to created beings, just as the nature of His Essence is unknown to them. No one may delve into any of Allah’s attributes—whether His descent or any other attribute—through distortion, negation, assigning a modality, or likening them to created things.

The hadith demonstrates the virtue of this blessed time: it is the best time for supplication, seeking forgiveness, and turning to Allah with one’s requests, and supplication offered then is answered. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “In the latter part of the night, people’s hearts experience a degree of turning toward Allah, seeking nearness to Him, and tenderness that is not found at other times. This is fitting in relation to His descent to the lowest heaven and His words: ‘Is there anyone who will supplicate? Is there anyone who will ask? Is there anyone who will repent?’”1 Thus end his words—may Allah have mercy on him.

Another of the blessed times when supplication is answered is the hour on Friday. It is authentically reported in the two Sahih collections from Abū Hurayra—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, mentioned Friday and said: “During it there is an hour which, if a Muslim servant happens upon it while standing in prayer and asking Allah Most High for something, He will surely grant it to him.” He gestured with his hand to indicate how brief it was.2

The scholars have expressed many different opinions as to precisely when this hour occurs, amounting to nearly forty views. The two strongest and best supported by the evidence, however, are as follows:

The first is that it extends from the time the imam sits upon the pulpit until he finishes the prayer. The evidence for this view is the hadith of Abū Burda ibn Abī Mūsā al-Asharī, who related that Abd Allah ibn Umar asked him, “Did you hear your father relate anything from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concerning