Reading from the author's words with commentary and collation of manuscripts: "And from this chapter: one who may make a supplication in which he transgresses, either by asking for what is not fitting, or by a supplication that contains disobedience to Allah, shirk (associating partners with Allah) or otherwise. If he achieves some of his desire, he thinks that is evidence that his work is righteous, like one who is granted respite and provided with wealth and sons, thinking that is hastening for him in good deeds. Allah the Exalted said: {Do they think that what We provide them of wealth and sons} {We hasten for them in good deeds? No, but they do not perceive}, and He said: {So when they forgot what they were reminded of, We opened for them the doors of everything, until when they rejoiced in what they were given, We seized them suddenly, and behold, they were despondent}, and He said: {And let not those who disbelieve think that what We grant them of respite is good for themselves. We only grant them respite so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment}. And respite is the prolongation of life, and what is included in it of provision and victory. And He said: {So leave Me and him who denies this statement; We will lead them on gradually from where they do not know. And I will grant them respite; indeed, My plan is strong}. And this is a broad chapter elaborated in other places. And He said: {Call upon your Lord with humility and in secret. Indeed, He does not like transgressors}. The intended point here is: that supplication to Allah may be a supplication of worship to Allah, for which the servant is rewarded in the Hereafter, along with what he obtains in this world. It may be a supplication of request by which his need is fulfilled, and then he may be rewarded for it if it is of what Allah loves. It may be that he obtains only that need. And it may be a cause of harm to his religion, for which he is punished for what he neglected of the rights of Allah, the Exalted, and what he transgressed of His limits."
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The reader: "And from this chapter: one who may make a supplication in which he transgresses, either by asking for what is not fitting, or by a supplication that contains disobedience to Allah, shirk (associating partners with Allah) or otherwise. If he achieves some of his desire, he thinks that is evidence that his work is righteous, like one who is granted respite and provided with wealth and sons, thinking that is hastening for him in good deeds. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Mu'minun 23:55-56], and He said: [Al-An'am 6:44], and He said: [Ali 'Imran 3:178]. And respite is the prolongation of life and what is included in it of provision and victory.
And He said:[Al-Qalam 68:44-45].
And this is a broad chapter elaborated in other places.
Allah the Exalted said:[Al-A'raf 7:55] The intended point here is: that supplication to Allah may be a supplication of worship to Allah, for which the servant is rewarded in the Hereafter, along with what he obtains in this world. It may be a supplication of request by which his need is fulfilled, and then he may be rewarded for it if it is of what Allah loves. It may be that he obtains only that need. And it may be a cause of harm to his religion, for which he is punished for what he neglected of the rights of Allah, the Exalted, and what he transgressed of His limits. So the means that Allah commanded to be sought toward Him encompasses the means in His worship"
The Shaykh : These are three categories. He said, may Allah have mercy on him: "Supplication to Allah may be a supplication of worship, for which the servant is rewarded in the Hereafter along with what he obtains in this world", meaning he intends by the supplication worship, pure worship, where it appears that he is in need of his Lord, and that Allah, the Exalted, is the Self-Sufficient, the Capable, and that His mercy precedes His anger. This is worship, along with what he obtains of the matters of this world.
And it may be that he supplicates to Allah, the Exalted, for his need in this world, and he neglects that he is worshipping Allah with it. So this also, one looks at what he obtained. If it was good, by which he helps himself in the obedience of Allah, he is rewarded for that. It may be a harm, for which he sins. It may be permissible, so there is no sin and no harm. And it may be something for misguidance in his religion, following what we mentioned. Yes.
The student: The third?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is it. The third is the one who supplicates to Allah only to fulfill his need. So this either harms him or benefits him. Two things. Yes. The time is over.
(55) Do they think that what We extend to them of wealth and children (56) Is [because] We hasten for them good things? Rather, they do not perceive.
أيحسبون أنما نمدهم به من مالٍ وبنين * نسارع لهم في الخيرات بل لا يشعرونSo when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair.
فلما نسوا ما ذكروا به فتحنا عليهم أبواب كل شيءٍ حتى إذا فرحوا بما أوتوا أخذناهم بغتةً فإذا هم مبلسونAnd let not those who disbelieve ever think that [because] We extend their time [of enjoyment] it is better for them. We only extend it for them so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment.
ولا يحسبن الذين كفروا أنما نملي لهم خيرٌ لأنفسهم إنما نملي لهم ليزدادوا إثمًا ولهم عذابٌ مهينٌAnd He said:
(44) So leave Me, [O Muhammad], with [the matter of] whoever denies the Qur'an. We will progressively lead them [to punishment] from where they do not know. (45) And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm.
فذرني ومن يكذب بهذا الحديث سنستدرجهم من حيث لا يعلمون. وأملي لهم إن كيدي متينٌAnd this is a broad chapter elaborated in other places.
Allah the Exalted said:
Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors.
ادعوا ربكم تضرعًا وخفيةً إنه لا يحب المعتدينThe Shaykh : These are three categories. He said, may Allah have mercy on him: "Supplication to Allah may be a supplication of worship, for which the servant is rewarded in the Hereafter along with what he obtains in this world", meaning he intends by the supplication worship, pure worship, where it appears that he is in need of his Lord, and that Allah, the Exalted, is the Self-Sufficient, the Capable, and that His mercy precedes His anger. This is worship, along with what he obtains of the matters of this world.
And it may be that he supplicates to Allah, the Exalted, for his need in this world, and he neglects that he is worshipping Allah with it. So this also, one looks at what he obtained. If it was good, by which he helps himself in the obedience of Allah, he is rewarded for that. It may be a harm, for which he sins. It may be permissible, so there is no sin and no harm. And it may be something for misguidance in his religion, following what we mentioned. Yes.
The student: The third?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is it. The third is the one who supplicates to Allah only to fulfill his need. So this either harms him or benefits him. Two things. Yes. The time is over.