Alhuda Bolton

Authentic Adhkar: Lesson 31

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alhudabolton
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Sat 10th Nov 2018

Lesson 31: Supplications for the Morning and Evenings

The virtue of the early morning and the evening time

    • These two times are mentioned as virtuous times throughout the Qur’an and sunnah
      • Surah Ahzab 41-42
      • Allah Says: “O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers].” [Surah Al-Ahzab (The Confederates) verse 41]
  • Allah Says: “So be patient (O Muhammad (ﷺ)). Verily, the Promise of Allah is true, and ask forgiveness for your fault, and glorify the praises of your Lord in the Ashi (i.e. the time period after the midnoon till sunset) and in the Ibkar (i.e. the time period from early morning or sunrise till before midnoon) [it is said that, that means the five compulsory congregational Salat (prayers) or the ‘Asr and Fajr prayers].” [Surah Al-Ghafir (The Forgiving) verse 55]
    • NOTE: It is mentioned from the Salaf that when you hear a verse beginning with “O you who believe!” then pay very close attention as it will be a command from Allah or a prohibition
  • When we say early part of the day, when is that?
    • It is from the time after the fajr Prayer until the Sunrise
  • When does the virtuous time for supplications in the evening begin?
    • It is from the time after Asr until the sunset
  • NOTE: this does not mean that you should restrict your supplications to the above times only, one can make supplications any time of day however these are virtuous times

Supplications to make during the morning and evening

  • There are very many supplications mentioned in the sunnah which are read in the early morning and evening
  • ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “There is no servant who recites three times every morning and every evening: ‘Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma’as-mihi shai’un fil-ardi wa laa fis-samaa’i, wa Huwas-Samee’ul-‘Aleem (In the Name of Allah with Whose Name there is nothing that can harm in the earth or in the heaven, and He is the All-Hearing and All- Knowing),’ nothing will harm him.” [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi]
    • This is one of the great supplications which every muslim should know and memorise so that he or she is not afflicted by some harm or calamity
    • Imam Al-Qurtubi’s (may Allah have mercy upon him) statement regarding this hadith
    • The statement of Abaan Ibn Uthmaan (one of the narrators of this hadith), may Allah be pleased with him, regarding this hadith
    • This supplication should be recited three times every morning and evening
    • The supplication opens with “In the Name of Allah” as you are seeking aid and assistance in him alone
    • Why does the supplication contain “and He is the All-Hearing and All- Knowing”?

  • Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “O Messenger of Allah!, What a trouble I suffered from a scorpion which stung me last night!” He (ﷺ) said, “Had you said in the evening: ‘A’uudhu bikalimaatillaahit-taammaati min sharri maa khalaq (I seek refuge in the perfect and complete words of Allah from the evil of what He has created),’ it would not have harmed you.” [Muslim]
    • NOTE: This hadith shows that the words of Allah are not from among the created things as seeking refuge from created things in that which they cannot help you in is shirk (polytheism)
    • The version found in At-Tirmidhi which mentions reciting this supplication in the evening three times
    • The statement of Suhail Ibn Abi Saalih (one of the narrators of the hadith in At-Tirmidhi), may Allah be pleased with him, and how he and his family learning this supplication had benefited them
    • Indeed this dua has many virtuous benefits and indeed whoever recites it will be guarded and have protection by the will of Allah
  • Question: can you make the morning supplications as soon as the Fajr time starts even though you haven’t prayed Fajr yet? And likewise for the evening supplications can you make them as soon as the Asr time enters even though you have not prayed Asr yet?
  • Shaddad bin Aus (may Allah be ) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The best supplication for seeking forgiveness (Syed-ul- Istighfar) is to say: ‘Allahumma Anta Rabbi, laa ilaaha illaa Anta, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduka, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, a’uudhu bika min sharri ma sana’tu, abuu’u laka bini’matika ‘alayya, wa abuu’u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuuba illaa Anta. (O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I abide by your covenant and promise as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I knowledge my sins. Pardon me,for verily none can forgive sin except you).’ He who supplicates in these terms during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day (before the evening), he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah; and if anyone supplicates in these terms during the night with firm belief in it and dies before the morning, he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah.” [Related by Sahih Al-Bukhari]
    • Mentioning at the start “O Allah! You are my Lord”, then this is an affirmation of the Lordship of Allah (i.e. that he is the creator, the sustainer etc)
    • Saying “None has the right to be worshipped except You” affirms the sole right of Allah to be worshipped
    • “You created me and I am your servant”
    • “and I abide by your covenant and promise as best I can” indicates that you are fulfilling the rights that the servant must fulfil towards Allah, to the level of your ability and indeed Allah does not hold one to account for what is beyond his ability
    • Allah says: “Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. “Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”
    • “I seek refuge in you from the evil, which I have committed” indicates that you are seeking refuge in Allah from the evil of what you have committed and the evil consequences of this
    • “I acknowledge your favor upon me and I knowledge my sins” indicates that you are thankful to Allah for the blessings he has given you, and that you recognise your sin and shortcoming and indeed this is indeed the first step to seeking forgiveness
    • “so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sin except you” then this indicates that you place yourself at the mercy of Allah and believe that he forgives all sins
    • Allah says: “And those who, when they have committed Fahishah (illegal sexual intercourse etc.) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; – and none can forgive sins but Allah – And do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know.” [Surah Ali- Imran (The Family of Imran) verse 135]
    • The Prophet said whoever recites this dua in the morning and believes in it with firm certainty, and he dies before the evening then he is from the people of Paradise (and likewise of he recites it in the evening and dies. The reason why such a person is considered from the people of Paradise is due to all the virtuous characteristics found in this supplication (see above, e.g the person reciting this dua affirming the Lordship of Allah, the right of worship being solely for Allah, relying on him alone etc)

Q&A;

  • Do you need to know how to speak Arabic in order to read the supplications? Can you read them in English?
  • If someone says “Allah does not burden a soul greater than what it can bear”, can he use this to avoid praying the obligatory prayers? E.g. missing Fajr prayer due to work

Homework: answer “can you make the morning supplications as soon as the Fajr time starts even though you haven’t prayed Fajr yet? And likewise for the evening supplications can you make them as soon as the Asr time enters even though you have not prayed Asr yet?”