Section 1

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Every prophet has a supplication which receives an answer, but whereas every prophet made his supplication in this world, I have kept mine till the day of resurrection to be used in intercession for my people, and if God will, it will reach those of my people who have died without associating anything with God.” Muslim transmitted it, and Bukhari has a shorter version.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ دَعْوَةٌ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ فَتَعَجَّلَ كُلُّ نَبِيٍّ دَعْوَتَهُ وَإِنِّي اخْتَبَأْتُ دَعْوَتِي شَفَاعَةً لِأُمَّتِي إِلَى يومِ القِيامةِ فَهِيَ نَائِلَةٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَنْ مَاتَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم وللبخاري أقصر مِنْهُ

He reported God’s messenger as. saying, “O God, I have entered into a covenant with You which You wilt not break. I am only a human being, so when I have injured, reviled, cursed or beaten a believer, make that for him a mercy, a purification and a means by which You wilt bring him near to You on the day of resurrection.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي اتَّخَذْتُ عِنْدَكَ عَهْدًا لَنْ تُخْلِفَنِيهِ فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ فَأَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ آذَيْتُهُ شَتَمْتُهُ لَعَنْتُهُ جَلَدْتُهُ فَاجْعَلْهَا لَهُ صَلَاةً وَزَكَاةً وَقُرْبَةً تُقَرِّبُهُ بِهَا إِلَيْكَ يَوْم الْقِيَامَة»

He reported God's messenger as saying, “When one of you makes supplication he must not say, ‘O God, forgive me if You wilt, show mercy to me if You wilt, provide for me if You wilt’, but must make his request definite, for He does what He wills and there is no one to impose compulsion on Him.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَا يقُلْ: اللهُمَّ اغفِرْ لي إِنْ شِئتَ ارْحمْني إِنْ شِئْتَ ارْزُقْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ وَلِيَعْزِمْ مَسْأَلَتَهُ إِنَّه يفعلُ مَا يَشَاء وَلَا مكره لَهُ

. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you makes supplication he must not say, ‘O God, forgive me if You wilt, but must be definite and cherish a great desire, for nothing which God gives is burdensome to Him.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَا يَقُلِ: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ وَلَكِنْ لِيَعْزِمْ وَلْيُعَظِّمِ الرَّغْبَةَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَتَعَاظَمُهُ شيءٌ أعطاهُ

. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “A servant is granted an answer provided he does not ask for anything sinful or for breaking ties of relationship, and provided he does not demand an answer quickly.” On being asked what demanding an answer quickly meant, God’s messenger replied, “It is when he says he has prayed and prayed and does not think he will be answered, so he grows weary in such circumstances and gives up supplication.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يُسْتَجَابُ لِلْعَبْدِ مَا لَمْ يَدْعُ بِإِثْمٍ أَوْ قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ مَا لَمْ يَسْتَعْجِلْ» . قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الِاسْتِعْجَالُ؟ قَالَ:

يَقُولُ: قَدْ دَعَوْتُ وَقَدْ دَعَوْتُ فَلَمْ أَرَ يُسْتَجَابُ لِي فَيَسْتَحْسِرُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ وَيَدَعُ الدُّعاءَ

. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Darda’ reported God’s messenger as saying, “A Muslim’s supplication for an absent brother receives an answer. An angel is stationed at his head, and as often as he makes supplication that his brother may be given what is good the angel who is put in charge of him says, ‘Amen, and may you receive the like’.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

دعوةُ الْمُسْلِمِ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ مُسْتَجَابَةٌ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ كُلَّمَا دَعَا لِأَخِيهِ بِخَيْرٍ قَالَ الْمَلَكُ الْمُوَكَّلُ بِهِ: آمِينَ وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ

. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not invoke curses on yourselves, or on your children, or on your possessions lest you happen to do it at a time when God is asked for something and grants your requests.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَدْعُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَلَا تدْعُوا على أَوْلَادكُم لَا تُوَافِقُوا مِنَ اللَّهِ سَاعَةً يُسْأَلُ فِيهَا عَطَاءً فَيَسْتَجِيبَ لَكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

An-Nu‘man b. Bashir reported God’s messenger as saying, “Supplication is worship.” He then recited, “And your Lord said, If you call on me I will aswer you.”* *Qur’an, xl, 60. Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الدُّعَاءُ هُوَ الْعِبَادَةُ» ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: (وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكم) رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَه

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Supplication is the pith of worship.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الدُّعَاءُ مُخُّ الْعِبَادَةِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Nothing is more honourable in God’s sight than supplication.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a <i>hasan gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَكْرَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ»

Salman al-Farisi reported God’s messenger as saying, “Nothing but supplication averts the decree, and nothing but righteousness increases life.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ سَلْمَانَ الْفَارِسِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَرُدُّ الْقَضَاءَ إِلَّا الدُّعَاءُ وَلَا يَزِيدُ فِي الْعُمْرِ إِلَّا الْبر» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, "Supplication is beneficial regarding things which have happened and things which have not happened, so devote yourselves to supplication, servants of God." Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ahmad transmitted it from Mu'adh b. Jabal. Tirmidhi said this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ يَنْفَعُ مِمَّا نَزَلَ وَمِمَّا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فَعَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ بِالدُّعَاءِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَرَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ. وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيّ هَذَا حَدِيث غَرِيب

Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “No one offers a supplication without God bringing him what he asks or keeping away from him a like amount of evil, provided he does not ask for something sinful or for breaking ties of relationship.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَدْعُو بِدُعَاءٍ إِلَّا آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَا سَأَلَ أَوْ كَفَّ عَنْهُ مِنَ السُّوءِ مِثْلَهُ مَا لَمْ يَدْعُ بِإِثْمٍ أَوْ قَطِيعَةِ رحم» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “Ask God for some of His bounty, for God likes to be asked, and the most excellent worship is expectation of relief.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «سَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ وَأَفْضَلُ الْعِبَادَةِ انْتِظَارُ الْفَرَجِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَقَالَ هَذَا حَدِيث غَرِيب

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “God will be angry with those who do not make requests from Him.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ لَمْ يَسْأَلِ اللَّهَ يغضبْ عَلَيْهِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Ibn ‘Umar reported God's messenger as saying, “If the gate of supplication is opened for any of you, the gates of mercy will be opened for him, and God is not asked for anything He likes so much as to be asked for security.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ فُتِحَ لَهُ مِنْكُمْ بَابُ الدُّعَاءِ فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَمَا سُئِلَ اللَّهُ شَيْئًا يَعْنِي أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ الْعَافِيَةَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone finds pleasure in receiving an answer from God in times of difficulty, he should make many supplications when times are easy.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَجِيبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَ الشَّدَائِدِ فَلْيُكْثِرِ الدُّعَاءَ فِي الرَّخَاءِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيث غَرِيب

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Supplicate God when you are assured of being answered, and know that God does not answer a supplication which comes from a careless and inattentive heart.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ادْعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَنْتُمْ مُوقِنُونَ بِالْإِجَابَةِ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُ دُعَاءً مِنْ قَلْبٍ غَافِلٍ لَاهٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حديثٌ غَرِيب

Malik b. Yasar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you make requests of God, do so with the palms of your hands and not the backs upward.” In the version of Ibn ‘Abbas he said, “When you make requests of God, do so with the palms of your hands and not the backs upward, and when you are finished wipe your faces with them.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا سَأَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ فَاسْأَلُوهُ بِبُطُونِ أَكُفِّكُمْ وَلَا تَسْأَلُوهُ بِظُهُورِهَا» وَفِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: «سَلُوا اللَّهَ بِبُطُونِ أَكُفِّكُمْ وَلَا تَسْأَلُوهُ بِظُهُورِهَا فَإِذَا فَرَغْتُمْ فامسحوا بهَا وُجُوهكُم» . رَوَاهُ دَاوُد

Salman reported God’s messenger as saying, “Your Lord is munificent and generous, and is ashamed to turn away empty the hands of a servant when he raises them to Him .” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Baihaqi, in <i>[Kitab] ad-Da'awat al-kabir</i>, transmitted it.

وَعَن سَلْمَانَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ حَيِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ يَسْتَحْيِي مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّهُمَا صِفْرًا» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي الدَّعوات الْكَبِير

‘Umar said that when God’s messenger raised his hands in supplication he did not lower them till he wiped his face with them. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ فِي الدُّعَاءِ لَمْ يَحُطَّهُمَا حَتَّى يمسح بهما وَجهه. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

‘A’isha said that God’s messenger liked comprehensive supplications and abandoned other kinds. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَحِبُّ الْجَوَامِعَ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ وَيَدَعُ مَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “The supplication which gets the quickest answer is that made by one distant friend for another.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «إِن أَسْرَعَ الدُّعَاءِ إِجَابَةً دَعْوَةُ غَائِبٍ لِغَائِبٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

‘Umar b. al-Khattab said:

I asked the Prophet’s permission to perform an <i>‘umra</i> and he gave me permission, saying, “Include me in your supplication, little brother, and do not forget me.” Then he said a word to me for which I would not be willing to take the world in exchange. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, Tirmidhi’s version ending with “do not forget me.”

وَعَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ اسْتَأْذَنْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْعُمْرَةِ فَأَذِنَ لِي وَقَالَ: «أَشْرِكْنَا يَا أُخَيُّ فِي دُعَائِكَ وَلَا تَنْسَنَا» . فَقَالَ كَلِمَةً مَا يَسُرُّنِي أَنَّ لِيَ بِهَا الدُّنْيَا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَانْتَهَتْ رِوَايَتُهُ عِنْدَ قَوْلِهِ «لَا تنسنا»

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “There are three whose supplication is not rejected:

one who has just ended a fast, a just <i>imam</i>, and one who has been wronged whose supplication is raised by God above the clouds and for which the gates of heaven are opened. The Lord says, ‘I swear by my might that I will certainly help you, though it be after some time’.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا تُرَدُّ دَعْوَتُهُمْ: الصَّائِمُ حِينَ يُفْطِرُ وَالْإِمَامُ الْعَادِلُ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ يَرْفَعُهَا اللَّهُ فَوْقَ الْغَمَامِ وَتُفْتَحُ لَهَا أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ: وَعِزَّتِي لَأَنْصُرَنَّكِ وَلَوْ بعد حِين

. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ