Remembrance in particular prayers

The book of adhkar of specific prayers in Imam an-Nawawi's Kitab al-Adhkar gathers the adhkar tied to particular occasions and prayers: the adhkar of Friday and its night, the adhkar of the two 'Ids, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, the eclipse, the prayer for rain, and what is said when the wind blows hard. It contains 46 items on this page with their sources.

Adhkar of Friday and the hour of response

Friday is the best day on which the sun has risen, and in it is an hour in which no Muslim servant happens to ask Allah for good except that He gives it to him, as in the two Sahihs from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him).

The scholars differed in determining this hour, and an-Nawawi mentioned that the soundest report about it is the hadith of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari in Sahih Muslim that it is between the time the imam sits and the time the prayer is finished. Some scholars preferred that it is the last hour after 'Asr, and the safest course is that the Muslim strives in du'a in both times.

An-Nawawi pointed out that reciting Surah al-Kahf and increasing blessings on the Prophet ﷺ on Friday have famous hadiths.

Adhkar of the two 'Ids

• Takbir is among the evident Sunnahs of the two 'Ids, and on 'Id al-Adha takbir extends through the days of tashriq.
• Allah the Most High said in the verses of fasting: ﴿So that you may complete the period and glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful﴾ (meaning: "So that you complete the number and magnify Allah for guiding you, so that you may be grateful") [Al-Baqarah: 185].

Adhkar of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah

In Sahih al-Bukhari from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), the Prophet ﷺ informed that there are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days, meaning the ten. It is recommended in them to increase takbir, tahlil and tahmid, and the Day of 'Arafah is the greatest of its days; at-Tirmidhi reported that the best du'a is the du'a of the Day of 'Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me said: "There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner; to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs the praise, and He is over all things Able", and some people of knowledge graded it hasan by the sum of its routes.

Adhkar of the eclipse

In the two Sahihs from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet ﷺ informed that the sun and the moon are two signs of the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse for the death or life of anyone, so when the Muslims see that, let them call upon Allah, say takbir, pray and give charity. So the eclipse, for the Muslim, is an admonition calling to prayer and dhikr.

Adhkar of the prayer for rain

In the two Sahihs from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), a man entered the mosque on Friday while the Prophet ﷺ was giving the sermon and complained of the destruction of wealth and the cutting of the roads, so the Prophet ﷺ raised his hands and said: "O Allah, give us rain, O Allah, give us rain, O Allah, give us rain." Among the meanings of asking for rain is istighfar, as Nuh (peace be upon him) said: ﴿And said, "Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers"﴾ (meaning: "I said: Ask your Lord for forgiveness; He is ever Forgiving; He will send the sky upon you with abundant rain") [Nuh: 10-11].

Du'a when the wind blows

In Sahih Muslim from 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), when the wind blew hard, the Prophet ﷺ would say: "O Allah, I ask You for its good, the good of what is in it and the good of what it was sent with, and I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil of what is in it and the evil of what it was sent with."

Practical advice

• Set aside minutes before Maghrib on Friday for du'a, and minutes between the imam sitting and the end of the prayer.
• Turn on the Friday reminder in the app to read al-Kahf and send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ.
• Teach your children the du'a for the wind, for it is short and linked to a situation they see.

Conclusion

These adhkar tie the Muslim to seasons of good and the signs of the universe, so he sees in Friday, 'Id, rain, wind and eclipse an occasion for dhikr and du'a. Make the app your guide to them at their time.

Machine translation