Al-Muqaddim [The Expediter (He who brings forward)]

Al-Mu’akhkhir [The Delayer (He who brings backwards)]

المقدم , المؤخر

These two Attributes of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala came in some authentic ahadeeth of the Final Prophet Muhammad (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him).
Abu Musa Al-Ashari said that the Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) used to make du’aa as:

Allahumm-aghfirlee khatee-atee wa jahlee, Wa israafee fee amree, wa ma anta a’lamu bihee minnee, Allahumm-aghfirlee jiddee wa hazlee, wa khat-ee wa amdee, wa kullu dhalika indee, Allahumm-aghfirlee ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu, wa ma asrartu wa ma a’lantu, wa ma anta a’lamu bihee minnee, anta Al-Muqaddim wa anta Al-Mu-akhkhir, wa anta ala kulli shey-in Qadeer.
(Al-Bukhaari wa Muslim)

ورد في الحديث الصحيح، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه كان يدعو بين التشهد والتسليم
ويقول: ((اللهم اغفر لي ما قدمت، وما أخرت وما أسررت، وما أعلنت، وما أسرفت، وما أنت أعلم به مني. أنت المقدم وأنت المؤخر لا إله إلا أنت))

The Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) , while praying tahajjad used to say the following du’aa

اللهم لك الحمد أنت قيم السموات والأرض و من فيهن و لك الحمد انت ملك السموات والارض ومن فيهن و لك الحمد وانت رب السموات والارض ومن فيهن, و لك الحمد و انت نور السموات والارض و من فيهن انت الحق و قولك الحق و وعدك الحق ولقاؤك حق والساعة حق والجنة حق و النار حق والنبيون حق و محمد صلى الله عليه و سلم حق, اللهم لك اسلمت و بك امنت و عليك توكلت وإليك أنبت وبك خاصمت وإليك حاكمت فاغفرلي ما قدمت وما أخرت وما اسررت وما أعلنت أنت المقدم و أنت المؤخر لا إله إلا أنت أو لا إله غيرك

These ahadeeth have very important du’aas. Therefore saying these du’aas in Arabic will be very good for you. You can find their translation on the net.

These two attributes of Allah come together and this is only the Power of Allah All-Mighty to expedite or delay whatever He wills. And these are the proof of the Ability of Allah to establish His Commands with His Absolute Wisdom! Allah expedites some of the creation and delays others in their persons, their functions and in their qualities!!!

In the universe, some of the creations are made ahead of others in their strength, speed, usefulness etc. Causes and conditions are made former to the results, and all of these are done according to a fixed measure and proportion. Among human beings, concerning the Deen of Islam, the Prophets (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon them) are made to be the foremost. Also some of them are made superior to others about which only Allah knows, we are ordered to abstain from making any difference among them. Also Allah made some of the Muslims higher than others in the rank of righteousness. Some of the Muslims have more knowledge, stronger Faith, better character and other good qualities. All such expediting or delaying is according to the Wisdom and Justice of Allah.

The Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) used to pray to Allah for the forgiveness of all sins as he (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) used to say:

“Allahumm-aghfirlee (Ya Allah, may YOU forgive me) ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu (the sins that I did before or later) wa ma asrartu wa ma a’lantu (and what I did in hidden and that which I did in the open)”. So we also must pray like the Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) as He came to teach us by the Command of Allah. The Prophets alaihim salaam used to be very innocent although they were human beings and thus mistakes were possible from them. But the real sinners are we. So we need these du’aas much more. We must hope the Mercy of Allah and should never be hopeless but we must try to protect ourselves from making sins and we shouldn’t feel fearless of the Plans of Allah.

Allah said in surah Al-A’raaf verses 97 — -:

97. Did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of Our wrath by night while they were asleep?

98. Or are the people of the townships then secure from the coming of Our wrath upon them in the daytime while they play?

99. Did they then feel secure against the plan of Allah?- but no one can feel secure from the Plan of Allah, except those (doomed) to ruin!

*******************************************************************