Let us share what were the words of the supplication that even moved the Prophet of Allah. This supplication is mentioned in Jami` at-Tirmidhi Book 48: Chapters on Supplication / كتاب الدعوات عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / Chapter 63: What Has Been Related About The Comprehensive Supplications From The Messenger Of Allah / باب جَامِعِ الدَّعَوَاتِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم / as Hadith number # 3475:
`Abdullah bin Buraidah Al Aslami narrated from his father, who said:
“The Prophet (ﷺ) heard a man supplicating, and he was saying: ‘O Allah, indeed, I ask you by my testifying that You are Allah, there is none worthy of worship except You, the One, As-Samad, the one who does not beget, nor was begotten, and there is none who is like Him (Allāhumma innī as’aluka bi annī ashhadu annaka antallāh, lā ilāha illā ant, al-aḥaduṣ-ṣamad, alladhī lam yalid wa lam yūlad, wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad).” He said: “So he said: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, he has asked Allah by His Greatest Name, the one which if He is called upon by it, He responds, and when He is asked by it, He gives.’”(One of the narrators) Zaid said: “So I mentioned it to Zuhair bin Mu`awiyah years after that, and he said: Abu Ishaq reported to me from Malik bin Mighwal.’” Zaid said: “Then I mentioned it to Sufyan, so he reported it to me from Malik.”
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْرَانَ الثَّعْلَبِيُّ الْكُوفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ حُبَابٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ مِغْوَلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ الأَسْلَمِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً يَدْعُو وَهُوَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِأَنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ الأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ الَّذِي لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ . قَالَ فَقَالَ " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَقَدْ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ بِاسْمِهِ الأَعْظَمِ الَّذِي إِذَا دُعِيَ بِهِ أَجَابَ وَإِذَا سُئِلَ بِهِ أَعْطَى " . قَالَ زَيْدٌ فَذَكَرْتُهُ لِزُهَيْرِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِسِنِينَ فَقَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ مِغْوَلٍ . قَالَ زَيْدٌ ثُمَّ ذَكَرْتُهُ لِسُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ فَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ . وَرَوَى شَرِيكٌ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَخَذَهُ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ مِغْوَلٍ وَإِنَّمَا دَلَّسَهُ . وَرَوَى شَرِيكٌ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ .
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
The hadith is a powerful and meaningful narration that highlights the significance of supplicating to Allah using His Greatest Name, which is a name so special that when invoked, Allah responds to the supplicant’s call and grants their request. This hadith serves as a reminder of the importance of using specific qualities and attributes of Allah when making du'a (supplication), and it has both a direct connection to the Quran and practical relevance in Islamic worship.
Explanation of the Hadith:
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) heard a man making a supplication to Allah, asking by mentioning several of Allah's most exalted names and attributes:
"Allah, there is none worthy of worship except You": This affirms the belief in the oneness of Allah (Tawhid), which is the foundational concept in Islam and emphasized throughout the Quran, such as in Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:1-4): "Say, 'He is Allah, [Who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.'"
"The One, As-Samad": "As-Samad" (The Eternal, The Satisfier of Needs) is one of the names of Allah mentioned in Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:2), signifying that Allah is the One who is self-sufficient and to Whom all creatures turn for their needs. It highlights Allah’s eternal nature and the fact that He does not rely on anyone.
"The one who does not beget, nor was begotten": This emphasizes the divine uniqueness of Allah, underscoring that He has no parents nor children, which refutes any human-like characteristics. This point again corresponds with Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:3), which rejects the idea of Allah having any offspring or parentage.
"There is none who is like Him": This phrase reflects Allah’s transcendence and incomparability, which is central to Islamic theology. It mirrors what is stated in the Quran in Surah Ash-Shura (42:11), which says: "Nothing is like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing."
Context and Connection to the Quran:
The supplication made by the man in this hadith is a profound reflection of the Quranic message found in Surah Al-Ikhlas, which emphasizes the absolute oneness of Allah, His independence, and His eternal, incomparable nature. By using these qualities in his supplication, the man acknowledges Allah's greatness, sovereignty, and absolute uniqueness.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) affirms that when someone calls upon Allah using these specific attributes—particularly mentioning Allah's "Greatest Name" (Ism al-Azam)—it is a powerful supplication that leads to a guaranteed response from Allah. This shows how important it is to approach Allah with sincerity and knowledge of His names and attributes, as the supplicant in this hadith does.
The "Greatest Name" of Allah:
The reference to the "Greatest Name" (Ism al-Azam) in this hadith points to a special way of calling upon Allah that guarantees a response. Scholars have interpreted this phrase to mean that certain names of Allah, when invoked with sincerity, have a profound effect in fulfilling the supplicant’s needs. While there are different opinions among scholars about which exact name is the "Greatest Name," this hadith suggests that the qualities of Allah mentioned—His Oneness, Self-sufficiency, and Incomparability—are among the most powerful names to call upon.
Practical Implication:
- The significance of Tawhid: This hadith reinforces the importance of affirming the oneness of Allah in every act of worship and supplication. It serves as a reminder that only Allah can answer prayers and fulfill our needs.
- Using Allah’s attributes in du'a: The hadith also teaches us to invoke Allah’s specific names and attributes, particularly those related to His greatness and majesty, when making du'a. Doing so increases the likelihood that our supplications will be answered.
- The connection with the Quran: The attributes mentioned in this supplication are directly reflected in the Quran, particularly in Surah Al-Ikhlas, which encapsulates the essence of Allah's nature. This shows that the hadith is in perfect alignment with the Quranic teachings.
Conclusion:
The hadith highlights the power of calling upon Allah using His exalted names and attributes, as these are among the most effective ways of ensuring that our supplications are answered. It serves as a reminder of Allah's perfection, His independence from His creation, and His unmatched sovereignty. By invoking Allah's "Greatest Name," believers are encouraged to deepen their understanding of Allah's qualities, which in turn enhances their worship and connection with Him.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Supplications attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more prophetic Supplications attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet ﷺ of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
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