What is the authenticity of this hadith (Supplication is the essence of worship)?
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The questioner : He inquires about the authenticity of this hadith: .
The Shaykh : Yes. In this wording, it is not authentic. The authentic version is. This is indicated by the statement of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: [Ghafir 40:60] He said: Then He said: [Ghafir 40:60] This indicates that supplication is worship. There is no doubt that it is worship from a theoretical perspective. If a person supplicates to his Lord, he has based his supplication on two things. The first is his intense need for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and his dependence on Him, and that he has no refuge except his Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He. The second is his exalting of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and his belief that He, the Exalted, is capable of answering it, and that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is aware of his supplication and that He hears his supplication. This is worship.
So, my Muslim brother, increase in supplicating to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, perhaps you will encounter an hour of response and obtain what you seek. If a person does not obtain what he seeks, he is in a good state; he will never be disappointed. First: Supplication is worship for which he is rewarded. Second: Allah, the Exalted, either answers what he supplicated for, or He averts from him the evil that was expected, or He stores it up for him with Allah, Mighty and Majestic, on the Day of Resurrection. So he will never be disappointed. This is unlike the one who asks a created being. The one who asks a created being is looked down upon by the created being, as the poet said:
"Do not ask the sons of Adam for a need, but ask the One whose doors are not closed.
For Allah becomes angry if you leave asking Him, and the sons of Adam become angry when they are asked."
He may look down on you, and perhaps he will give to you, and perhaps he will not give to you. If he does not give to you, he may rebuke you, or he may turn his cheek away from you. But the Lord, Mighty and Majestic, if you ask Him, He loves you, rewards you, and answers your request, or averts from you something greater, or stores it up for you on the Day of Resurrection. You must ask Allah for everything and seek help from Allah, the Exalted, in everything. And say: "O Allah, by Your grace, make me independent of everyone other than You." Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and bless you. The honorable Shaykh, this questioner says.
Supplication is the essence of worship
الدعاء مخ العبادةThe Shaykh : Yes. In this wording, it is not authentic. The authentic version is
Supplication is worship
الدعاء عبادةAnd your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَCall upon Me
ادْعُونِيIndeed, those who disdain My worship
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِيSo, my Muslim brother, increase in supplicating to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, perhaps you will encounter an hour of response and obtain what you seek. If a person does not obtain what he seeks, he is in a good state; he will never be disappointed. First: Supplication is worship for which he is rewarded. Second: Allah, the Exalted, either answers what he supplicated for, or He averts from him the evil that was expected, or He stores it up for him with Allah, Mighty and Majestic, on the Day of Resurrection. So he will never be disappointed. This is unlike the one who asks a created being. The one who asks a created being is looked down upon by the created being, as the poet said:
"Do not ask the sons of Adam for a need, but ask the One whose doors are not closed.
For Allah becomes angry if you leave asking Him, and the sons of Adam become angry when they are asked."
He may look down on you, and perhaps he will give to you, and perhaps he will not give to you. If he does not give to you, he may rebuke you, or he may turn his cheek away from you. But the Lord, Mighty and Majestic, if you ask Him, He loves you, rewards you, and answers your request, or averts from you something greater, or stores it up for you on the Day of Resurrection. You must ask Allah for everything and seek help from Allah, the Exalted, in everything. And say: "O Allah, by Your grace, make me independent of everyone other than You." Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and bless you. The honorable Shaykh, this questioner says.