Times in which Supplications are Accepted

1- Supplications during the last hours of night:

It was related that Jabir said: “I heard the Prophet say: ‘Every night there is a special time during which whatever a Muslim asks Allah of any good relating to this life or the Hereafter, it will be granted to him; and this moment comes every night.’” (Reported by Sahih Muslim).

Supplications during the last hours of the night especially when the servant is praying the night prayer (Tahajjud) and talking to Allah in secret; that is one of the occasions of acceptance.

The Prophet Mohammad said: “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes down every night to the nearest heaven to us during the last third of the night and He says: (Is there anyone) who invokes Me, (demands anything from Me) so that I may respond to his invocation? (Is there anyone) who asks Me for something so that I may grant him his request? (Is there anyone) who seeks My Forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?” (Reported by Sahih Al-Bukhari). So, try not to miss to worship Allah during the last hours of the night.

2- Invocation (Supplication) between Adhan and Iqamah:

After the adhan, one should make individual supplications, as that is the time when they will most likely be accepted. Anas reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said: "A supplication made between the adhan and the iqamah is not rejected." (Related by Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, and At-Tirmidhi, who called it hassan sahih), and added "They asked, 'What should we say, O Messenger of Allah?' He responded, ‘Ask Allah for forgiveness and well-being in this world and the Hereafter.’ "

3- Friday acceptance hour:

One of the special characteristics of Friday that makes it different from the other days of the week is the hour in which invocation is accepted. It was narrated by Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah talked about Friday and said: “There is an hour (opportunity – lucky time) on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely meet his demand.” And the Prophet pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands. (Reported by Sahih Al-Bukhari).

There are different opinions on the timing of this hour. One opinion says that it is when the Imam sits between the two Friday Sermons, whereas another opinion says that it is from the end of the speech of Friday until the end of prayer. Another opinion says that it is during the last hour of Friday after the afternoon prayer (Asser prayer) and this is the best opinion as Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurairah report that the Messenger of Allah said: "On Jumu'ah there is a time that if a believing slave asks Allah during it for some good, [Allah will definitely] give it to him, and that time is after the 'asr salah (afternoon prayer)." (This is related by Ahmad. Al-'Iraqi calls it sahih).

4- Supplication upon breaking the fast:

The Prophet Mohammad said: “A fasting person, upon breaking his fast, has a supplication that will not be rejected.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

Therefore, it is recommended for a fasting person to invoke and ask Allah upon breaking his fast, and that is one of Allah’s bounties upon his fasting slaves as the Prophet of Allah said: “Three people will not have their supplication rejected: a fasting person until he breaks his fast, a just ruler, and an oppressed person.” (Directed by At-Tirmidhi).

5- Supplication on the Day of ‘Arafah:

The Prophet Mohammad (peace & blessings upon him) said: “The best supplication is that of the Day of ‘Arafah, and the best thing that I and other Prophets before me said is: 'La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul mulk wa lahul hamd wa huwa 'ala kuli sha'in qadeer (There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah Alone. He has no partners. To Him Alone  belongs the Kingdom, and all praise. In His hand is all the good, and He has power over all things).” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi).

6- Supplication after reading the whole Qur’an:

It was narrated that Anas used to gather his family after reading the whole Qur’an and invoke and say this is a time that supplication is accepted.

7- Supplication while drinking Zamzam water:

A person drinking Zamzam water should intend and hope for healing, blessings and whatever is best for him in this life and in the hereafter. It was narrated by Jaber bin Abdullah that the Prophet (peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The water of Zamzam is (good) for whatever it is intended."