Hadith: O Allah, Lord of Jibrīl, Mikha'īl, and Israfil, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your slaves concerning that in which they used to differ. Guide me, by Your permission, to the truth about which people differ. Verily, You guide whom You will to the straight path

عن أبي سَلَمة بن عبد الرحمن بن عَوْف، قال: سألتُ عائشةَ أمَّ المؤمنين رضي الله عنها ، بأيِّ شيء كان نبيُّ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يفتَتِح صلاتَه إذا قام من الليل؟ قالت: كان إذا قام من الليل افتتح صلاتَه: «اللهمَّ ربَّ جِبرائيل، ومِيكائيل، وإسرافيل، فاطرَ السماوات والأرض، عالمَ الغيب والشهادة، أنت تحكم بين عبادك فيما كانوا فيه يختلفون، اهدني لما اختُلِف فيه من الحق بإذنك، إنَّك تهدي مَن تشاء إلى صراطٍ مستقيمٍ».
[صحيح] - [رواه مسلم]

Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf reported: I asked ‘Ā'ishah, the Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) about the words with which the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to commence his voluntary night prayer. She said that when he got up at night, he would commence his prayer with these words: "O Allah, Lord of Jibrīl, Mikha'īl, and Israfil, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You judge between Your slaves concerning that in which they used to differ. Guide me, by Your permission, to the truth about which people differ. Verily, You guide whom You will to the straight path!"
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Muslim]

Explanation

Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf asked ‘Ā'ishah, the Mother of the Believers, about the supplication that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to make when he would commence his night prayer. She said that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to make the following supplication at the start of his night prayer: "O Allah, Lord of Jibrīl, Mikha'īl, and Israfil"; he ascribed these three angels in particular to Allah, although He is the Lord of everything, as an indication of their superiority over all other angels. He mentioned Jibrīl first because he is trusted with revelation from the heavens, so all religious affairs come down through him. Israfil was mentioned last because he is the one who will blow the horn to signal the coming of the Hour. Mikha'īl was mentioned in the middle because he is the angel in charge of the rain and plants and similar affairs related to people's sustenance in this worldly life. "Originator of the heavens and the earth"; the Creator and Inventor of the heavens and earth. "Knower of the unseen and the seen"; You are all-knowing of what the slaves see and what they do not see. "You judge between Your slaves concerning that in which they used to differ"; You decide between them in the religious affairs about which they used to differ in this worldly life. "Guide me, by Your permission, to the truth about which people differ"; guide me to the truth in the affairs that people differ in, religious affairs as well as worldly affairs, by granting me success and facilitating this for me. "Verily, You guide whom You will to the straight path"; You guide whomever You will to the path of truth and righteousness!