Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Best times for dua in Ramadan are:
- During the day while fasting.
- When breaking the fast.
- On Laylat al-Qadr.
- Before sahur.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Significance of dua in Islam
Your question shows your desire to call upon Allah, and no doubt this should become second nature to every believer. Allah orders us to call upon Him: “And your Lord, says: ‘Call unto Me, [and] I shall respond to you! Verily, they who are too proud to worship Me (by refusing to call unto Me) will enter hell, abased!’” (Ghafir 40:60)
Allah also tells us: “And if My servants ask thee about Me—behold, I am near; I respond to the call of him who calls, whenever he calls unto Me: let them respond unto Me, and believe in Me, so that they might follow the right way.” (Al-Baqarah 2:186)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “There is nothing more honorable in the sight of Allah than supplication” (Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab al-Mufrad)
Best times for dua
Now, coming to the preferred times for supplications, we can find out the following as the best:
1. During the last part of the night prior to Fajr; this is the choicest time for those who wish to commune alone with Allah. We are told that Allah calls out saying: “Is there anyone to call upon Me?”
2. Before salam in prayer and immediately after salaam.
3. During sujud in prayer after the prescribed tasbihs (phrases glorifying Allah), especially when one is praying alone or offering Sunnah or nafl prayers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Remember, you are closer to Allah in sujud, so make extra efforts in offering supplications” (Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa‘i, and Ahmad)
4. After wudu and after the adhan before the prayer in congregation.
5. On Friday.
6. On the Day of Arafah during Hajj.
7. Upon breaking the fast, regardless of whether one is fasting the obligatory fast of Ramadan or fasting a nafl fast.
8. Before retiring to bed and after arising from bed.
9. Immediately after reading the Quran.
10. Any time when our heart is intensely turned to Allah.
Best time to make dua in Ramadan
During the month of Ramadan, the following times are especially worth noting:
- During the day while fasting, as the prayers of a person who is fasting are especially valued.
- Likewise, when he or she is breaking the fast (iftar time).
- Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Power), during which one should make Dua and Dhikr.
- Before the pre-dawn meal, another time when both Dua and Dhikr are recommended;
- Finally, when the believers are gathered in the mosque for prayers and Dhikr; this is an auspicious occasion for getting our prayers answered, as the angels are present, and there is a constant descent of divine graces.
I pray to Allah to inspire us to turn to Him always with pure hearts, while feeling true love and reverence for Him. Amen.
Almighty Allah knows best.