Did You Know These Blessed Words?

Shaykh Ali al-Haddaadi, may Allah preserve him, says:

Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him reported:

While we we praying with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), a man from among the people said:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً

“Allah is the greatest, praise be to Allah in abundance. Glory be to Allah in the morning and the evening.”

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon, him) said: “Who said such and such?”

The man replied: I said it, O Messenger of Allah.

He (the Prophet) said: “It amazed me, for the gates of heaven were opened for It.”

Ibn ‘Umar said: I have not abandoned them (these words) since I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon, him) saying this. (sahih muslim #601)

Word meanings:

• Bukratan (بكرة): the beginning of the day.
• Aseelan (أصيلا): the time after Asr up until Maghrib

Benefits of the Hadeeth:

1- In some of the wordings of the Hadeeth there is an indication that the man said these words after the Opening Takbeer

2- The opening supplication (du’aa al-istiftaah) is from the sunan of the prayer that have been legislated after the opening takbeer, it has different types that are affirmed from our Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), from them is this saying of remembrance found in this Hadeeth. From them as well is the well known opening which Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, used to teach to the people:

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك وتبارك اسمك وتعالى جدك ولا إله غيرك

Glory be to You, O Allah, blessed is Your Name and exalted is Your majesty, none has the right to be worshipped but You.”

From the opening supplications as well is that which comes in the Hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to say in the Opening:

اللهم باعد بيني وبين خطاياي كما باعدت بين المشرق والمغرب، اللهم نقني من خطاياي كما ينقى الثوب الأبيض من الدنس اللهم اغسلني من خطاياي بالماء والثلج والبرد

O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west; O Allah purify me of my sins as a white garment is purified of dirt; O Allah, cleanse me of my sins with water and snow and hail.”

If the one who prays devotes himself to any one of the supplications, there is no objection, and if he brings this supplication at times and another at times, then this is more preferable.

3- The Hadeeth contains evidence that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not know the Unseen, due to this he asked: “Who said such and such?” Therefore, Allah the Most High has made knowledge of the Unseen exclusively for Him

قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۚ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ – 27:65

“Say: None in the Heavens and Earth knows the Unseen except Allah.”

But Allah informs His Messengers of whatever He wills from the affairs of the Unseen, He the Most High says: But Allah informs His Messengers of whatever He wills from the affairs of the Unseen, He the Most High says:

 عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا – 72:26

إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَدًا – 72:27

[He is] All Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the]
unseen to anyone. Except whom He has chosen of messengers, and indeed, He sends
guards before him and behind him.”

Whoever claims to have knowledge of the Unseen is a disbeliever. Whoever believes the
fortune teller regarding what they claim to know of the Unseen, then he is one who belies Allah
and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم)
And whoever goes to the fortune tellers and soothsayers, and (even if he) doesn’t believe them
has committed a major sin, and his prayer will not be accepted for 40 days, as has been
established in the Hadeeth.

4- The excellence of Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, due to the fact
that he devoted himself to these words, hoping for its reward. And due to this, Allah the Most
High elevated him and elevated his brothers from the Companions, for when they learned
something they acted upon it. This is the fruit that is desired (from knowledge). Whoever learns
some religious knowledge and does not act upon it, then his knowledge is an evil and a harm
for him.

O Allah we seek refuge in You from knowledge which doesn’t benefit us. Ameen!

Translated by: Abu Marjaanah Naasirud-deen bin William Ferron
Source: http://www.haddady.com/2751-2/