Jabir reported God’s messenger as saying, “No one offers a supplication without God bringing him what he asks or keeping away from him a like amount of evil, provided he does not ask for something sinful or for breaking ties of relationship.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.
The Excellence and Conditions of Supplication
This hadith from the noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) establishes the profound efficacy of du'a (supplication) in a Muslim's life. It affirms that every sincere supplication made to Allah Almighty yields one of two blessed outcomes: either the believer receives exactly what they asked for, or Allah in His infinite wisdom substitutes it with something better—either by granting an equivalent reward in the Hereafter or by averting an equivalent harm from them in this world.
The Two Prohibitions That Nullify Response
The Prophet (pbuh) specified two conditions that can prevent a du'a from being answered. The first is asking for something sinful (ithm), which includes any act of disobedience to Allah. The second is supplicating for the severance of family ties (qatī'at ar-rahm), one of the major sins in Islam. When a person's request involves either of these, the divine guarantee of response does not apply, as Allah's mercy does not facilitate wrongdoing.
Divine Wisdom in the "Non-Response"
Scholars explain that what may appear as a "non-response" is, in reality, a form of divine care. When Allah withholds what we ask for, it is either because He knows it contains harm for us, or because He has reserved a greater reward for us in the Afterlife. This understanding cultivates patience (sabr) and absolute trust (tawakkul) in Allah's decree, knowing that His knowledge encompasses what we do not.
Practical Implementation in Daily Life
A believer should therefore supplicate with full conviction that Allah hears and will respond in the best manner. One must ensure their requests are halal (permissible) and avoid any du'a that harms others or severs kinship. The etiquette (adab) of du'a—such as facing the qiblah, raising hands, beginning with Allah's praise, and sending blessings upon the Prophet—enhances the likelihood of acceptance, as taught in other authentic narrations.