Supplication

‘Abd Allah ibn Yazid narrated to us, saying: ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Ziyad said to me: ‘Abd Allah ibn Yazid said, “I heard ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr,” from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said: “The supplication most swiftly answered is one person’s supplication for another who is absent.”

Bishr ibn Muhammad narrated to us, saying: ‘Abd Allah narrated to us, saying: Haywah informed us, saying: Shurahbil ibn Sharik al-Ma‘afiri informed us that he heard Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Hubuli, who heard al-Sunabihi, who heard Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, say: “A brother’s supplication for the sake of Allah is answered.”

Muhammad ibn Salam narrated to us, saying: Yahya ibn Abi Ghaniyyah narrated to us, saying: ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Abi Sulayman informed us, from Abu al-Zubayr, from Safwan ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Safwan, whose wife was al-Darda’, daughter of Abu al-Darda’. He said: I came to them in Syria and found Umm al-Darda’ at home, but I did not find Abu al-Darda’. She asked, “Are you intending to perform Hajj this year?” I said, “Yes.” She said, “Then supplicate to Allah for good for us, for the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to say: ‘A Muslim’s supplication for his brother in his absence is answered. At his head is an angel appointed over him; whenever he supplicates for good for his brother, the angel says, “Amen, and the same for you.”’” He said: I met Abu al-Darda’ in the market, and he said the same, relating it from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Musa ibn Isma‘il and Shihab narrated to us, both saying: Hammad narrated to us, from ‘Ata ibn al-Sa’ib, from his father, from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amr, who said: A man said, “O Allah, forgive me and Muhammad alone.” The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “You have excluded many people from it.”

Jandal ibn Waliq narrated to us, saying: Yahya ibn Ya‘la narrated to us, from Yunus ibn Khabbab, from Mujahid, from Ibn ‘Umar, who said: I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ask Allah for forgiveness one hundred times in a sitting: “My Lord, forgive me, accept my repentance, and have mercy on me. You are the Ever-Relenting, the Merciful.”

‘Ubayd ibn Ya‘ish narrated to us, saying: Yunus narrated to us, from Ibn Ishaq, from Nafi‘, from Ibn ‘Umar, who said: I indeed supplicate concerning every matter of mine, even that Allah might give my riding animal a longer stride, until I see something in it that pleases me.

Abu Nu‘aym narrated to us, saying: ‘Amr ibn ‘Abd Allah, Abu Mu‘awiyah, narrated to us, saying: Muhajir, Abu al-Hasan, narrated to us, from ‘Amr ibn Maymun al-Awdi, from ‘Umar, who used to include this in his supplications: “O Allah, let me die among the righteous, do not leave me among the wicked, and join me to the good.”

‘Umar ibn Hafs narrated to us, saying: My father narrated to us, saying: al-A‘mash narrated to us, saying: Shaqiq said: ‘Abd Allah would often supplicate with these words: “Our Lord, set things right between us; guide us to the way of Islam; deliver us from darkness into light; turn away from us immoralities, both those that are apparent and those that are hidden; bless our hearing, our sight, our hearts, our spouses, and our offspring; accept our repentance, for You are the Ever-Relenting, the Merciful; make us grateful for Your favor, praising it and speaking of it, and complete it for us.”

Musa ibn Isma‘il narrated to us, saying: Sulayman ibn al-Mughirah narrated to us, from Thabit, who said: When Anas supplicated for his brother, he would say: “May Allah bestow on him the blessing of a righteous people who are neither unjust nor wicked, who stand at night and fast during the day.”

Ibn Numayr narrated to us, saying: Abu al-Yaman narrated to us, saying: Isma‘il ibn Abi Khalid narrated to us, saying: I heard ‘Amr ibn Hurayth say: My mother took me to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He stroked my head and supplicated for me to receive provision.

Musa narrated to us, saying: ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Rumi narrated to us, saying: My father informed me, from Anas ibn Malik, who was told: “Your brothers have come to you from Basra”—he was then in al-Zawiyah—“so that you may supplicate to Allah for them.” He said: “O Allah, forgive us, have mercy on us, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” They asked him for more, so he said the same again. Then he said: “If you are granted this, then you have been granted the good of this world and the Hereafter.”

Abu Ma‘mar narrated to us, saying: ‘Abd al-Warith narrated to us, saying: Abu Rabi‘ah Sinan narrated to us, saying: Anas ibn Malik narrated to us: The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took a twig and shook it, but it did not shake off. Then he shook it, but it did not shake off. Then he shook it, and it shook off. He said: “The words ‘Glory be to Allah,’ ‘Praise belongs to Allah,’ and ‘There is no god but Allah’ shake away sins just as a tree shakes off its leaves.”

Abu Nu‘aym narrated to us, saying: Salamah narrated to us, saying: I heard Anas say: A woman came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, complaining to him of need—or of some need. He said: “Shall I direct you to something better than that? At bedtime, say ‘There is no god but Allah’ thirty times, glorify Allah thirty-three times, and praise Allah thirty-four times. That makes one hundred, better than the world and all that is in it.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Whoever says ‘There is no god but Allah’ one hundred times, glorifies Allah one hundred times, and magnifies Allah one hundred times, it is better for him than freeing ten enslaved people and sacrificing seven camels.”

A man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and asked, “Messenger of Allah, which supplication is best?” He replied, “Ask Allah for pardon and well-being in this world and the Hereafter.” The man came to him the next day and asked, “Prophet of Allah, which supplication is best?” He replied, “Ask Allah for pardon and well-being in this world and the Hereafter. If you are granted well-being in this world and the Hereafter, you have indeed prospered.”

Adam narrated to us, saying: Shu‘bah narrated to us, from al-Jurayri, from Abu ‘Abd Allah al-‘Anazi, from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Samit, from Abu Dharr, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said: “The words most beloved to Allah are: ‘Glory be to Allah; He has no partner. To Him belongs the dominion and the praise, and He has power over all things. There is no might or power except through Allah. Glory be to Allah and praise Him.’”

Al-Salt ibn Muhammad narrated to us, saying: Mahdi ibn Maymun narrated to us, from al-Jurayri, from Jabr ibn Habib, from Umm Kulthum, daughter of Abu Bakr, from ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to me while I was praying, and he had something he needed. I kept him waiting, so he said, “ ‘A’ishah, hold to comprehensive, concise supplications.” When I had finished, I said, “Messenger of Allah, what are comprehensive, concise supplications?” He said, “Say: ‘O Allah, I ask You for all good, both immediate and deferred, what I know of it and what I do not know. I seek refuge in You from all evil, both immediate and deferred, what I know of it and what I do not know. I ask You for the Garden and for every word or deed that brings one near to it. I seek refuge in You from the Fire and from every word or deed that brings one near to it. I ask You for what Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked You for, and I seek refuge in You from what Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sought refuge from. Whatever decree You have made for me, make its outcome right guidance.’”

Yahya ibn Sulayman narrated to us, saying: Ibn Wahb narrated to me, saying: ‘Amr ibn al-Harith informed me, from Darraj, that Abu al-Haytham related to him, from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said: “Any Muslim man who has no charity to give should say in his supplication: ‘O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad, Your servant and Messenger; and send blessings upon the believing men and women, and the Muslim men and women.’ This will be charity for him.”

Muhammad ibn al-‘Ala narrated to us, saying: Ishaq ibn Sulayman narrated to us, from Sa‘id ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman, the freedman of Sa‘id ibn al-‘As, who said: Hanzalah ibn ‘Ali narrated to us, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said: “Whoever says, ‘O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; and have mercy upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You had mercy upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim,’ I will bear witness for him on the Day of Resurrection, and I will intercede for him.”

Abu Nu‘aym narrated to us, saying: Salamah ibn Wardan narrated to us, saying: I heard Anas and Malik ibn Aws ibn al-Hadathan report that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out to relieve himself and found no one to follow him. ‘Umar went out after him, carrying a clay pot or a water vessel. He found him prostrating in a narrow channel, so he moved aside and sat behind him. When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, raised his head, he said: “You did well, ‘Umar. When you found me prostrating, you moved away from me. Jibril came to me and said: ‘Whoever sends blessings upon you once, Allah sends blessings upon him ten times and raises him ten degrees.’”