Book 9: Supplications

Buraida said that once when he entered the mosque with God’s messenger at the time of the evening prayer a man was reciting with a loud voice, so he asked God’s messenger whether he thought the man was hypocritical, but he replied’ “No, he is a penitent believer.” He said that Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari was * reciting in a loud voice, and God’s messenger began to listen to his recitation. Afterwards Abu Musa sat down and engaged in supplication saying, “O God, I call Thee to witness that Thou art God than whom there is no god, One, to whom men repair, who hast not begotten and hast not been begotten, and to whom no one is equal.” God’s messenger then said, “He has asked God using His name when asked by which He gives, and when supplicated by which He answers.” Buraida asked God’s messenger whether he should tell him what he had heard him say, and when he agreed he told him what God’s messenger had said, and Abu Musa said to him, “Today you are a true brother to me, having told me the words of God’s messenger.” *This word is not in the text, but Mirqat explains that it must be understood as Abu Musa as not the man referred to above. Razin transmitted it.

Samura b. Jundub reported God's messenger as saying, "The most excellent words are four: Glory be to God; Praise be to God; there is no god but God; and God is most great." A version has, "The words dearest to God are four: Glory be to God; Praise be to God; there is no god but God; and God is most great. It does not matter which you say first." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "To say: Glory be to God; Praise be to God; there is no god but God; and God is most great, is dearer to me than everything on which the sun rises." Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone says a hundred times in a day, "Glory be to God, and I begin with praise to Him", his sins will be removed from him though they are like the foam of the sea. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone says a hundred times morning and evening, "Glory be to God, and I begin with praise of Him", only one who said what he said, or more than it, will bring anything more excellent than he on the day of resurrection. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "Two expressions which are light on the tongue but heavy in the scale are dear to the Compassionate One: Glory be to God, and I begin with praise of Him; and Glory be to God the Incomparably Great." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas said: Once when we were with God’s messenger he asked whether any of us was incapable of acquiring a thousand blessings daily, and when one of those who were sitting with him asked how any of them could acquire a thousand blessings he replied, “If he says ‘Glory be to God' a hundred times, a thousand blessings will be recorded for him or a thousand sins will be removed from him.” Muslim transmitted it. In his book, in all the versions on the authority of Musa al-Juhani, “or . . . will be removed” is given, but Abu Bakr al-Burqani said that Shu'ba, Abu ‘Awana and Yahya b. Sa'id al-Qattan quoted Musa’s authority, saying “ and . . . will be removed.” Thus it is stated in al-Humaidi’s book.

Abu Dharr said that God’s messenger was asked what words were most excellent and replied, “What God has chosen for His angles: Glory be to God and I begin with praise of Him.” Muslim transmitted it.

Juwairiya said that the Prophet (ﷺ) went out from her one morning at the time when he prayed the morning prayer while she was in her place of worship. He returned in the forenoon and found her sitting. He asked her if she was still in the same position as that in which he had left her, and when she replied that that was so, he said, "Since leaving you I have three times said four phrases which, if weighed against all you have said today, would prove to be heavier: Glory be to God, and I begin with praise of Him to the number of His creatures, in accordance with His good pleasure, to the weight of His throne and the extent of His words." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone says a hundred times in a day, “There is no god but God alone who has no partner, to whom dominion belongs, to whom praise is due, who is omnipotent”, he will have a reward equivalent to that for emancipating ten slaves, a hundred blessings recorded for him, a hundred evil deeds obliterated from him; it will be a protection for him from the devil all that day till evening, and no one will bring anything more excellent than he brings, except a man who has done more than he has. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari said: Once when we accompanied God’s messenger on a journey and the people began to say aloud, “God is most great”, he said, “Restrain yourselves, people; you are not supplicating one who is deaf or absent, but are supplicating One who hears, sees and is with you. He whom you are supplicating is nearer to each of you than the neck of his riding-beast.” Abu Musa said: I was behind him saying within myself, “There is no might and no power except in God,” and he said, “‘Abdallah b. Qais,* would you like me to guide you to one of the treasures of paradise?” On my replying that I certainly would, he said that it was, “There is no might and no power except in God.” *This is Abu Musa’s name and his father's name. He is most commonly known by his kunya. and nisba as given at the beginning of the tradition. (Bukhari and Muslim.)