2/128. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 771 — Midnight Prayer Dua of Truth
The Supplication With Which The Prayer Should Be Started
Tahajjud Dua: Allah Is Light, Truth, and the One Who Forgives
Sunan Abi Dawud : 771
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 771
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ يَقُولُ " اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيَّامُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ وَقَوْلُكَ الْحَقُّ وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَأَخَّرْتُ وَأَسْرَرْتُ وَأَعْلَنْتُ أَنْتَ إِلَهِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ " .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up for praying at midnight, he said: o Allah, be praise to Thee, Thou art the light of the heavens and the earth; and to Thee be praise; Thou are the maintainer of the heavens and the earth; and to Thee be praise, Thou art the heavens and the earth and what is between them; Thou art the truth, and Thy statement is truth; and Thy promise is the truth; and the visitation with Thee is true; and the Paradise is true and the Hell-fire is true and the Hour is true; O Allah, to Thee I turned my attention, and by Thee I disputed, and to Thee I brought forth my case, so forgive me my former and latter sins, and my secret and open sins, Thou art my deity, there is no deity but Thou.
[1] Meaning, for Your sake.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 771In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 381English translation : Book 2, Hadith 770
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 771
This hadith gives a powerful tahajjud dua from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when he stood for prayer in the middle of the night. The supplication begins with praise of Allah. It calls Allah the light of the heavens and the earth, the maintainer of the heavens and the earth, and the Lord of what is between them. It then affirms key truths mentioned in the text: Allah is true, His statement is true, His promise is true, the meeting with Him is true, Paradise is true, Hell-fire is true, and the Hour is true. After this praise and belief, the dua turns to forgiveness for former and later sins, hidden and open sins. It is a night prayer dua full of faith and humility.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم began this midnight prayer supplication with praise of Allah.
- The dua affirms belief in Allah’s truth, promise, meeting, Paradise, Hell-fire, and the Hour.
- The supplication asks forgiveness for hidden and open sins.
- The wording joins trust in Allah with repentance.
