This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mosuli's Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnoaat.
Establishing Circles of Remembrance
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
إذا مررتم برياض الجنة فارتعوا
"When you pass through the gardens of Paradise, eat and drink to your fill."
The noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked:
"O Messenger of Allah! What is meant by the gardens of Paradise?"
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
حلق الذكر
"Circles of remembrance."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications 3509, 3510; Musnad Ahmad 150/3. The narration is weak. In its chain, Humaid bin Qais is unknown in status and Muhammad bin Thabit is a weak narrator.
Supplication and its Etiquettes
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
ينزل ربنا كل ليلة إلى سماء الدنيا حين يبقى ثلث الليل الآخر فيقول : من يدعوني فأستجيب له ، من يسألني فأعطيه ، من يستغفرني فأغفر له
"Our Lord descends every night when one-third of the night remains to the lowest heaven and says: Who is there to call upon Me so that I may answer him? Who is there to ask Me so that I may give him? Who is there to seek My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?"
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Prayer of Travelers and Shortening it 1145. Muslim, Book of Friday 758. Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 1315.
② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
من سره أن يستجيب الله له عند الشدائد والكرب فليكثر الدعاء فى الرخاء
"Whoever likes that Allah accepts his supplications during times of hardship and distress, then he should supplicate abundantly during times of ease and prosperity."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications 3382, the narration is Hasan. See Sahih Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, number 593.
③ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجد فأكثروا الدعاء
"A servant is closest to his Lord while in prostration, so increase supplication in that state."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer 482; Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 8757.
④ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) also narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
ادعوا الله وأنتم موقنون بالإجابة ، واعلموا أن الله لا يستجيب دعاء من قلب غافل لاه
"Pray to Allah with certainty of acceptance, and know that Allah does not accept supplication made with a heedless and careless heart."
Reference: Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications 3479, the narration is weak. In its chain, Salih Al-Mari is a weak narrator.
⑤ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Nu'man bin Bashir (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
الدعاء هو العبادة
"Supplication is worship."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 1479; Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications 2969, the narration is authentic.
⑥ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) liked that supplication be made three times and forgiveness be sought three times (i.e., the words of supplication and seeking forgiveness be said three times each).
Reference: Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 1524, the narration is authentic.
⑦ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b (RA) that when the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) mentioned a person, he would supplicate for him, but he (PBUH) would begin with supplicating for himself.
Reference: Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications 3385; Abu Dawood, Book of Letters and Recitations 3984.
Praying in the Absence of a Muslim Brother
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Darda رضی اللہ عنہ that he heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
ما من عبد مسلم يدعو لأخيه بظهر الغيب إلا قال الملك : ولك بمثل
"When a Muslim person prays for his Muslim brother in his absence, the angel says: May you receive the same" (meaning the angel prays the same prayer for the one who prays).
Reference: Muslim, Book of Remembrance, Supplication, Repentance, and Seeking Forgiveness 2732.
② It is also narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Darda رضی اللہ عنہ that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to say:
دعوة المرء المسلم لأخيه بظهر الغيب مستجابة ، عند رأسه ملك موكل كلما دعا لأخيه بخير قال الملك الموكل به : آمين ولك بمثل
"The prayer of a servant which he makes for his Muslim brother in his absence is accepted. There is an angel appointed near his head, whenever he prays good for his brother, the appointed angel says: Ameen! And for you is the same."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Remembrance, Supplication, Repentance, and Seeking Forgiveness 2733.
③ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr رضی اللہ عنہما that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
أسرع الدعاء إجابة دعوة غائب لغائب
"The prayer made for someone in his absence is accepted the fastest."
Reference: Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 1535; Tirmidhi, Book of Virtue and Relations from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم; Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 623, with its supporting chains, is Hasan.
