SALAT AL-HAJAH (the prayer of need)
Omar Abdl-haleem
Is Salat Al-Hajah a Prescribed Salah?
Salat Al-Hajah has been narrated in four ahadith. Two of them are known to be fabricated. In one of these fabricated reports, salat al-hajah is said to be a long prayer of 12 rakahs. In the second report, it is said that it is two rakahs. The third hadith that discusses Salat Al-Hajah is very weak, as is the fourth report. The third and fourth reports on Salat Al-Hajah, maintain that it is a prayer of two rakahs.
As for the first hadith, it was said to have been reported by Ibn Masud, may Allah be pleased with him. It says that Salat Al-Hajah is 12 rakahs that can be prayed at night or in the day, with a tashahhud between every two rakahs. After the final tashahhud, one makes sujud again, recited Surat Al-Fatihah seven times and then says seven times: "There is no God except Allah, alone. He has nopartner. To Him belongs all dominion. For Him is all praise. And He is powerful over all things."
Lailaha illa Allah. Wahdahu, la sharika lah. Lahu'lmulk. Wa lahu'l-hamd. We huwa'ala kulli shayin qadir.
Then , it is reported that one should say: "O Allah! Indeed, I ask You by the Majesty of Your Throne, and the unlimited mercy of Your Book, and by your Greatest Name, and Your Complete Words (then state your request)." Then the worshipper rises from sujud and makes tasleem.
The scholars remind that salat al-hajah is not to be taught to the foolish, for if such a one were to ask for something after performing this salah, he will be granted it.
Ibn Al-Jawzy in his book Al-Mawdu'aat reported that this is a fabricated hadith. One of the reporters in this hadith is "Amr Al-Balki. Ibn Al-Jawzy reports that Ibn Ma'in, the teacher of Bukhari, declared that Al-Balkhi is categorized among the liars. Also, Ibn Al-jawzy added that there are authentic hadith that have prohibited the recitation of the Quran in sujud, except by way of supplication.
Other Flaws in These Reports
There is also an issue with asking Allah 'by His Throne," for there is nothing in the Shariah that sanctions Muslims asking Allah "by His throne." The majority of scholars consider it to be bid'ah.
Shaykh Al-Albani said: "This hadith (the one mentioned above) is invalid and completely unreliable. Ibn Al-Jawzy said that this hadith is undoubtedly fabricated. Although asking Allah for something by maaqid al-izz, from His Throne, is permissible because is is asking Allah by one of His descriptions, but the permissibility is not based on the evidence provided by this hadith, but by other evidences.".
Ibn Al-Athir described ma'aqid al-'izz to mean:"I ask You by the characteristics that have made the Throne deserve might," so its true meanings is this: "I ask You by the Might of Your Throne." However, the Hanafis think it is undesirable to ask Allah by the "Might of His Throne."
The essence of this issue is that it is permissible to ask Allah by any of his sifat (descriptions), but it is not permissible to ask Allah by anything He has created. So, if the above-mentioned phrase is referring to the might of Allah, then it is permissible, but if it is asking Allah something by the Throne itself, or anything He has created, then it is not permissible.
In any condition, the hadith is completely fabricated and does not merit discussion . Its fabrication is clear by its chain of reporters and strange aspects of the text itself, namely asking Allah by the "Might of His Throne," reciting Al-Fatiha while in sujud. Moreover, scholars declare, there are all the forms of worship that a person needs in the authentic sunnah of the Prophet,(PBUH).
The Second Hadith
As for the second hadith about Salat Al-Hajah, it is reported on the authority of ibn Abbas (RAA) that the Prophet (PBUH), said: "Jibril (RAA) came to me with some prayers and said: 'If something from the affairs of this world occurs, then make these prayers and ask Allah for what you need."
These prayers follow: 'O Originator of the Heavens of the Earth ! Ya Jalali Wa'l-Ikram! O One Who Comes to the Aid of Those Who Call for Aid! O One Who Brings Help to Those Who Call for Help! O Remover of Evil! O Most Merciful of the Merciful! O Answerer of the Caller of the Distressed! O God of All of the Worlds! It is You who I ask for my needs, and You are Most Knowledgeable of what they are, so fulfill my needs."
In regards to this report, Shaykh al albani said this hadith is fabricated and other scholars of hadith have classified it as very weak.
The Third Hadith
As for the third hadith, it is reported on the authority of Abdallah ibn Abi Awfa that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "He who has a need from Allah or a need from a person, make wudu' and make it well, and let him pray two rakahs. Then let him praise Allah, send his blessings on the Prophet (PBUH), and say: There is no God but Allah, the Clement, the Noble. Glore be to Allah of the Magnificent Throne! All praise is for Allah, the Lord of the Throne! I ask You for what makes Your mercy incumbent, and brings great forgiveness. And I ask You to gain from every good deed and to be protected from every bad deed. Do not leave a sin for me, except that You have you have relieved it, nor a need that the fulfillment of it is pleasing to you, except that You have fulfilled it, O Most Merciful of the Merciful!"
At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah reported this hadith but said it is weak. Al-albani also added that this hadith is very weak.
The Fourth Hadith:
As for the fourth hadith, it was reported on the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
Shall I not teach you a supplication that when any grief or worry afflicts you, you would use it to supplicate your Lord and your prayer would be answered by the permission of Allah and you would be relieved? Make wudu'pray two rakahs, praise Allah and send your prayers on the Prophet (PBUH). Ask Allah to forgive you and the believers, and then say:
"O Allah! You judge between your servants about that which they have differed. There is no God but Allah, the Clement, the Noble! All Glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Seven Heavens and Lord of the Great Throne. All Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Remover of Anguish! Reliever of worry! Answerer of the Distressed when called upon! The All-Merciful of this world and the next, and the Mercy-Giving of both! Have mercy on me about my need, fulfilling it, and letting it be successful. And let this mercy of Yours suffice me from being in need of the mercy of others."
Asbahani and Al-bani judged this report a weak hadith because there are people in its chain that are not known.
Findings
The sum of this hadith analysis for this fiqhi article is that there are no reliable reports from the sunnah about salat al-hajah. Therefore, it is not a prescribed salah, and it as as innovation, bid'ah, in religion. Furthermore the supplications and salah that are taught to us by the Quran and the authentic sunnah are more than sufficient.
If a person does feel a strong need for something, there is nothing wrong with praying two rak'ahs and then asking Allah for one's need using whatever words one chooses because salah and supplication are both not only prescribed but encouraged by the Shariah. It is only reprehensible if someone performs a salah that he considers to be a specific salah called salat al-hajah that must be performed in a specific way and that guarantees an immediate answer in the way that the supplicant desires.
There is no need for there to be a salat al-hajah because, as previously mentioned, a person can perform salah and ask Allah for what he needs any time and in any prescribed way. Thereafter, the conditions for that supplication to be answered are the same as the divine answer to any other supplication.
(Courtesy: Al Jumuah Magazine)
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