What is hajat prayer?
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh), who remembered Allah the Almighty and presented all his needs to Him, advised his followers to perform two rak’ahs of ritual prayer and then ask their needs from Allah. The Prophet’s saying, in this regard, is as follows:
“He who needs Allah’s or a human being’s help should first perform ablution, and do this well; then perform two rak’as of prayer; after that say praises for Allah the Almighty and call for blessings for the Messenger of Allah; then say the following prayer:
لاَ اِلهَ اِلاَّ اللهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ. سُبْحَانَ اللهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ. اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ. اَللّهُمَّ اِنِّى اَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ وَالسَّلاَمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ اِثْمٍ. أَسْأَلُكَ أَلاَّ تَدَعَ لِى ذَنْبًا اِلاَّ غَفَرْتَهُ وَلاَ هَمًّا اِلاَّ فَرَّجْتَهُ وَلاَ حَاجَةً هِىَ لَكَ رِضًا اِلاَّ قَضَيْتَهَا لِى يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.
There is no god but Allah the Clement and Wise. There is no god but Allah the High and Mighty. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Tremendous Throne. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds. I ask you (O Allah) everything that leads to your mercy, and your tremendous forgiveness, enrichment in all good, and freedom from all sin. Do not leave a sin of mine (O Allah), except that you forgive it, nor any concern except that you create for it an opening, nor any need in which there is your good pleasure except that you fulfill it, O Most Merciful!”
Then he/she should pray for whatever his/her worldly or spiritual need is, because it will be given to him/her.” (Ibn Majah, Iqamah, 189; Tirmidhi, Witr, 17)
Such a habit of turning to and asking for needs from Allah the Almighty instead of mortal human beings will result in the belief in the unity of Allah to settle in the hearts. It will also help believers to reach the state of ihsan or to live in this world knowing that Allah the Almighty is always with them.
Companions of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), who followed the above prophetic advice about hajah prayer, took refuge in Allah whenever they needed something, and in the end they got their needs. On a summer day, the gardener of Anas (r.a.) came to him and complained to him about the lack of rain and aridity. Anas (r.a.) asked for some water, performed ablution and prayed. After finishing his prayer, he turned to his gardener and asked:
“Can you see anything in the sky?” The man replied:
“No, I cannot.” Anas (r.a.) went back inside and continued to perform prayer. After three or four times, he asked again:
““Can you see anything in the sky?” His gardener replied:
“I see a cloud looking like a bird wing.” Upon this Anas (r.a.) kept on his supplications and prayer. A little later the gardener came in and said:
“The sky is filled with clouds and it is raining now.” Anas (r.a.) told him:
“Now get on the horse, which was given by Bishr b. Shagaf and check up to where it is raining.”
The gardener got on to the horse and saw there was no rain beyond the palaces of Musayyarin and Gadban. Anas’ (r.a.) garden was within this limit” (Ibn Sa’d, VII, 21-22).
There was a companion of the Prophet (pbuh) named Abu Mi’laq. He was a trustworthy and pious tradesman. Once he was on a journey. A robber stopped him and said:
“Give me everything you have and I will kill you.” Abu Mi’laq told him:
“If it is just property you want, here they are, take them.” The thief replied:
“No, I just want your life.” Abu Milaq:
“Then let me pray.” The thief let him and Abu Mi’laq performed his prayer and then said the following supplication:
يَا وَدُودُ، يَا ذَاالْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيدِ، يَا فَعَّالاً لِمَا يُرِيدُ! اَسْاَلُكَ بِعِزَّتِكَ الَّتِى لاَ تُرَامُ وَمُلْكِكَ الَّذِى لاَ يُضَامُ وَبِنُورِكَ الَّذِى مَلأَ اَرْكَانَ عَرْشِكَ اَنْ تَكْفِيَنِى شَرَّ هذَا (اللِّصِّ). يَا مُغِيثُ اَغِثْنِى
The one who is full of loving kindness! Lord of the Throne of Glory! O Allah, The great doer of what He wills! For the sake of Your unreachable greatness, and for the sake of Your Throne to which no damage can be inflicted upon, and for the sake of Your Light, which covers Your Throne! I ask You to save me from the harm of this thief. O Reliever (of the needs), help me!
Abu Mi’laq repeated this supplication thrice. As soon as he finished it, there appeared a cavalry holding his spear and killed the robber. Then he turned to Abu Mi’laq. Abu Mi’laq asked the cavalry:
“Who are you? Allah saved me by means of you.”
“I am from the fourth level of heaven. When you said your first supplication, I heard the gates of heaven crackle. With your second prayer, I heard the voices of the people of the heavens. When you made your third supplication, I heard that “someone in need is praying.” I asked Allah to send me to kill the robber. Allah the Almighty accepted my request and I came down. Know this well, the supplications of those who perform ritual ablution and four rak’ahs of prayer are accepted whether they are in need or not.” (Ibn Hajar, Al-Isabah, 182)