(248) Chapter: Remembrance of Allah in the Morning and in the Evening

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say in the morning: "Allahumma bika asbahna, wa bika amsaina, wa bika nahya, wa bika namutu, wa ilaikan-nushur (O Allah! With Your Power we have come to the morning, with Your Power we come to the evening, with Your Power we live, and we die, and to You will we return)." In the evening he would say: "Allahumma bika amsaina, wa bika nahya, wa bika namutu, wa ilaikan-nushur (O Allah! With Your Power, we have come to the evening, by You do we live, by You do we die, and to You is the return)."

[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

(248) Chapter: Remembrance of Allah in the Morning and in the Evening

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Abu Bakr asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Teach me some words so that I may recite them in the morning and in the evening." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Recite these words: 'Allahumma fatiras-samawati wal-ardi, 'alimal-ghaibi wash-shahadati, Rabba kulli shai'in wa malikahu. Ash- hadu an la ilaha illa Anta, a'udhu bika min sharri nafsi, wa sharrish- Shaitani wa shirkihi (O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of the hidden and the exposed! Rubb of everything and every one. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but You. I seek Your Protection from the evil of my own self from the evil of Satan and from the evil of Shirk to which he calls)."' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) added: "Recite these words in the morning and the evening and when you go to bed."

[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

(248) Chapter: Remembrance of Allah in the Morning and in the Evening

'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
When it was evening, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to supplicate: "Amsaina wa amsal-mulku lillah, wal-hamdu lillah. La 'ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu (We have entered upon evening and the whole kingdom of Allah, too, has entered upon evening. Praise is due to Allah. There is none who has the right to be worshiped but Allah, the One who has no partner with Him)." He (the narrator) said: I think that he (ﷺ) used to follow the recitation with these words: "Lahul-mulku, wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shi'in Qadir. Rabbi as'aluka khaira ma fi hadhihil-lailati, wa khaira ma ba'daha; wa a'udhu bika min sharri ma fi hadhihil-lailati, wa sharri ma ba'daha; Rabbi a'udhu bika minal- kasali, wa su'il-kibari; Rabbi a'udhu bika min 'adhabin fin-nari, wa 'adhabin fil-qabri (His is the sovereignty and to Him is all praise due, and He is Omnipotent. My Rubb, I beg of you good that lies in this night and good that follows it, and I seek refuge in You from the evil that lies in this night and from the evil of that which follows it. My Rubb! I seek refuge in You from lethargy and the misery of old age. O Allah! I seek Your Protection from the torment of Hell-fire and the punishment of the grave)." When it was morning, he (ﷺ) would recite the same, replacing the words: "We have entered upon evening and the whole kingdom of Allah, too, has entered upon evening" with "We have entered upon morning and the whole kingdom of Allah entered upon morning." (Replace the words "Amsaina, amsa, hadhihil-lailati, ma ba'daha with Asbahna, asbaha, hadhal-yaumi, ma ba'dahu, respectively.)

[Muslim].


Commentary: It is desirable to recite the invocations cited in the Hadith in the morning and the evening and also when one goes to bed and awakes. The purpose is that the concept of Allah's Providence and Divinity remains alive all the time in one's mind. With these words one seeks Allah's Protection in life and the Hereafter from things which are harmful. One also begs for his safety and guidance in this life and the Hereafter. This Hadith fully expresses one's recognition of Allah's Godhood and Lordship.

(248) Chapter: Remembrance of Allah in the Morning and in the Evening

'Abdullah bin Khubaib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me, "Recite Surat Al-Ikhlas and Al- Mu'awwidhatain (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) three times at dawn and dusk. It will suffice you in all respects."

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

Commentary: "Recite Surat Al-Ikhlas and Al-Mu`awwidhatain (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) three times at dawn and dusk. It will suffice you in all respects'' means that then one would not need any other recitation for the remembrance of Allah. Moreover, by virtue of these three Surah, Allah will protect the reciter from every dangerousthing. In other Ahadith, it is stated that after lying in the bed, the Prophet (PBUH) used to recite these Surah, then blow on his hands and rub them over his body to the extent he could.

(248) Chapter: Remembrance of Allah in the Morning and in the Evening

'Uthman bin 'Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who recites three times every morning and evening: 'Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma'as-mihi shai'un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama'i, wa Huwas-Sami'ul-'Alim (In the Name of Allah with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of 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].

Commentary: The prayer cited in this Hadith means that "I seek the Protection of Allah by means of which one can save himself from every vice, whether it is an animal or man, a jinn or Satan because He is Aware of everyone's condition and Capable of hearing everybody's petition. He who comes in His Protection none can harm him, except that which He wills.''

(249) Chapter: Supplication before going to Bed

Allah, the Exalted, says:
"Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth.'' (3:190,191)

Hudhaifah and Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to supplicate when he went to bed at night: "Bismik-Allahumma ahya wa amut (With Your Name, O Allah, I expire and return to life)."

[Al- Bukhari].

Commentary: Every person sleeps at night and gets up in the morning. Thus, in a way, sleep is death and reawakening is gaining life again. This life and death, like the literal life and death, lie in the Hands of Allah. The prayer cited in this Hadith engraves this concept in mind and when one recalls it every night it remains alive in his mind that "this life is for Allah and I am alive with His Will. Whenever He wills, the light of my life will be extinguished. Therefore, I should spend these few days of life lent to me by Him in accordance with His Will and not in His disobedience''.

(249) Chapter: Supplication before going to Bed

'Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me and to Fatimah (May Allah be pleased with her) (Ali's wife and the Prophet's daughter), "When you go to bed, recite: Takbir (Allahu Akbar) thirty-three times and Tasbih (Subhan-Allah) thirty-three times and Tahmid (Al-hamdu lillah) thirty-three times."

Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Recite Tasbih thirty-four times."
Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said, "Recite Takbir thirty-four times."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: It is apparent from the difference in the narrations of this Hadith that the aggregate of the wordings has to be one hundred. For this purpose, one of these invocations should be recited thirty-four times. It will be quite in order if one recites either of the three for thirty-four times because the Ahadith on the subject say this number for any of them. In this connection two Ahadith have been mentioned by Imam An-Nawawi and the reciting of "Alhamdu lillah'' thirty-four times occurs in An-Nasa'i. This formula of Glorification, Praise and Elevation of Allah's Name is to be recited after every obligatory Salat and before going to bed.

(249) Chapter: Supplication before going to Bed

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When any of you goes to bed, he should shake off (or dust off) his bedsheet because he does not know what might have fallen on it after he had left it. Then he should recite: 'Bismika Rabbi wada'tu janbi, wa bika arfa'uhu, in amsakta nafsi farhamha, wa in arsaltaha fahfazha bima tahfazu bihi 'ibadakas-salihin [With Your Name, my Rubb, I place my side (upon the bed) and with Your Grace I will raise it up. If You withhold my soul (cause me to die), have mercy on it but if You let it go (let me live), guard it against which You guarded Your pious slaves]."'

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith calls our attention to a very important matter that before going to bed, we must shake off our bed-sheet, mattresses, etc., because it is quite possible that some poisonous insect might have passed over it in our absence and the effects left by it may prove harmful to us. One should recite this prayer after shaking off the bed-sheet, mattresses, etc.

(249) Chapter: Supplication before going to Bed

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went to bed, he would blow upon his hands recite Al-Mu'awwidhat; and pass his hands over his body.

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: "Al-Mu`awwidhat'' the Surah which give protection) are the three Surah of the Qur'an which have been mentioned in this Hadith. They are so named because the request for granting of protection is made to Allah by means of them. The last two Surah of the Qur'an, that is Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, are called "AlMu`awwidhatain'' which means "Two Surah which give protection''. One must recite these Surah of the Qur'an before going to sleep so that one may, on the one hand, follow the practice of the Prophet (PBUH), and on the other one, finds the Protection of Allah.

(249) Chapter: Supplication before going to Bed

Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whenever you intend to go to bed, perform Wudu' as is done for Salat (prayer); and then lie down on the right side and recite: 'Allahumma aslamtu nafsi ilaika, wa fawwadtu amri ilaika, wal-ja'tu zahri ilaika, raghbatan wa rahbatan ilaika, la malja'a wa la manja minka illa ilaika, amantu bikitabik-alladhi anzalta, wa binabiyyik-alladhi arsalta [O Allah! I have submitted myself to You. I have turned my face to You, entrusted my affairs to You and relied completely on You out of desire for and fear of You (expecting Your reward and fearing Your punishment). There is no resort and no deliverer from (hardships) except You. I affirm my faith in Your Book which You have revealed, and in Your Prophet whom You have sent].' If you die during the night, you will die in the true religion. Let these words be your last words at night."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith has already been mentioned. See Hadith No. 80. It points out the desirability of performing Wudu' before going to bed and reciting this Du`a which show the genuine worship and complete submission to Allah.]

(249) Chapter: Supplication before going to Bed

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) went to his bed, he would say: "Al-hamdu lillah-illadhi at'amana wa saqana, wa kafana wa awana, fakam mimman la kafiya lahu wa la mu'wiya (Praise is due to Allah Who has fed us, provided us drink, satisfied us and gave us protection. Many are those who have no one to provide for them, or give them shelter)."

[Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith impresses upon us that Almighty Allah is sufficient for mankind. That is, He saves us from our enemies, gives us sustenance, and provides us facilities of residence and living. Due thanks should be addressed to Him alone.

(249) Chapter: Supplication before going to Bed

Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) intended to go to sleep, he would place his right hand under his (right) cheek and supplicate: "Allahumma qini 'adhabaka yauma tab'athu 'ibadaka (O Allah! Guard me against Your punishment on the Day when You will resurrect Your slaves)."

[At-Tirmidhi].

In a narration in Abu Dawud, Hafsah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: Before going to sleep the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would recite this Du'a three times.

Commentary: This Hadith has a warning that one should never be unmindful of Allah's Wrath. In fact, one should always seek Allah's Protection and do such virtuous deeds which please Him so that one may be saved from the Divine retribution on the Day of Judgement.

(250) Chapter: Issues regarding Supplications, their Virtues and Supplications of the Prophet (pbuh)

Allah, the Exalted, says:
"And your Rubb said: `Invoke Me, [i.e., believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation).''' (40:60)

"Invoke your Rubb with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors.'' (7:55)

"And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad (PBUH)) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor).'' (2:186)

"Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil?'' (27:62)


An-Nu'man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Du'a (supplication) is worship."

[Abu Dawud].

Commentary: What is prayer but an expression of one's humbleness and helplessness before Allah. The expression of one's weakness, inferiority and lowliness before the Infinite Power and Might of Allah is in fact the essence of worshipping Him. For this reason, prayer has been regarded as the essence of worship. Thus, prayer is reserved for Him Alone and it should not be addressed to anyone else in any case. Al-Qadi `Iyad said that Du`a is that act of worship which alone deserves to be referred to as `Ibadah, or worship, because when one observes it, one in fact shows drawing near to Allah, utter dedication to Him and rejection of all that He does not like and approve.

(250) Chapter: Issues regarding Supplications, their Virtues and Supplications of the Prophet (pbuh)

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) liked comprehensive supplications or (Al-Jawami' - i.e., supplications with very few words but comprehensive in meanings), and discarded others.

[Abu Dawud].

(250) Chapter: Issues regarding Supplications, their Virtues and Supplications of the Prophet (pbuh)

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The supplication most often recited by the Prophet (ﷺ) was: "Allahumma atina fid-dunya hasanatan, wa fil-akhirati hasanatan, wa qina 'adhab-annar (O our Rubb! give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the punishment of the Fire)."'

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In the narration of Muslim it is added that whenever Anas supplicated, he used to beseech Allah with this Du'a.

Commentary: It is desirable to recite this Du`a which is mentioned in the Qur'an (2:201) and which comprehends all that is good both in this life and the Hereafter. The Prophet (PBUH) made it a habit to recite this Du`a, and the Companions were eager to follow him in all his words and actions.

(250) Chapter: Issues regarding Supplications, their Virtues and Supplications of the Prophet (pbuh)

'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to supplicate: "Allahumma inni as'alukal-huda, wat-tuqa, wal-'afafa, wal-ghina (O Allah! I beseech You for guidance, piety, chastity and contentment)."

[Muslim].

Commentary: "Guidance'' means guidance towards virtue which one needs at every step. The ability to do good and steadfastness on the Right Path is also covered by the term guidance. To comply with the Orders of Allah and to prevent oneself from what He has forbidden is Taqwa (fear of Allah), the importance of which needs no elaboration. `Affaf is prevention from sins. It also means evasion from seeking help from others. Ghina means riches which makes one independent of others so much so that all one's hopes are centered on Allah Alone. The prayer quoted in this Hadith is very comprehensive indeed.

(250) Chapter: Issues regarding Supplications, their Virtues and Supplications of the Prophet (pbuh)

Tariq bin Ashyam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Whenever a man entered the fold of Islam, the Prophet (ﷺ) would show him how to perform Salat and then direct him to supplicate: "Allahumm-aghfir li, warhamni, wa-hdini, wa 'afini, warzuqni (O Allah! Forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, guard me against harm and provide me with sustenance and salvation)."'

[Muslim].

In another narration Tariq said: A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! What shall I say if I want to pray to my Rubb?" He (ﷺ) said, "Say: 'Allahumma-ghfir li, warhamni, wa 'afini, warzuqni (O Allah! Forgive me, have mercy on me, protect me and provide me with sustenance).' Surely, this supplication is better for you in this life and in the Hereafter."

(250) Chapter: Issues regarding Supplications, their Virtues and Supplications of the Prophet (pbuh)

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) supplicated: "Allahumma musarrifal-qulubi, sarrif qulubana 'ala ta'atika (O Allah! Controller of the hearts, direct our hearts to Your obedience)."

[Muslim].

Commentary: This is a very important prayer because through it one seeks steadfastness in virtue. Everybody's heart is always open to troubles, turmoil and ordeals and he is drifting from one situation to the other. If he is not supported by Allah, he can deviate from the Right Path at any moment. For this reason, he has been required to pray to Allah to save his heart from turning towards evils and keep it towards Allah, because it is He Alone Who is Capable of controlling hearts.

(250) Chapter: Issues regarding Supplications, their Virtues and Supplications of the Prophet (pbuh)

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Seek refuge in Allah against the turmoils, attacks of misfortunes, and evil of judgement and joys of the enemies."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] .

And in a narration Sufyan said "I suspect I added one."

Commentary: The trouble of a trial which is unbearable for a person and from which he does not have the power to rid himself is called (juhd al-bala'), translated here as `turmoils'. Some people are of the opinion that it is synonymous with poverty combined with abundant children. But Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar is of the view that it is only one of the several kinds of "Troubles of a Trial.'' "Ash-Shaqa' is the opposite of good fortune, that is, to pray for protection from misfortune. No Decision of Allah is wrong but some of His Decisions may be harmful for certainpeople while others are beneficial for them. This means that their goodness or badness is related to persons. What it signifies is that one should pray to Allah to keep one safe from such decisions which are harmful for him.
"Shamatat'' the pleasure that one's enemy feels on one's trouble. In other words, it is prayed that Allah may protect one from any such trouble which is pleasing to one's enemy, because when a person is in trouble, his enemies feel pleasure over it. In this Hadith, one sentence was added by Abu Sufyan and during his old age he did not remember which one it was. But we learn from other Ahadith that it was "the pleasure of enemies''. (Ibn `Allan).
This Hadith also shows the honesty and integrity of the narrators of Ahadith. They were honest to the extent that if a few words of supplication were added to a Hadith by its narrators, they would point it out. Some scholars have regarded these words an addition in the Hadith by its narrator, who is otherwise reliable, but it is not a problem of "addition of authority'' because in that case, the addition is the saying of the Prophet (PBUH) which is mentioned by one narrator and omitted by another. But here it is quite different as the narrator of the Hadith himself is pointing out the addition made by him. Such additional words are technically called "Mudraj''

(250) Chapter: Issues regarding Supplications, their Virtues and Supplications of the Prophet (pbuh)

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say: "Allahumm-aslih li diniyalladhi huwa 'ismatu amri, wa aslih li dunyaya-llati fiha ma'ashi, wa aslih li akhirati-llati fiha ma'adi, waj'alil-hayata ziyadatan li fi kulli khair, waj'alil-mauta rahatan li min kulli sharrin (O Allah, make my religion easy for me by virtue of which my affairs are protected, set right for me my world where my life exists, make good for me my Hereafter which is my resort to which I have to return, and make my life prone to perform all types of good, and make death a comfort for me from every evil)."

[Muslim].

Commentary: This is a very comprehensive prayer which simply means: "O Allah! Help me spend all my life in complete devotion to You, doing what You like and avoiding what You dislike.''