With the month of Ramadhan approaching very quickly, and Shabe Bara`at at the end of this working week, it is important to gear ourselves up and increase our preparations for these Blessed days and nights.

We will therefore continue for two more days with our theme on Dua, thereafter we will take a look at some aspects regarding Laylatul Bara`ah.

So as we earnestly hope to have our Duas answered, especially with these blessed moments closing in on us, today we will take a look at the key moments when Duas are accepted.

In the depths of the night

The Prophet ﷺ said,

يَنْزِلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ يَقُولُ مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ

“Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may forgive him?” [Sahih Muslim]

Before saying Salaam in a prayer

According to the hadith reported by Abu Umamah RA:

قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الدُّعَاءِ أَسْمَعُ قَالَ ‏”‏ جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ وَدُبُرَ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْمَكْتُوبَاتِ

It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, which Dua is heard?” He said, “In the last third of the night, and following every prescribed prayer.” [Sunan At-Tirmizi]

In interpreting dabr al-salawāt al-maktūbah (following the prescribed prayers) some scholars are 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-hayawān (the hindquarters of an animal).”

Between the Athaan and the Iqamah

The Prophet ﷺ said:

الدُّعَاءُ لَا يُرَدُّ بَيْنَ الْأَذَانِ وَالْإِقَامَةِ

“A Dua offered between the Azān and Iqāmah is not rejected.” [Sunan At-Tirmizi]

Saying Dua during free time and in good health regularly

The Prophet ﷺ said:

مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَ الشَّدَائِدِ فَلْيُكْثِرِ الدُّعَاءَ فِي الرَّخَاءِ

“If anyone finds pleasure in receiving an answer from Allah in times of difficulty, he should make many supplications when times are easy.” [Sunan At-Tirmizi]

Between Asr and Maghrib on Fridays

The Prophet ﷺ said,

يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ سَاعَةً ، لَا يُوجَدُ فِيهَا عَبْدٌ مُسْلِمٌ يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا إِلَّا آتَاهُ إِيَّاهُ فَالْتَمِسُوهَا آخِرَ سَاعَةٍ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ

“Friday consists of twelve hours. There is one in which a Muslim who asks Allah for something will have it granted to him. Seek it in the last hour after Asr.” [Sunan An-Nasa’i]

Between two Khutbahs of a Friday prayer

Abu Hurairah RA reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said while talking about the merits of Friday:

‏فيها ساعة لا يوافقها عبد مسلم، وهو قائم يصلي يسأل الله شيئًا، إلا أعطاه إياه‏ وأشار بيده يقللها

“There is a time on Friday at which a Muslim, while he is performing a prayer and is supplicating, will be granted whatever he (or she) is supplicating for.” And he pointed with his hand to indicate that this period of time is very short. [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

During Sujood in a prayer

The Prophet ﷺ said:

أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ

“The nearest a slave can be to Allah is while doing sujood, so increase in supplication” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]

While drinking the water of Zamzam

The Prophet ﷺ said:

مَاءُ زَمْزَمَ لِمَا شُرِبَ لَهُ

“The water of Zam Zam is for whatever it is drunk for.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

During Ramadan—especially before breaking fast, on the last ten days, and the Laylatul-Qadr (Night of Power) and Laylatul Bara`ah

Ramadan, as the best month of all, is filled with great blessings when a servant does good deeds that include ‘ibādah in the form of Dua. The Prophet ﷺ said,

ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ تُرَدُّ دَعْوَتُهُمُ الصَّائِمُ حَتَّى يُفْطِرَ وَالإِمَامُ الْعَادِلُ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ يَرْفَعُهَا اللَّهُ فَوْقَ الْغَمَامِ وَيَفْتَحُ لَهَا أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ وَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ وَعِزَّتِي لأَنْصُرَنَّكَ وَلَوْ بَعْدَ حِينٍ

“There are three people whose Dua is not rejected; the fasting person until he breaks the fast, the just ruler, and the oppressed person, whose Dua Allah lifts above the clouds and opens unto it the doors of Jannah, and Allah says: “I swear by My Honour, verily I shall assist you, even though it may be after some time.” [Sunan At-Tirmizi]