It is well known that the Lord descends in the last third of the night and Says: "‘Is there any seeker of forgiveness so that I would forgive for him? Is there anyone with a demand so that I would give him? Is there any repentant person so that I would accept his repentance?’ Until the rise of dawn." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] This is the time during which the supplication is answered and when the slave is in prostration, he is even closer to his Lord and in a position that makes it more likely for his supplication to be fulfilled. This is because Allah The Almighty draws near His slave at the last third of the night and the slave becomes the closest to the Lord while he is in prostration. For this reason, the Messenger of Allah said: "I have been forbidden from reciting the Quran while bowing or prostrating. So, in bowing, exalt Allah The Exalted, and in prostration, be earnest in supplication, for you are in a position that entitles you to have your supplication answered.” [Muslim]

It is most likely that a supplication will be accepted by Allah The Almighty when one, being in the state of Tahaarah (ritual purity), faces the Qiblah (direction of prayer), raises his hands, and then supplicates in that state of submissiveness. This was the practice of the Messenger of Allah who used to raise his hands in supplication so much that the whiteness of his armpits would be visible, [Al-Bukhari and Muslim], just as the Prophet did in all his affairs. It was said in a Hadeeth (narration): "Whenever anything concerned him (the Prophet ), he would raise his head towards the sky; and whenever he strove in supplication, he would say: ‘Ya Hayy, Ya Qayyoom (O (Allah) The Ever-Living, The Sustainer of [all] existence).’"