May I please have your consent to publish this in a magazine titled “Halal World” in Sri Lanka for the benefit of our readers. The launch of the innaugural issue will be on the 25th of July 2011 IA.

Look forward to your response. Please respond to my email address as given.

Jazzakallah Khair!

Date Published: August 06, 2005
The Prayer of Need (Salat al-Hajah)

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question:
How does one perform the prayer of need (salat al-haja)?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, and all blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad, his Folk, Companions and those who follow their noble way,

Abullah ibn Abi Awfa (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever has a need with Allah, or with any human being, then let them perform ritual ablutions well and then pray two rakats. After that, let them praise Allah and send blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). After this, let them say,

لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين
أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ وَالسَّلامَةَ مِنْ كُلّإِثْمٍ
لا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلا غَفَرْتَهُ وَلا هَمًّا إِلا فَرَّجْتَهُ وَلا حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلا قَضَيْتَهَا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

There there no god but Allah the Clement and Wise.
There is no god but Allah the High and Mighty.
Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Tremendous Throne.
All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
I ask you (O Allah) everything that leads to your mercy, and your tremendous forgiveness, enrichment in all good, and freedom from all sin.
Do not leave a sin of mine (O Allah), except that you forgive it, nor any concern except that you create for it an opening, nor any need in which there is your good pleasure except that you fulfill it, O Most Merciful!”

[Related by Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja. The hadith has some weakness, but it is slight: such hadiths are acted upon for virtuous deeds (fada’il al-a`mal) by general agreement of Sunni scholarship]

The prayer of need is very simple: It is essentially to raise one’s need to Allah Most High, by performing ritual ablution (wudu), praying 2 rakats (or four), and then making whole-hearted dua to Allah. If one uses the abovementioned Prophetic supplication, or other similar supplications transmitted from the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), it is best. [Ibrahim al-Halabi, Sharh Munyat al-Musalli; al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

The inward manners of supplication is exhibiting our neediness and absolute slavehood to Allah, consigning one’s matters to Allah, and knowing that the only one who gives or benefits is Allah Most High. With this, one should be certain that Allah Most High answers our duas, but in the way He knows is best for us.

When circumstances do not permit us to pray 2 rakats, one should still turn to Allah in supplication, raising one’s needs to Him, for He answers our supplications and loves being asked.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Faraz Rabbani

Dear Abu Hamzah,
I guess it’s safe to say that scholars differ in their opinions on salaat-ul-haajah. You should follow the opinion you are most comfortable with. I am very sincere when I say that I am truly interested in reading the other articles on parenting you recommend. Please do share them if you are able.
JazakAllahu khayr.
Wassalaam,
Hina

By the way, the book “Reflections of Pearls” has details on Salaat-ul-Haajah in it. You should be able to order it from http://www.islamicbookstore.com if you are so inclined.

Thank you for your duas.

May Allah reward your efforts for trying to convey helpful pointers for raising our children. However, I believe it is better for Muslims to take advice from the scholars. There are several points in your article that I disagrew ith. First, it is from Islam to show the whip in a public place. Corporal punishment is needed, but only when it is most effective. Secondly, there is no salaat Al-Haajah in Islam, this is based upon fabricated and weak ahaddith. There was some benefit from this article, however, I suggest that Muslims should avoid reading this as there is better material from many scholars and callers to Islam.