Central Sermon: “Morning and Evening Supplications – The Path to Allah’s Protection and Blessings” (Video)

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, who has honored us with the blessing of remembering Him and guided us to the path that brings peace and security to our souls. May blessings and peace be upon our guide and role model, the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ’alayhi wa sallam.

Dear brothers and sisters, the morning and evening supplications are not mere customs; they are a means of drawing closer to Allah and protecting oneself from all harm and adversity. The Prophet, sallallahu ’alayhi wa sallam, practiced these supplications and recommended them to every believer because they help us strengthen our connection with the Creator during the most blessed times of the day.

In the Quran, Allah reminds us of the value of these invocations:
“O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance, and exalt Him morning and afternoon.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 41–42).
These moments, at the beginning and the end of the day, are opportunities to turn to Allah, thank Him, and seek His protection. Furthermore, in Surah Al-Imran, Allah says:
“And remember your Lord much, and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning.” (Surah Al-Imran, 41).
This reminds us that morning and evening are chosen times for supplications, moments when we are closest to Allah’s mercy.

The value of these supplications also lies in their rewards. In Fath al-Bari, it is reported that Allah grants great rewards for the morning and evening invocations: forgiveness of sins, the acquisition of good deeds, protection from hardships and trials, and Paradise as the ultimate reward. These invocations are like a fortress that shields us from Satan and any harm that may befall us.

The ideal time for morning supplications begins at dawn and continues until sunrise, while the evening supplications are best performed between the Asr prayer and sunset. Some scholars hold that morning invocations can be recited until midday and evening ones until the first third of the night. In this way, these invocations remain accessible throughout the day, nourishing our souls and ensuring our protection at every moment.

The Prophet, sallallahu ’alayhi wa sallam, emphasized the importance of constantly remembering Allah. In a hadith reported by Muslim, he said:
“Whoever misses a recitation from the night or part of it, and recites it between the Fajr prayer and Dhuhr prayer, it will be recorded as if he had recited it during the night.”
This hadith reminds us that even if we miss a specific time, the invocations can be made up and will not be in vain.

Recitations such as Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas, which the Prophet, sallallahu ’alayhi wa sallam, recommended to recite three times in the morning and evening, promise protection from all harm and the evils of Satan. As narrated by Abdullah ibn Habib:
“When you begin your day and when you end it, recite three times: ‘Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad,’ ‘Qul A’udhu bi Rabbil-Falaq,’ and ‘Qul A’udhu bi Rabbi-n-Nas.’ This will protect you from all harm.” (Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi).
These chapters are a gift to the believers, offering peace and security at all times.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us make these supplications a daily habit, nourishment for our souls, and protection at every moment of life. Allah, the Exalted, says:
“And exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting.” (Surah Qaf, 39).
May these moments of remembrance become a regular practice so that every day begins and ends with the remembrance of Allah.

We pray to Allah to make us among those who remember Him at all times, to grant us peace and protection through the morning and evening supplications, and to envelop us in His mercy and forgiveness. Ameen.

(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on November 1, 2024, at the “Centre Islamique Gazi Isa-beg” in Esch-sur-Alzette)