Question

I have come across the following narrations in Sunan Tirmidhi, Adabul Mufrad, and Sunan ibn Majah with a slight variation in wording. The first two have the words على ولده whilst the third has لولده. Are both versions correct?

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: ثَلاَثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ لاَ شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ

(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1905)

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ‏:‏ ثَلاَثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٍ‏ دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ‏

(Aladabul Mufrad, Hadith: 32)

 

 عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: ‏ثَلاَثُ دَعَوَاتٍ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُنَّ لاَ شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ لِوَلَدِهِ

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3862)

 

Answer

Yes, both versions are indeed correct.

‘Allamah Suyuti, Munawi, and others (rahimahumullah) have acknowledged the difference in wording and have explained both versions accordingly.

(Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 3454; Also see: At-Targhib Wat Tarhib, Hadith: 3292 and 4582, Al-Adhkar, Hadith: 608, Al-Futuhatur Rabbaniyyah, vol. 5 pg. 138)

 

على ولده” would mean a du’a against the child whilst “لولده” would mean a du’a in favor of the child. The commentators of Hadith have mentioned that both types of du’as emanating from one’s parents are readily accepted.

(Refer: Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 3454; Also see: Al-Futuhatur Rabbaniyyah, vol. 5 pg. 138, and Mirqat, Hadith: 2250)

 

Translation

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) has reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) has said: ‘Three du’as [supplications] are accepted without a doubt: the du’a of one who was oppressed, the du’a of a traveler, and the du’a of a parent for or against his child.

 

For further explanation regarding the commentary of this Hadith, kindly refer to the aforementioned sources.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar