Proofs Of Supplication From Qur’an
All mighty Allah (SWT) said :
“And when My slaves ask you (O Mohammed) concerning Me then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by my knowledge) I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on me (without any mediator or intercessor) So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led to the right path.” (Qur’an 2:186)

The Prophet (SAW) was asked by some of his companions: “Is Allah near so we invoke him or is he far so we call him? so Allah revealed this verse, – Allah (SWT) is near He can hear the supplicant anytime anywhere and respond to him if the supplicant invokes Allah (SWT) with a sincere heart and avoid interdictions of supplication.

Allah (SWT) also said:
“Invoke your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) with humility and in secret, He likes not the aggressors.” (Qur’an 7:55)

Supplication is of two kinds. One is worship and the other is a request. So He commands to be invoked with humility which is insisting in request and continuously in worship and “secretly” not loud to avoid “Ryea” (showing off)

Allah (SWT) also said:
“And your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) said: “Invoke Me (i.e. believe in My Oneness) (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation) Verily! Those who scorn My worship ( i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness ) they will surely enter hell in humiliation!” (Qur’an 40:60)

Allah (SWT) said:
“Invoke Me, I will respond to you” , so from His mercy for His slaves He has promised to respond to their invocations but for those who do not invoke Him, He has promised punishment because invocation of Allah (SWT) is an act of worship and refusing to invoke Him ( disbelieving in Him or having doubt in His ability to answer the invocation) is refusal to worship Him.

Proofs Of Supplication From Sunnah
Narrated An-Numan bin Bashir (Ra) (Radhiallahu anhu, meaning: may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (SAW) said: “Verily, Supplication is worship.” (AI-Arbaa (The four) and AI-Tirmdhi, graded it Sahih (sound))

Narrated Anas (Ra): The Prophet (SAW) said: “Supplication is the Pith (essence) of worship.” (At-Tirmidhi with a full chain of narrators)

Narrated Abu Hurairah (Ra): The Prophet (SAW) said: “Nothing is more honorable (most liked ) before Allah (SWT) than Supplication .” (At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim graded it Sahih)

From all the, Hadiths above we see that Supplication is a type of worship and it is honorable to Allah or liked by Allah (SWT).

Manners of Supplication
1. Supplication should start with , “Bismillah…In the name of Allah, Praise is to Allah, and Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah and should end with (Peace and Blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah).”

2. Supplication should be performed secretly and with a present (sincere) heart . Allah (SWT) said: “Invoke your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) with humility and in secret, He likes not the aggressors.” (Qur’an 7:55)

3. Supplicate Allah (SWT) with humility and express your need of Allah (SWT). He said: “Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before us.” (Qur’an 21:90)

4. Insist to Allah (SWT) in your supplication by repeating it many times .

5. Invoke Allah (SWT) by His Names and Attributes. He said: “And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them.” (Qur’an 7:180)

6. Supplicate Allah (SWT) by mentioning the righteous deeds you have done . Narrated Abdullah bin Umar (Ra), that he heard Allah’s Messenger (SAW), saying “Three men, amongst those who became before you set out until night came and they reached a cave, so they entered it. A rock slithered down from a mountain and blocked the entrance of the cave. They said: “Nothing will save you from this except that you supplicate to Allah (SWT) by mentioning the righteous deeds you have done, etc.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

7. Admit your sins during your supplication. Allah (SWT) said: “Dhan-Nun (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him. But he cried through the darkness (saying): La ilaha illa Anta (none has the ,right to be worshiped but You) Glorified be You, Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers.” (Qur’an 21:87)

8. Repeat each sentence of your supplication three times. From the long Hadith narrated by Ibn Masaud (Ra), and when the Prophet (SAW) finished his Salat, he raised his voice and supplicated on them and when he supplicated, he supplicated three times…. ” (Muslim)

9. Face the Qiblah (Mecca) during your supplication. Narrated Abdullah bin Zaid (Ra): “Allah’s Messenger (SAW) went out to his praying place to offer the Salat of Istisqa (rain) He invoked Allah (SWT) for rain and then faced Al-Qiblah and turned his upper garment inside out .” (Bukhari)

10. Raise your hands while supplicating Allah (SWT) as in the Hadith of Abu Musa (Ra): when the Prophet (SAW) had finished from the battle of Hunain, he said “the Prophet (SAW) asked for water, performed ablution and then raised his hands saying ‘O Allah forgive Ubaid Abi Amir.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

11. Be in the state of Purity during your supplication . (See the previous Hadith)

12. When making supplication for others, start with yourself first then include others. Allah (SWT) said about Noah (AS) “My Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) forgive me and my parents and him who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women..” (Qur’an 71:28)

13. Do not be aggressive when you are supplicating Allah (SWT) such as asking Him to make you a prophet and you know there will not be a prophet after Mohammed (SAW) or make you live for ever and you know every one will die.

14. Remember to include your parents in your supplication (if they are Muslims only or they died on Islam but if they are alive and they are non believers, you can not supplicate Allah (SWT) to have mercy on them or forgive their sins, you are only allowed to ask Allah (SWT) to guide them to the right path “Islam” )

15. Be patient. Do not expect an immediate response from Allah (SWT) although this could happen . But if it does not, then you should be patient and continue supplicating Allah (SWT) until you see the results. Narrated Abu Hurairah (Ra): Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “The invocation of anyone of you is responded to by Allah (SWT) if he does not show impatience by saying; ‘I invoked Allah (SWT) but my request has not been granted.'” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Times of Supplication
There are certain times supplication is more likely to be accepted by Allah (SWT) as the Prophet (SAW) said. These times are:

1. The Last Third Of The Night :
Abu Huraira (Ra) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah (SWT)) descends to the lowermost heaven and says; “Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?.” (Bukhari)

2. Late at night, when people are sleeping and busy with worldly pleasures Allah (SWT) gives the believers an opportunity, or an answer hour if they can fight sleep and invoke Allah (SWT) for whatever they need.

3. Between Adhan and Iqama:
Anas (Ra) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: ” A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected.” (An-Nasai and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (sound))

4. An Hour On Friday:
Narrated Abu Huraira (Ra): Allah’s Messenger (SAW) talked about Friday and said: “There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (SWT), then Allah (SWT) will definitely meet his demand.” And he (the Prophet (SAW) pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands. (Bukhari)

Some said this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer’s leader) enters the mosque on Friday’s prayer until the prayer is over where others have said that it is the last hour of the day. (Note: when we say an hour here we do not mean the hour everyone knows (60 minutes) but an unspecified period of time because the time counters which we use today came after the Prophet (SAW) had died

5. While Drinking Zamzam Water:
Jaber (Ra) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: ” Zamzam water is for what it is drunk for.” (Ahmed and Ibn Majah)

This means that when you drink Zamzam water you may ask Allah (SWT) for anything you like to gain or benefit from this water such as healing from illness…. etc.

6. While Prostrating:
Abu Huraira (Ra) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW), said: ” The nearest a slave can be to his Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (SWT) much . (Muslim) When a Muslim is in his Salat (prayer) he is facing Allah (SWT) and when he prostrates he is the nearest he can be to Allah (SWT) so it is best to invoke Allah (SWT) at this time.

On The Day Of Arafa: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: The best supplication is the supplication on the day of Arafa. (At-Tirmidhi and Malik)

7. When Waking Up at Night:
Narrated Ubada Bin As-Samit that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: ” Whomever wakes up at night and says La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shrika lahu lahulmulku, wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shai’in qadir. Alhamdu lillahi, wa subhanallahi wa la ilaha illallahu, wallah akbir, wa la hawla wala quwata illa billah” (none has the right to be worshiped but Allah (SWT) He is the only one who has no partners. His is the kingdom and all the praises are for Allah (SWT) All the glories are for Allah(SWT) And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (SWT) and Allah(SWT) is the most Great and there is neither might nor power except with Allah (SWT) and then says, Allahumma ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me) or invokes Allah (SWT), he will be responded to and if he makes ablution and performs Salat (prayer), his Salat (prayer) will be accepted. (Bukhari)

8. At The End Of The Obligatory “Salat” :
Narrated Abu Omamah (Ra): that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) was asked, O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (SWT), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) (At-Tirmidhi)

9. The Night Of “Qadr” (Decree):
This night is the greatest night of the year. This is the night which the almighty Allah (SWT) said about it, “The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand month.” (Qur’an 97:3)

10. During The Rain:
Narrated Sahel Ibn Saad (Ra): that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: Two will not be rejected, Supplication after the Adhan (call of prayer) and at the time of the rain. (Al-Hakim and Abo Dawood)
The time of the rain is a time of mercy from Allah (SWT) so, one should take advantage of this time when Allah (SWT) is having mercy on His slaves.

11. At the Adhan: (See the previous paragraph)

12. The One Who Is Suffering Injustice:
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to Moaad Ibn Jabal (Ra), Beware of the supplication of the unjustly treated, because there is no shelter or veil between it (the supplication of the one who is suffering injustice) and Allah (SWT) (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The One who is suffering injustice is heard by Allah (SWT) when he invokes Allah (SWT) to retain his rights from the unjust one. Allah (SWT) has sworn to help the one who is suffering from injustice sooner or later as the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said.

13. The Traveler:
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (SWT)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler,. (Al-Bayhaqi and approved by Al-Albani)

During travel supplication is heard by Allah (SWT) if the trip is for a good reason, but if the trip is for a bad intention or to perform illegal things (making sins) this will not apply to it.

14. The Fasting: (See the previous paragraph)

15. The Parents Supplication for His Child: (See the previous paragraph)

Conditions for Supplication
1. One must know that only Allah (SWT) can answer his supplication and He is the only one Who can bring good to him. Allah (SWT) said: “Is not He Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generation after generation. Is there any god with Allah? Little is that you remember” (27:62)

2. One must invoke Allah (SWT) alone and no others. Allah (SWT) said: “And the mosques are for Allah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Him” (Qur’an 72:18)

3. One must be patient

4. One must think positively of Allah (SWT), must have faith in Him and believe that He has the ability to do anything He wants. Narrated Abu Hurairah (Ra): Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “Supplicate Allah with confidence He will answer you” (At-Tirmidhi)

Mistakes in Supplication
1. Invoking other than Allah (SWT)  this is Shirk (polytheism)

2. Wishing to die. Some people when they get sick, and they do not heal soon, or they have some personal problems they start wishing for death.

3. Asking Allah (SWT) to hurry or give his punishment in this life.

4. Asking Allah (SWT) to break the bond of kin-ship. (such as separating one from his parents)

By Abdulaziz Addweesh