Repentance

Auzubillahi minash shaitan ir rajeem,

Bismillah ir rahman ir rahim,

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah

Knowledge01 wrote:  When ready to offer a dua after the obligatory prayer, what position is best?  (ruku,sujud,etc)

It is reported in hadith, that the servant is closest to Allah in the position of sujud. Thus the best position for dua would be in sujud.

However, you can make dua in any state, or any position, ie outside the salah. Ideally, after the salah, one sits (as seated in the salah - for men, on the feet, and for women, with their legs folded on their right side) with hands raised upto the chest level, folded together, with palms facing up, forming the shape of a bowl.

Maa salaama,

Nausheen

As Salaam Alaikum,

Thank you for those two very helpful posts.  I have one question though.  When ready to offer a dua after the obligatory prayer, what position is best?  (ruku,sujud,etc)

Auzubillahi minash shaitan ir rajeem,

Bismillah ir rahman ir rahim,

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Knowledge01 wrote: As Salaam Alaikum, Thank you.  So if I'm lying in bed and it is no where near the time of prayer, all I need to say is something to the effect of " I seek forgiveness of Allah" and my sins are automatically forgiven?

The general presumption is that Allah forgives all sins that are repented with a sincere intention and sincere endeavors. However a believer should know that forgiveness is from a favor and mercy of Allah. He does not have to accept our forgiveness. Still He does, because He is oft forgiving most merciful. We should be greatful to Him for this.

 I will insha allah quote something on the subject of repentence very soon.

When it is not the time for prayer, you can engage yourself in the rememberance of Allah in many ways. All the actions that take you closer to the religion, have emmense barakah in them, and are the expiations of sins as well. For example the ritual purification (wudu) is one of these acts. If you try to stay in a state of wudu all times, it has many rewards connected to it, insha allah.

Knowledge01 wrote: And if I just completed one of my daily prayers, there is no special set of words I need to say in addition to " I seek forgivenness of my sins through Allah" or something very close to that effect??

After the prayer, we usually say:

Rabbana aatina fiddunya, hasanatawn, wa fil aakhirati hasanatawn, wa aqina adhaban naar. It is a verse from the Quran which means, O Lord, grant us the good in this world, and the good in the hereafter, and save us from the fire of hell.

There are few more supplications reported in the hadith, which the prophet recommended. I will check for their meanings before I post them for you here.

You can say any supplication from the Quran or Hadith.

As a general rule, supplications after salah, should not be mixed with human speach, rather should be the set of words prescribed in the quran or sunnah. One may not ask from allah the manner help is sought from fellow creatures. eg, u need help with your cources, in the university, instead of saying "o allah please help me pass this semister" or "o allah, have me complete my assignment on time", it is more befitting if you say " rabbi zidni ilma" which is a quranic phrase, meaning, O Lord, increase me in knowledge.

It is also from the practise of the prophet (SAW) to recite Alhamdulillah 33 times, Subhan allah 33 times, and Allah hu akbbar 34 times after every obligatory salah. If you can make it your practise, but increase yourself in a gradual manner, so that you may remain consistant.

Insha allah this may be of help.

Maa salaama,

Nausheen 

Auzubillahi minash shaitan ir rajeem,

Bismillah ir rahman ir rahim,

Assalamulaiakum,

I do not have the literal translation for each one of these. However, the general meaning is glory and praise belongs to allah, who we seek forgiveness from, for all our sins.

Subhan allah: Glory be to Allah

Alhamdulillah: All praise belongs to Allah.

Asthaghfirullah: I seek forgiveness from allah.

Dua: supplication.

Maa salaama,

Nausheen