Dua & Dhikr

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «كَلِمَتَانِ خَفِيفَتَانِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ، ثَقِيلَتَانِ فِي الْمِيزَانِ، حَبِيبَتَانِ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ الْعَظِيمِ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told about two words that the tongue utters without effort and in any condition, they bring great reward when weighed on the scale, and the Most Merciful Lord loves them: Glory be to Allah, the Majestic; glory and praise be to Allah. This is because these two words contain attributes of greatness and perfection of Allah Almighty and exalting Him far above defects and imperfections.

• The best dhikr is that which combines the exaltation of Allah and praise of Him.
• The Hadīth shows Allah's vast mercy to His servants, as He gives abundant rewards in return for simple deeds.

صحيح البخاري (8/ 86) (6406). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2072) (2694). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 480). فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، لابن عثيمين (6/ 519).

عن النعمان بن بَشِير رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت النبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «الدُّعَاءُ هُوَ الْعِبَادَةُ»، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: «{وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ} [غافر: 60]».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that supplication is worship. So, it should be purely directed to Allah, whether supplication is that of request, as the supplicant asks Allah Almighty to bring him what is beneficial and avert from him what is harmful in this world and in the Hereafter, or supplication of worship, involving such words and deeds, inward and outward, that are beloved and pleasing to Allah, acts of worship performed within the heart or through one's body or money. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) cited as evidence the verse that reads: {Call upon Me; I will respond to you. Those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell, utterly debased.}

• Supplication is the basis of worship and may not be directed to other than Allah.
• Supplication comprises the true meaning of servitude to Allah, the servant's recognition of the self-sufficiency and power of his Lord, and the servant's need of Him.
• The Hadīth contains a stern warning to those who are too proud to worship Allah and refrain from supplicating Him: that such people will enter Hellfire, utterly debased and humiliated.

سنن أبي داود (2/ 603) (1479). سنن الترمذي (5/ 292) (3247). سنن ابن ماجه (5/ 5) (3828). مسند أحمد (30/ 297) (18352). توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، للبسام (7/ 546). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (10/ 416). فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام، لابن عثيمين (6/ 480). سبل السلام بشرح بلوغ المرام، للصنعاني (2/ 707).

عَن أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: «لاَ يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ، ارْحَمْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ، ارْزُقْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ، وَليَعْزِمْ مَسْأَلَتَهُ، إِنَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ، لاَ مُكْرِهَ لَهُ». ولمسلم: «وَلَكِنْ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ وَلْيُعَظِّمِ الرَّغْبَةَ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ لَا يَتَعَاظَمُهُ شَيْءٌ أَعْطَاهُ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade making one's supplication conditional on something, even if it is Allah's will, as it is a well-known certainty that He does not forgive unless He wills. There is no point in conditioning one's supplication on His will, as this condition is only relevant for someone who may do something against his will under compulsion, which is something that Allah is far exalted above. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified this at the end of the Hadīth by saying that, indeed, none can compel Him. Moreover, nothing is too great for Allah to give; He is not incapable of anything, nor is there anything too great for Him that one would say: if You will. Making supplication conditional on His will is a form of being self-sufficient regarding His forgiveness. The statement: "If You will to give me such-and-such, then do so" is only used when addressing someone whom one does not need or someone incapable. However, when addressing the Able Whom one needs, then one should be determined in his request, asking for his needs and imploring Allah and resorting to Him, as He is the Self-Sufficient, the Perfect, and the One Capable of all things.

• It is prohibited to make the supplication conditional on the divine will.
• Exalting Allah far above anything that does not befit Him and showing His extensive grace, complete self-sufficiency, generosity, and bounty.
• Affirming perfection for Allah Almighty.
• Having great desire for what is with Allah and having good expectations of Him, may He be exalted.
• Some people unconsciously make their supplications conditional on Allah's will, such as saying: May Allah reward you with good, if Allah wills, or May Allah have mercy on him, if Allah wills. This is not permissible due to the Hadīth in question.

صحيح البخاري (9/ 140) (7477). صحيح مسلم (4/ 2063) (2679). الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد القرعاوي (ص410). الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح الفوزان (ص368). القول المفيد على كتاب التوحيد، لابن عثيمين (2/ 331).

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ، فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that the closer a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating, for he puts the highest and noblest part of his body on the ground in submission and humility to Allah Almighty. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) ordered us to increase supplication while prostrating. Thus, we become submissive to Allah both by words and action.

• Acts of piety draw a servant closer to Allah Almighty.
• It is recommended to supplicate a lot during prostration, for supplication is likely to be answered in this position.

صحيح مسلم (1/ 350) (482). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (5/ 509). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل المبارك (ص780). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 506).

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ رضي الله عنه أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَدْعُو بِدَعْوَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا إِثْمٌ، وَلَا قَطِيعَةُ رَحِمٍ، إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ بِهَا إِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ: إِمَّا أَنْ تُعَجَّلَ لَهُ دَعْوَتُهُ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَدَّخِرَهَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ مِنَ السُّوءِ مِثْلَهَا» قَالُوا: إِذنْ نُكْثِرُ، قَالَ: «اللهُ أَكْثَرُ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that when a Muslim supplicates Allah and asks for something that is not sinful, like asking for the facilitation of sin or injustice, nor does he ask for severing ties of kinship, like supplicating against his children or relatives, then Allah will grant him, through his supplication, one of three things: He will either hasten the fulfillment of his supplication and grant him what he asked for. Or Allah Almighty will delay it as a reward for him on the Day of Judgment by being elevated in rank or receiving mercy and forgiveness of misdeeds. Or He will prevent harm, in proportion to his supplication, from befalling him in his worldly life. Thereupon, the Companions said to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): Then we should supplicate more to attain one of these advantages. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: What Allah possesses is way more and greater than anything you could ask for, for His bounty is infinite and endless.

• The Muslim's supplication is answered and not rejected, provided that its conditions and etiquettes are fulfilled. Hence, one should engage diligently in supplication without being in a hurry for the answer.
• Answering the supplication is not restricted to the fulfillment of the request; rather, it may result in the expiation of sins through his supplication or it could be stored for him in the Hereafter.
• Ibn Bāz said: Persistence in supplication, having good expectations of Allah, and not losing hope are among the greatest causes for answering supplications. One should supplicate Allah persistently, have good expectations of Him, and realize that He is All-Wise and All-Knowing. Allah may hasten the response for a wise purpose, delay it for a wise purpose, or give the seeker something better than what he requested.

مسند أحمد (17/ 213) (11133). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (2/ 592). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص805). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (6/ 54). مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح، للقاري (4/ 1537). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، لمجموعة من الباحثين (2/ 1020).