6/24. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 758c — Asking Forgiveness Before Dawn
Encouragement to supplicate and recite statements of remembrance at the end of the night, and the response to that
Hadith About Seeking Forgiveness and Dua Before Daybreak
Sahih Muslim : 758c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 758c
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْمُغِيرَةِ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا مَضَى شَطْرُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ ثُلُثَاهُ يَنْزِلُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ يُعْطَى هَلْ مِنْ دَاعٍ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ حَتَّى يَنْفَجِرَ الصُّبْحُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When half of the night or two-third of it is over. Allah, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven and says: Is there any beggar, so that he be given? Is there any supplicator so that he be answered? Is there any beggar of forgiveness so that he be forgiven? (And Allah continues it saying) till it is daybreak.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 758cIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 203USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1658
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 758c
This Hadith about seeking forgiveness at night shows how the night can be used for worship and asking Allah. Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that when half of the night or two-thirds of it is over, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven. The Hadith then mentions three open calls: is there any beggar so that he may be given, any supplicator so that he may be answered, and any seeker of forgiveness so that he may be forgiven. The call continues until morning breaks. The main message is to use the late night for dua, requests, and forgiveness, not to let it pass without turning to Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith encourages asking Allah during the later part of the night.
- Dua and forgiveness are both mentioned as night acts.
- A believer should use time before dawn to turn to Allah.
