/ No Muslim invokes Allah with a supplication that does not involve sin or severing ties of kinship, except that Allah will grant him one of three: either His supplication will be answered soon, or He will save it for him in the Hereafter, or...

No Muslim invokes Allah with a supplication that does not involve sin or severing ties of kinship, except that Allah will grant him one of three: either His supplication will be answered soon, or He will save it for him in the Hereafter, or...

Abu Sa‘īd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No Muslim invokes Allah with a supplication that does not involve sin or severing ties of kinship, except that Allah will grant him one of three: either His supplication will be answered soon, or He will save it for him in the Hereafter, or He will avert from him an equivalent amount of evil." They said: Then we should do more. He said: "Allah is even more."
Narrated by Ahmad

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that when a Muslim supplicates Allah and asks for something that is not sinful, like asking for the facilitation of sin or injustice, nor does he ask for severing ties of kinship, like supplicating against his children or relatives, then Allah will grant him, through his supplication, one of three things: He will either hasten the fulfillment of his supplication and grant him what he asked for. Or Allah Almighty will delay it as a reward for him on the Day of Judgment by being elevated in rank or receiving mercy and forgiveness of misdeeds. Or He will prevent harm, in proportion to his supplication, from befalling him in his worldly life. Thereupon, the Companions said to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): Then we should supplicate more to attain one of these advantages. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: What Allah possesses is way more and greater than anything you could ask for, for His bounty is infinite and endless.

Hadeeth benefits

  1. The Muslim's supplication is answered and not rejected, provided that its conditions and etiquettes are fulfilled. Hence, one should engage diligently in supplication without being in a hurry for the answer.
  2. Answering the supplication is not restricted to the fulfillment of the request; rather, it may result in the expiation of sins through his supplication or it could be stored for him in the Hereafter.
  3. Ibn Bāz said: Persistence in supplication, having good expectations of Allah, and not losing hope are among the greatest causes for answering supplications. One should supplicate Allah persistently, have good expectations of Him, and realize that He is All-Wise and All-Knowing. Allah may hasten the response for a wise purpose, delay it for a wise purpose, or give the seeker something better than what he requested.