Having learned what to say, the believer now learns how du'a actually works. This closing chapter gathers the etiquette and the inner conditions of supplication: where the slave is nearest to Allah, when the response comes most surely, and what attitude can quietly ruin an otherwise good prayer.
The recurring lesson is patience and good thought of Allah. A du'a is never wasted; Allah either grants it, stores it, or shields you from a harm instead. The danger is not delay but despair, giving up and assuming the prayer was ignored. Notice too the warnings: do not pray against yourself or your loved ones, and do not ask for sin or the severing of kinship.
Hadith 1496
Usamah bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن أسامة بن زيد رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "من صنع إليه معروف، فقال لفاعله: جزاك الله خيرًا، فقد أبلغ في الثناء" . رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who is favoured by another and says to his benefactor: `Jazak-Allah khairan (may Allah reward you well)' indeed praised (the benefactor) satisfactorily.'' [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
If someone does you a favour and you respond with 'may Allah reward you well,' you have thanked and praised them fully. A sincere prayer of gratitude is itself complete thanks.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1496 In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 32
Hadith 1497
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن جابر رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "لا تدعوا على أنفسكم، ولا تدعوا على أولادكم، ولا تدعو على أموالكم، لا توافقوا من الله ساعة يسأل فيها عطاء، فيستجيب لكم" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Do not invoke curses on yourself or on your children or on your possessions lest you should happen to do it at a moment when the supplications are accepted, and your prayer might be granted." [Muslim].
In plain words
He warned against cursing yourself, your children, or your property, in case you do so at an hour when prayers are answered. Be careful what you ask for in anger.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1497 In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 33
Hadith 1498
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجد، فأكثروا الدعاء" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A slave becomes nearest to his Rubb when he is in prostration. So increase supplications in prostrations." [Muslim].
In plain words
A servant is closest to his Lord while in prostration, so he urged us to pray much in that position. Sujud is a prime moment to pour out our requests.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1498 In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 34
Hadith 1499
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "يستجاب لأحدكم ما لم يعجل: يقول: قد دعوت ربي، فلم يستجب لي" ((متفق عليه)). وفي رواية لمسلم لا يزال يستجاب للعبد ما لم يدعُ بإثم أو قطيعة رحم ما لم يستعجل. قيل يا رسول الله ما الاستعجال؟ قال يقول قد دعوت وقد دعوت فلم أرَ من يستجب لي فيستحسر عند ذلك ويدع الدعاء.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), "The supplication of every one of you will be granted if he does not get impatient and say (for example): 'I supplicated my Rubb but my prayer has not been granted'." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. The narration of Muslim is: "The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah! What does growing impatient mean?" He (ﷺ) said, "It is one's saying: 'I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.' Then he becomes frustrated (in such circumstances) and gives up supplication altogether."
In plain words
Your prayer is answered so long as you do not grow impatient and give up, complaining that it went unheard. The danger is not delay but despair, and asking for sin or for cutting family ties.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1499 In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 35
Hadith 1500
Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي أمامة رضي الله عنه قال: قيل لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أي الدعاء أسمع؟ قال: "جوف الليل الآخر ودبر الصلوات المكتوبات" . رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: "At what time does the supplication find the greatest response?" He (ﷺ) replied, "A supplication made during the middle of the last part of the night and after the conclusion of the obligatory prayers." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Asked when prayer is most answered, he pointed to the depth of the last part of the night and right after the obligatory prayers. These are choice times to call on Allah.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1500 In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 36
Hadith 1501
'Ubadah bin As-Samit (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن عبادة بن الصامت رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "ما على الأرض مسلم يدعو الله تعالى بدعوة إلا آتاه الله إياها، أو صرف عنه من السوء مثلها. ما لم يدع بإثم، أو قطيعة رحم" فقال رجل من القوم: إذًا نكثر قال: "الله أكثر". رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن صحيح.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whenever a Muslim supplicates Allah, He accepts his supplication or averts any similar kind of trouble from him until he prays for something sinful or something that may break the ties of kinship." Upon this someone of the Companions said: "Then we shall supplicate plenty." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah is more plentiful (in responding)." [At- Tirmidhi].
In plain words
When a Muslim prays, Allah either grants it or wards off a like amount of harm, unless one asks for sin or cutting kinship. Told they would pray a lot then, he answered that Allah is even more generous in giving.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1501 In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 37
Hadith 1502
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقول عند الكرب: "لا إله إلا الله العظيم الحليم، لا إله إلا الله رب العرش العظيم، لا إله إلا الله رب السماوات ورب الأرض ورب العرش الكريم" ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say when he was in distress: "La ilaha illallahul-Azimul-Halim. La ilaha illallahu Rabbul-'Arshil-'Azim. La ilaha illallahu Rabbus-samawati, wa Rabbul-ardi, wa Rabbul-'Arshil- Karim. (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Incomparably Great, the Compassionate. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Rubb of the Mighty Throne. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Rubb of the heavens, the Rubb of the earth, and the Rubb of the Honourable Throne)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
In times of distress he would declare Allah's greatness and that He alone is Lord of the mighty Throne, the heavens, and the earth. Affirming Allah's supreme power is a refuge when troubles weigh heavy.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1502 In-book reference : Book 16, Hadith 38