Best way to start the day off after praying the morning prayerبسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
عن ام سلمة رضي الله عنها قالت "ا َنّ النبيّ صلّى الله عليه كان يقول اِذا صلّى الصبْح حين يسلّم : "اللّهمَّ اِنّي اسْاَلُكَ عِلْماً نَافِعاً وَ رِزْقاً طَيِّباً وَ عَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً
(صححه الالباني رحمه الله في صحيح ابن ماجه 753)
On the authority of Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) she said: "The Prophet (sallallaah alayhi wa sallam)use to say when He would pray the morning prayer after making the tasleem (finishing the prayer with turning to His right saying As-salaamu alaykum wa rah-ma-tullaah then turning to His left and doing the same): "Oh Allaah verily I ask you for beneficial knowledge, a good provision, and accepted action(s)"
(Authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheeh Ibn Maajah 753)
This narration has many benefits to it as can be seen by the one who contemplates and ponders over it. Also there is in the Prophet's (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) action of saying this in the morning after finishing His morning prayer a suitable time for supplicating with this supplication. That is because dawn is the beginning of the day. The muslim should have no other desire to attain anything in his/her day except for these three matters. As these three matters are all that a muslim is in need of to attain the pleasure of Allaah. From the benefits of this narration
1. The virtue of Umm Salamah being that she has imparted to this ummah (nation) a matter from the sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). As the Prophet said (what means) "The one who guides to good is like the one who has done" So Umm Salamah gets a reward for those who practice that which she narrated on the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).
2. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) was one who prayed the morning prayer (as well as all other prayers) at the proper time on a consistent bases, and He informed us that the most beloved action to Allaah is " the prayer at its proper time".
3. There are some du-aa (supplication) that are to be made after the tasleem. Other than that the best time to supplicate is while one is in prayer during sujood (prostration) and after sending the salaah and salaam upon the Prophet in the ta-shah-hud.
4. One is not to raise ones hands when making this du-aa. If that was the case then Umm Salamah would have narrated that as she narrated in another narration that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) never left her house except that He raised His sight to the heavens saying "Oh Allaah...". She mentioned that He raised His sight so for sure she would have mentioned that He raised His hands had He done so.
5. The importance of knowledge being that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) began His supplication by asking Allaah for the beneficial knowledge.
6. Not all knowledge is beneficial. As He didn't just ask for knowledge, He asked for beneficial knowledge.
7. One is in need of beneficial knowledge in order to attain a good provision and accepted actions, as knowledge precedes statements and actions.
8. The importance of good provisions being that He asked Allaah for it after beneficial knowledge.
9. Not all provisions are good. As He didn't just ask for provisions, He asked for a good provision.
10. The importance of having ones actions accepted being that He supplicated to Allaah for it.
11. Not all actions are accepted.
12. Taking advantage of the start of ones day to seek Allaah's help in the attaining of these important matters.
13. Not depending on ones ability in attaining that which is beneficial rather turning to Allaah the one who controls all of the affairs to attain that which is beneficial.
14. Another example of al-Jawaa-mi-ul Kalam (ability to speak with few words that have tremendous benefit). As this supplication has few words but it entails many affairs of benefit.
15. In another narration the last statement is "amalan saalihan" instead of "amalan mu-ta-qab-balan" and the meaning is righteous action. Therefore an accepted action is a righteous action and a righteous action is that which is done sincerely for Allaah according to the sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).
My noble brothers and sisters in Islaam this is a tremendous supplication that we all should have memorized and that we all should make every morning. Do not allow this sunnah to become mah-joorah (abandoned) in our lives. Baarakallaah feekum wa as-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh.
Abu Yusuf Khaleefah Walton.
16th of Shawwaal 1430 Hijree-5th of October 2009 NYC USA.
