A revival of a beloved but forgotten prophetic practice

This lesson explores the profound Sunnah of reciting the last ten verses of Surah Āl ‘Imrān—a practice the Prophet ﷺ consistently performed upon waking for night prayer. Drawing from the narration of our mother ʿĀ’ishah (RA), Dr. Imam Sherif Ahmed highlights how these verses awaken the heart, call the believer to reflection, and prepare the soul for intimate worship.

Key Reflections From the Episode

1. A Neglected Sunnah That Softens the Heart

The Prophet ﷺ would sit up at night and recite these verses before making wuḍū’ and beginning prayer. This was his way of preparing spiritually—clearing the heart and aligning the mind with remembrance.

2. Tafakkur: Worship Through Reflection

These verses remind the believer that the universe is filled with signs for people of understanding. Contemplation, silence, and observing the creation with awareness are powerful spiritual practices.

3. The Qualities of Ulū al-Albāb

The verses describe a special category of believers—those who:

• Remember Allah in all states

• Reflect deeply on His signs

• Engage in intimate duʿāʾ
  This Sunnah cultivates their qualities within us.

4. The Duʿāʾs: A Roadmap of a Believer’s Journey

The series of supplications express:

• Recognition of divine purpose

• Fear of falling short

• Hearing and responding to the call of faith

• Seeking forgiveness and righteous companionship

• Asking Allah for His promised mercy

5. Allah’s Promise: No Deed Is Ever Lost

Allah reassures that He never wastes the deeds of any believer—male or female, whether they struggle, migrate, or are harmed in His path. This is a reminder of Allah’s justice and love.

6. Four Commands for Success

The chapter closes with four transformative commands:
Be patient. Persevere. Remain steadfast. Have taqwā.
These principles anchor the spiritual life.

Full Duʿāʾ (Arabic • Transliteration • Translation)

رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbanā mā khalaqta hādhā bāṭilā; subḥānaka faqina ʿadhāban-nār.
Our Lord, You did not create this without purpose; glory be to You—so protect us from the Fire.

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ...

Translation and transliteration continue…

Closing Duʿāʾ

اللهم اجعلنا من أهل القرآن الذين هم أهلك وخاصتك
O Allah, make us among the people of the Qur’an—Your special and chosen servants.

The Last 10 Verses of Surah Āl ʿImrān (190–200)

Arabic • Transliteration • Translation

١٩٠ — إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ…

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
Inna fī khalqi as-samāwāti wal-arḍi wa ikhtilāfi al-layli wan-nahār la-āyātin li-ulī al-albāb.
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and day are signs for people of understanding.

١٩١ — الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ…

الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
Alladhīna yadhkurūnallāha qiyāman wa quʿūdan wa ʿalā junūbihim wa yatafakkarūna fī khalqi as-samāwāti wal-arḍ.
Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying:

رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbanā mā khalaqta hādhā bāṭilā; subḥānaka faqinā ʿadhāban-nār.
Our Lord, You did not create this without purpose; glory be to You, so protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

١٩٢ — رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ…

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ
Rabbanā innaka man tudkhili an-nāra faqad akhzaytah; wa mā liẓ-ẓālimīna min anṣār.
Our Lord, whoever You admit to the Fire—You have surely disgraced him; and the wrongdoers will have no helpers.

١٩٣ — رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا…

رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا
Rabbanā innanā samiʿnā munādiyan yunādī lil-īmāni an āminū birabbikum fa-āmannā.
Our Lord, we have heard a caller inviting to faith: “Believe in your Lord,” and we have believed.

رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا…
Rabbanā faghfir lanā dhunūbanā wa kaffir ʿannā sayyi’ātinā wa tawaffanā maʿa al-abrār.
Our Lord, forgive us our sins, erase our misdeeds, and cause us to die with the righteous.

١٩٤ — رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَّنَا…

رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
Rabbanā wa ātinā mā waʿadtanā ʿalā rusulik wa lā tukhzinā yawma al-qiyāmah; innaka lā tukhliful-mīʿād.
Our Lord, grant us what You promised us through Your messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. You never fail in Your promise.

١٩٥ — فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ…

فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِنْكُمْ…
Fa-stajāba lahum rabbuhum annī lā uḍīʿu ʿamala ʿāmilin minkum…
So their Lord responded to them: “I will never allow the deeds of any doer among you to be lost—male or female; you are of one another.”

(Verse continues with Allah's promise of forgiveness and Paradise.)

١٩٦–١٩٩ — DO NOT BE DECEIVED… BELIEVERS AND THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK

These verses remind believers:

• not to be deceived by the wealth of disbelievers,

• to remain patient and steadfast,

• and that among the People of the Book are those sincere in faith.

٢٠٠ — يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا…

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Yā ayyuhalladhīna āmanū ṣbirū wa ṣābirū wa rābiṭū wattaqullāha laʿallakum tufliḥūn.
O believers, be patient, persevere, remain steadfast, and fear Allah—so that you may succeed.