The Prophet ﷺ 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 سبحانه و تعالى is near He can hear the supplicant anytime anywhere and respond to him if the supplicant invokes Allah سبحانه و تعالى with a sincere heart and avoid interdictions of supplication.

Allah سبحانه و تعالى 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 سبحانه و تعالى 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 سبحانه و تعالى 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 سبحانه و تعالى 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 رضي الله عنه (Radhiallahu anhu, meaning: may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ said: “Verily, Supplication is worship.” (AI-Arbaa (The four) and AI-Tirmdhi, graded it Sahih (sound))

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

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Nothing is more honorable (most liked ) before Allah سبحانه و تعالى 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 سبحانه و تعالى.

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 سبحانه و تعالى said: “Invoke your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) with humility and in secret, He likes not the aggressors.” (Qur'an 7:55)

3. Supplicate Allah سبحانه و تعالى with humility and express your need of Allah سبحانه و تعالى. 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 سبحانه و تعالى in your supplication by repeating it many times.

5. Invoke Allah سبحانه و تعالى 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 سبحانه و تعالى by mentioning the righteous deeds you have done. Narrated Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنه, that he heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ, 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 سبحانه و تعالى by mentioning the righteous deeds you have done, etc.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

7. Admit your sins during your supplication. Allah سبحانه و تعالى 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 رضي الله عنه, and when the Prophet ﷺ 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 رضي الله عنه: “Allah’s Messenger ﷺ went out to his praying place to offer the Salat of Istisqa (rain) He invoked Allah سبحانه و تعالى for rain and then faced Al-Qiblah and turned his upper garment inside out.” (Bukhari)

10. Raise your hands while supplicating Allah سبحانه و تعالى as in the Hadith of Abu Musa رضي الله عنه: when the Prophet ﷺ had finished from the battle of Hunain, he said “the Prophet ﷺ 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 سبحانه و تعالى said about Noah عليه اسلام “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 سبحانه و تعالى such as asking Him to make you a prophet and you know there will not be a prophet after Mohammed ﷺ 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 سبحانه و تعالى to have mercy on them or forgive their sins, you are only allowed to ask Allah سبحانه و تعالى to guide them to the right path “Islam” )

15. Be patient. Do not expect an immediate response from Allah سبحانه و تعالى although this could happen. But if it does not, then you should be patient and continue supplicating Allah سبحانه و تعالى until you see the results. Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “The invocation of anyone of you is responded to by Allah سبحانه و تعالى if he does not show impatience by saying; 'I invoked Allah سبحانه و تعالى 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 سبحانه و تعالى as the Prophet ﷺ said. These times are:

1. The Last Third Of The Night:

Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه narrated that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah سبحانه و تعالى) 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 سبحانه و تعالى gives the believers an opportunity, or an answer hour if they can fight sleep and invoke Allah سبحانه و تعالى for whatever they need.

3. Between Adhan and Iqama:

Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ 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 رضي الله عنه: Allah’s Messenger ﷺ 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 سبحانه و تعالى, then Allah سبحانه و تعالى will definitely meet his demand.” And he (the Prophet ﷺ 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 ﷺ had died

5. While Drinking Zamzam Water:

Jaber رضي الله عنه narrated that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ 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 سبحانه و تعالى for anything you like to gain or benefit from this water such as healing from illness.... etc.

6. While Prostrating:

Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه narrated that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ, said: “The nearest a slave can be to his Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah سبحانه و تعالى much. (Muslim) When a Muslim is in his Salat (prayer) he is facing Allah سبحانه و تعالى and when he prostrates he is the nearest he can be to Allah سبحانه و تعالى so it is best to invoke Allah سبحانه و تعالى at this time.

On The Day Of Arafa: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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 ﷺ 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 worshipped but Allah سبحانه و تعالى He is the only one who has no partners. His is the kingdom and all the praises are for Allah سبحانه و تعالى All the glories are for Allahسبحانه و تعالى And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah سبحانه و تعالى and Allahسبحانه و تعالى is the most Great and there is neither might nor power except with Allah سبحانه و تعالى and then says, Allahumma ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me) or invokes Allah سبحانه و تعالى, 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 رضي الله عنه: that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ was asked, O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah سبحانه و تعالى, he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) (At-Tirmidhi)

This time is after saying “At-tahyat” , and before making Tasleem (finishing prayer)

9. The Night Of “Qadr” (Decree):

This night is the greatest night of the year. This is the night which the almighty Allah سبحانه و تعالى 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 رضي الله عنه: that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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 سبحانه و تعالى so, one should take advantage of this time when Allah سبحانه و تعالى 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 ﷺ said to Moaad Ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه, 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 سبحانه و تعالى (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The One who is suffering injustice is heard by Allah سبحانه و تعالى when he invokes Allah سبحانه و تعالى to retain his rights from the unjust one. Allah سبحانه و تعالى has sworn to help the one who is suffering from injustice sooner or later as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said.

13. The Traveler:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah سبحانه و تعالى), 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 سبحانه و تعالى 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 سبحانه و تعالى can answer his supplication and He is the only one Who can bring good to him. Allah سبحانه و تعالى 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 سبحانه و تعالى alone and no others. Allah سبحانه و تعالى said: “And the mosques are for Allah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Him” (Qur'an 72:18)

3. One must be patient (see page 9)

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

Mistakes in Supplication

1. Invoking other than Allah سبحانه و تعالى such as prophets, pious people, stone, idols ... etc 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 سبحانه و تعالى to hurry or give his punishment in this life.

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

5. Supplicating for sins to spread in the Islamic society.

6. The “Imam” (prayer’s leader) making supplication for himself without including the followers in his supplication. (during group prayer, At-taraweh in Ramadan)

7. Invoking Allah سبحانه و تعالى to see if there is a response without a sense of genuine purpose.

8. Raising the voice during the supplication. It should be done secretly.

9. Saying Insha-Allah, (Allah willing) after the supplication. (Ex.: O' Allah forgive my sins if you will) Narrated Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “None of you should say: O' Allah forgive me if you wish, O' Allah be merciful to me if you wish, but he should always appeal to Allah سبحانه و تعالى with determination, for nobody can force Allah سبحانه و تعالى to do something against His will. (agreed upon)

10. Invoking Allah سبحانه و تعالى aggressively, (asking Allah سبحانه و تعالى) for impossible things such as asking Him to make you a prophet or immortality)

11. Asking Allah سبحانه و تعالى to harm a Muslim.

12. Asking Allah سبحانه و تعالى to have a Muslim commit a sin or die as a non believer.

Reasons for the Acceptance of Supplication

There are some reasons which cause the supplication to be accepted by Allah سبحانه و تعالى They are:

Repentance to Allah سبحانه و تعالى: The almighty Allah سبحانه و تعالى said “I said (to them): 'Ask forgiveness from your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) Verily, He is Oft Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance; And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers” (Qur'an 71:10,12)

Good income: The income must be halal (good) as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked by one of His companions, How could I have my supplication responded to? The messenger of Allah ﷺ said; “Make your income good and your supplication will be responded to.”

Perform Supererogatory Deeds: Such as voluntary prayer and voluntary fasting.

Chose the preferred time for Supplication: (see above)

Reasons for the Rejection of Supplication

As there are reasons for acceptance of a supplication, there are also reasons for rejection of a supplication. Here are some reasons which will cause Allah سبحانه و تعالى to reject the supplication:

Illegal Income
Committing a lot of Sins
Having doubt in Allah سبحانه و تعالى
Being Aggressive When Supplicating

What Happens When Supplication is Made?

When someone invokes Allah سبحانه و تعالى, one of the following will happen:

Allah سبحانه و تعالى will respond to the supplicant and He will give him what he asked for.

Allah سبحانه و تعالى will prevent the supplicant from being harmed.

Allah سبحانه و تعالى will reward the supplicant with “Hasanat” (good reward) which will be kept for him on the Day Of Judgment.

Selected Supplications from the Qur’an

“Rabana atina fey ad-dunia hasanah wa fey al-akhairatty hasanah waqana addab annar.” (Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Hellfire) (Qur'an 2:201)

“Rabana atina men ladunka rahamah wa haia lana men amrina rashada.” (Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way) (Qur'an 18: 10)

“Rabana la tawakhidna in nasina ow akhttaana” (Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) punish us not if we forget or fall into error) (Qur'an 2:286)

“Rabana eghfer lana wa lee ekhwa nina aladhina sabaqowna bill eaman walla taga al fey qoolobana ghillan lil athina amanoo, Rabana ainka ra awaf on rahaim” (Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) you are indeed full of kindness, most merciful) (Qur'an 59:10)

Selected Supplications from Sunnah

The Prophet ﷺ said; “The best supplication for seeking forgiveness is to say, “Allahuma anta Rabi la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana ala ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu A udhu bika min sharri ma sana'tu, abu'u laka bini'matika alaiya, wa abu'u bidhanbi faghfirli fa innahu la yaghfiru adh dhunuba illa anta.” (O Allah you are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You) The Prophet ﷺ added; “If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before evening he will be from the people of Paradise. And if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.” (Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet ﷺ said; “Oh people, repent unto Allah for I repent to Allah one hundred times every day.” (Muslim)
(Repenting to Allah by saying “Atubu illa Allah” , I repent to Allah)

The Prophet ﷺ said; “If a Muslim asks Allah سبحانه و تعالى with the supplication of Prophet Yunus (Jonah), he will be responded to” (Ahmed)

The supplication is “La illaha illa anta subhanak ini kuntu mena ad-dalimean” Means There is no God but You; Glory be to You, Verily I was one of the transgressors.

The Prophet ﷺ heard someone Supplicating Allah سبحانه و تعالى by these words, “Allahumma iny asa aluka bi'ani as-shadu anaka anta Allah la illaha ila anta al ahado assamad alathy lam yalid walam youlad walam yakun lahu kuffuan ahad” , (O Allah, I ask You by my testimony that You are Allah and that there is no God other than You. You are the Self Sufficient Who neither begets nor was begotten and to Whom there is none equal) Then the Prophet ﷺ said; “By Him whose my soul is in His hand, he has asked (the supplicant) Allah سبحانه و تعالى by His supreme name. Allah will surely answer when one asks Him by His supreme name.” (Ahmed and Abu Dawud) (This means, when someone is supplicating Allah سبحانه و تعالى, he should ask Allah سبحانه و تعالى with these words by saying the words above then say his supplication)

Narrated Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ used to invoke Allah سبحانه و تعالى at the time of distress, saying, “La ilaha illa Allah'u alAdearn al-Halim, La illaha illa Allah RabbulArsh il Adeem La illaha illa Allah Rabbus-samawti wa Rabbul-ardi wa Rabbul-arshil Karim.” (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Majestic, the Most Forbearing. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the Tremendous Throne. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the heaven and the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the earth and the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the Honorable Throne) (Al-Bukhari)

Whenever the Prophet ﷺ paid a visit to a patient, or a patient was brought to him, he used to invoke Allah, saying, “Ethhib al-bass Rab-Annas eshfi wa anta a’s hafy la shifa'a illa shifa'oak shfa'an la yughadiru saqama.” (Take away the disease, O the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the people! Cure him as You are the One Who cures. There is no cure but Yours, a cure that leaves no disease) (Al-Bukhari)

Narrated Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “Whoever says, ‘Subhan allahi Wa bihamdihi’ (I glorify Allah’s Praises) one hundred times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as much as the foam of the sea.” (Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet ﷺ, made the following statement: “Allahuma iniy a’udhubika minalbukhli. Wa a’udhubika min an uradda ila ardhalil umor. Wa a’udhubika min fitnatid donya wa ‘adhabil qobor.” O Allah! I seek refuge with You from miserliness; and I seek refuge with You from cowardice; and I seek refuge with You from being sent back to geriatric old age; and I seek refuge with You from fitnah (trial) of this world; and I seek refuge with You from punishment in the grave.” (Al-Bukhari)

Conclusion

Brother Muslim, now after you have learned how to invoke Allah سبحانه و تعالى the way the Prophet ﷺ did and ordered us to do so, you must always remember when you invoke Allah سبحانه و تعالى that you are dealing with the Master of everything. The One who Created you so you should have the feeling of this great worship of Allah سبحانه و تعالى In other words, just imagine, as you are asking promotion from your employer. Before anything else you have to do your job in the best way he likes you to do. So you will even work harder and give extra time just to please him. Then, you will choose the best time wherein he will be in a good mood, and you will ask him with the best words he likes to hear from you or to please him (your employer) So if you do that you will more likely get what you want from him. Think brothers, the same with Allah سبحانه و تعالى Invoke Allah سبحانه و تعالى just the way He likes, so you will get from Allah سبحانه و تعالى what you want and if you do not get what you asked for, you must know that the problem is with you and you must check your self and your Faith. At the end, I ask Allah سبحانه و تعالى by His great names and His great attributes to lead me and you to the best of deeds with sincerity for His sake only and peace and blessings be upon the prophet, his family, companions and all of his followers till the last day.