Method of Reading Dalail-i Hayrat
There are five different ways to read Dalail-i Hayrat:
- All together in one sitting
- In two halves, divided over two days
- In three thirds, over three days
- In four quarters, over four days
- In eight sections (hisb), over one week.
If you wish to recite this as part of a wird, you should begin recitation on a Monday, and say one Hisb (section) each day. If you miss a day, you may make it up the next day if you like, but it is also okay to pick up with the hizb for that day and continue.
The sections marked “Before Salawat” and “After Salawat” on the following pages are to be recited every day before and after each hizb or section. It is also traditional to recite the Asma ul-Husna (saying “jalla jallallahu” after each name) and the Names of the Prophet (sws) before beginning a new recitation of Dalail-i Hayrat.
Example: One hisb a day method:
- Say the section “To Be Recited Before Beginning Salawat”
- Recite the Asma ul-Husna
- Recite the Names of the Prophet (sws)
- Recite the first hisb, beginning where it says “1st Quarter – Monday starts here” and stopping where it says “Monday ends here”
- Close with the section “To Be Recited After Making Salawat”
The next day (Tuesday) I could say #1 above and then skip #2 and #3 and go directly to the second hisb, and so on for the rest of the week. Then on the following Monday, I would say #1, recite the final, 8th hisb, and then I would have the option to say the 1st hisb immediately to open the next week OR I could proceed to #5 and then start over again from the beginning 1,2,3 etc…
If you are reciting one khatam, or halves, thirds, or quarters, you would follow the same basic pattern, varying only the length of time you spend at #4.