Du’a: In the Last Third of the Night

It is from Allah’s infinite mercy that he favoured certain times over others. He has distinguished these times so that the earnest worshipper can seek them out and pray earnestly and sincerely during them. It is important that if we desire our du’a to answered, we seek out these blessed times and make sincere and frequent du’a during them. The coming posts will detail all the times in which du’a is recommended inshaAllah.

The first of these is du’a in the last third of the night. During this time when most of the creation is in deep sleep, the true worshipper wakes up and prays earnestly to their Creator. Allah describes them thus:

“…and, in the hours of dawn, they seek forgiveness from their Lord.” (Surah al-Dhariyat:18)

All praises be to Allah who tells us that He Himself comes down to His servant, and opens for Him the doors of Mercy and Forgiveness. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

“Our Lord descends every night, during the last third of it, to the skies of this world and asks, ‘Who is making du’a to Me, so that I can respond to him? Who is asking Me, so that I can give to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness, so that I can forgive him?” (Recorded in al-Bukhari and Muslim)

‘Amr ibn ‘Abash reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

“The closest any worshipper is to His Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time then do so.” (Recorded in al-Tirmidhi)

Abu Sa’id and Abu Hurayrah both reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said,

“Allah waits until the first third of the night has passed, then He descends down to the skies of this world and says: ‘Is there any that seeks forgiveness? Is there any who wishes to repent? Is there any who is asking? Is there any who is making a du’a? And this continues, until the break of dawn.” (Ahmad and Muslim)

In another wording:

“Our Lord – all Glory and Praise be to Him – comes down in the last third of the night to the skies of this world, and He says: ‘Who is there that is making a du’a, so that I can respond to him? Who is there that is asking Me, so that I can give him? Who is there that is seeking My forgiveness, so that I can forgive him?” (Bukhari)

SubhanAllah. Let’s reflect on that for a moment and ask ourselves where are we at this time?

Adapted from Yasir Qadhi Du’a: The Weapon of the Believer p 117-119