Based on a True Story!
The life of this world is a test, we are tested in all aspects of our life. Test can vary from people to people, some are tested by their family, some are tested in terms of finance. The basic core of everything is our patience and how we can have that Trust in Allah (Tawakkul).
Let us relate a true story of a brother, who was tested in many aspects of life. He was tested by family and its politics, he was tested by hardship of poverty and its trials, he was tested to the extent that a person might think that it all cannot be the story of a single person. This person was not very religious at some time of his life but he believed in Allah meaning he was in the fold of Islam. When the back of people are to the wall they look for hope and a doorway from which change can come. I am sure many of us want that doorway in our lives where we can find a way out to a better life. We often find ourselves chained up in a situation for many years and sometimes it would feel this is the life we will have to die in. The brother was chained in that life for more than 3 decades.
Naturally this brother like any one of us was trapped and looked for a change, but sometimes it was not the time and Allah always has a plan for a greater good.
One day this brother by Allah’s Mercy and Blessing came across a hadith which changed his life forever. It was the hadith of how Allah in His Mercy to us comes down to the first Heaven in the last third of night.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1145
From then onward the brother started to pray Tahajjud and alhamdulillah prayed without missing a day for years onward. Eventually just like knots are opened in a tangled rope, his problems begain to fade and the chain that he was trapped in began to break. He found the door which had the light and blessing of Allah and he ran towards it without stopping.
The reason why this true story is being shared is to inspire others who find life hopeless at times, who find their situation unbearable, who look at graves and wish they were in it. This is to tell you that brothers and sisters in Islam, have you really turned to Allah and asked for help? He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth and everything that exists, if we do not ask Him for help who else can really help us. Let us strive to find that door that leads to Allah. The last one third of night is one of those beautiful times every single day of the year when our Creator invokes us to ask Him.
Ask yourself brothers and sisters in Islam, have you asked your Creator for help? Start today and in sha Allah the change will come with patience and in due time.
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How To Pray Tahajjud
So 9pm till 11pm is the first third of night
11pm till 1am is the second third of night
1am till Fajr is the last third of night
Dua Before Tahajjud
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَيِّمُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، لَكَ مُلْكُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ الْحَقُّ، وَوَعْدُكَ الْحَقُّ، وَلِقَاؤُكَ حَقٌّ، وَقَوْلُكَ حَقٌّ، وَالْجَنَّةُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّارُ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّبِيُّونَ حَقٌّ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَقٌّ، وَالسَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ، اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ حَاكَمْتُ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ـ أَوْ لاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Allahumma Lakal-Hamd. Anta Qaiyyimus-Samawati Wal-Ard Wa Man Fihinna. Walakal-Hamd, Laka Mulkus-Samawati Wal-Ard Wa Man Fihinna. Walakal-Hamd, Anta Nurus-Samawati Wal-Ard. Wa Lakal-Hamd, Anta-l-Haq Wa Wa’duka-Lhaq, Wa Liqa’uka Haq, Wa Qauluka Haq, Wal-Jannatu Han Wan-Naru Haq Wannabiyuna Haq. Wa Muhammadun, Sallal-Lahu’alaihi Wasallam, Haq, Was-Sa’atu Haq. Allahumma Aslamtu Laka Wabika Amantu, Wa ‘Alaika Tawakkaltu, Wa ilaika Anabtu Wa Bika Khasamtu, Wa ilaika Hakamtu Faghfir Li Ma Qaddamtu Wama Akh-Khartu Wama As-Rartu Wama’a Lantu, Anta-l-Muqaddim Wa Anta-l-Mu Akh-Khir, La ilaha illa Anta
O Allah! All the praises are for you, You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth, And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You have the possession of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth And all the praises are for You; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth; And all the praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the truth, And to meet You is true, Your Word is the truth And Paradise is true And Hell is true And all the Prophets (Peace be upon them) are true; And Muhammad is true, And the Day of Resurrection is true. O Allah ! I surrender (my will) to You; I believe in You and depend on You. And repent to You, And with Your help I argue (with my opponents, the non-believers) And I take You as a judge (to judge between us). Please forgive me my previous And future sins; And whatever I concealed or revealed And You are the One who make (some people) forward And (some) backward. There is none to be worshipped but you.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1120