The Best Times To Make Dua

“And your Lord said: “Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation)...” (Quran 40:60)

“And when My slaves ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” (Quran 2:186)

The best times to make supplication include the examples below but not limited:

Dua of the oppressed

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Three supplications are accepted , there is no doubt in them (about them being accepted): The supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler, and the supplication of his father against his son.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Note: Be careful of the dua of an oppressed, As mentioned above hadith that the dua of an oppressed is answered. Therefore, one should be careful and mindful of how to treat others. Furthermore, Narrated Ibn Abbas: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Muadh to Yemen, and said: ‘Beware of the supplication of the oppressed; for indeed there is no barrier between it and Allah.’” (At-Tirmidhi and Bukhari). May Allah protect us from being an oppressor or an oppressed. 

Dua of a traveler

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Three supplications are accepted , there is no doubt in them (about them being accepted): The supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler, and the supplication of his father against his son.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Note: It is encouraged to make dua and seek Allah’s protection and guidance when traveling. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his companions used to make dua during their travels. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught his companions specific supplications for a traveler, please refer to Hisnul Muslim (Dua 96) or Book of Hadith

Dua of a parent for his son

Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Three supplications are accepted , there is no doubt in them (about them being accepted): The supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler, and the supplication of his father against his son.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Note: Parents are encouraged to make dua for their children, to ask Allah for their children’s protection, wellbeing, guidance, righteousness and success for this life and the hereafter. We have examples in the Quran, that illustrated the prophets of Allah making dua for offsprings. It is also encouraged to make dua for one’s parents. There are various examples in the Quran and Hadith for supplicating for one’s parents.

Dua of a fasting person at the time of breaking the fast

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just leader, and the supplication of the oppressed person; Allah 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)

Dua of a just ruler

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just leader, and the supplication of the oppressed person; Allah 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)

Dua between the Adhan (call to prayer) and Iqamah (start prayer)

Anas bin Malik narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The supplication is not rejected between the Adhan and the Iqamah.” (At-Tirmidhi)

The last third of the night

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  said, “When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the heaven of the world and says, ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me (demand anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation; Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him; Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?’” (Bukhari)

Late at night

Jabir said he heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say: “There is an hour during the night in which no Muslim individual will ask Allah for good in this world and the next without His giving it to him; and that applies to every night.” (Muslim) 

Laylatul Al-Qadr (the Night of Decree)

“The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months” (97:3)

Note: Narrated Ubada bin As-Samit: The Prophet (ﷺ) came out to inform us about the Night of Qadr but two Muslims were quarreling with each other. So, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I came out to inform you about the Night of Qadr but such-and-such persons were quarreling, so the news about it had been taken away; yet that might be for your own good, so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of Ramadan).” (Bukhari)

An hour on Friday

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) talked about Friday and said, “There is an hour (opportune time) on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while praying and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely meet his demand. And he (the Prophet) pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands.” (Bukhari)

Note:  Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Friday is divided into twelve  hours. Amongst them there is an hour in which a Muslim does not ask Allah for anything but He gives it to him. So seek it in the last hour after the afternoon prayer (Asr).” (Abu Dawud)

While in Sujud (Prostration)

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).” (Muslim) 

Dua for someone in his absence

Abu Dharr reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: “There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence) that the Angels do not say: The same be for you too.” (Muslim) 

Dua at the end of the obligatory prayer

Abu Umamah narrated: “It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), 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 Tirmidhi) 

Dua during rain

Narrated Aisha: Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)  saw the rain, he used to say, “O Allah! Let it be a strong fruitful rain.” (Bukhari) 

It was narrated from Aisha that: When it rained the Messenger of Allah would say: “Allahumma ij'alhu Sayyiban nafi`a. (O Allah, make it beneficial rain).” (Sunan An-Nasai)

Note: It is narrated by Adu Dawud that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said that two supplications are not rejected, the dua during the call to prayer and the dua during rain

When wake up at night

Narrated Ubada bin As-Samit: Whoever gets up at night and says:

لَا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، سُبْحاَنَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

“ ‘There is none worthy of worship but Allah alone, Who has no partner, His is the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is able to do all things. Glory is to Allah. Praise is to Allah. There is none worthy of worship but Allah. Allah is the Most Great. There is no might and no power except by Allah's leave, the Exalted, the Mighty. My Lord, forgive me.’

Or invokes (Allah), he will be responded to and if he performs ablution (and prays), his prayer will be accepted.” (Bukhari)