Reference: Fataawa Noor ‘alad-Darb – Question No.6309, Page 142, Volume 12
Question: Is it true that the supplication does not ascend for acceptance to the heavens unless it is preceded by prayers [and salutations] upon the Prophet ﷺ? And what is the evidence for that?
Response: [Extending] prayers [and salutations] upon the Prophet ﷺ before the supplication, as well as beginning with praising Allaah is best, and something which has been legislated. So if anyone wanted to supplicate to Allaah عز و جل, then he should begin with praising Allaah, then [extending] prayers [and salutations] upon the Prophet ﷺ – and then supplicate [to Allaah] as he wishes.
And if he were to supplicate [to Allaah] without [beginning like] that, then there is no harm in doing so. If he did not start with praising Allaah تعالى or [extending] prayers [and salutations] upon His messenger ﷺ – then this will not [necessarily] prevent his supplication from being accepted.
As for the hadeeth which suggests this [to be the case], then it is not a narration that comes from the Prophet ﷺ:
…however, I cannot at this moment recall the extent of the authenticity of this hadeeth.
Translator’s note
[1] Transmitted by at-Tirmidhee No.486 – with a mawqoof isnaad – where the chain of narration ends at ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه, and not the Prophet ﷺ.
Ibn Katheer said: Its isnaad is good; and al-Albaanee classed this narration as hasan in Saheeh at-Tirmidhee.
al-Albaanee also mentions in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah No.2035: ‘In conclusion, when all these chains of narration and corroborating reports are taken into account, the hadeeth is hasan at the very least, in shaa.-Allaah.’
