Hadith 767

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ ، حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ ، قَالَ : سُئِلْتُ عَائِشَةَ : بِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَفْتَتِحُ صَلَاتَهُ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ؟ قَالَتْ : " كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَفْتَتِحُ صَلَاتَهُ : اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرِيلَ ، وَمِيكَائِيلَ ، وَإِسْرَافِيلَ ، فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ ، اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ " .
Abu Salamah bin Abdur-Rahman bin Awf said: I asked Aishah: By what words the Prophet ﷺ used to begin his prayer when he stood up at night (to offer tahajjud prayer). She said: When he stood up at night, he began his prayer by saying: O Allah, Lord of Jibra’il, Lord of Mik’ail, and Lord of Israfil, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, the Knower of what is seen and of what is unseen; Thou decides between Thy servants in which they used to differ. Guide me to the truth where there is a difference of opinion by Thy permission. Thou guidest anyone Thou wishes to the right path.
Hadith Reference سنن ابي داود / أبواب تفريع استفتاح الصلاة / 767
Hadith Grading الألبانی: حسن  |  زبیر علی زئی: صحيح مسلم (770)
Hadith Takhrij « صحیح مسلم/صلاة المسافرین 26 (770)، سنن الترمذی/الدعوات 31 (3420)، سنن النسائی/قیام اللیل 11 (1626)، سنن ابن ماجہ/إقامة الصلاة 180 (1357)، (تحفة الأشراف: 17779)، وقد أخرجہ: مسند احمد (6/56) (حسن) »
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
The Name of the Angel of Death (Malak al-Mawt) as ‘Azra’il
The names of Jibril and Mika’il (alayhima as-salam) are established from the Noble Qur’an. See: [سورة البقرة: 98]

The name of Israfil (alayhis salam) is mentioned in Sahih Muslim [770، دارالسلام: 1811].

However, the name of the Angel of Death (Malak al-Mawt) as ‘Azra’il is not established from any hadith.

This name appears in a mawquf (interrupted) narration from Wahb ibn Munabbih, the Tabi‘i.

But in its chain of narration is Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-‘Ala, who is munkar al-hadith (rejected in hadith).

See: [العظمة لابي الشيخ لاصبهاني 3/ 848 ح 394، 3/ 900 ح439]

Therefore, due to the severe weakness of this narration, it is rejected.

It is established from a certain Tabi‘ Tabi‘i named Ash‘ath that he said: The name of the Angel of Death (alayhis salam) is ‘Azra’il. [كتاب العظمة لابي الشيخ ج3ص 909 ح 443 وسنده صحيح]

The chain up to Ash‘ath is authentic, and regarding Ash‘ath, Shaykh Rida Allah ibn Muhammad Idris Mubarakpuri writes: He is Ash‘ath ibn Aslam al-‘Ajli al-Basri al-Ruba‘i. [ايضاً مترجماً]

Regarding Ash‘ath ibn Aslam rahimahullah, Imam Yahya ibn Ma‘in rahimahullah said: «ثقة» [تاريخ يحييٰ بن معين، رواية الدوري: 3403، الجرح والتعديل لابن ابي حاتم 2/ 269 وسنده صحيح]

Hafiz Ibn Hibban mentioned him in Kitab al-Thiqat. [6/ 63]

It is thus known that the word ‘Azra’il is established from the era of the Tabi‘ Tabi‘in. «والله اعلم»

See: Adwa’ al-Masabih fi Tahqiq Mishkat al-Masabih, the jurisprudential discussion of hadith 144, page 198.
Source: Monthly Magazine al-Hadith Hazro, Page: 999
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1:
O Allah! Lord of Jibril, Mika'il, and Israfil! Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the hidden and the manifest, the One who decides between His servants regarding that in which they differ. O Allah! Guide me, by Your permission and command, to adopt and accept the truth in whatever there is disagreement, (grant me success), for indeed, You are the One who guides whomsoever You will to the straight path.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 3420
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:


This supplication can also be recited in the night prayer (tahajjud) as the opening supplication (du'a al-istiftah).


Jibril, Mikail, and Israfil (alayhim as-salam) are the closest and most virtuous of the angels to Allah.
But they too are servants of Allah.
And Allah is their Lord as well.
They have no share whatsoever in the attributes and powers of the Lord.
This point of tawhid (monotheism) is worthy of attention.


The disputes among the servants have been decided in this world through the sending of the noble prophets (alayhim as-salam) and the revelation sent down upon them.
Yet, some people continue to create new doubts and cause division.
Or, even after the truth has become clear, they do not accept it.
And they do not refrain from arguing.
Their judgment will only be on the Day of Resurrection.
When they will be punished, and the righteous will enjoy Allah’s rewards.


Guidance is in the hand of Allah.
Therefore, one should continue to supplicate to Allah for guidance.


The word Jibril can be pronounced in several ways:
Jabreeil, Jabreel, Jibra’eel, Jabra’eel, Jibraa’eel.
But in this supplication, Jibril is with a hamzah.


The noble hadith scholars (muhaddithin) also paid attention to the exact wording of the hadith.
And they would try to narrate every word exactly as they had heard it from their teacher.
Even though narrating by meaning (riwayah bil-ma’na) is permissible.
This practice of the hadith scholars demonstrates their honesty and truthfulness.
And that the ahadith they have transmitted are actionable and trustworthy,
provided they meet the criteria of authenticity.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 1357