What is the ruling on making du'a' (supplication) without taking the necessary means?

Question:
What is the ruling on making du'a' (supplication) without taking the necessary means?

Answer:
Supplication is prescribed, but it must be accompanied by taking the necessary means. Supplication is prescribed along with avoiding sin and severing family ties, and avoiding disobedience, but it must be coupled with taking the means. One says, "O Allah, make it easy for me to have a righteous wife," and then he takes action: he gathers money, he strives to find a righteous wife, he takes the means. He says, "O Allah, grant me a righteous wife," "O Allah, grant me good offspring." He marries, he asks his Lord to make it easy for him to have good offspring, he stays away from sins, and so on, he takes the means. Likewise, he says, "O Allah, grant me lawful provision," "O Allah, grant me from Your bounty what will help me." He takes the means: he buys and sells, he is a blacksmith, a carpenter, a farmer, a herdsman, a writer, or a clerk; he buys and sells, he takes the means. He does not sit in his house and say, "O Allah, grant me provision." He asks his Lord and takes the means. This is how it was when he was asked, "O Messenger of Allah, which remembrance was given to you?" He said, "The work of a man's hand, and every sale that is honorable." And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "I do not one who takes the means, he takes the means. Yes."