6/24. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 758e — Repentance and Dua at Night
Encouragement to supplicate and recite statements of remembrance at the end of the night, and the response to that
Hadith About Repentance, Forgiveness, and Night Dua
Sahih Muslim : 758e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 758e
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ، وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ ابْنَا أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنَىْ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ - قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الأَغَرِّ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ، يَرْوِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبِي، هُرَيْرَةَ قَالاَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْهِلُ حَتَّى إِذَا ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الأَوَّلُ نَزَلَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ هَلْ مِنْ تَائِبٍ هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ هَلْ مِنْ دَاعٍ حَتَّى يَنْفَجِرَ الْفَجْرُ " .
Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira Narrated from:
Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah waits till when one-third of the first part of the night is over; He descends to the lowest heaven and says: It there any supplicator of forgiveness? Is there any penitent? Is there any petitioner (for mercy and favour)? Is there any solicitor? -till it is daybreak.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 758eIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 205USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1660
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 758e
This Hadith about repentance at night gives a clear invitation to turn back to Allah. Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said Allah waits until one-third of the first part of the night is over, then descends to the lowest heaven. The Hadith mentions several calls: is there any seeker of forgiveness, any penitent person, any petitioner for mercy and favour, and any solicitor. This continues until daybreak. The message is not hard to understand. A Muslim should not treat the night as only a time for sleep. It can also be a time to seek forgiveness, repent, ask for mercy, and make dua with a soft heart.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith directly mentions seeking forgiveness and repentance.
- A person may ask Allah for mercy and favour at night.
- The call continues until daybreak, showing the value of night worship.
