8/23. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1480 — Avoid Exaggeration in Supplication
Regarding Supplication (Ad-Du'a)
Avoid Exaggeration in Du'a Hadith
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1480
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1480
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ مِخْرَاقٍ، عَنْ أَبِي نُعَامَةَ، عَنِ ابْنٍ لِسَعْدٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ سَمِعَنِي أَبِي، وَأَنَا أَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ، إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَنَعِيمَهَا وَبَهْجَتَهَا وَكَذَا وَكَذَا وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَسَلاَسِلِهَا وَأَغْلاَلِهَا وَكَذَا وَكَذَا فَقَالَ يَا بُنَىَّ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " سَيَكُونُ قَوْمٌ يَعْتَدُونَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ " . فَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ إِنْ أُعْطِيتَ الْجَنَّةَ أُعْطِيتَهَا وَمَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَإِنْ أُعِذْتَ مِنَ النَّارِ أُعِذْتَ مِنْهَا وَمَا فِيهَا مِنَ الشَّرِّ .
Ibn Sa'd Narrated from:
My father (Sa'd ibn AbuWaqqas) heard me say: O Allah, I ask Thee for Paradise, its blessings, its pleasure and such-and-such, and such-and-such; I seek refuge in Thee from Hell, from its chains, from its collars, and from such-and-such, and from such-and-such. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: There will be people who will exaggerate in supplication. You should not be one of them. If you are granted Paradise, you will be granted all what is good therein; if you are protected from Hell, you will be protected from what is evil therein.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1480In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 65English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1475
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1480
This hadith teaches balance in supplication. A son of Sa'd was making a long du'a, asking for Paradise, its blessings, its pleasure, and many extra details. He also sought refuge from Hell, its chains, collars, and many extra details. His father Sa'd told him that he heard the Messenger of Allah say that people would exaggerate in supplication, and he warned him not to be among them. Sa'd then explained the simple point: if a person is granted Paradise, he is granted the good within it; and if he is protected from Hell, he is protected from its evil. The hadith does not stop a person from making du'a. It teaches concise, balanced, and meaningful supplication.
What we learn from this hadith
- Du'a should be balanced and not exaggerated.
- Asking for Paradise includes the good that is in it.
- Seeking refuge from Hell includes protection from its evil.
- A parent may correct a child's supplication with gentle teaching.
