"Abu Al-Qasim (ﷺ) said: 'On Friday, there is an hour when, if a Muslim slave stands in prayer and asks Allah for something at that time, He will give it to him.'" He was reducing it: lessening it.
The Book of Jumu'ah (Friday Prayer) - Sunan an-Nasa'i 1432
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i concerns the special hour of acceptance during Friday when supplications are answered. The phrase "He was reducing it: lessening it" indicates the narrator's effort to precisely convey the Prophet's concise wording.
Textual Analysis
"Abu Al-Qasim" refers to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, one of his honorable kunyah (patronymic). The term "Muslim slave" emphasizes the believer's dual status as both servant of Allah and member of the Islamic community.
"Stands in prayer" indicates the ideal state for supplication - engaged in sincere worship, demonstrating both physical and spiritual preparedness to receive divine grace.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars differ regarding the precise timing of this blessed hour. The majority opinion holds it occurs between the imam's sitting on the pulpit until the prayer's conclusion. Others suggest it is the final hour before sunset.
The unrestricted promise "He will give it to him" applies to righteous requests aligning with divine wisdom. Allah may grant the exact request, substitute something better, or avert equivalent harm.
This hadith encourages Muslims to intensify supplication during Friday, particularly while engaged in prayer, demonstrating the connection between ritual worship and personal invocation.
Spiritual Significance
This temporal mercy reflects Allah's special grace upon the Muslim community, making Friday a weekly opportunity for spiritual renewal and answered prayers.
The combination of prescribed prayer and personal supplication exemplifies the comprehensive nature of Islamic worship - balancing fixed rituals with personal connection to the Divine.