Etiquette and Condition of Supplication Compiled by: Abu Abu Hurayrah

Introduction: Our religion is based upon Isnad (the chain of narration of ​ men). This is a unique gift for this ummah which Allaah created as a cause and the effect of it is the manifestation of His promise that He will preserve this religion.

That is why the famous scholar of hadith ‘Abdullah Ibn Mubarak said: َ ﱠ ُ َ َ َ ْ ُ ُ ﻗﺎل اﻣﺎم ﻣﺴﻠﻢ َو َﺣﱠﺪﺛِﻨﻲ ُﻣ َﺤﱠﻤُﺪ ْﺑ ُﻦ َﻋْﺒِﺪ اﷲِ ْﺑ ِﻦ ﻗ ْﻬ َﺰاذ، - ِﻣ ْﻦ أ ْﻫ ِﻞ َﻣ ْﺮَو - َﻗﺎل َﺳِﻤ ْﻌ ُﺖ َﻋْﺒَﺪا َن ْﺑ َﻦ ُﻋﺜَﻤﺎ َن، َﯾﻘﻮل ﱠ ْ ُ ُ َ َ ََ َ َ َ َﺳِﻤ ْﻌ ُﺖ َﻋْﺒَﺪ اﷲِ ْﺑ َﻦ اﻟُﻤَﺒﺎ َر ِك، َﯾﻘﻮل ا ِﻹ ْﺳَﻨﺎُد ِﻣ َﻦ اﻟﱢﺪﯾ ِﻦ َوﻟ ْﻮﻻ ا ِﻹ ْﺳَﻨﺎُد ﻟﻘﺎل َﻣ ْﻦ ﺷﺎَء َﻣﺎ ﺷﺎَء

Ibn Al-Mubarak said: ‘The chain of narration is from the Dīn, and were it not for the chain of narration whoever wished could say what he wanted’.

[This narration is recorded by Imam Muslim in the “muqadimmmah” of Saheeh Muslim with a chain that is musalsal with tahdeeth-Sama’aa and musalsal with the ahlil-Maru’]

So, as Muslims, we must be careful to select what we register as religion. The Quran and sunnah both are preserved precisely and meticulously with this science of chain of narration. Every field has its scholars. The scholars who deal with this specific science are known as the muhaddith or the “Scholars of Hadith”.

In short, if there is an authentic chain of narration, then the information is connected to the Prophet and the narration is tagged as “saheeh” or “Hasan” and therefore acceptable. If a piece of information can’t be reached with an authentic chain of narration that information “Da’eef/weak” hence the information is not acceptable.

We are going to discuss below the “etiquettes and conditions of supplication”. We can only access the right information with regards to this subject if we base our discussion and knowledge only from authentic sources based upon authentic chains of narration…

Supplications are of two types:

a) Legislated supplications: These come with specific wordings and instructions from the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) which are revelations from Allaah. We have to keep them as is. For example Du’a before eating, du’a when entering the bathroom, etc… b) General supplications: Supplications that are left open for people to ask Allaah in whatever language they choose to. For example: a person wants to ask Allaah to give him a job, or a car etc… there is no fixed words for these, left open to ask in any language he/she wishes.

Etiquettes of learning the correct legislated supplications:

1. With regards to legislated supplications, all the following four points have to be based upon authentic hadith: ● The wordings of the supplication ● Any additional instruction associated with the supplication ● The virtues of the supplication ● The reward(s) of the supplication

Below we will discuss in detail these four points by giving examples from the sunnah to make this matter as clear as the sun on a sunny day.

The wordings of the supplication: Most of the time the supplications ​ come with clear and precise wording from the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and in some occasions, it is left open.

So based upon these there are two types of supplications, a) Supplications with precise wordings: Most of the du’as fall in this ​ category. For example:

‘Umar Ibn Abee Salamah reported that once he (when he was a little boy) was eating in the Prophet’s room and the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) corrected his eating manners by saying: ُ ْ ُ ْ ُ ْ ﯾﺎ ﻏﻼُم إذا أﻛﻠ َﺖ ، ﻓﻘﻞ ﺑﺴِﻢ ا ِﷲ ، وﻛﻞ ﺑﯿﻤﯿِﻨﻚ وﻛﻞ ﻣﱠﻤﺎ ﯾﻠﯿﻚ O little boy, when you eat, say “Bismillah” and eat with your right hand and eat from what is near you. [the main hadith is in Bukhari and Muslim and but this version is reported by Abu Awanah and others and has been authenticated by Imam Al-Albaani in his silsilah, 344 and said “Isnad is authentic according to the criterion of the two sheikhs]

So, in such a situation we can’t add anything to the words of the Prophet, it is commonly taught to say “bismillahir-Rahmanir Raheem” before eating! This is of course wrong. The Prophet said say “Bismillah”, then why do we have to add “Ar-Rahmanir Rahim”? Other than the narration of Umar ibn Abee Salamah, there are other reports which shows clearly the sunnah of the supplication before eating is “Bismillah”.

It is not allowed to add, delete or change anything from these wordings. In fact, we have the following hadith that is a clear instruction from the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) not to even change one word from these supplications.

ْ َ َ ﱠ َ َ َ ْ ﺻﺤﯿﺢ ﻣﺴﻠﻢ >> َﻋ ْﻦ اﻟَﺒ َﺮاُء ْﺑ ُﻦ َﻋﺎ ِز ٍب، أ ﱠن َر ُﺳﻮل اﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َﻗﺎل " إِذا أ َﺧﺬ َت َ ْ َ ُ َ َ ﱢ َ َ ُ ُ ﱠ َ َ َ َ َﻣ ْﻀ َﺠَﻌﻚ َﻓَﺘَﻮ ﱠﺿﺄ ُو ُﺿﻮَءك ﻟِﻠ ﱠﺼ َﻼِة ﺛﱠﻢ ا ْﺿﻄ ِﺠ ْﻊ َﻋﻠﻰ ِﺷﻘﻚ اﻷْﯾَﻤ ِﻦ ﺛﱠﻢ ﻗ ِﻞ اﻟﻠُﻬﱠﻢ إِﱢﻧﻲ أ ْﺳﻠ ْﻤ ُﺖ َو ْﺟِﻬﻲ إِﻟْﯿﻚ َ َ َ َْ ْ َ َ َ ً ً َ َ ْ َ َ ﱠ َ َ َوَﻓﱠﻮ ْﺿ ُﺖ أ ْﻣ ِﺮي إِﻟْﯿﻚ َوأﻟ َﺠﺄ ُت ﻇ ْﻬ ِﺮي إِﻟْﯿﻚ َر ْﻏَﺒﺔ َو َر ْﻫَﺒﺔ إِﻟْﯿﻚ َﻻ َﻣﻠ َﺠﺄ َو َﻻ َﻣْﻨ َﺠﺎ ِﻣْﻨﻚ إِﻻ إِﻟْﯿﻚ آَﻣْﻨ ُﺖ َ ﱠ َ ْ َ ﱠ َ ْ ْ َ َ َ َ َ َ ِﺑِﻜَﺘﺎِﺑﻚ اﻟِﺬي أْﻧ َﺰﻟ َﺖ َوِﺑَﻨِﺒﱢﯿﻚ اﻟِﺬي أ ْر َﺳﻠ َﺖ َوا ْﺟَﻌﻠُﻬ ﱠﻦ ِﻣ ْﻦ آ ِﺧ ِﺮ َﻛ َﻼِﻣﻚ َﻓِﺈ ْن ُﻣ ﱠﺖ ِﻣ ْﻦ ﻟْﯿﻠِﺘﻚ ُﻣ ﱠﺖ َوأْﻧ َﺖ َﻋﻠﻰ ْ ْ َ ْ ْ ﱠ َ ْ ْ ﱠ اﻟِﻔﻄ َﺮِة " . َﻗﺎ َل َﻓ َﺮﱠدْدُﺗُﻬ ﱠﻦ ﻷ ْﺳَﺘﺬِﻛ َﺮُﻫ ﱠﻦ َﻓُﻘﻠ ُﺖ آَﻣْﻨ ُﺖ ِﺑ َﺮ ُﺳﻮﻟِ َﻚ اﻟِﺬي أ ْر َﺳﻠ َﺖ َﻗﺎ َل " ُﻗﻞ آَﻣْﻨ ُﺖ ِﺑَﻨِﺒﱢﯿ َﻚ اﻟِﺬي أَ ْر َﺳﻠْ َﺖ " Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported that Allah's, Messenger (may peace be upon said: When you go to bed, perform ablution as is done for prayer; then lie down on the right side and recite:" O Allah, I turn my face towards You and entrust my affair to You. I retreat unto You for protection with hope in You and fear of You. There is no resort and no deliverer (from hardship) but You only. I affirm my faith in Your books which You revealed and in to Your Messenger whom You sent." Make this as the last word of yours (when you go to sleep) and in case you die during that night, you would die upon Fitra (upon Islam). And as I repeated these words in order to commit them to memory, I said:" I affirm my faith in Your Messenger (Rasul) whom You sent." He (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: Say:" I affirm my faith in the Apostle (Nabi) whom You sent." [Muslim\

As you can see, the Messenger of Allaah didn’t allow the noble companion to change even one of the words of the du’a. If we think logically we might not see any issue with it, but religion is not always logical. Religion is to follow the Messenger as he instructs. This lesson if we apply in all affairs of our religion, Allaah will protect us from falling into many errors and innovations prevalent in each and every Muslim lands/culture.

b) Supplication with no precise wordings: َ َ َ ُ ﱠ َ َ ْ َ َ ﺳﻨﻦ اﺑﻦ ﻣﺎﺟﺔ << َﻋ ْﻦ أَﻧ ِﺲ ْﺑ ِﻦ َﻣﺎﻟِ ٍﻚ، َﻗﺎل َﻗﺎل َر ُﺳﻮل اﷲِ ـ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ ـ " َﻣ ْﻦ َﺳﺄل اﻟ َﺠﱠﻨﺔ ﺛ َﻼ َث َ ْ ُ ﱠ َ ْ ْ َ َ َ ﱠ َ َﻣ ﱠﺮا ٍت َﻗﺎﻟ ِﺖ اﻟ َﺠﱠﻨﺔ اﻟﻠُﻬﱠﻢ أْد ِﺧﻠُﻪ اﻟ َﺠﱠﻨﺔ َوَﻣ ِﻦ ا ْﺳَﺘ َﺠﺎ َر ِﻣ َﻦ اﻟﱠﻨﺎ ِر ﺛ َﻼ َث َﻣ ﱠﺮا ٍت َﻗﺎﻟ ِﺖ اﻟﱠﻨﺎ ُر اﻟﻠُﻬﱠﻢ أ ِﺟ ْﺮُه ِﻣ َﻦ اﻟﱠﻨﺎ ِر "

:said (ﷺ) It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah “Whoever asks for Paradise, three times, Paradise will say: “O Allah, admit him to Paradise.” And whoever asked to be saved from Hell, three times, Hell will say: “O Allah, save him from Hell.” [reported by Imam Ibn Majah, authenticated by Imam Al-Albaani, Imam Muqbil and Sheikh Shuayb Al-Arnaout]

As you can see, in this hadith the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) instructs to ask for Jannah three times and asks to seek refuge from hellfire three times without assigning any specific wordings. So we can say for example in Arabic or even any language this du’a. In such cases, assigning specific words will not be allowed. We leave this open as the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) left it open.

Any additional instruction associated with the supplication

Certains supplications of the Prophet (Sallallaau ‘alayhi wa sallam) come with additional instructions, such as but not limited to, the number of times, at a certain occasion/day/time/place, accompanied by certain action (blowing/wiping) etc… I

َ َ َ َ َ ُ ﱠ َ َ ﱠ ﺻﺤﯿﺢ اﻟﺒﺨﺎري >> َﻋ ْﻦ َﻋﺎِﺋ َﺸﺔ، أ ﱠن اﻟﱠﻨِﺒ ﱠﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َﻛﺎ َن إِذا أَوى إِﻟﻰ ِﻓ َﺮا ِﺷِﻪ ﻛﻞ ﻟْﯿﻠٍﺔ َﺟَﻤ َﻊ َﻛﻔْﯿِﻪ ُ َ ُ ْ ﱠُ َ ُ ْ َ ُ ْ َ ُ ْ َ ُ ُ ﺛﱠﻢ َﻧَﻔ َﺚ ِﻓﯿِﻬَﻤﺎ َﻓَﻘ َﺮأ ِﻓﯿِﻬَﻤﺎ { ﻗﻞ ُﻫَﻮ اﷲ أ َﺣٌﺪ } َو { ﻗﻞ أ ُﻋﻮذ ِﺑ َﺮ ﱢب اﻟَﻔﻠ ِﻖ } َو { ﻗﻞ أ ُﻋﻮذ ِﺑ َﺮ ﱢب اﻟﱠﻨﺎ ِس } ﺛﱠﻢ َﯾ ْﻤ َﺴ ُﺢ ِﺑِﻬَﻤﺎ َﻣﺎ َ ُ َ ْ َْ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ ا ْﺳَﺘﻄﺎ َع ِﻣ ْﻦ َﺟ َﺴِﺪِه َﯾْﺒَﺪأ ِﺑِﻬَﻤﺎ َﻋﻠﻰ َرأ ِﺳِﻪ َوَو ْﺟِﻬِﻪ َوَﻣﺎ أﻗَﺒﻞ ِﻣ ْﻦ َﺟ َﺴِﺪِه َﯾﻔَﻌﻞ ذﻟِﻚ ﺛ َﻼ َث َﻣ ﱠﺮا ٍت

went to bed every night, he (ﷺ) Narrated 'Aisha: Whenever the Prophet used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times. [Bukhari]

Such instructions should be kept as is and can’t be generalized for other occasions. We shouldn’t listen to those speakers (may Allaah guide them) who erroneously say, “when you make the adhkar after the regular salah, you can blow on your hand and wipe on your whole body!” And they say, “the prophet used to do that when he would go to bed”.

The Prophet didn’t instruct us to blow and wipe all the time, only on certain occasions (like in this hadith of Aisha) at a certain time. The best guidance is the guidance of our Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)

The virtues of the supplication

Or course, all authentic legislated supplications are virtuous. But in some cases, the Prophet (Sallallahau ‘alayhi wa sallam) would specifically mention the virtue of a certain supplication.

َ َ َ ﱢ ﺻﺤﯿﺢ اﻟﺒﺨﺎري >> َﻋ ْﻦ أِﺑﻲ ُﻫ َﺮْﯾ َﺮَة، َﻋ ِﻦ اﻟﱠﻨِﺒ ﱢﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َﻗﺎل " َﻛﻠَِﻤَﺘﺎ ِن َﺧِﻔﯿَﻔَﺘﺎ ِن َﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻠ َﺴﺎ ِن، َ ََ ْ َ َ ﱠ ْ ﱠ ﺛِﻘﯿﻠﺘﺎ ِن ِﻓﻲ اﻟِﻤﯿ َﺰا ِن، َﺣِﺒﯿَﺒﺘﺎ ِن إِﻟﻰ اﻟ ﱠﺮ ْﺣَﻤ ِﻦ، ُﺳْﺒ َﺤﺎ َن اﷲِ اﻟَﻌ ِﻈﯿِﻢ، ُﺳْﺒ َﺤﺎ َن اﷲِ َوِﺑ َﺤ ْﻤِﺪِه " . said, "There are two expressions (ﷺ) Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet which are very easy for the tongue to say, but they are very heavy in the balance and are very dear to The Beneficent (Allah), and they are, 'Subhan Allah Al- `Azim and 'Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi.'" [Bukhari]

Here, for example, three specific virtues are mentioned for the two great words of remembrance of Allaah.

It is known in the history of Islam, many innovators/liars used to make up supplications and their virtues to encourage commoners to recite them. All praise be to Allaah, that Allaah raised in every generation the scholars of Hadith who made sure the correct information is preserved in the sunnah. So, be aware of receiving “hadith” through social media claiming such and such virtues of such and such du’as. Don’t be hasty! Stop! Check and verify and then once you are sure it is from the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) [by verifying such du’a is in a book of hadith with a sound chaing of narration], then and only then follow and propagate. This is the true sunni way! There are so other way of verification except submitting to the system that Allaah (ta’aalaa) designed for us. The chain of narration!!

The reward(s) of the supplication

No doubt, all legislated supplications from our Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) are not only virtuous but also fully rewardable by our generous Lord. But it is not allowed for us to assume any reward unless it is mentioned clearly in the text. Allaah is the lord of the supplication, He legislates the words and He decides what reward will be for which supplication. To test us, our Lord decided that for some supplications He would reveal to His Prophet the rewards, and for some supplications, He decided he will not reveal the rewards. So, we should be satisfied with the information He revealed to the Prophet and we seek refuge in Allaah’s greatness from the fabrication of the fabricators and deception of the deceivers who fabricate narrations to lure the simple Muslims to believe in what is not from Allaah!

َ َ َ ﱠ َ َ َ ﱠ ﱠُ ﺻﺤﯿﺢ ﻣﺴﻠﻢ >> َﻋ ْﻦ أِﺑﻲ ُﻫ َﺮْﯾ َﺮَة، أ ﱠن َر ُﺳﻮل اﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َﻗﺎل " َﻣ ْﻦ َﻗﺎل َﻻ إِﻟَﻪ إِﻻ اﷲ َو ْﺣَﺪُه َﻻ َ َ َ َ ْ ْ ُ َ ْ َ ُ ﱢ َ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ ﺷ ِﺮﯾﻚ ﻟُﻪ ﻟُﻪ اﻟُﻤﻠﻚ َوﻟُﻪ اﻟ َﺤ ْﻤُﺪ َوُﻫَﻮ َﻋﻠﻰ ﻛﻞ ﺷ ْﻰٍء ﻗِﺪﯾ ٌﺮ . ِﻓﻲ َﯾ ْﻮٍم ِﻣﺎَﺋﺔ َﻣ ﱠﺮٍة . ﻛﺎَﻧ ْﺖ ﻟُﻪ َﻋْﺪل َﻋﺸ ِﺮ ِرﻗﺎ ٍب ُ َ ُ ُ َ ﱠ َ َ َ َ ْ َوﻛِﺘَﺒ ْﺖ ﻟُﻪ ِﻣﺎَﺋﺔ َﺣ َﺴَﻨٍﺔ َوُﻣ ِﺤَﯿ ْﺖ َﻋْﻨُﻪ ِﻣﺎَﺋﺔ َﺳﱢﯿَﺌٍﺔ َوَﻛﺎَﻧ ْﺖ ﻟُﻪ ِﺣ ْﺮ ًزا ِﻣ َﻦ اﻟﺸْﯿﻄﺎ ِن َﯾ ْﻮَﻣُﻪ ذﻟِﻚ َﺣﱠﺘﻰ ُﯾ ْﻤ ِﺴ َﻲ َوﻟْﻢ َﯾﺄ ِت َ َْ َ ﱠ َ َ َ َْ َ َ َ َ ﱠ َ ﱠ أ َﺣٌﺪ أﻓ َﻀﻞ ِﻣﱠﻤﺎ َﺟﺎَء ِﺑِﻪ إِﻻ أ َﺣٌﺪ َﻋِﻤﻞ أﻛﺜ َﺮ ِﻣ ْﻦ ذﻟِﻚ . َوَﻣ ْﻦ ﻗﺎل ُﺳْﺒ َﺤﺎ َن اﷲِ َوِﺑ َﺤ ْﻤِﺪِه ِﻓﻲ َﯾ ْﻮٍم ِﻣﺎَﺋﺔ َﻣ ﱠﺮٍة ُﺣﻄ ْﺖ َ َ ْ َ ْ َﺧﻄﺎَﯾﺎُه َوﻟ ْﻮ َﻛﺎَﻧ ْﺖ ِﻣﺜﻞ َزَﺑِﺪ اﻟَﺒ ْﺤ ِﺮ "

as saying: He who uttered (ﷺ) Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger these words:" There is no god but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. Sovereignty belongs to Him and all the praise is due to Him, and He is Potent over everything" one hundred times every day there is a reward of emancipating ten slaves for him, and there are recorded a hundred virtues to his credit, and a hundred vices are blotted out from his scroll, and that is a safeguard for him against the Satan on that day till evening and no one brings anything more excellent than this, except one who has done more than this (who utters these words more than one hundred times and does more good acts) and he who utters:" Hallowed be Allah, and all praise is due to Him," one hundred times a day, his sins are obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the ocean. [Muslim]

We should stay away from ascribing false virtues and or false rewards for du’as that are not found in any authentic text.

2. We must find good literature and educate ourselves about the actual du’as of the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) 3. Cultural practices, commonly circulated du’as are often made up and invented by the people and printed in volumes of books knows as “wird”/”wazeefah” etc… We must educate the mass against these books and the circulation of such widespread innovations! 4. Du’as are likea prescription of medicine. When we go to a doctor and he gives a certain medicine with a certain dose, we are not supposed to add our own dose to it. We are not supposed to use certain medicine for a certain disease for another unrelated disease. We must not take medicine without consulting doctors. Similarly, these du’as are like a prescription from Allaah. He is the legislator! He decides what du’a to say when and how many times. He decides whether we should wipe or not, whether we should blow or not. Once we understand this simple sunni concept (which is not taught very commonly except by the true sunni people of knowledge), we will be able to save ourselves from fake du’as and innovative practices.

Al-‘Allaamah, the faqih, the Muhaddith ‘Abdur-Rahman Ibn Yah’ya al-Mu’allimi Al-Yamani [died 1386H, 1966 AD] (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book al-‘Ibaadah (p. 524):

َ " وﻣﺎ أﺧﺴﺮ ﺻﻔﻘﺔ ﻣﻦ َﯾَﺪ ِع اﻷدﻋﯿﺔ اﻟﺜﺎﺑﺘﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻛﺘﺎب اﷲ ﻋﺰ وﺟﻞ أو ﻓﻲ ﺳﻨﺔ رﺳﻮل اﷲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ ﻓﻼ ﯾﻜﺎد ﯾﺪﻋﻮ ﺑﻬﺎ ، ﺛﻢ ﯾﻌﻤﺪ إﻟﻰ ﻏﯿﺮﻫﺎ ﻓﯿﺘﺤﺮاه وﯾﻮاﻇﺐ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ ، أﻟﯿﺲ ﻫﺬا ﻣﻦ اﻟﻈﻠﻢ واﻟﻌﺪوان ؟! " اﻧﺘﻬﻰ

What a great loss is incurred by the one who forsakes the supplications that are proven in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), so he hardly calls upon Allah by them, and he goes to something else and recites it regularly. Is this not wrongdoing and transgression? End quote.

Below are some good books recommended to read: ● The books of sunnah have separate books dedicated to supplication. If you visit .ﻛﺘﺎب اﻟﺪﻋﻮات For example Sahih Al-Bukhari: book 80 www.sunnah.com - you can find some of the major books of sunnah ​ that have such books and chapters… [Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah also has separate books dedicated to supplications] ● Hisn al-Muslim by al-Qahtaani, published by Musasat al-Juraysi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is translated and is published by Dar-us-salaam publication ● Book of Supplication by Sheikh Husayn Al-Awayshah [Translated] ● Book of Sayyidul Istighfar by Sheikh Abdul Muhsin Al-’Abbad [Translated] ● Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah by al-Nisaa'i, edited by Faarooq Hamaadah ● Saheeh al-Kalim al-Tayyib by al-Albaani, al-Maktab al-Islami, Beirut, Lebanon [Translated]

Now, we will discuss in general some etiquette that is applicable for supplications of all types.

1. Supplication is a form of worship!

َ ُ ﺟﺎﻣﻊ اﻟﺘﺮﻣﺬي >> َﻋ ِﻦ اﻟﱡﻨ ْﻌَﻤﺎ ِن ْﺑ ِﻦ َﺑ ِﺸﯿ ٍﺮ، َﻋ ِﻦ اﻟﱠﻨِﺒ ﱢﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ ِﻓﻲ َﻗ ْﻮﻟِِﻪ : ( َوَﻗﺎل َرﱡﺑﻜُﻢ اْد ُﻋﻮِﻧﻲ َ َُ َ ْ َ َ ُ َ َُ َ أ ْﺳَﺘ ِﺠ ْﺐ ﻟﻜْﻢ ) َﻗﺎل " اﻟﱡﺪ َﻋﺎُء ُﻫَﻮ اﻟِﻌَﺒﺎَدُة " . َوَﻗ َﺮأ : ( َوَﻗﺎل َرﱡﺑﻜُﻢ اْد ُﻋﻮِﻧﻲ أ ْﺳَﺘ ِﺠ ْﺐ ﻟﻜْﻢ ) إِﻟﻰ َﻗ ْﻮﻟِِﻪ ( َدا ِﺧ ِﺮﯾ َﻦ ) . َﻗﺎ َل أَُﺑﻮ ِﻋﯿ َﺴﻰ َﻫَﺬا َﺣِﺪﯾ ٌﺚ َﺣ َﺴ ٌﻦ َﺻ ِﺤﯿ ٌﺢ regarding Allah's (ﷺ) Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: from the Prophet saying “Your Lord said: Invoke Me, I shall respond to you” (40:60).

He (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: "The supplication is the worship." And he (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) recited: 'Your Lord said: Invoke Me, I shall respond to you.' up to His saying: 'in humiliation.'" [Tirmidhi, authenticated by Imam Al-Albaani]

This hadith is a proof that since supplication is a form worship, we must fulfil two condition: a) Du’a must be only for the sake of Allaah and directed to Him and Him only! b) It must be based upon the sunnah of the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)

supplication is the marrow/essence of worship” reported by Tirmidhi“ اﻟﱡﺪﻋﺎُء ُﻣ ﱡﺦ اﻟِﻌﺒﺎدِة Note: As for the hadith] and Tabarani has Ibn Laheeyah in the chain who has very bad memory. Hence the hadith has been graded as weak by Al-Albani and others but Imam Al-Albani says the “meaning of the words are correct”. This means that we can’t attribute this hadith to the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam even though the meaning doesn’t contradict the shariah of al-Islam.]

2. It is recommended to start supplication with the praise of Allaah, salah upon the prophet and then the general du’a

ﺳﻨﻦ اﺑﻰ داود << ﻋﻦ َﻓ َﻀﺎﻟََﺔ ْﺑ َﻦ ُﻋَﺒْﯿٍﺪ، َﺻﺎ ِﺣ َﺐ َر ُﺳﻮ ِل ا ﱠﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َﯾُﻘﻮ ُل َﺳِﻤ َﻊ َر ُﺳﻮ ُل ا ﱠﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ ﱠ ﱢ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َر ُﺟ ًﻼ َﯾْﺪ ُﻋﻮ ِﻓﻲ َﺻ َﻼِﺗِﻪ ﻟَْﻢ ُﯾَﻤ ﱢﺠِﺪ اﷲَ َﺗَﻌﺎﻟَﻰ َوﻟَْﻢ ُﯾ َﺼﻞ َﻋﻠَﻰ اﻟﱠﻨِﺒ ﱢﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َﻓَﻘﺎ َل ُ ﱠ َ َ ُ َ َ َ َ ﱠ َ ُ ْ ْ َر ُﺳﻮل اﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ " َﻋ ِﺠﻞ َﻫﺬا " . ﺛﱠﻢ َد َﻋﺎُه َﻓَﻘﺎل ﻟُﻪ أ ْو ﻟَِﻐْﯿ ِﺮِه " إِذا َﺻﻠﻰ أ َﺣُﺪﻛْﻢ َﻓﻠَﯿْﺒَﺪأ ِﺑَﺘ ْﺤِﻤﯿِﺪ َرﱢﺑِﻪ ﱠ ﱠ ُ ﱢ ُ َﺟﻞ َو َﻋ ﱠﺰ َواﻟﺜَﻨﺎِء َﻋﻠَْﯿِﻪ ﺛﱠﻢ ُﯾ َﺼﻠﻲ َﻋﻠَﻰ اﻟﱠﻨِﺒ ﱢﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ ﺛﱠﻢ َﯾْﺪ ُﻋﻮ َﺑ ْﻌُﺪ ِﺑَﻤﺎ َﺷﺎَء "

heard a person (ﷺ) Narrated Fudalah ibn Ubayd:The Messenger of Allah supplicating during prayer. He did not mention the greatness of Allah, nor ) The Messenger of Allah .(ﷺ) did he invoke blessings on the Prophet said: He made haste. He then called him and said either to him or to (ﷺ any other person: If any of you prays, he should mention the exaltation of his Lord in the beginning and praise Him; he should then invoke blessings thereafter he should supplicate Allah for anything he ;(ﷺ) on the Prophet wishes. [authenticated by Imam Muqbil Ibn Hadee al-Wadee’ee and others] ​

3. Not to be headless in Dua!

Allaah ta’aalaa says in Sura Al-A’raf, verse 205:

ْ ُ َ ْ َ ً ً ْ ْ ْ ُ ْ َواذﻛﺮ ﱠرﱠﺑﻚ ِﻓﻲ َﻧﻔ ِﺴﻚ َﺗ َﻀ ﱡﺮﻋﺎ َو ِﺧﯿَﻔﺔ َوُدو َن اﻟ َﺠ ْﻬ ِﺮ ِﻣ َﻦ اﻟَﻘ ْﻮ ِل ِﺑﺎﻟُﻐُﺪﱢو َواﻵ َﺻﺎ ِل َو َﻻ َﺗﻜﻦ ﱢﻣ َﻦ اﻟَﻐﺎِﻓﻠِﯿ َﻦ

And remember your Lord by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear without loudness in words in the mornings, and in the afternoons and be not of those who are neglectful.

4. Not to be hasty and not to give up or lose hope

َ َ َ ُ ْ َ ﺻﺤﯿﺢ ﻣﺴﻠﻢ >> َﻋ ْﻦ أِﺑﻲ ُﻫ َﺮْﯾ َﺮَة، َﻋ ِﻦ اﻟﱠﻨِﺒ ﱢﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ أﱠﻧُﻪ َﻗﺎل " َﻻ َﯾ َﺰال ُﯾ ْﺴَﺘ َﺠﺎ ُب ﻟِﻠَﻌْﺒِﺪ َﻣﺎ ﻟْﻢ َﯾْﺪ ُع ْ َ َ َ ْ َ َ ﱠ ُ َ َ ُ ُ َ َ ََ ِﺑِﺈﺛٍﻢ أ ْو ﻗ ِﻄﯿَﻌِﺔ َر ِﺣٍﻢ َﻣﺎ ﻟْﻢ َﯾ ْﺴَﺘ ْﻌ ِﺠﻞ " . ِﻗﯿﻞ َﯾﺎ َر ُﺳﻮل اﷲِ َﻣﺎ ا ِﻻ ْﺳِﺘ ْﻌ َﺠﺎل ﻗﺎل " َﯾﻘﻮل ﻗْﺪ َد َﻋ ْﻮ ُت َوﻗْﺪ َد َﻋ ْﻮ ُت ﻓﻠْﻢ َ أ َر َﯾ ْﺴَﺘ ِﺠﯿ ُﺐ ﻟِﻲ َﻓَﯿ ْﺴَﺘ ْﺤ ِﺴ ُﺮ ِﻋْﻨَﺪ َذﻟِ َﻚ َوَﯾَﺪ ُع اﻟﱡﺪ َﻋﺎَء " as saying: The supplication (ﷺ) Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger of the servant is granted in case he does not supplicate for sin or for severing the ties of blood, or he does not become impatient. It was said: Allah's Messenger, what does:" If he does not grow impatient" imply? He said: That he should say like this: I supplicated and I supplicated but I did not find it being responded to. and then he becomes frustrated and abandons supplication. [Muslim]

5. Must ask with certainty

َ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ ُ ﱠ ﺻﺤﯿﺢ اﻟﺒﺨﺎرى >> َﻋ ْﻦ َﻫﱠﻤﺎٍم، َﺳِﻤ َﻊ أَﺑﺎ ُﻫ َﺮْﯾ َﺮَة، َﻋ ِﻦ اﻟﱠﻨِﺒ ﱢﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ ﻗﺎل " ﻻ َﯾﻘﻞ أ َﺣُﺪﻛُﻢ اﻟﻠُﻬﱠﻢ ْ ْ ََ ْ ُ ْ َ ا ْﻏِﻔ ْﺮ ﻟِﻲ إِ ْن ِﺷْﺌ َﺖ، ا ْر َﺣ ْﻤِﻨﻲ إِ ْن ِﺷْﺌ َﺖ، ا ْر ُزﻗِﻨﻲ إِ ْن ِﺷْﺌ َﺖ، َوﻟَﯿ ْﻌ ِﺰْم َﻣ ْﺴﺄﻟَﺘُﻪ، إِﱠﻧُﻪ َﯾﻔَﻌﻞ َﻣﺎ َﯾ َﺸﺎُء، َﻻ ُﻣﻜ ِﺮَه ﻟُﻪ "

said, "None of you should say: 'O (ﷺ) Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet Allah! Forgive me if You wish,' or 'Bestow Your Mercy on me if You wish,' or 'Provide me with means of subsistence if You wish,' but he should be firm in his request, for Allah does what He will and nobody can force Him (to do anything). [Bukhari]

When a certain promise is made in a certain legislated supplication we must have full conviction about it and seek the promised virtue as has been promised by the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)

َ َ َ َ َ ﺟﺎﻣﻊ اﻟﺘﺮﻣﺬي << َﻋ ْﻦ ُﺳَﻬْﯿ ِﻞ ْﺑ ِﻦ أِﺑﻲ َﺻﺎﻟِ ٍﺢ، َﻋ ْﻦ أِﺑﯿِﻪ، َﻋ ْﻦ أِﺑﻲ ُﻫ َﺮْﯾ َﺮَة، َﻋ ِﻦ اﻟﱠﻨِﺒ ﱢﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ ﻗﺎل َ ُ ﱠ ٌ ْ ﱠ " َﻣ ْﻦ َﻗﺎ َل ِﺣﯿ َﻦ ُﯾ ْﻤ ِﺴﻲ َﺛ َﻼ َث َﻣ ﱠﺮا ٍت أ ُﻋﻮذ ِﺑَﻜﻠَِﻤﺎ ِت اﷲِ اﻟﱠﺘﺎﱠﻣﺎ ِت ِﻣ ْﻦ َﺷ ﱢﺮ َﻣﺎ َﺧﻠَ َﻖ ﻟَْﻢ َﯾ ُﻀ ﱠﺮُه ُﺣَﻤﺔ ِﺗﻠ َﻚ اﻟﻠْﯿﻠََﺔ " . َﻗﺎ َل ٌ َ ُ ﱠ ُ ُ ُ ﱠ َ َ ُ ٌ َ َ ُﺳَﻬْﯿﻞ َﻓَﻜﺎ َن أ ْﻫﻠَﻨﺎ َﺗَﻌﻠُﻤﻮ َﻫﺎ َﻓَﻜﺎُﻧﻮا َﯾﻘﻮﻟﻮَﻧَﻬﺎ ﻛﻞ ﻟْﯿﻠٍﺔ َﻓﻠِﺪ َﻏ ْﺖ َﺟﺎ ِرَﯾﺔ ِﻣْﻨُﻬْﻢ َﻓﻠْﻢ َﺗ ِﺠْﺪ ﻟَﻬﺎ َو َﺟًﻌﺎ :said (ﷺ) Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet “Whoever says three times when he reaches the evening: ‘I seek refuge in Allah’s Perfect Words from the evil of what he created, (A`ūdhu bikalimātillāhit-tāmmāti min sharri mā khalaq)’ no poisonous sting shall harm him that night.” (One of the narrators) Suhail said: “So our family used to learn it and they used to say it every night. A girl among them was stung, and she did not feel any pain.” [Jame’ At-Tirmidhi, authenticated by Imam Al-Albani, reported by Muslim, Ahmed and others too]

Commenting on another authentic where an equivalent promise has been mentioned, Imam Al-Qurtubi said:

: " ﻫﺬا ﺧَﺒ ٌﺮ ﺻﺤﯿ ٌﺢ ، وﻗﻮ ٌل ﺻﺎدق ﻋﻠﻤﻨﺎه دﻟﯿﻠَﻪ دﻟﯿ ًﻼ وﺗﺠﺮﺑﺔ، ﻓﺈﱢﻧﻲ ﻣﻨﺬ ﺳﻤﻌﺘﻪ ﻋﻤﻠﺖ ﺑﻪ ﻓﻠﻢ ﯾﻀ ﱠﺮﻧﻲ ﺷﻲٌء إﻟﻰ أن ﺗﺮﻛﺘﻪ ، ﻓﻠﺪﻏﺘﻨﻲ ﻋﻘﺮ ٌب ﺑﺎﻟﻤﺪﯾﻨﺔ ﻟﯿ ًﻼ ، ﻓﺘﻔﻜﺮ ُت ﻓﺈذا أﻧﺎ ﻗﺪ ﻧﺴﯿﺖ أن أﺗﻌﻮذ ﺑﺘﻠﻚ اﻟﻜﻠﻤﺎت " - اﻧﻈﺮ " اﻟﻔﺘﻮﺣﺎت اﻟﺮﺑﺎﻧﯿﺔ " ﻻﺑﻦ ﻋﻼن

This is a saheeh report and true words that have been proven to us by experience. Ever since I heard it I acted upon it, and nothing harmed me until I omitted to do it. A scorpion stung me in Madinah one night, and when I thought about it I realized that I had forgotten to seek refuge with Allah by reciting these words. See: al-Futoohaat ar-Rabbaanyyah by Ibn ‘Allaan (3/100).

All these show how we must have the full conviction to seek Allaah’s favors, bounties when we ask Him with humbleness, submitting to Him in hope and fear.

6. Beseeching, humility, hope and fear. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): Allaah (Ta’alaa) teaches us the following etiquettes in the following three verses.

ﻗﺎل اﷲ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ : ( ادﻋﻮا رﺑﻜﻢ ﺗﻀﺮﻋًﺎ وﺧﻔﯿﺔ ) اﻷﻋﺮاف/55، “Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret” [al-A’raaf 7:55]

وﻗﺎل : ( إﻧﻬﻢ ﻛﺎﻧﻮا ﯾﺴﺎرﻋﻮن ﻓﻲ اﻟﺨﯿﺮات وﯾﺪﻋﻮﻧﻨﺎ رﻏﺒًﺎ ورﻫﺒًﺎ وﻛﺎﻧﻮا ﻟﻨﺎ ﺧﺎﺷﻌﯿﻦ ) اﻷﻧﺒﯿﺎء/90 ، “Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us” [al-Anbiya’ 21:90]

وﻗﺎل : ( واذﻛﺮ رﺑﻚ ﻓﻲ ﻧﻔﺴﻚ ﺗﻀﺮﻋًﺎ وﺧﯿﻔﺔ ودون اﻟﺠﻬﺮ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻘﻮل ﺑﺎﻟﻐﺪو واﻵﺻﺎل ) اﻷﻋﺮاف/205 . “And remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loudness in words in the mornings and in the afternoons” [al-A’raaf 7:205]

7. Halal sustenance is a requirement for the du’a to be accepted:

َ َ َ ُ ﱠ َ ﱠَ َ ْ ُ ﺻﺤﯿﺢ ﻣﺴﻠﻢ >> َﻋ ْﻦ أِﺑﻲ ُﻫ َﺮْﯾ َﺮَة، َﻗﺎل َﻗﺎل َر ُﺳﻮل اﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ " أﱡﯾَﻬﺎ اﻟﱠﻨﺎ ُس إِ ﱠن اﷲ ﻃﱢﯿ ٌﺐ َﻻ َﯾﻘَﺒﻞ ﱠ َ ﱠَ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ ُ ُُ ﱠ ُ إِﻻ ﻃﱢﯿًﺒﺎ َوإِ ﱠن اﷲ أَﻣ َﺮ اﻟُﻤ ْﺆِﻣِﻨﯿ َﻦ ِﺑَﻤﺎ أَﻣ َﺮ ِﺑِﻪ اﻟُﻤ ْﺮ َﺳﻠِﯿ َﻦ َﻓَﻘﺎل { َﯾﺎ أﱡﯾَﻬﺎ اﻟ ﱡﺮ ُﺳﻞ ﻛﻠﻮا ِﻣ َﻦ اﻟﻄﱢﯿَﺒﺎ ِت َوا ْﻋَﻤﻠﻮا َﺻﺎﻟِ ًﺤﺎ ُ َ َ ﱠ ُُ َ ْ ُ ُ َ َ ُ إِﱢﻧﻲ ِﺑَﻤﺎ َﺗ ْﻌَﻤﻠﻮ َن َﻋﻠِﯿٌﻢ } َوَﻗﺎل { َﯾﺎ أﱡﯾَﻬﺎ اﻟِﺬﯾ َﻦ آَﻣُﻨﻮا ﻛﻠﻮا ِﻣ ْﻦ ﻃﱢﯿَﺒﺎ ِت َﻣﺎ َر َزﻗَﻨﺎﻛْﻢ } " . ﺛﱠﻢ ذَﻛ َﺮ اﻟ ﱠﺮ ُﺟﻞ ُﯾ ِﻄﯿﻞ اﻟ ﱠﺴَﻔ َﺮ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ ْ ْ ْ ُ ْ أﺷَﻌﺚ أﻏَﺒ َﺮ َﯾُﻤﱡﺪ َﯾَﺪْﯾِﻪ إِﻟﻰ اﻟ ﱠﺴَﻤﺎِء َﯾﺎ َر ﱢب َﯾﺎ َر ﱢب َوَﻣﻄَﻌُﻤُﻪ َﺣ َﺮاٌم َوَﻣﺸ َﺮُﺑُﻪ َﺣ َﺮاٌم َوَﻣﻠَﺒ ُﺴُﻪ َﺣ َﺮاٌم َوﻏِﺬ َي ِﺑﺎﻟ َﺤ َﺮاِم َﻓَﺄﱠﻧﻰ ُﯾ ْﺴَﺘ َﺠﺎ ُب ﻟَِﺬﻟِ َﻚ " . ​

as saying: O people, Allah (ﷺ) Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger is Good and He, therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying: "O Messengers, eat of the good things, and do good deeds; verily I am aware of what you do" (Sura Al-Mu’minuun. 51). And He said: "O those who believe, eat of the good things that We gave you" (Sura Al-Baqarah. 172). He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): "O Lord, O Lord," whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How can then his supplication be accepted? [Muslim]

8. Du’a should not be made against family/property/self

ﱠ َ َ ُ ﱠ َ َ ُ ُ ﺳﻨﻦ اﺑﻰ داود << ﻋﻦ َﺟﺎِﺑ ِﺮ ْﺑ ِﻦ َﻋْﺒِﺪ اﷲِ، َﻗﺎل َﻗﺎل َر ُﺳﻮل اﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ " َﻻ َﺗْﺪ ُﻋﻮا َﻋﻠﻰ أْﻧﻔ ِﺴﻜْﻢ َو َﻻ َﺗْﺪ ُﻋﻮا َﻋﻠَﻰ أَ ْو َﻻِدُﻛْﻢ َو َﻻ َﺗْﺪ ُﻋﻮا َﻋﻠَﻰ َﺧَﺪِﻣُﻜْﻢ َو َﻻ َﺗْﺪ ُﻋﻮا َﻋﻠَﻰ أَ ْﻣَﻮاﻟُِﻜْﻢ َﻻ ُﺗَﻮاِﻓُﻘﻮا ِﻣ َﻦ ا ﱠﷲِ َﺗَﺒﺎ َر َك َوَﺗَﻌﺎﻟَﻰ َﺳﺎ َﻋَﺔ َﻧْﯿ ٍﻞ ِﻓﯿَﻬﺎ َﻋ َﻄﺎٌء َﻓَﯿ ْﺴَﺘ ِﺠﯿ َﺐ ﻟَُﻜْﻢ "

:as saying (ﷺ) Jabir b. 'Abd Allah reported the Messenger of Allah Do not invoke a curse on yourselves, and do not invoke a curse on your children, and do not invoke a curse on your servants, and do not invoke a curse on your property, lest you happen to do it at a time when Allah is asked for something and grants your request. [Sunan Abee Dawud: Authenticated by Al-Albani]

9. Shouldn’t transgress in supplication by making it long, with details wording and rhymed words

ﺳﻨﻦ اﺑﻰ داود << َﻋ ْﻦ َﻋﺎِﺋ َﺸَﺔ، رﺿﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ َﻗﺎﻟَ ْﺖ َﻛﺎ َن َر ُﺳﻮ ُل ا ﱠﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َﯾ ْﺴَﺘ ِﺤ ﱡﺐ اﻟْ َﺠَﻮاِﻣ َﻊ ِﻣ َﻦ اﻟﱡﺪ َﻋﺎِء َوَﯾَﺪ ُع َﻣﺎ ِﺳَﻮى َذﻟِ َﻚ

liked (ﷺ) On the authority of Aishah, the Messenger of Allah comprehensive supplication and abandoned other kinds. [Sunan Abee Dawud: Authenticated by Imam Muqbil Ibn Haadee Al-Wade’ee]

Bukhari reported in the book of invocation under the chapter tilted “What rhymed prose is disapproved in invocations”

ُ َ ﱠ َﻋ ِﻦ اْﺑ ِﻦ َﻋﱠﺒﺎ ٍس، ….. َﻓﺎْﻧﻈ ِﺮ اﻟ ﱠﺴ ْﺠ َﻊ ِﻣ َﻦ اﻟﱡﺪ َﻋﺎِء َﻓﺎ ْﺟَﺘِﻨْﺒُﻪ، َﻓِﺈﱢﻧﻲ َﻋِﻬْﺪ ُت َر ُﺳﻮل اﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َ ْ ُ ﱠ َ َ ْ ُ ﱠ َ َ َوأ ْﺻ َﺤﺎَﺑُﻪ َﻻ َﯾﻔَﻌﻠﻮ َن إِﻻ ذﻟِﻚ . َﯾ ْﻌِﻨﻲ َﻻ َﯾﻔَﻌﻠﻮ َن إِﻻ ذﻟِﻚ ا ِﻻ ْﺟِﺘَﻨﺎ َب

Narrated `Ikrima who said Ibn `Abbas said, ".... And avoid the use of and (ﷺ) rhymed prose in invocation for I noticed that Allah's Messenger his companions always avoided it.”

Unfortunately in masaajid, Imams recited long supplication during the qunut of Ramadaan singing, chanting and using poetic forms of sentences directly going against the sunnah and the tradition of the companions. We ask Allaah to forgive these Imams and guide all of us to what is reported in the books of sunnah.

10. Repeating du’a three times

From the long hadith in Bukhari, Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ud said: َ َ ً َ َ َ َ َ َ ً َوَﻛﺎ َن إِذا َد َﻋﺎ َد َﻋﺎ ﺛﻼﺛﺎ ، َوإِذا ﺳﺄل َﺳﺄل ﺛﻼﺛﺎ And when he (i.e. the Prophet) used to make du’a, he would do it three times, and when he would ask he would ask three times.

This, of course, can’t be applied for all occasions. The legislated du’as can’t be said three times unless there is a specific instruction for such. For example after finishing the obligatory salah, the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to say istighfar three times. We can’t, for example, use this hadith and encourage someone to say “bismillah” three times before eating!

11. Saying du’aa’ moderate voice and not out loud. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

َ َ ْ َ ُ ﱠ ﺻﺤﯿﺢ اﻟﺒﺨﺎرى >> َﻋ ْﻦ أِﺑﻲ ُﻣﻮ َﺳﻰ اﻷﺷَﻌ ِﺮ ﱢي ـ رﺿﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻪ ـ َﻗﺎل ﻛﱠﻨﺎ َﻣ َﻊ َر ُﺳﻮ ِل اﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ ُ َ َ ْ ْ َ ﱠْ َ َ َ وﺳﻠﻢ، َﻓﻜﱠﻨﺎ إِذا أﺷ َﺮﻓَﻨﺎ َﻋﻠﻰ َواٍد َﻫﻠﻠَﻨﺎ َوَﻛﱠﺒ ْﺮَﻧﺎ ا ْرَﺗَﻔَﻌ ْﺖ أ ْﺻَﻮاُﺗَﻨﺎ، َﻓَﻘﺎل اﻟﱠﻨِﺒ ﱡﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ " َﯾﺎ أﱡﯾَﻬﺎ َ َ ُ ُ ُ َ ُ َ َ اﻟﱠﻨﺎ ُس، ا ْرَﺑُﻌﻮا َﻋﻠﻰ أْﻧﻔ ِﺴﻜْﻢ، َﻓِﺈﱠﻧﻜْﻢ َﻻ َﺗْﺪ ُﻋﻮ َن أ َﺻﱠﻢ َو َﻻ َﻏﺎِﺋًﺒﺎ، إِﱠﻧُﻪ َﻣَﻌﻜْﻢ، إِﱠﻧُﻪ َﺳِﻤﯿٌﻊ َﻗ ِﺮﯾ ٌﺐ، َﺗَﺒﺎ َرك ا ْﺳُﻤُﻪ َوَﺗَﻌﺎﻟﻰ َﺟﱡﺪُه " Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari: We were in the company of Allah's during Hajj). Whenever we went up a high place we) (ﷺ) Messenger used to say: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Allah is said, "O (ﷺ) Greater," and our voices used to rise, so the Prophet people! Be merciful to yourselves (i.e. don't raise your voice), for you are not calling a deaf or an absent one, but One Who is with you, no doubt He is All-Hearer, ever Near (to all things).

12. Recommended to face Qibla for special supplications

ﱠ َ َ ﱠ روى ﻣﺴﻠﻢ ( 1763 ) ﻋﻦ ُﻋَﻤَﺮ ْﺑ ِﻦ اْﻟ َﺨﻄﺎ ِب رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻪ ﻗﺎ َل : َﻟﱠﻤﺎ َﻛﺎ َن َﯾ ْﻮُم َﺑْﺪٍر َﻧﻈَﺮ َر ُﺳﻮُل ا ِﷲ َﺻﱠﻠﻰ ﱠُ َ َ َ َ َ ﱠ اﷲ َﻋَﻠْﯿِﻪ َو َﺳﱠﻠَﻢ ِإَﻟﻰ اْﻟُﻤ ْﺸِﺮِﻛﯿ َﻦ َو ُﻫْﻢ أْﻟ ٌﻒ َوأ ْﺻ َﺤﺎُﺑُﻪ ﺛﻼ ُث ِﻣﺎَﺋٍﺔ َوِﺗ ْﺴَﻌﺔ َﻋ َﺸَﺮ َر ُﺟﻼ ، ﻓﺎ ْﺳَﺘْﻘَﺒ َﻞ َﻧِﺒ ﱡﻲ ا ِﷲ َﺻﱠﻠﻰ ﱠُ َ ُ َ َ اﷲ َﻋَﻠْﯿِﻪ َو َﺳﱠﻠَﻢ اْﻟِﻘْﺒَﻠﺔ ﺛﱠﻢ َﻣﱠﺪ َﯾَﺪْﯾِﻪ ﻓ َﺠَﻌ َﻞ َﯾ ْﻬِﺘ ُﻒ ِﺑَﺮﱢﺑِﻪ : ( اﻟﱠﻠُﻬﱠﻢ أْﻧ ِﺠ ْﺰ ِﻟﻲ َﻣﺎ َو َﻋْﺪَﺗِﻨﻲ ، اﻟﱠﻠُﻬﱠﻢ آ ِت َﻣﺎ َو َﻋْﺪَﺗِﻨﻲ ، ﱠ ُ ْ ْ َ َ ُ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ َ اﻟﻠُﻬﱠﻢ ِإ ْن ﺗ ْﻬِﻠﻚ َﻫِﺬِه اﻟِﻌ َﺼﺎَﺑﺔ ِﻣ ْﻦ أ ْﻫ ِﻞ ا ِﻹ ْﺳﻼِم ﻻ ﺗْﻌَﺒْﺪ ِﻓﻲ اﻷ ْر ِض ) ﻓَﻤﺎ َزال َﯾ ْﻬِﺘﻒ ِﺑَﺮﱢﺑِﻪ َﻣﺎدا َﯾَﺪْﯾِﻪ ُﻣ ْﺴﺘﻘِﺒﻞ َ اْﻟِﻘْﺒَﻠِﺔ َﺣﱠﺘﻰ َﺳَﻘﻂ ِرَداُؤُه َﻋ ْﻦ َﻣْﻨِﻜَﺒْﯿِﻪ . . . اﻟﺤﺪﯾﺚ Recorded by Imam Muslim that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: On the day of Badr, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) looked at the mushrikeen, who were one thousand strong, and his companions numbered three hundred and nineteen. Then the Prophet of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned to face the qiblah, then he stretched forth his hands and started to cry out to his Lord: “O Allaah, grant me what You have promised me, O Allaah, give me what You have promised me. O Allaah, if this small band of Muslims perishes, You will not be worshipped on earth.” He kept on crying out to his Lord, stretching forth his hands, facing towards the qiblah, until his cloak fell from his shoulders…

[Note: this is only in special personalized du’as he (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did, not always! As for the du’as of eating, sleeping, morning, evening, then the prophet didn’t face the Qiblah and neither raised hands, had he done that, it would be reported in such narrations…]

13. Asking by Allaah’s Most beautiful names and Most perfect Attributes:

ﻗﺎل اﷲ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ : ( وﷲ اﻷﺳﻤﺎء اﻟﺤﺴﻨﻰ ﻓﺎدﻋﻮه ﺑﻬﺎ وذروا اﻟﺬﯾﻦ ﯾﻠﺤﺪون ﻓﻲ أﺳﻤﺎﺋﻪ )

And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah , so call on Him by ​ ​ them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names. [sura Al-A’raf: 180]

[Note: Watch out for the widespread innovation of reciting certain names of Allaah at certain times claiming such practice brings such and such reward or has such and such virtues. All of these have no proof or evidence except they are nothing but the deception of the cursed Iblees]

14. Making wudu on certain occasion for special supplications:

Imam Bukhari and Muslim reported in a long hadith narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ashari: After the battle of Hunayn… … One of the companions, Abu Amir’s, who was dying, requested the messenger to take the request to the Prophet to seek forgiveness for him (i.e. Abu Amir)… The prophet asked for water, made wudu, and raised his hand saying “O Allaah forgive your servant Abu Amir.” I saw the whiteness of his armpit! [See Sahih Al-Bukhari for the complete narration]

15. Making tawassul by the virtue of the good deeds only done for Alaah’s sake:

This is from the story reported by Imam Al-Bukhari and narrated by ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar about the three men who were stuck in the cave and each of them invoked Allaah by making tawassul of a good deed that they did only for the sake of Allaah! And each time the rock moved a little and finally they were saved from this quarantine!

16. On certain occasions, raising hand is recommended/mustahab

ْ َ /”ﺑﺎب َرﻓ ِﻊ اﻷْﯾِﺪي ِﻓﻲ اﻟﱡﺪ َﻋﺎِء“ In the book of invocation under the chapter title chapter of raising hand in the du’a, Imam Bukhari mentions Abu Musa Al-Ashari regarding the special situation where the Prophet raised hands to make du’as and the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar regarding the Prophet’s raising ﱠ َ ُ َ َ O Allaah! I free myself from the“ ”اﻟﻠُﻬﱠﻢ إِﱢﻧﻲ أْﺑ َﺮأ إِﻟْﯿﻚ ِﻣﱠﻤﺎ َﺻَﻨ َﻊ َﺧﺎﻟٌِﺪ“ hand and saying action of Khalid.”

There are also other special occasions he raised his hands to make du’a:

During the battle of Badr as was reported by ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab [Bukhari] During du’a for seeking rain as was reported by Anas Ibn Malik [Bukhari] When someone asked him to seek to avenge in a wrongful way, he raised No mother's sin can affect her child," as"/” َﻻ َﺗ ْﺠِﻨﻲ أُﱞم َﻋﻠَﻰ َوﻟٍَﺪ“ :his hand said narrated by Tariq Ibn ‘Abdullaah Al-Muharibi [Ibn Majah, authenticated by Sheikh Muqbil]

However, that doesn’t mean that raising hands is allowed on all occasions. So, for example on some occasions, we know it is forbidden to raise hands. َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ ﱠُ و(أﺧﺮج ﻣﺴﻠﻢ) َﻋ ْﻦ ُﻋَﻤﺎ َرَة، ْﺑ ِﻦ ُرَؤْﯾَﺒﺔ َﻗﺎل َرأى ِﺑﺸ َﺮ ْﺑ َﻦ َﻣ ْﺮَوا َن َﻋﻠﻰ اﻟِﻤْﻨَﺒ ِﺮ َراِﻓًﻌﺎ َﯾَﺪْﯾِﻪ َﻓَﻘﺎل َﻗﱠﺒ َﺢ اﷲ َﻫﺎَﺗْﯿ ِﻦ ْ َ َ َ ﱠ َ َ ُ َ َ َ ْ اﻟَﯿَﺪْﯾ ِﻦ ﻟَﻘْﺪ َرأْﯾ ُﺖ َر ُﺳﻮل اﷲِ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ َﻣﺎ َﯾ ِﺰﯾُﺪ َﻋﻠﻰ أ ْن َﯾﻘﻮل ِﺑَﯿِﺪِه َﻫَﻜﺬا . َوأ َﺷﺎ َر ِﺑِﺈ ْﺻَﺒِﻌِﻪ اﻟُﻤ َﺴﱢﺒ َﺤِﺔ Umara b. Ruwaiba said he saw Bishr b. Marwan on the pulpit raising his hands and said: Allah, disfigure these hands! I have seen Allah's gesture no more than this with his hands, and he pointed (ﷺ) Messenger with his forefinger. [Muslim, the reports in Abu Dawud and others explicitly mentions during the Jum’ah prayer]

It is worthy to mention the narration of Salman Al-Farisi as reported by Imam Abu Dawud and others:

َ َ ﱠ ﺳﻨﻦ اﺑﻰ داود << َﻋ ْﻦ َﺳْﻠَﻤﺎ َن، ﻗﺎ َل ﻗﺎ َل َر ُﺳﻮُل ا ِﷲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ " ِإ ﱠن َرﱠﺑُﻜْﻢ َﺗَﺒﺎَر َك َوَﺗَﻌﺎَﻟﻰ َﺣِﯿ ﱞﻲ َ َ َ َﻛِﺮﯾٌﻢ َﯾ ْﺴَﺘ ْﺤِﯿﻲ ِﻣ ْﻦ َﻋْﺒِﺪِه ِإذا َرﻓ َﻊ َﯾَﺪْﯾِﻪ ِإَﻟْﯿِﻪ أ ْن َﯾُﺮﱠد ُﻫَﻤﺎ ِﺻْﻔًﺮا "

Salmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Your Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, is Kind and Most Generous, and He is too kind to let His slave, if he raises his hands to Him, bring them back empty.” [Abu Dawud: Authenticated by Al-Albani and Al-Arnaout. The correct verdict on this hadith is that it is maquuf, i.e. from the statement of Salman Al-Farisi. However, many scholars due to shawahid and mutaba’at concluded it to be marfu’. ]

Here it is important to note that there is no authentic evidence of blowing and wiping the face with our hands after performing supplication.

In some cultures, it is taught that you must raise your hand and say du’a after every obligatory prayer. They teach it as part of salat. This is what is tagged as innovation by the scholars of sunnah. Why? Someone might say didn’t the prophet use to raise his hand! And the answer is yes, he used to, but he never made it a condition for people to raise their hand after every obligatory salah to make munajat! That is why such practice when it is taught (even with good intention) and practiced, it becomes a bid’ah.

17. Congregational du’a is allowed only on two occasions:

Only on two occasions, the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did Jama’ah du’a inside the prayer. He raised his hands and made du’a while the rest followed him in that behind him in the prayer. a) Qunut an-nazilah: Qunut said in the last rakah after the bowing in every obligatory salah (Loud and silent). b) Salat al istisqa: Du’a to seek rain

He never practiced such du’a in jama’ah outside salat. Supplication is an act of ‘ebadah and must be based upon proof. Many people after a class or a talk would raise hands and ask Allaah and others along with him will raise their hands and loudly say “Ameen”. Such practices have no foundation in the sunnah of the Prophet and his companions.

During Eid, hajj, a certain person is put in charge of saying the words of takbeer or talbiyyah and rest chants in one voice with one rhythm the takbeer of Eid and the talbiyyah of hajj. These are all against the tradition of the companions. Takbeer of Eid and talbiya of Hajj are from the sunnah but should be done individually and if it by chance coincides there is no harm but to assign a leader to lead the mass in singing such du’a, then to Allaah we complain of the strange practices of the Muslims of our time.

The people who practice so-called “Islamic mysticism”/Sufism also establish their “dhikr sessions” by singing, dancing, chanting, howling words of praise of Allaah! In some cases, the words are also full of shirk but even if they are good words, a simple question should be asked: “Is this how the noble prophet and his companions used to remember Allaah/seek closeness to Allaah?”

18. We should seize the opportunity of time and place where du’as are accepted! In the sunnah we have several special times and conditions where du’as are accepted. For example, the last third part of the night, du’a made between adhaan and iqamah, during sijdah etc… We will cover this topic with clear evidence in another piece of article inshaAllaah.

Forbidden du’as and some widespread innovations regarding supplications:

● Du’a by the status of the prophet! Saying “O Allaah! Help us by the status/virtue of the Prophet Mohammad/such and such awliya! ● Du’a directed towards the dead, seeking the aid from the dead. Saying “O Ali! Help us!” “O Badawi! Help us!” ● Du’a to ask sinful things (i.e. please approve my bank loan, let my liquor store make millions and then I will donate with that money!) ● Making du’a for the people who died in disbelief (O Allaah forgive Madame Teresa! O Allaah forgive Mahatma Ghandhi!) ● Dream found du’a, wird/wazeefah! ● Using certain Quranic du’as/authentic du’as and making own rules with them. For example, some people say before taking test or when ْ Taha: 114]. No] ” ﱠر ﱢب ِزْدﻧِﻲ ِﻋﻠًﻤﺎ“ you forget something then say doubt the du’a is blessed but such authority of assigning certain wordings for certain issues, only the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi) has such authority. There is no doubt someone can use the du’as mentioned in Quran as words to seek from their lord as they deem it to be appropriate but that doesn’t mean we can assign certain du’a for a certain cause. Such practice is for sure from the commonly practiced innovations. ● Practices like writing du’as and washing the letters with water and drinking the water not legislated in the religion. ● Some write good du’as and hand it around their neck, or hang it on the wall to seek protection from evil. This is plain shirk (associating partners with Allaah). ● Some recite Quran, supplications and blow on the water and drink it. No evidence is there to prove such innovated practices.

Conclusion: This is, of course, a vast topic and the scholars have spoken ​ a lot about this important aspect of our ‘ebaadah. We ask Allaah to guide our hearts and efforts to learning the deen from pure sources and turn to Him with a beautiful turning until the “Yaqeen” comes to us.

I ask Allaah ta’alaa to bless my mother and father and my family who encourage and help me to compile these works. May Allaah bless the great scholars of Al-Islam whose works of authentication is a source of light and guidance for all of us. Special thanks to our teacher and Sheikh Al-Barqawi for his help and support with the authentication of the hadith of the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

Humbly The servant of Allaah who is in need of His special Mercy Abu Abu Hurayrah Sha’aban, 1441 Austin, Texas, USA