What is the authenticity of the hadith: “Whoever prays four rak'ahs for Allah and then supplicates”?
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Question:
What is the ruling on Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) citing in his book *Al-Jawab al-Kafi* the statement: “Whoever prays four rak'ahs for Allah and then supplicates to Allah, his supplication will be answered, whether he is in distress or not,” based on the story of the Ansari merchant who was attacked by a thief?
Answer:
I have not come across this statement regarding the four rak'ahs, but the report about the thief is weak.
However, supplicating to Allah and humbling oneself before Him is among the causes of acceptance, as stated explicitly in the Qur'an. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah: 186], and He the Sublime said: [Ghafir: 60]. The explicit text of the Qur'an and Allah’s perpetual promise of acceptance mean that the believer should supplicate to Allah and strive in his supplication, and turn to Allah with his heart, whether after prayer or not. Whenever he turns to Allah, strives in supplication, and avoids the causes of deprivation—such as consuming what is forbidden and committing sins—he is likely to be answered. But a person may be prevented from acceptance for many reasons, either because he persists in sins, or because he utilizes forbidden earnings, or because he supplicates with a heedless and turned-away heart, or for other reasons. Thus, supplication has barriers, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: They said: “O Messenger of Allah, should we then increase?” .
Allah the Sublime may hasten the response or delay it for a profound wisdom. He may give him something better or more than what he asked for. He may avert from him an evil that is better for him than granting his supplication. He may withhold acceptance due to his sins and bad deeds, his persistence in sins, his consumption of what is forbidden, his heedlessness regarding Allah, and so on. The reasons are many, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
What is the ruling on Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) citing in his book *Al-Jawab al-Kafi* the statement: “Whoever prays four rak'ahs for Allah and then supplicates to Allah, his supplication will be answered, whether he is in distress or not,” based on the story of the Ansari merchant who was attacked by a thief?
Answer:
I have not come across this statement regarding the four rak'ahs, but the report about the thief is weak.
However, supplicating to Allah and humbling oneself before Him is among the causes of acceptance, as stated explicitly in the Qur'an. Allah the Exalted said:
And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِCall upon Me; I will respond to you.
ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْNo servant supplicates to Allah with a supplication that contains no sin or severing of family ties but that Allah will give him one of three things: either He will hasten his supplication for him in this world, or He will store it for him in the Hereafter, or He will avert from him an evil equal to it.
ما من عبد يدعو الله بدعوة ليس فيها إثم ولا قطيعة رحم إلا أعطاه الله بها إحدى ثلاث: إما أن تعجل له دعوته في الدنيا، وإما أن تدخر له في الآخرة، وإما أن يصرف عنه من الشر مثل ذلكHe said: “Allah is more.”
قال: الله أكثرAllah the Sublime may hasten the response or delay it for a profound wisdom. He may give him something better or more than what he asked for. He may avert from him an evil that is better for him than granting his supplication. He may withhold acceptance due to his sins and bad deeds, his persistence in sins, his consumption of what is forbidden, his heedlessness regarding Allah, and so on. The reasons are many, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.