The Noble Quality of Generosity of the Prophet ﷺ

Every person in the world prays, but it is not necessary that every prayer is fulfilled. It may be that a prayer is not answered in this world but is accepted in the Hereafter; nevertheless, it will certainly be answered in one form or another. However, there is one special prayer in this world that, when it is made by the chosen servants of Allah, is immediately accepted. When they raise their hands in supplication, they are not sent back empty-handed. If they ask for something, their request is not rejected, and if they seek something, it is immediately granted. These blessed personalities are the noble Prophets of Allah, peace and blessings be upon them. This special supplication is described in the blessed Ahadith as a Maqbool Dua, meaning an accepted supplication.

All the Prophets, peace be upon them, were granted this special supplication, and whatever they asked for was granted to them. For example, the Qur’an mentions that Prophet Sulaiman, peace be upon him, prayed: “My Lord, grant me a kingdom such as has not been given to anyone before me and will not be given to anyone after me.” This prayer was immediately accepted.

The purpose here is not to discuss the complete story of Prophet Sulaiman, peace be upon him. Rather, the purpose is simply to mention the supplications of one or two Prophets that were made and immediately accepted, and whose accounts are found in the Holy Qur’an.

First comes Prophet Nuh (Noah), peace be upon him. He is described as a descendant of Prophet Idris, peace be upon him. His name is associated with lamentation and supplication. According to various narrations, Prophet Nuh, peace be upon him, lived for 950 years. During this long period, he tried to remove the disputes, evil practices and false traditions that had spread among his people. Eventually, the time came when his people rejected his message, and Prophet Nuh made his accepted supplication. As a result, a devastating flood was sent upon that nation.

Looking at the background, before Prophet Nuh, peace be upon him, people were upon one religion. Later, several respected and righteous people died. Various commentators have mentioned their names as Wadd, Suwa‘, Yaghuth, Ya‘uq and Nasr.

These became the five idols with which this matter began. According to the explanations of commentators, some of them had been righteous and highly respected people in their community. After they passed away, Satan encouraged the people to make statues in their memory so that their remembrance would remain alive.

Historical narrations describe Wadd as a figure in the form of a man, while Suwa‘ was represented in the form of a woman. Yaghuth was represented in the form of a lion, Ya‘uq in the form of a horse, and Nasr in the form of a vulture.

After continuously preaching to his people, Prophet Nuh, peace be upon him, realized that they would not reform. He therefore made the supplication recorded in the Holy Qur’an:

“My Lord! Do not leave upon the earth any of the disbelievers.”

(Surah Nuh 71:26)

This was the final supplication made after 950 years, when the proof had been completely established against his people, yet they still refused to follow the right path.

After this, the Qur’an mentions two nations known as ‘Ad and Thamud.

The people of ‘Ad lived in the region of Al-Ahqaf, between Yemen and Oman. They were a very powerful nation, so powerful that they were known for constructing buildings by cutting into mountains.

They became so proud of their strength that when Prophet Hud, peace be upon him, warned them, they said that no one could defeat them.

Eventually, their Prophet made the supplication that had been granted to him. A devastating windstorm continued for approximately seven days and eight nights. Its intensity destroyed great structures, and their pride was swept away by the storm.

The people of Thamud belonged to northern Arabia. Prophet Salih, peace be upon him, was sent to them as a Prophet. They also disobeyed him and called their Prophet a magician and a madman.

Eventually, they demanded a miracle. A she-camel emerged from the rock as a miraculous sign. This was the final proof against them. They were warned that if they harmed the she-camel, the promise of Allah would be fulfilled.

Then the time came when they harmed the she-camel of Allah, and Prophet Salih made his final supplication concerning them.

The purpose of mentioning these two Prophets is to show that many Prophets, peace be upon them, passed through this world. Some used their special supplication for themselves, while others made supplications concerning their nations.

But when we come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we should consider the extraordinary level of his mercy, compassion and generosity. He ﷺ was also granted this special accepted supplication, but he did not ask for anything for himself, nor did he make a harsh supplication against any nation. Instead, he preserved it.

A few Ahadith are presented here. By studying them, one can understand the extraordinary generosity, compassion and mercy of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

“Every Prophet was given a special gift, and they hastened to receive it, but I have preserved mine until the Day of Resurrection.”

(Ibn Abi Shaybah: 3234)

“Every Prophet was given one accepted supplication. Every Prophet made his supplication, but I have kept mine for the intercession of my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection.”

(Bukhari: 2323)

“I have reserved my supplication for the Hereafter, and that supplication will include every person who dies without associating anyone with Allah.”

(Muslim: 199)

The final Hadith is particularly moving. It is narrated from Hazrat ‘Ubadah bin Samit, may Allah be pleased with him, that it was the blessed practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that whenever he stopped at a place during a journey, the Companions would gather around him and form a circle.

On one occasion, they stopped at a place where they remained for some time to rest. When the Prophet ﷺ woke from his sleep, a special state had come over him.

Hazrat Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, asked: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, has Allah chosen some other people instead of your Companions?”

The Prophet ﷺ replied: “No. You are my Companions in both worlds.”

The Prophet ﷺ then explained that he had preserved that special supplication for the Hereafter and for intercession.

Hazrat Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, asked: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what is intercession?”

The Prophet ﷺ replied that he would ask for all his followers to be taken out of Hell and admitted into Paradise.

(Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal: 235)

An explanation of this is also found in Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Tawhid, Hadith 7410. On the Day of Resurrection, when all people approach the Prophets seeking intercession, the Prophets will direct them toward the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Then, by the command of Allah, the Prophet ﷺ will prostrate before his Lord and make that supplication which he had preserved for his Ummah during his worldly life.

SubhanAllah! What an extraordinary example of compassion and generosity, and what a manifestation of mercy that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ preserved even this special supplication for his Ummah.

May Allah Almighty include us among those for whom His beloved Prophet ﷺ will intercede.

Ameen, ثم آمین۔