How Duas Are Answered

65. The Sun has not risen on a day better than Friday. When the birds of sky meet one another on this day, they greet one another saying: What a good day!
66. It is related that the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAW) chose Thursday to leave his room for outside fresh air in the beginning of summer and chose Friday to his return to room in the beginning of winter.”
It is related that Imam Baqer (A.S.) has said:

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“If you decide to give charity, delay it until Friday.”
Imam Baqer (A.S.) has also said:

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67. “Throughout Friday night God calls:
-Isn’t there any believing servant who calls upon Me until before dawn so that I will grant his worldly and spiritual request?
-Isn’t there any believing servant who repents his sins before down so that I will forgive him?
-Isn’t there any believing servant whose sustenance is meager and asks Me to increase it before dawn so that I will increase his sustenance?
-Isn’t there any ailing and believing servant who asks Me to heal him before dawn so that I will heal him?
-Isn’t there any imprisoned servant who asks Me to free him from prison so that I will free him from prison?
-Isn’t there any oppressed believing servant who asks Me to take his right from the oppressor before dawn so that I will help him and restore his right?
Imam Baqer or Imam Sadeq (A.S.) has said:

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68. “The believing servant makes a request to God and God too delays it until Friday.”
The Holy Prophet of Islam (SAW) has said:

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69. “Surely Friday is the master of days and the most glorious day of God. Rather it is superior to Eidolfetr and Eidolazha. Friday has five advantages:
-God created Adam (AS) on this day.
-God sent down Adam (AS) from paradise to earth on the same day.
-God took the life of Adam on such a day.
-There are hours in Friday when every one who requests something from God, it will be granted provided that it is lawful.
-Archangels, the heavens, the earth, winds, mountains, and trees fear that the Last Day occurs on such a day.”
The children of Jacob asked their father to request god to forgive them. Jacob said;

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“I will ask for you forgiveness from, my Lord” (Yunus, verse 98)
Interpreting this verse, Imam Sadeq (AS) has said:

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70. “Jacob delayed asking forgiveness until dawn of Friday night.”
There are two hours on Friday when Duas are answered: one is when Friday leader has completed the sermon and the worshippers are prepared for Friday prayer.
The other is the last moments of Friday that is:
71. “When half face of the sun is hidden.”
Imam Baqer (AS) has said:

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72. “On Friday one must keep a time from the beginning of moon until an hour, for the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAW) has said during this hour no servant requests anything from God unless his request is granted.
b. On Wednesday between noon and afternoon:
Jaber Ibne Abdullah Ansari has thus narrated:
During Ahzab Battle, the Holy Prophet (SAW) prayed on Monday and Tuesday against atheists and his request was granted between noon and afternoon of Wednesday as the result of which happiness appeared on his face. I too prayed at the same time and whenever I faced a problem, my Dua was answered.
c. Time of night prayer
The Holy Prophet (SAW) has said:

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73. “Anyone of you who has a need, should request it during night prayer, for it is especially for you and it has not been granted to former nations (ummahs).”
d. The first one sixth of midnight.
First, there are Hadiths indicating the virtues of the recommended prayer after midnight while people are asleep.
Secondly, there are Hadiths indicating the virtues of rememberance of God among those heedless of Him.
Thirdly, Omar Ibne Ozaineh has quoted Imam Sadeq (AS) as saying:

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74. “There is an hour in night which if a believing servant appreciates by performing prayer and calling upon God, his request will be certainly granted. I said: My God bless you, which is that hour? He said: After midnight, the first one sixth of its second half.
e. One third of the last hours of night
There are many Hadiths in this relation
The Holy Prophet (SAW) said:

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75. “In the last hours of every night, God says:
-Is there anyone who calls upon Me so that I will answer him?
-Is there anyone who request so that I will grant it?
-Is there anyone asking forgiveness so that I will forgive him?
-Is there anyone repenting so that I will accept his repentence?
Ibrahim Ibne Abi Mahmood says I said to Imam Reza (AS): people say: The Holy Prophet (SAW) has said: God comes to the sky of the world every night. What is your opinion of it? He said:

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76. “May God curse those who distort the words of others. By God! The Holy Prophet (SAW) did not day it, rather he said: In the last third of every night and on Friday night, from its beginning, God sends an angel to the sky of this world calling:
-Is there anyone who calls upon Me so that I will grant his request?
-Is there anyone who repents so that I will accept his repentence?
-Is there anyone asking forgiveness so that I will forgive him?
-O seeker of good! come to Me and O seeker of evil! stop it. God keeps on calling until dawn. At this time that angel returns to his place in the heavens. This was polyquoted by my father, his father and the Holy Prophet (SAW).”
Advice
One who truly acknowledges the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAW) and his cleansed and pure children (AS) and knows that whatever these honorable ones have brought from God, is true, should present his needs to God during these hours and should not leave His call unresponded. Otherwise he will be among those about Whom God has said:

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“Surely those who are too proud for My service shall soon enter hell abased.” Hence he will be among those deprived of God’s Mercy and the heavy load of sins will rest on his shoulders as mentioned in the following Hadith:

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77. “Whoever abandons request from God, will become destitute.”
About recommended prayer after midnight, Imam Sadeq (AS) says:

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78. “Don’t let your eyes fully enjoy sleep, for eyes are the least thankful to God.”
In this connection, the Holy Prophet of Islam has said:

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79. “When a true believer rises up to please God with the recommended prayer after midnight, while slumber has overpowered his eyes, God speaks proudly to His angels saying: Do you see this servant of mine who has risen up to perform the prayer which is not obligatory! Therefore I take you as witness that I have forgiven his sins.”
Advantage
Each day is divided into twelve hours and each hour is associated with one of the twelve Imams (AS) and it is proper to seek the mediation of that Imam in that hour. There are special Duas for those hours in the book “Mesbah”. Seyed Ibne Tavoos too says the days of week are associated with the Imams (AS) and each day we are their guests. Hence Ziyarat (visitation) of the Imam or Imams would be proper on that day as follows:
Saturday is associated with the Holy Prophet (SAW)
Sunday is associated with Imam Ali (AS)
Monday is associated with Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein (AS)
Tuesday is associated with Imam Zainol Abedeen, Imam Baqeer and Imam Sadeq (AS)
Wednesday is associated with Imam Kazem, Imam Reza, Imam Javad and Imam Hadi (AS)
Thursday is associated with Imam Hassan Asgari
Friday is associated with Imam Mehdi (AS)
f. Grand Night (Leylatolghadr)
Grand night is in the holy month of Ramadhan but it is not clear which night it is. It may be 19th, 21st or 23rd night is the most likely.
g. Ahya Nights (spending night awake)
There are four nights during which keeping vigil is recommended. These nights are:
1. The first night of Rajab
2. The night of fifteenth of Sha-baan.
3. The night of E’edul Fitr
4. The night of E’edul D’uh’aa
It is related that:
80. “It was surprising for Imam Ali to be idle on such nights and not to pray.”
h. Araf day
It is a day for prayer (Dua) and asking one’s need. Hence although observing fast is highly recommended if one becomes too ill to pray, it is better to pray and not fast.
i. When wind is blowing
j. When call to prayer is made
k. When it is raining
l. When the first drop of a martyr’s blood is dripped.
Zeid shahham has quoted Imam Sadeq (AS) as saying: