Question
I want to know about supplications regarding ilm, rizq, amal etc.
I memorised one of them (no. 1) but I keep hearing different versions of it from scholars (see 2, 3 as examples, and I have heard more versions).
1- Allahumma inni asaluka ‘ilman nafi’an wa rizqan tayyiban wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan Ya arhamar rahimeen. (I had memorised this one).
2- Allahumma inni asaluka ilman nafi’a was rizqan wasi’a wa ‘amalan mutaqabbala [wa shifa-an min kulli da.]
3- Allahumma inna nasaluka ilman nafia’ wa amalan salihan muta’qabbala wa rizqan wasian halalan tayyiba
My question is; The “masnun” du’as that talk about ilm, rizq, amal etc, do we have multiple authentic narrations on it with different words? If so, on these du’as, is there one text that is more authentic/preferred that is better to use compared to others? Jazakumullahu khayran for this valuable service.
Answer
1. I have found the first version mentioned in your question (excluding the highlighted part, which I haven’t seen in any of the books that I have referred to) in the following sources:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا
Allahuma ini asaluka ‘ilman nafi’a, wa rizqan tayyiba, wa ‘amalam mutaqabbala.
Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 925, Musnad Abi Dawud At-Tayalisi, Hadith: 1605, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 29875, Musnadul Humaydi, Hadith: 299 & ‘Amalul Yawmi wal laylah of ibnus Sunni, Hadith: 54.
2. The second wording in your question (excluding the bracketed part) is found in Musnad Ahmad, vol.6 pg.305, and is actually a variant of the previous Hadith.
This wording is also found in the following books (excluding the highlighted part) as the du’a of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu’anhu) when he drank zam zam:
أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا وَاسِعًا وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Asaluka ‘ilman nafi’a, was rizqan wasi’a, wa shifa-an min kulli da.
Sunan Daraqutni, Hadith: 2738, Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 1 pg.473 & Musannaf ‘Abdur Razzaq, Hadith: 9112. Also see Sharhul Ihya, vol.4 pg.411
3. I haven’t located the third one in any primary Hadith source. It seems like a combination of various narrations as well as some personal additions. Despite that, one may recite it without attributing it to the Hadith until it can be traced as such.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar