THE BEST TIMES FOR DUA,INVOCATION AND SUPPLICATION
When the servant combines with his supplication, the presence of the heart and its being attentive and devoting itself solely to Allaah, sincerely asking Him for the desired matter, doing so at one of the six times when the supplication is more likely to answered - these being:
1) The last third of the night.
2) At the time of the adhaan.
3) Between the adhaan and iqaamah.
4) At the ends of the prescribed prayers.
5) The last hour after the prayer Asr on Friday.
Alongside this the servant appends to this fear and reverence in the heart, beseeching his Lord in a state of humility and submissiveness. He faces the Qiblah and is in a state of purity, he raises his hands to Allaah and begins by praising and extolling Him, then he invokes peace and blessings upon Muhammad, His servant and Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). He precedes mentioning his need by seeking forgiveness from Allaah and then he earnestly and sincerely makes his request as one who is needy and impoverished, supplicating to Him out of hope and fear. He seeks the means of getting close to Him by mentioning His Names and Attributes and making the religion sincerely for Him Alone. Before making supplication he gives in charity. If all this is done then this supplication will never be rejected especially if the servant employs the supplications that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) informed us would be accepted or if his supplication includes mention of Allaah's Greatest Name.
{Translators' notes: the proofs for the above times and recommendations
1) From Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "Our Lord, the Blessed and Most High, Descend every night to the lowest heaven when only the last third of the night remains and says, 'who is calling upon Me so that I maty respond? Who is seeking My forgiveness so that I may forgive Him." Reported by Saheeh Muslim [ Eng. Trans. 1/365 no. 1656]
2) From Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "when the adhaan is proclaimed, the doors to the heaven open and the supplications are answered."
Reported by at-Tayaalisee [no. 2106], at-Tabaraanee in 'ad-Du`aa' [no.485] and others with a hasan isnaad and is made saheeh due to supports. Refer to: as-Saheehah [no. 1413] and the notes of F. Zamrali to 'at-Targheeb fee ad-Du`aa' [pg. 76-77 no. 35]
3) From Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "the supplication made between the adhaan and the iqaamah will not be rejected."
Reported by Abu Daawood, at-Tirmidhee [no. 212, 3594], Ahmad [3/119], ibn Abee Shaybah [no. 8465] and others with a da`eef isnaad but the hadeeth has supports which make it saheeh.
Refer to: 'Irwaa al-Ghaleel' [no. 244], the notes of F. Zamrali to 'at-Targheeb fee ad-Du`aa' [pp. 75-78, no. 35].
4) From Abu Umaamah (RA) that the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was asked, "when is the supplication most likely to be accepted?" He replied, "in the last depth of the night and at the end of the prescribed prayers." Reported by at-Tirmidhee who said that it was hasan and al-Albaanee agreed.
5) From Jaabir (RA) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "the day of Jumu`ah has twelve hours, and during one of the hours you will not find a Muslim servant (of Allaah) asking Allaah for something except that He will give it to him. Seek it in the last hour after the prayer of Asr" Reported by Abu Daawood [Eng. Trans. 1/270 no. 1043], an-Nasaa`ee and others.
6) Abu Daawood reports the hadeeth of Fudaalah bin Ubaid that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) heard a man supplicating in prayer. He did not glorify Allaah and neither did he invoke blessings on the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam). The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "he made haste." He then called him and said to him or to those around him, "If any one of you prays, he should commence by glorifying his Lord and praising Him; he should invoke peace and blessings on the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and thereafter he should supplicate Allaah for anything he wishes."
Abu Daawood [Eng. Trans. 1/390 no. 1476], at-Tirmidhee [no. 3476], an-Nasaa`ee [3/44], Ahmad [6/18] and others with a hasan isnaad. Refer to the notes of F. Zamrali to 'at-Targheeb fee ad-Du`aa' [pg. 11].
7) From Alee (RA) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "every supplication is veiled until one has invoked peace and blessings upon the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)."
Reported by ibn Mukhlid in 'al-Muntaqaa' [1/76] and al-Asbahaanee in 'at-Targheeb' [2/171] and others.
The hadeeth is hasan due to supports. Refer to: as-Saheehah [no. 2035] and Saheeh al-Jaami [no. 4523]}