to interpret the ḥadīth. The scholars have given several answers:
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The first—and most widely known—was put forward by al-Nadr ibn Shumayl and the imams after him: its meaning is, “Evil is not a means by which one seeks nearness to You.”
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The second: “Evil does not ascend to You; only good words rise up.”
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The third: Out of etiquette it is not attributed to You, so one does not say, “O Creator of evil,” even though He created it, just as one does not say, “O Creator of swine,” although He created them.
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The fourth: It is not evil in relation to Your wisdom, for You create nothing in vain.
“I depend upon You and turn to You; blessed and exalted are You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.” Recorded by Muslim, and it is said that this was during the night prayer.
Among the supplications reported for the night prayer is the ḥadīth of ʿĀʾishah: she said, “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ rose for prayer in the night, he would begin with: ‘O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, Michael, and Isrāfīl, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your servants concerning that over which they differ. Guide me by Your permission to the truth of that wherein they differed, for indeed You guide whom You will to a straight path.’” Recorded by Muslim.
Ibn ʿAbbās said: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood to pray in the middle of the night, he would say…"