Hadith Commentary: The Essence of Supplication

This profound narration from Sunan Abi Dawud 1479 establishes that supplication (du'a') constitutes the very core of worship ('ibadah). The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly declares that the act of calling upon Allah is worship in its essence.

Theological Significance

By equating du'a' with worship, the Hadith elevates supplication from a mere ritual to the fundamental purpose of creation. This aligns with the Quranic verse: "I created jinn and mankind only to worship Me" (51:56). Du'a' embodies the servant's complete dependence and submission to the Divine.

The Prophet's immediate recitation of "Call on Me, I will answer you" (40:60) demonstrates that this is not merely his teaching but a divine principle established in the Quran. This connection shows the perfect harmony between Prophetic tradition and Quranic revelation.

Scholarly Interpretation

Classical scholars explain that du'a' contains all elements of worship: recognition of Allah's lordship, acknowledgment of human need, expression of hope in divine mercy, and submission to God's will. Ibn Taymiyyah noted that du'a' combines praise with petition, thus encompassing the full spectrum of worship.

Al-Qurtubi emphasized that the condition for answered supplication is sincerity (ikhlas) and the avoidance of prohibited earnings, as the Hadith implies that improper du'a' may not be accepted. The worshipper must ensure their life conforms to Islamic principles.

Practical Implications

This teaching encourages believers to maintain constant communication with Allah through supplication in all circumstances - in times of ease and difficulty, in prayer and outside formal worship. It transforms every moment into an opportunity for worship through heartfelt invocation.

The guarantee of divine response ("I will answer you") should inspire confidence and persistence in supplication, while understanding that Allah's wisdom determines the form and timing of the response, which may differ from human expectations.