Opening Supplication for Night Prayer (Sunnah)

Rabee’ Al-Jurashi narrated that he asked ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha): “What would the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say when he established the night (with prayer), and what would he begin with?” She replied,

• “He would magnify (i.e., say ‘Allaahu Akbar’) ten times,
• he would praise (i.e., say ‘Alhamdulillaah’) ten times,
• he would glorify (i.e., say, ‘SubhaanAllaah’) ten times,
• he would say Tahleel (i.e., ‘Laa ilaaha illa-Allaah’) ten times,
• and he would seek forgiveness (i.e., say ‘Astaghfirullaah’) ten times,
• and he would say ten times,

اللهمَّ اغفرْ لي واهدِني وارزقْني وعافِني
Allaahumma-ighfir li, wahdini, warzuqni, wa ‘aafini
‘O Allaah, forgive me, guide me, provide me, and grant me wellbeing.’

• And he would say ten times,

اللهُمَّ إني أعوذُ بكَ من الضِّيقِ يومَ الحسابِ
Allaahumma inni a’udhu bika min ad-deeqi yawmal-hisaab
‘O Allaah, I seek refuge in You from the difficulty/distress of the Day of Judgment.'”
[Sifat As-Salaat, page/number: 1/267 by Shaikh Al-Albaani who said its Isnaad is Saheeh]

Also, Asim ibn Humayd narrated that he asked ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha): “With what did the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) start Qiyamul-Layl?” She replied, “You have asked me about something which no one has asked before.

• He used to magnify (i.e., say ‘Allaahu Akbar’) ten times,
• he used to praise (i.e., say ‘Alhamdulillaah’) ten times,
• he used to glorify (i.e., say, ‘Subhaanallaah’) ten times,
• and he used to seek forgiveness (i.e., say ‘Astaghfirullaah’) ten times,
• and he would say,

اللهمَّ اغفرْ لي واهدِني وارزقْني وعافِني
Allaahumma ighfir li, wahdini, warzuqni, wa ‘aafini
‘O Allaah, forgive me, guide me, provide me, and grant me wellbeing.’

• and he would seek refuge from the difficulty/distress of the standing on the Day of Resurrection, i.e. saying, ‘Allaauhumma inni A’oudhu bika min Dheeqi al-Maqaami Yawmil-Qiyaamah.'” [Reported by Ibn Maajah, no. 1123 on the authority of Asim ibn Humayd, and Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh]

Commentary:

• Salaatul-Layl (the night prayer) is an honor for the Mu’min (believer); and for this reason, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) (consistently) observed his night prayer, and he encouraged the people to perform it. He also had (specific) Du’aa (supplications) and Adhkaar (pl. of Dhikr, remembrances) for this Salaat.
• In this Hadeeth, the Taba’ee Asim ibn Humayd said, “I asked ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha), ‘With what did the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) start Qiyamul-Layl?'” – i.e., Du’aa and Dhikr with which he used to begin his Salaat in the night. ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) replied: “You have asked me about something which no one has asked before you.” – i.e., no one has preceded you in asking about it.

“He would magnify (Allaah) ten times,’ meaning: he would say, “Allaahu Akbar” (Allaah is the Greatest) ten times.
“and he would praise (Allaah) ten times,’ meaning: he would say, “Alhamdulillaah” (Praise be to Allaah) ten times.
“And he would glorify (Allaah) ten times,’ meaning: he would say “SubhaanAllaah” (Glory be to Allaah) ten times.
“And he would seek forgiveness ten times,’ meaning: he would say, “Astaghfirullaah” (I seek Allaah’s forgiveness) ten times.”
“And he would say, ‘O Allaah, forgive me, guide me, provide me, and grant me wellbeing,’ and he would seek refuge from the difficulty/ distress of the standing on the Day of Resurrection (i.e. saying: ‘Allaauhumma inni A’uodhu bika min Dheeqi al-Maqaami Yawmil-Qiyaamah.'” meaning the terrors that will occur on that day. This supplication is Du’aa al-Istiftaah (opening supplication), and it is possible that he would recite it along with the Takbeerat-Tahreem (i.e., the initial Takbeer) or (immediately) after it.

• It is reported in Saheeh Muslim from ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) that she said, “When he got up at night, he would commence his prayer (with these words):

اللّهُـمَّ رَبَّ جِـبْرائيل ، وَميكـائيل ، وَإِسْـرافيل، فاطِـرَ السَّمواتِ وَالأَرْض ،
عالـِمَ الغَيْـبِ وَالشَّهـادَةِ أَنْـتَ تَحْـكمُ بَيْـنَ عِبـادِكَ فيـما كانوا فيهِ يَخْتَلِفـون.
اهدِنـي لِمـا اخْتُـلِفَ فيـهِ مِنَ الْحَـقِّ بِإِذْنِك ،
إِنَّـكَ تَهْـدي مَنْ تَشـاءُ إِلى صِراطٍ مُسْتَقـيم
Allaahumma, rabba Jibraa’ila, wa Mikaa’ila, wa Israafila. Faaṭiras-samaawaati wal-ardi,
`aalimal-ghaybi wash-shahaadati, anta tahkumu bayna `ibaadika fimaa kaanu fihi yakhtalifun.
Ihdini li makhtulifa fihi min al-ḥaqqi bi idhnika.
Innaka tahdi man tashaa’u ilaa siraatin mustaqeem.
‘O Allaah, Lord of Jibraeel, Mikaeel and Israfeel, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the seen and the unseen. You are the arbitrator between Your servants in that which they have disputed. Guide me to the truth by Your leave, in that which they have differed, for verily You guide whom You will to a straight path.'” [Muslim, no. 770]

And other supplications have been reported too. This is from diversity in Du’aa; at times, he would supplicate with the first Du’aa, and at other times, with the second Du’aa.

• The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to begin the Salaat with two light Rak’ahs in order to energize himself for the following Rak’ahs – i.e., he would begin the Salaat with two light Rak’ahs, as in Saheeh Muslim.
• This Hadeeth contains the prescription of the Du’aa al-Istiftaah at the beginning of the Salaat – and the Du’aa which is not in the Qur’an.

Source:

https://dorar.net/hadith/sharh/42552