What is the ruling on prolonging supplication (du'a') after the two rak'ahs of the night vigil (qiyam al-layl), or in the final tashahhud, or after the salutation (taslim) of the Witr prayer, or during the hour of response (sa'at al-istijabah) on Friday, while raising the hands, in order to avoid falling into innovation (bid'ah)?

Supplication and private converse are beloved to Allah Almighty, and the fear of innovation should not be an impediment. Prolonging prostration (sujud) in the night prayer (qiyam al-layl) is desirable, as stated in the hadith: "The closest a servant is to his Lord is while he is prostrating, so increase your supplication therein." Allah Almighty has praised the prolonged prostration of the righteous. However, for the Imam to prolong the last prostration to alert the congregants is contrary to the Sunnah. It is also desirable to prolong the sitting for the tashahhud to supplicate therein. There is no harm in supplicating after the Witr prayer at dawn, because supplication at dawn is permissible by the text of the Qur'an and Sunnah. Seeking the hour of acceptance (sa'at al-ijabah) on Friday through supplication is legislated, but without connecting it to a supererogatory prayer after Asr, for the supplication is done by sitting and striving.