Question:
What is the ruling if I always supplicate to Allah SWT for every little thing? For example, an opportunity to eat at a restaurant and so that the red light will turn to green quicker. Jazakallah khair.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Allah SWT state:
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you."
Surah Ghafir (60)
The above verse is a guarantee by Allah SWT for His slaves that He will respond to their every request.
Supplicating for trivial matters?
Narrated from the Prophet PBUH, the Prophet PBUH said:
لِيَسْأَلْ أَحَدُكُمْ رَبَّهُ حَاجَتَهُ حَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ الْمِلْحَ وَحَتَّى يَسْأَلَهُ شِسْعَ نَعْلِهِ إِذَا انْقَطَعَ
“Let one of you ask his Lord for his every need, until he asks Him for salt, and asks Him for the strap of his sandal when it breaks.”
Jami’ al-Tirmizi (3604)
According to Syeikh Mubarakfuri, when he was commenting on the above hadith, he said, everything is owned by Allah SWT and there is none a Giver like Him, then ask of anything from Him, even if it is a trivial, insignificant and small matter. Indeed, if Allah SWT do not make ease in our affairs, then everything will be hard for us. (Refer: Tuhfah al-Ahwazi bi Syarh Jami al-Tirmizi, 10/52)
In truth, everything that we have are from Allah SWT. In a hadith qudsi, Allah SWT state:
يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ جَائِعٌ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَطْعَمْتُهُ فَاسْتَطْعِمُونِي أُطْعِمْكُمْ يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ عَارٍ إِلاَّ مَنْ كَسَوْتُهُ فَاسْتَكْسُونِي أَكْسُكُمْ
“O My servants, all of you are hungry (needy) except one whom I feed, so beg food from Me, so that I may give that to you. O My servants, all of you are naked (need clothes) except one whom I provide garments, so beg clothes from Me, so that I should clothe you.”
Sahih Muslim (2577)
According to Imam Ibn Rejab, the above hadith is evidence that Allah SWT love His slaves to ask from Him, whether it is for the benefit of this world or the hereafter, food or drinks, clothes and others, as one would ask for guidance, for it is a showcase of our trust and hope towards Allah SWT. (Refer Jami’ al-‘Ulum wa al-Hikam, 2/38)
Let’s contemplate on the following advice of the Prophet PBUH to Ibn ‘Abbas R.Anhuma:
إذا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ
“When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah's aid. Know that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you- you would never get any benefit except that Allah had written for you. And if they were to gather to do something to harm you- you would never be harmed except that Allah had written for you. The pens are lifted and the pages are dried.”
Jami’ Tirmizi (2516)
Allah SWT also state:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَزَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ
“Allah is the one who created you, then provided for you, then will cause you to die,”
Surah al-Rum (40)
Considering that Allah SWT is the one who created and provide for us, who else is worthy for us to ask when we are in need?
Conclusion
To conclude, asking and supplicating for trivial matters to Allah SWT is not only permissible, but encouraged by the Prophet PBUH for his ummah.
Our requests to Allah SWT even if it is insignificant, is actually a proof of our dependence to Him. This shows that us as slaves are weak and could not live even a second without Allah SWT’s will and help.
Let’s contemplate on the statement of Allah SWT:
كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَيَطْغَىٰ ﴿٦﴾ أَن رَّآهُ اسْتَغْنَىٰ ﴿٧﴾ إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَىٰ ﴿٨
“No! [But] indeed, man transgresses. Because he sees himself self-sufficient. Indeed, to your Lord is the return.”
Surah al-Alaq (6-8)
The above verse is a reminder for us to never realize how weak we really are and to always supplicate and ask from Allah SWT, for ultimately, it is to Allah SWT everything and everyone will return to.
Wallahua’lam.