Best times for dua - an Ibn Baaz Fatwa

Q: What is the Du`a' (supplication) that I can recite in order to be answered? A: The times when Du`a' is answered are numerous and they all are mentioned in the Sunnah as follows: 1- The time between Adhan (call to Prayer) and Iqamah (call to start the Prayer). The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: ( Part No : 26, Page No:121) The supplication made between the Adhan and the Iqamah is not rejected. 2- The middle of the night and the last portion. There is an hour during the night in which any Du`a' will be answered, especially, in the middle or the last portion of the night. It was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: Our Lord descends every night to the lower heavens when the last third portion of the night begins. He announces: Is there any supplicant that I might answer him? Is there any seeker of My Favor that I might give him? Is there any seeker of forgiveness that I might forgive him? This continues until the dawn appears. It is obligatory uopn a believer to pursue these times and adhere to the good exclusive Du`a's during the middle and the last portion of the night; or at any portion of the night, but the last and the middle portion are times when Du`a's are answered promptly. ( Part No : 26, Page No:122) In addition, one's Du`a' should include supplicating to Allah with His Beautiful Names and Lofty Attributes because repeating this form of Du`a', as well as putting trust in Allah and not losing hope, are of the greatest reasons for Du`a's being answered. One should supplicate to Allah often having trust in Allah and know that He is the All-Wise, All-Knowing. Allah may hasten or delay responding for some reasons. He may also grant the supplicant more than he asked as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Never does a servant supplicates Allah with an invocation that does not involve sin or severance of family ties, except that Allah will grant one of three things: the supplication will be accepted in this life, the supplication may be postponed until the hereafter, or it bring salvation from a similar kind of trouble. The companions said: "Then we shall supplicate often.^ He (peace be upon him) said: "Allah is more bountiful (in responding)." Therefore, one should seek the answer from one's Lord frequently using His Names and Attributes; refraining from accepting ill-gotten earnings, keep to lawful earnings because ill-gotten earnings is one of the reasons of preventing the Du`a' to be answered. ( Part No : 26, Page No:123) 3- During Sujud (prostration). The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state). The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: As for Ruku`, one should extol in it the Great and Glorious Lord, and while prostrating one must be earnest in supplication making it more likely for supplications to be answered. (Related by Muslim in his Sahih, book of authentic Hadiths). 4- When an Imam ascends the pulpit to deliver the Khutbah (sermon) on Friday until the end of Salah (Prayer); which is a time for answering the Du`a'. 5- At the end of each Salah before Salam (salutation to end Salah); which is a suitable time for Du`a' to be answered because when the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught the Sahabah (the Prophet's Companions) ( Part No : 26, Page No:124) Tashahhud, he said: Then let him choose from supplication what he loves best and let him supplicate (with it). 6- The time between `Asr (Afternoon) Prayer and sunset on Friday for those who purify themselves then await for Maghrib (Sunset) Prayer. One should supplicate frequently between `Asr and sunset and wait for Salah because one who sits waiting takes the same ruling of the praying person. It was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: There is an opportune hour on Friday. If a Muslim's standing in prayer converges with it and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely grant it. He informed us that they are but a few hours. As for the Prophet's (peace be upon him) said: "On Friday there is an hour which no Muslim servant happens to be standing in prayer at that time, asking Allah, the Most Exalted, for something, but He will certainly be granted." the scholars say it meams to sit and wait for the Salah because one who waits for Salah takes the same ruling of a praying person because the time after `Asr is not a time for Salah. The point is that one who waits for Maghrib takes the same ruling of the praying person, so a person should supplicate frequently before sunset ( Part No : 26, Page No:125) while sitting in the Masjid (mosque). In the case of women or the sick, they may do this while at home by purifying themselves and waiting for the Maghrib. All these are times when Dua 's are answered and one should supplicate to Allah with devotion, humility and frequent praising of Him. One should begin Du`a' with praising Allah, send peace and blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) because these actions are from the reasons which hasten the answering of Du`a' as it was authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him).