Times when Duaa is More Likely Accepted

by Asma bint Shameem

1. In the last third of the night

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Our Lord, descends to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, and He says: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to the invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?”

(al-Bukhaari 1145)

2. Duaa at the end of the fardh prayers but before tasleem

🍃 Abu Umamah radhi Allaahu anhu narrated:

“It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, which supplication is most likely to be listened to?’

He said: ‘During the last part of the night and at the end of the obligatory prayers.’”

(At-Tirmidhî 3499; Hasan by al-Albaani)

Note:

At the end of the obligatory prayers means BEFORE the salaam and NOT after saying the tasleem, as most people from the Subcontinent do.

Proof:

🍃 Ibn Mas’ood radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“The Prophet ﷺ  taught them the tashahhud then he said at the end: 

“Let him ask for whatever good things he wishes.”

(al-Bukhaari 5876, Muslim 402)

There are many duaas that are narrated in the authentic ahaadeeth that can be said in tashahhud before tasleem. 

3. Duaa made between the Adhaan & Iqaamah‏

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The Duaa made between the Adhaan and Iqaamah is not rejected.”

(at-Tirmidhi 212; saheeh by al-Albaani)

4. When saying the Duaa of Yunus Alayhis Salaam

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The supplication of Dhun-Nûn (Yunus) when he supplicated, when he was in the belly of the whale, was: ‘Laa Ilaaha illaa Anta Subhaanaka inni kuntu min adh-dhaalimeen

(There is none worthy of worship except You, Glory be to you [from all imperfection], indeed I have been one of the transgressors)’.

So indeed, no Muslim man supplicates with it for anything, ever, except Allaah responds to Him.”

(at-Tirmidhi 3505; saheeh by al-Albaani)

🍃Allaah says:

‎-وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ- فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُ مِنَ ٱلْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُۨجِى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٨٨-٨٧﴾

“And (remember) Dhan-Nun (Yunus), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (i.e. the calamites which had befallen him)! But he cried through the darkness (saying): Laa ilaaha illaa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allaah)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers. 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).”

(Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87-88)

5. During the last hour of Friday

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Friday has twelve hours to it, in it which there is no Muslim who asks Allaah for anything except that Allaah gives it to him. So seek it during the last hour of ‘Asr.”

(Abu Dawood 1048; saheeh by al-Albaani)

6. The Duaa of the fasting person until he breaks his fast

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“There are three whose du’aa’ will not be rejected: a just ruler, a FASTING person when he breaks his fast, and the prayer of one who has been wronged.”

(at-Tirmidhi 2525- saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2050)

🍃 Someone asked the scholars of the Standing Committee:

What is meant by the supplication of the fasting person at the time of breaking his fast?

Does it mean the supplication that the fasting person offers a few moments before breaking his fast, or is it straight after breaking the fast?”

The scholars said:

“This Hadeeth was narrated by Ibn Maajah.

It says in Az-Zawa’id: Its chain of narration is authentic, and the supplication may be before or after breaking the fast, because the word `Inda ( translated here as “at the time of”) includes both.

And Allaah is the source of strength.”

(Fataawaa Al-Lajnah ad-Da’imah 9/30, Vol. 2)

7. The Duaa of the oppressed

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Beware of the Duaa of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and Allaah”

(al-Bukhaari 4347)

🍃 And he ﷺ also said:

“There are three whose supplication is not rejected:… And the supplication of the oppressed person; Allaah raises it up above the clouds and opens the gates of heaven to it.

And the Lord says: ‘By My Might, I shall surely aid you, even if it should be after a while.’”

(at-Tirmidhi 3598, Ibn Maajah 1752; saheeh by al-Albaani)

8. The Duaa of the father (parent) FOR or AGAINST his child

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Three prayers are undoubtedly answered: the prayer of one who is wronged, the prayer of the traveler and the prayer of a father (or mother) FOR his child.”

(Ibn Maajah 3862; saheeh by al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Saheehah 596).

🍃 And similarly the Prophet ﷺ said:

“Three supplications are accepted, there is no doubt about them (them being accepted) : The supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler, and the supplication of the father against his son.”

(At-Tirmidhî 1905; Hasan by al-Albaani)

9. The Duaa of the traveler

See the Ahaadeeth above.

10. The Duaa of a just ruler

See the Ahaadeeth above.

11. Duaa made during Sujood

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so make a great deal of supplication (in this state).”

(Saheeh Muslim 482)

12. and 13. Duaa made at the time of the adhaan or duaa made during battle

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Two supplications are not rejected or are rarely rejected: supplication at the time of the call to prayer and when the battle becomes intense, when they clash and fight intensely.”

(Abu Dawood 2540; saheeh by al-Albaani)

14. When it is raining

The Prophet ﷺ said

“Two (Duaas) are not rejected: duaa at the time of the adhaan and duaa at the time of rain.”

(al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak 2534, at-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir 5756; Saheeh by al-Albaani in Sahih al-Jami‘ 3078)

15. When hearing a rooster crow

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When you hear the crowing of the rooster, ask Allaah for His Bounty for it sees Angels and when you hear the braying of the donkey, seek refuge in Allaah from the Shaytaan for it sees a Shaytaan.”

(Saheeh Muslim 2729)

16. When drinking Zam Zam water

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The water of Zam Zam is for whatever it is drunk for.”

(Ibn Maajah 3062; saheeh by al-Albaani)

17. On Wednesdays between Dhuhr and Asr

Jaabir ibn Abdullaah radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“The Prophet ﷺ supplicated inside masjid al-Fath three times: on a Monday, a Tuesday and a Wednesday (three times in a row). 

His duaa was answered on Wednesday between the two prayers (Dhuhr and Asr). 

His happiness with that could be seen on his face.”

Jaabir said: “After that whenever I had a difficult situation I would observe that time to made Duaa and I would see the answer.”

(al Bukhaari in al Adab al-Mufrad, Ahmad- saheeh by al-Albaani)

🍃 Shaykh Al-Albaani commented on this saying: 

“If this companion wouldn’t have narrated to us that the Prophet 

‎ﷺ  made Duaa to Allaah during this hour we wouldn’t have known. 

The person present witnesses what the absent person doesn’t. This ahadeeth has significant meaning; since Jaabir narrated the information when exactly his Duaa was answered. 

And this shows that the Duaa for the Messenger ﷺ was answered at that hour during Wednesday. Consequently Jaabir began to do that same thing he saw Muhammad ﷺ do on Wednesday between Dhuhr and Asr.” (Saheeh Adab Al-Mufrad)

And Allaah knows best.