PLACES AND TIMES WHERE DU’AA’ IS ANSWERED

The Lord of the Heavens and earth listens and responds to his slaves at all the times but there are certain times and places that are better than other times.

In this article, we will try to explore some of them Ins-Sha-Allah.

1. Laylat-at-Qadar:

The night of Power falls in the last 10 days of Ramadhan. It is of great significance, the Holy Quran was sent down on this night. This night is better than 1000 months and a good deed done on this night is like you did it for 1000 months.

Allah says in Holy Quran: Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace is until the emergence of dawn.”
[Quran 97:1-5]

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
He who observed the fasts of Ramadan with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven, and he who observed prayer on Lailat-ul- Qadr with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven.
[Sahih Muslim Book 6, Hadith 209]

2. Tahajudd

Supplicating in the depths of night, the time before the dawn, when all else is silent, Allah descends down on the lowest heavens to bestow his slaves with his mercy, to grant them whatever they ask for.

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, 1145.

Abd Allah ibn Salaam (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “O people! Spread the salams, feed others, maintain family ties, and pray at night when others sleep and you will enter Heaven safely.” [Tirmidhi, Hakim]

3. Regular prescribed prayers

Prescribed prayers are one of the important means of health, harmony, and happiness.

According to the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah, it was said: “O Messenger of Allaah, which du’aa’ is heard?” He said: “In the last third of the night, and following the prescribed prayers.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3499; classed as Hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

4. Between the Adhan and Iqamah.

The time between the Adhan(call to prayer) and iqamah is considered to be one of the best times for supplication.

It is narrated in a saheeh report that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A du’aa’ offered between the adhaan and iqaamah is not rejected.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (521) and al-Tirmidhi (212). See also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2408.

5. During a rainfall.

Rain is the blessing from Allah aza-wa-jal. When the gates of heaven are thrown open and the earth is filled with the bounty of Allah, supplicate. As the dua at the time of rainfall never goes unanswered.

It said in the hadeeth of Sahl ibn Sa’d that is attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “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 saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (3078).

6. A certain time on Friday.

Jummah or Friday is the most blessed day of the week. It has many virtues and one among them is that at a certain time after asr and before Maghrib prayer, there is a time when a Moomin asks from his lord, he is granted.

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) mentioned Friday and said: “During it there is a time when a Muslim slave does not stand and pray and ask Allaah 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, 935; Muslim, 852. See also question no. 21748.

7. At a certain time of night.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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, 757.

8. When drinking Zamzam water.

Zamzam is the blessed water. Apart from its other health and spiritual benefits, When drinking Zam Zam water, if a person makes dua, it is answered. Hence for any difficulty, drink a Zam Zam and make the dua. Ins-sha-Allah it will be answered.

It was narrated from Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Zamzam water is for that for which it is drunk.” Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5502.

9. When in sajdah(prostrating)

A person is closest to his Rabb during Sajdah. Pour out your heart to him, cry to him and ask him to forgive you. He is listening. He will heal you.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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, 482.

10. Hearing the crowing of a rooster.

Strange as it may seem but Prophet Muhammad(saw) said:

“When you hear the crowing of a rooster, ask Allaah of His bounty, for he has seen an angel.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 2304; Muslim, 2729.

So, why not?

11. Saying the prayer of Dhul-Noon(Yoonus [AS])

When Yoonus AS was in the belly of a whale he made a dua: “Laa ilaaha illa anta, subhaanaka, inni kuntu min al-zaalimeen ([none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allaah)], Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers – cf al-Anbiya’ 21:87]).” It is mentioned in a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (saw) that: “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 Allaah)], Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been in the wrongdoers.’ No Muslim recites this du’aa’ concerning any matter but Allaah will answer him.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3383.

Allah says in Holy Quran:

“And (remember) Dhun‑Noon (Jonah), when he went off in anger and imagined that We shall not punish him (i.e. the calamities which had befallen him)! But he cried through the darkness (saying): Laa ilaaha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allaah)], Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been in the wrongdoers. So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allaah, abstain from evil and work righteousness)”

[al-Anbiya’ 21:87-88]

Al-Qurtubi said: In this verse, Allaah stipulates that whoever calls upon Him, He will answer him as He answered and saved Dhu’l-Noon (Yoonus). This is what is meant by the words “And thus We do deliver the believers”.

Al-Jaami’ li Ahkaam il-Qur’aan, 11/334.

12. The prayer of people after the soul of the deceased has been taken.

According to the hadeeth, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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. 2732.

13. The prayer of one who has been wronged.

If a person has been wronged by someone, Allah accepts the dua of that person against the one who wronged the former. The wrong here can be anything with respect to one's rights, slander, oppression etc.

In the hadeeth, it says: “Fear the prayer of the one who has been wronged, for there is no barrier between it and Allaah.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 469; Muslim, 19. And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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’, 3382.

Hence all Muslims must be aware of wronging someone and anyone did it in past, seek Allah’s forgiveness.

14. The dua of a father, fasting person and a traveler.

It was narrated in a saheeh report that our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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’, 2032; al-Saheehah, 1797.

15. Dua before zuhur.

When the sun has passed its zenith and before the zuhr, supplicate, for a dua never gets unanswered.

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Saa’ib (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray four rak'ahs after the sun had passed its zenith and before Zuhr, 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 isnaad is saheeh. See Takhreej al-Mishkaat, 1/337.

16. Dua when getting up from sleep during the night.

Often we wake from our deep slumber in the depths of night, ever thought it is Allah, asking you to ask him something so that he may grant it to you? So now whenever you wake up from your sleep during the night, pray, for Allah the most hight, will answer it.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever awakens from the night and says Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah 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 Allaah 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 Allaah is Most Great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah), then he says: Allaahumma ighfir li (O Allaah, 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, 1154.