude, the submission and humility. A person who prostrates places his forehead on the same ground that people walk on. In that position of humility and lowness, he verbally acknowledges the perfection of Allah and saying Subhan Rabbiyal A’alaa. Being in this position, the supplicant is the closest he becomes to his Lord and is tehrefore likely to have his supplication answered. Allah knows best.
5. Between Adhan and Iqamah
Anas (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected.’ [Ahmad, abu Dawud #521, at-Tirmidhi #212, Sahih al-Jami #3408, an-Nasai and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (sound)]
Let’s not waste our time during this precious moment that we will find five times in a day Insya Allah.
6. On Friday during an hour which supplication is answered
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu): Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) talked about Friday and said: ‘There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), then Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will definitely meet his demand.’ And he (the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
Some have said that this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer’s leader) enters the mosque on Friday’s prayer until the prayer is over (ie between the two khutbahs), whereas others have said that it is the last hour of the day (ie after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer).
(Note: when we say an hour here we do not mean the hour everyone knows (60 minutes) but an unspecified period of time because the time counters which we use today came after the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) had died.
7. When a fasting person breaks his fast
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared, ‘Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.’
[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi – Hasan]
8. The du’a of those who are wronged
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to Mua’ad Ibn Jabal (radiAllahu anhu), ‘Beware of the supplication of the unjustly treated, because there is no shelter or veil between it (the supplication of the one who is suffering injustice) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)’ [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In another hadith; The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared: ‘Three du’as are surely answered: The du’a of the oppressed, the du’a of the traveler, and the du’a of the father/mother (upon their child)’
The one who is suffering injustice is heard by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) when he invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) to retain his rights from the unjust one or oppressor. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has sworn to help the one who is suffering from injustice sooner or later as the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said.
So beware not to oppress or wrong anyone. If you are a boss or a head, beware not to treat someone lower than you without just. Remember their du’a is accepted and God helps us if they make du’a against us.
9. During Battle
When the Muslim is facing the enemy in battle, at this critical period, the du’a of a worshipper is accepted.
Sahl ibn Sa’d (radiAllahu anhu) narrtaed the the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘Two duas are never rejected, or rarely rejected: the du’a during the call for prayer, and the du’a during the clamity when the two armies attack each other’ [abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah, al-Hakim]
In another narration: ‘Seek the response to your du’as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls’[reported by Imam al-Shafi’ in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469]
10. When its is Raining
Narrated Sahel Ibn Sa’ad (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘Two will not be rejected, Supplication when the Adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of the rain’. [Al-Hakim 2: 114, and Abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah]
‘Seek the response to your du’as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls’ [reported by Imam al-Shafi’ in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469]
The time of the rain is a time of mercy from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) so, one should take advantage of this time when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is having mercy on His slaves.
11. The night of Arafah
For those performing hajj
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘The best supplication is the supplication on the day of Arafat’.[at-Tirmidhi and Malik]
The day of Arafat is the essence and pinnacle of Hajj. on this great and momentous day, millions of worshippers gather together on one plain, from every corner of the world, with only one purpose in mind – to respone to the call of their Creator. During this auspicious day, Allah does not refuse the requests of His worshippers.
12. At Safa and Marwa
It is narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) would make long du’as at Safa and Marwah. [Muslim #1218 and others]
The next trip we make, we shall make longer du’a Insya Allah.
13. Du’a at the stoning laces in jamrah in mina
For the ones who perform hajj
It is narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) would stone the small Jamarah (one of the three pillars that is stoned in the last days of Hajj), then face the qiblah, raise his hands, and make du’a for a long time. He would then stone the middle Jamarah and do the same. When he stoned the large Jamarah, he would depart without making any du’a. [Sahih al-Bukhari #1753 and others]