Chapter 252 - Some Verdicts Pertaining to Supplications

Usamah bin Zaid (Radhi Allahu Huma) reported: The Messenger of Allah said,

"He who is favoured by another and says to his benefactor: `JazakAllah Khairan (may Allah reward you well)' indeed praised (the benefactor) satisfactorily.'' [At-Tirmidhi].


Commentary: If one is unable to return someone's kindness with kindness, he should say, "JazakAllahu Khairan (may Allah reward you well).'' This means: "I am unable to reciprocate your kindness. May Allah grant you the best reward for it.'' Obviously there is no match for the reward that one gets from Allah. For this reason the Prophet said that it was the best of the praise for a benefactor.

Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah said,

"Do not invoke curses on yourself or on your children or on your possessions lest you should happen to do it at a moment when the supplications are accepted, and your prayer might be granted.''  [Muslim].


Commentary: Almighty Allah always listens to everyone's prayer but He has fixed certain times when He grants more prayers addressed to Him. Therefore, one should never curse oneself or one's own children or one's own business, etc., lest this is done at the time when prayers are accepted by Allah and then one has to regret it all his life.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah said,

"A slave becomes nearest to his Rabb when he is in prostration. So increase supplications in prostrations.'' [Muslim].


Commentary: This Hadith points out the excellence of supplicating while prostrating in Salat, as one gets closer to Allah in this position.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah ,

 "The supplication of every one of you will be granted if he does not get impatient and say (for example): `I supplicated my Rabb but
my prayer has not been granted'.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration of Muslim is:

"The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient.''  

It was said: "O Messenger of Allah! What does growing impatient mean?'' He said,

"It is one's saying: `I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.' Then he becomes frustrated (in such circumstances) and gives up supplication altogether.''


Commentary: We learn from this Hadith that one should continue beseeching Allah without ever thinking that in spite of praying for a long time, his prayer has not been granted. One should never allow frustration to overcome in his mind. If a person's supplication is not granted for a long time, there would be certainly some good for him in that delay the reason of which is known to Allah Alone. It is, therefore, essential that he should never cease to pray whether his prayer is granted or not. Persistence in prayer is certainly beneficial to him.

Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah was asked: "At what time does the supplication find the greatest response?'' He replied,

"A supplication made during the middle of the last part of the night and after the conclusion of the obligatory prayers.'' [At-Tirmidhi].


Commentary: "Al-'Akhir'' is the characteristic of "Jauf'' and in the present context it means the late hours of night. "Jauf'' can also mean here "middle'', that is in the later-half of the night. In other words, if the night is divided between two equal parts then it (Jauf) would be the middle of the second part. In either case it is the time of the night which in other Ahadith has been termed as the third part of the night. It is the time when Almighty Allah comes to descend on the sky of this world. Prayers are also granted by Allah after the obligatory Salat.

Ubadah bin As-Samit said: The Messenger of Allah said,

"Whenever a Muslim supplicates Allah, He accepts his supplication or averts any similar kind of trouble from him until he prays for something sinful or something that may break the ties of kinship.''

Upon this someone of the Companions said: "Then we shall supplicate plenty.'' The Messenger of Allah said,

"Allah is more plentiful (in responding).'' [At-Tirmidhi].

Commentary: We learn from this Hadith that prayer (supplication) is beneficial to us in any case, because Almighty Allah either grants the prayer we make, or if the supplication is not being accepted, He removes some future trouble that was destined for us, or He grants us in full in the hereafter.  A Muslim should never feel shy of praying to Allah. In fact, he should persistently pray because there is no end to His Treasures.

Ibn `Abbas (Radhi Allahu Huma) said: The Messenger of Allah used to say when he was in distress:

"La ilaha illallahul-Azimul-Halim. La ilaha illallahu Rabbul-`Arshil-`Azim. La ilaha illallahu Rabbussamawati, wa Rabbul-ardi, wa Rabbul-`Arshil-Karim. (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Incomparably Great, the Compassionate. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Rabb of the Mighty Throne. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Rabb of the heavens, the Rabb of the earth, and the Rabb of the Honourable Throne).'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: The only medicine in a time of distress is the remembrance of Allah Whose Help alone should be sought. This Du'a contains words which glorify Allah and exalt Him far above all else. It is desirable to recite these words when one is in distress as this is exactly what the Prophet used to recite in such situations.