Q: Are duas accepted on a Wednesday from between Zuhr to ‘Asr. Is this correct?
This is based on the following Hadith:
Sayyiduna Jaabir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that: ‘Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) had made du‘a to Allah in Masjidul Fath (in Madinah) on a Monday, a Tuesday and a Wednesday. His du‘a was accepted between Zuhr and ‘Asr on the Wednesday. Sayyiduna Jaabir says: ‘Whenever I had a need, I waited for that moment on a Wednesday and made du‘a. Every time I did so, I noticed my du‘a being accepted.’
(Al-Adabul Mufrad of Imaam Bukhaari, Hadith: 725, Musnad Ahmad, vol.3, pg. 332 and Musnad Bazzar; Kashful Astar, Hadith: 431) ‘Allamah Mundhiri (rahimahullah) has declared the chain of Musnad Ahmad as good (jayyid) (Targhib, Hadith: 1788. Also see Majma’uz Zawaid, vol.4 pg.12) Moulana ‘Abdul Hayy Laknawi (rahimahullah) has stated that ‘Allamah Suyuti graded the narrators of this Hadith as good (jayyid) in his book: ‘Sihamul Isabah’ and Shaykh Samhudi (rahimahullah) – in Wafaul Wafa – declared the narrators in Musnad Ahmad as reliable. (Al-Fawaidul Bahiyyah, pg.185-186)
1. I received this message on WhatsApp. Is it authentic?
2. Can a person be particular on making du‘a at this time?
3. Is it sunnat?
4. Can I broadcast the above message every Wednesday to remind people to be particular in practising this Hadith?
A: We have not come across any verse of the Quraan Majeed, Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), narration from the Sahaabah and Taabi’een or statements of the Imaams of Fiqh wherein it is proven that the time on a Wednesday between zuhr and asr is a time wherein any dua made will be accepted.
It should be borne in mind that in order for anything to be established in deen, it has to be sourced and established from one of the main sources viz. the Quraan, Hadith, Ijmaa’ or the narrations of the Sahaabah and Taabi’een or Qiyaas and Ijtihaad from the main sources (e.g. the Ijtihaad of the Illustrious Imaams in Fiqh, etc).
Since this is not established from any of the main sources of deen, one will not believe this to be sunnah or mustahab. Believing this to be sunnah or mustahab will be adding to deen. The Fuqahaa have taken great pains to record and preserve the sunnah and mustahab actions and duas of deen that relate to the various occasions. However, we do not find it recorded anywhere in the books of Hadith or Fiqh that the time on a Wednesday between zuhr and asr is a time in which any dua made will be accepted.
Apart from this, we are all well aware that the greatest day of the week is Friday. On the mubaarak day of Friday, there is a special, hidden moment wherein duas are readily accepted. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has exhorted and encouraged the ummah to search for this special moment on the mubaarak day of Friday. If all duas were to be readily accepted at a specific time on a Wednesday, then this would have certainly been reported in many Ahaadith by Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and the narrations of Sahaabah and Taabieen. It would not be something found in only one narration which is not very clear and explicit in its purport.
As far as the narration of Hazrat Jaabir (Radiyallahu Anhu) is concerned, our ulama explain that this was the experience of Hazrat Jaabir (Radiyallahu Anhu) – that he waited for Wednesday and would then make dua at the same time Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) made dua and he would find his dua being accepted. It is possible that Hazrat Jaabir (Radiyallahu Anhu) made dua at the same place where Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) made dua.
Hazrat Shaikh Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahimahullah) mentioned that it is the experience of many pious servants that the duas which are made between zuhr and asr salaah on Wednesday at Musjid Fath are accepted. This was the place and time in which Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) made dua for victory and his dua was accepted.
Through explaining the narration in this way, one will not be rejecting the narration wherein Hazrat Jaabir (Radiyallahu Anhu) mentioned his experience, nor will one be adding something to deen which is not established from Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)