“There is not a Muslim upon the earth who calls upon Allah with any supplication, except that Allah grants it to him, or he turns away from him the like of it in evil; as long as he does not supplicate for something sinful, or the severing of the ties of kinship.” So a man from the people said: “What if we should increase (in it)” He (ﷺ) said: “(With) Allah is more.”
Hadith Text & Context
"There is not a Muslim upon the earth who calls upon Allah with any supplication, except that Allah grants it to him, or he turns away from him the like of it in evil; as long as he does not supplicate for something sinful, or the severing of the ties of kinship." So a man from the people said: "What if we should increase (in it)" He (ﷺ) said: "(With) Allah is more."
This noble hadith is recorded in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3573 from the Chapter on Supplication, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of Allah's response to His servants' invocations.
Explanation of Divine Response
The scholars explain that Allah's response manifests in three forms: granting the exact request immediately, storing greater reward for the Hereafter, or averting equivalent harm from the supplicant. This demonstrates divine wisdom in managing what is truly beneficial for the believer.
Imam al-Mubarakfuri in Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi clarifies that "turning away evil" means Allah prevents harm equivalent to what was requested, showing that no sincere du'a is ever wasted before the All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Conditions for Acceptance
The Prophet (ﷺ) specified two exceptions: supplication for sinful matters and prayers that sever family ties. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali explains that these restrictions protect the believer from spiritual harm and maintain social harmony.
Classical commentators emphasize that lawful provision (tayyib), sincere intention (ikhlas), and presence of heart (hudur al-qalb) are essential prerequisites for optimal response to supplication.
The Infinite Divine Treasure
When the companion asked about increasing supplication, the Prophet's response "(With) Allah is more" reveals the boundless nature of divine generosity. Al-Qari in Mirqat al-Mafatih explains this means Allah's treasures are inexhaustible and His mercy encompasses all things.
This teaching encourages persistence in du'a without fear of exhausting divine bounty, as articulated by Imam al-Ghazali in Ihya Ulum al-Din: "The servant's increase in asking only increases the outpouring of divine giving."