Prayer for Help in Islam
Total Hadiths 3
Seeking Relief Through Supplication: Authentic Hadith on Prayer for Help in Islam
These authentic prophetic narratives teach us the deep spiritual reality of seeking divine assistance during trials. The records demonstrate that the Prophet Muhammad frequently engaged in Qunut during the Fajr prayer, invoking Allah to rescue oppressed believers while seeking relief from severe hardships and extended droughts. According to Islamic scholars, drawing close to Allah through intense supplication and regular prostration is the ultimate remedy when facing public calamities or personal crises. When the community faced heavy resistance, the Prophet prayed for a temporary famine to soften hearts, yet remained merciful when leaders requested relief for their families. Furthermore, great companions like Ibn Abbas practiced direct prostration during major portents, such as the passing of the Prophet's wives, establishing that physical prayer is our primary refuge in moments of distress.
Sahih Bukhari : 1006
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 1006
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرَّكْعَةِ الآخِرَةِ يَقُولُ " اللَّهُمَّ أَنْجِ عَيَّاشَ بْنَ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْجِ سَلَمَةَ بْنَ هِشَامٍ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْجِ الْوَلِيدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْجِ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، اللَّهُمَّ اشْدُدْ وَطْأَتَكَ عَلَى مُضَرَ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا سِنِينَ كَسِنِي يُوسُفَ ". وَأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " غِفَارُ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهَا، وَأَسْلَمُ سَالَمَهَا اللَّهُ ". قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ هَذَا كُلُّهُ فِي الصُّبْحِ.
Narrated Abu Huraira;: Whenever the Prophet (p.b.u.h) lifted his head from the bowing in the last rak`a he used to say: "O Allah! Save `Aiyash bin Abi Rabi`a. O Allah! Save Salama bin Hisham. O Allah! Save Walid bin Walid. O Allah! Save the weak faithful believers. O Allah! Be hard on the tribes of Mudar and send (famine) years on them like the famine years of (Prophet) Joseph ." The Prophet (ﷺ) further said, "Allah forgive the tribes of Ghifar and save the tribes of Aslam." Abu Az-Zinad (a sub-narrator) said, "The Qunut used to be recited by the Prophet (ﷺ) in the Fajr prayer."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1006In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 2USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 17, Hadith 120
Sahih Bukhari : 1007
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 1007
حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الضُّحَى، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمَّا رَأَى مِنَ النَّاسِ إِدْبَارًا قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ سَبْعٌ كَسَبْعِ يُوسُفَ ". فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ سَنَةٌ حَصَّتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى أَكَلُوا الْجُلُودَ وَالْمَيْتَةَ وَالْجِيَفَ، وَيَنْظُرَ أَحَدُهُمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَيَرَى الدُّخَانَ مِنَ الْجُوعِ، فَأَتَاهُ أَبُو سُفْيَانَ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّكَ تَأْمُرُ بِطَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَبِصِلَةِ الرَّحِمِ وَإِنَّ قَوْمَكَ قَدْ هَلَكُوا، فَادْعُ اللَّهَ لَهُمْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {فَارْتَقِبْ يَوْمَ تَأْتِي السَّمَاءُ بِدُخَانٍ مُبِينٍ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {عَائِدُونَ * يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ الْبَطْشَةَ الْكُبْرَى} فَالْبَطْشَةُ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ، وَقَدْ مَضَتِ الدُّخَانُ وَالْبَطْشَةُ وَاللِّزَامُ وَآيَةُ الرُّومِ.
Narrated Masruq: We were with `Abdullah and he said, "When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw the refusal of the people to accept Islam he said, "O Allah! Send (famine) years on them for (seven years) like the seven years (of famine during the time) of (Prophet) Joseph." So famine overtook them for one year and destroyed every kind of life to such an extent that the people started eating hides, carcasses and rotten dead animals. Whenever one of them looked towards the sky, he would (imagine himself to) see smoke because of hunger. So Abu Sufyan went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "O Muhammad! You order people to obey Allah and to keep good relations with kith and kin. No doubt the people of your tribe are dying, so please pray to Allah for them." So Allah revealed: "Then watch you For the day that The sky will bring forth a kind Of smoke Plainly visible ... Verily! You will return (to disbelief) On the day when We shall seize You with a mighty grasp. (44.10-16) Ibn Mas`ud added, "Al-Batsha (i.e. grasp) happened in the battle of Badr and no doubt smoke, Al-Batsha, Al-Lizam, and the verse of Surat Ar-Rum have all passed .
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1007In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 17, Hadith 121
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1197
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1197
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي صَفْوَانَ الثَّقَفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَلْمُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ أَبَانَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، قَالَ قِيلَ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ مَاتَتْ فُلاَنَةُ بَعْضُ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَخَرَّ سَاجِدًا فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَتَسْجُدُ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ فَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ آيَةً فَاسْجُدُوا " . وَأَىُّ آيَةٍ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَهَابِ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
Ikrimah said: Ibn Abbas was informed that so-and-so, a certain wife of the Prophet (ﷺ), had died. He fell down prostrating himself. He was questioned: Why do you prostrate yourself this moment? He said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When you see a portent (an accident), prostrate yourselves. And which portent (accident) can be greater than the death of a wife of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1197In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 37English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1193
