Question Summary:
When to stop making dua?

Question Detail:

I wanted to ask that it is said that even if you need a shoe lace you should pray to Allah and ask from Him. Now I want to know that when to know that shoes lace is not good for you and something else is written in you decree and you should stop praying for the shoe lace? When to give up praying for a certain thing like we see in Prophets’ life as well that when there was dead end Allah sent His help. I mean I know we should always have hope that whatever will happen will be better for us but I want to know when to stop praying for a thing that you want and accept the decree that this is it and this is better for me?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Consider the following Hadith: 

قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَدْعُو، لَيْسَ بِإِثْمٍ وَلَا بِقَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ، إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ إِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ: إِمَّا أَنْ يُعَجِّلَ لَهُ دَعْوَتَهُ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَدَّخِرَهَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَدْفَعَ عَنْهُ مِنَ السُّوءِ مِثْلَهَا "، قَالَ: إِذًا نُكْثِرُ، قَالَ: «اللَّهُ أَكْثَرُ 

الأدب المفرد مخرجا (ص: 248)

Translation: Abu Sa’eed Khudri )Radhiyallahu Anhu) narrates that Nabi (ﷺ) said: “Whichever Muslim makes duaa to Allah Ta’ala and supplicates to Him, and his duaa does not contain any sin or the severance of family ties, Allah Ta’ala will grant him one of three things: either He will grant him what he had asked for, or He will keep the reward of the duaa for him in the Aakhirah, or He will avert a calamity from him.” The Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu Anhum) said: “In that case, we will engage in abundant duaa,” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied: “Allah Ta’ala has more than what you imagine. (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad P.248) 

Amongst the etiquettes of Duaa is to have firm conviction that Allah will answer one’s supplication. Consider the following Hadith:

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «يستجاب للعبد ما لم يدع بإثم أو قطيعة رحم ما لم يستعجل». قيل: يا رسول الله ما الاستعجال؟ قال: " يقول: قد دعوت وقد دعوت فلم أر يستجاب لي فيستحسر عند ذلك ويدع الدعاء ". رواه مسلم

مشكاة المصابيح (2/ 692)

Translation: Rasulullah (ﷺ) said: The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient." It was said: "O Rasulullah ﷺ! What does growing impatient mean?" He (ﷺ) said, "It is one's saying: 'I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.' Then he becomes frustrated and gives up supplication altogether." (Mishkaatul Masabih narrating from Sahih Muslim 2/692)

Mulla Ali Qari commenting on this Hadith states “a person should not get tired of making Duaa, as this is a form of Ibaadah.”[i] Therefore you should continuously make Duaa to Allah, with the firm conviction that you will be recompensed. If you make Duaa with its etiquettes, then you will receive one of the three things mentioned in the above-mentioned Hadith. It may take a very long time, but with every Duaa that you make, you are one step closer to Allah Y. Therefore, you should continuously make Duaa to Allah Y, and accept whatever you are decreed with from Allah Y.

You enquire when you should stop praying for ones wish and accept the decree of Allah. A person should continue making Duaa for ones wish and also make Duaa to Allah to be happy with the decree of Allah.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Ridhwaan

Student Darul Iftaa

UK

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai

[i]

وَلَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْعَبْدِ أَنْ يَمَلَّ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ، لِأَنَّهُ عِبَادَةٌ، وَتَأْخِيرُ الْإِجَابَةِ إِمَّا لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَأْتِ وَقْتُهُ ; لِأَنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَقْتًا مُقَدَّرًا فِي الْأَزَلِ، أَوْ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُقَدَّرْ فِي الْأَزَلِ قَبُولُ دُعَائِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَيُعْطَى فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الثَّوَابِ عِوَضَهُ، أَوْ يُؤَخَّرُ دُعَاؤُهُ لِيُلِحَّ وَيُبَالِغَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُلِحِّينَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ، وَلَعَلَّ عَدَمَ قَبُولِ دُعَائِهِ بِالْمَطْلُوبِ الْمُخَصَّصِ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ تَحْصِيلِهِ، {وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ} [البقرة: 216] . (رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ)

مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح (4/ 1525)