حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، وَغَيْرُ، وَاحِدٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِمْرَانُ الْقَطَّانُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، رضى الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَكْرَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ مَرْفُوعًا إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ عِمْرَانَ الْقَطَّانِ وَعِمْرَانُ الْقَطَّانُ هُوَ ابْنُ دَاوَرَ وَيُكْنَى أَبَا الْعَوَّامِ ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ الْقَطَّانِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏
Translation
Abu Hurairah narrated that

The Prophet said: “There is nothing more honorable with Allah [Most High] than supplication.”

Comment

Hadith Text

The Prophet said: "There is nothing more honorable with Allah [Most High] than supplication."

Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3370 | Book: Chapters on Supplication | Author: Jami' at-Tirmidhi

Meaning and Significance

This noble hadith establishes the supreme status of supplication (du'a) in Islamic worship. The phrase "more honorable" indicates that du'a occupies the highest position among acts of devotion in Allah's estimation.

Scholars explain that supplication combines humility, neediness, and recognition of divine power - the essence of servitude to Allah. It demonstrates the servant's utter dependence upon the Creator while affirming Allah's absolute self-sufficiency.

Spiritual Dimensions

Ibn al-Qayyim states that du'a contains the core of tawhid (monotheism) - acknowledging that only Allah grants benefit, removes harm, and responds to needs. The act of asking itself is worship, even before receiving the response.

Al-Munawi comments that supplication is honored because it manifests the servant's poverty before Allah's richness, their weakness before His power, and their humility before His majesty.

Practical Implications

This hadith encourages believers to frequently engage in supplication during times of ease and difficulty. The Prophet's statement motivates persistence in du'a, knowing it is most beloved to Allah.

Scholars derive that one should never consider any matter too small or too great for supplication, as this act itself - regardless of outcome - draws one closer to the Divine.