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Is the arranging of supplications in a specific sequence, and repeating them an odd number of times, and uttering certain remembrances thereafter, along with raising the hands at some times but not others, considered a bid‘ah (innovation) or not?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Remembrance of Allah (Dhikr) and supplication (Du'a), and seeking the hour of response (sa'at al-ijabah) are all prescribed acts. There is no harm in performing the remembrances before sleep if that is the only free time available. It is also prescribed to repeat the supplication three times, based on the Hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him): "When he (the Prophet) supplicated, he supplicated three times, and when he asked, he asked three times." The desirability of this was mentioned by Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him). As for restricting remembrance to a specific number and adhering to it, considering it a Sunnah, this is considered an additive innovation (bid'ah idafiyyah), unless there is evidence to support such a restriction. A Muslim should engage in the remembrance of Allah at all times, using any of the prescribed remembrances they wish, and should increase in supplication, for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When one of you makes a wish, let him make it abundant, for he is only supplicating his Lord."

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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