9. Supplications

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

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

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

‘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 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»

I asked the Prophet’s permission to perform an ‘umra 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 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

one who has just ended a fast, a just imam, 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.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " ثَلَاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٍ لَا شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ: دَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ ". رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

that of a parent, that of a traveller, and that of one who has been wronged.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لِيَسْأَلْ أَحَدُكُمْ رَبَّهُ حَاجَتَهُ كُلَّهَا حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ شِسْعَ نَعله إِذا انْقَطع» زَادَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ مُرْسَلًا «حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ الْمِلْحَ وَحَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ شِسْعَهُ إِذَا انْقَطع» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, “Let one of you ask his Lord for all that he needs, even for the thong of his sandal when it is cut.” He added in a version from Thabit al-Bunani in mursal form, “even asking Him for salt, and even asking Him for his thong when it is cut.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي الدُّعَاءِ حَتَّى يُرى بياضُ إبطَيْهِ

Anas said that God’s messenger used to raise his hands in supplication so that the whiteness under his armpits was visible.

وَعَن سهل بن سَعْدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: كَانَ يَجْعَل أصبعيه حذاء مَنْكِبَيْه وَيَدْعُو

Sahl b. Sa‘d told of the Prophet being accustomed to place his two fingers opposite his shoulders and make supplication.

وَعَنِ السَّائِبِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا دَعَا فَرفع يَدَيْهِ مَسَحَ وَجْهَهُ بِيَدَيْهِ رَوَى الْبَيْهَقِيُّ الْأَحَادِيثَ الثَّلَاثَة فِي «الدَّعْوَات الْكَبِير»

As-Sa’ib b. Yazid, on his father’s authority, said that when the Prophet made supplication and raised his hands, he wiped his face with them. Baihaqi transmitted the three traditions in ad-Da'awat al-kabir.

وَعَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: الْمَسْأَلَةُ أَنْ تَرْفَعَ يَدَيْكَ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْكَ أَوْ نَحْوِهِمَا وَالِاسْتِغْفَارُ أَنْ تُشِيرَ بِأُصْبُعٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَالِابْتِهَالُ أَنْ تَمُدَّ يَدَيْكَ جَمِيعًا وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ قَالَ: والابتهالُ هَكَذَا وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَجَعَلَ ظُهُورَهُمَا مِمَّا يَلِي وَجْهَهُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُ

‘Ikrima quoted Ibn ‘Abbas as saying, “When asking for something you should raise your hands opposite your shoulders or thereabout, when asking for forgiveness you should point with one finger, and when making earnest supplication you should stretch out both your hands.” In a version he said, “Earnest supplication should be made thus,” raising his hands and putting their backs next his face. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ رَفْعَكُمْ أَيْدِيَكُمْ بِدْعَةٌ مَا زَادَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى هَذَا يَعْنِي إِلَى الصَّدْر رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “Your raising of your hands is an innovation. God’s messenger did no more than this,” meaning that he raised them to his breast. Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا ذَكَرَ أَحَدًا فَدَعَا لَهُ بَدَأَ بِنَفْسِهِ رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ صَحِيح

Ubayy b. Ka‘b said that when God’s messenger mentioned anyone for whom he made supplication, he began with himself. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib sahih tradition.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَدْعُو بِدَعْوَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا إِثْمٌ وَلَا قَطِيعَةُ رَحِمٍ إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا إِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ: إِمَّا أَنْ يُعَجِّلَ لَهُ دَعْوَتَهُ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَدَّخِرَهَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَصْرِفَ عنهُ من السُّوءِ مثلَها " قَالُوا: إِذنْ نُكثرُ قَالَ: «الله أَكثر» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

He will give him as peedy answer, or store it up for him in the next world, or turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil.” Those who heard it said they would then make many supplications and he replied that God was more ready to answer than they were to ask. Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ " خَمْسُ دَعَوَاتٍ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُنَّ: دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ حَتَّى يَنْتَصِرَ وَدَعْوَةُ الْحَاجِّ حَتَّى يَصْدُرَ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُجَاهِدِ حَتَّى يَقْعُدَ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمَرِيضِ حَتَّى يَبْرَأَ وَدَعْوَةُ الْأَخِ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ ". ثُمَّ قَالَ: «وَأَسْرَعُ هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَات إِجَابَة دَعْوَة الْأَخ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي الدَّعَوَاتِ الْكَبِيرِ

that of one who is wronged till help comes, that of a pilgrim till he comes home, that of one engaged in jihad till he stops, that of a sick person till he recovers, and that of someone for an absent brother. Then he added, “The one of those which gets the quickest answer is that for an absent brother.” Baihaqi transmitted it in ad-Da'awat al-kabir.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَبِي سَعِيدٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَا: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَقْعُدُ قَوْمٌ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا حَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَنَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّكِينَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فَيْمَنْ عِنْدَهُ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Abu Huraira and Abu Said reported God’s messenger as saying, “People will not sit remembering God without the angels surrounding them, mercy covering them, peace(1) descending on them, and God mentioning them among those who are with Him.” 1. Here I have translated as-sakina as "peace” , but cf. p.448, n. 2. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسِيرُ فِي طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ فَمَرَّ عَلَى جَبَلٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ: جُمْدَانُ فَقَالَ: «سِيرُوا هَذَا جُمْدَانُ سَبَقَ الْمُفَرِّدُونَ» . قَالُوا: وَمَا الْمُفَرِّدُونَ؟ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: «الذَّاكِرُونَ الله كثيرا وَالذَّاكِرَات» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira said that when God’s messenger was travelling on the way to Mecca and came to a mountain called Jumdan he said, “Go on, this is Jumdan; the mufarriduna have gone ahead.” On being asked what the mufarriduna meant he replied, “Those men and women who make frequent remembrance of God.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَذْكُرُ رَبَّهُ وَالَّذِي لَا يَذْكُرُ مَثَلُ الْحَيّ وَالْمَيِّت»

Abu Musa reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who remembers his Lord and he who does not are like the living and the dead.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلَأٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلَأٍ خير مِنْهُم

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as stating that God says, “I am present when my servant thinks of me, and I am with him when he remembers me. If he remembers me inwardly I shall remember him inwardly, and if he remembers me among people I shall remember him among people who are better than they.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا وأزيد وَمن جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فجزاء سَيِّئَة مِثْلُهَا أَوْ أَغْفِرُ وَمَنْ تَقَرَّبَ مِنِّي شِبْرًا تَقَرَّبْتُ مِنْهُ ذِرَاعًا وَمِنْ تَقَرَّبَ مِنِّي ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ مِنْهُ بَاعًا وَمَنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً وَمَنْ لَقِيَنِي بِقُرَابِ الْأَرْضِ خَطِيئَةً لَا يُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئًا لَقِيتُهُ بِمِثْلِهَا مَغْفِرَةً ". رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Dharr reported God’s messenger as stating that God says, “He who does a good deed will have ten times that amount of blessing, and I shall give more; but he who does an evil deed will have an equivalent reward of evil, or I shall grant forgiveness. If anyone draws the length of a span near me I shall draw the length of a cubit near him, and if anyone draws the length of a cubit near me I shall draw the length of a fathom near him. If anyone comes to me walking I shall come to him at a run, and if anyone meets me with sins tantamount to the size of the earth, but has not associated anything with me, I shall meet him with a similar amount of forgiveness.” Muslim transmitted it.