Question:
What are the restrictions the Prophet PBUH states for when a person is supplicating?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
We as believers should always supplicate to Allah SWT for the attribute of a human is weak and always in need of his Creator in every situation and time. Thus, numerous supplications have been taught by the Prophet PBUH for us in our daily lives. Allah SWT commanded us to always ask from Him through His statement:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you."
Surah al-Ghafir (60)
According to the above question, there is a hadith that states the restrictions for when a person is supplicating to Allah SWT:
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
لاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ، اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ، لِيَعْزِمِ المَسْأَلَةَ، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مُكْرِهَ لَهُ
"One of you should not say (in his supplication): O Allah, forgive me if You please, show mercy to me if You please.' Rather, be firm in your asking, for no one can force Him."
Sahih al-Bukhari (6339) and Sahih Muslim (2679)
The above hadith clearly states the restrictions of being uncertain while supplicating. Imam Ibn Abd al-Bar states that it is impermissible for a person to supplicate with the mentioned phrase in the hadith for matters related to religion or this world and it is included in an impossible statement to make. While Imam al-Nawawi said that it is makruh tanzih for a person to supplicate as such. Furthermore, the hadith also shows that a person should be determined and certain when he is supplicating, as the same time always have hope that Allah SWT accepts his dua without despair of the blessings of Allah SWT when he is supplicating to the Most Gracious as stated by Imam Ibn Batthal. (See Fath al-Bari, 11/140)
Conclusion
To conclude, a person should be determined when he is supplicating to the Allah SWT. Furthermore, we must believe that Allah SWT will answer every prayer we supplicate to Him, just that it is through His wisdom to accept the supplication through various ways as we have explained in our previous article. The reason is, certainty is a necessity in supplication to Allah SWT:
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
ادْعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَنْتُمْ مُوقِنُونَ بِالإِجَابَةِ
“Call upon Allah while being certain of being answered, and know that Allah does not respond to a supplication from the heart of one heedless and occupied by play.”
Sunan al-Tirmizi (3479) [Imam al-Nawawi evaluate the hadith as dhaif]
Furthermore, assuming only the best from Allah SWT is of utmost importance in supplication. Lastly, may Allah SWT make us from among His slaves whose supplications are granted. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.