What is salat al-hajah?
Salat al-hajah is the "prayer of need": two voluntary rak'ahs you pray when you need something from Allah, followed by a heartfelt dua. It's a simple, optional prayer for times of worry, like a job interview, an illness, an exam, or a family problem.
Where it comes from
The basic idea is solid: turning to prayer when you need help is something the Quran directly tells believers to do.
The Prophet ﷺ himself, whenever something worried him, would turn to prayer (Sunan Abi Dawud 1319). A specific narration describing salat al-hajah with a particular dua is reported by at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, but many hadith scholars consider its chain weak. Because of that, scholars differ slightly: most of the four schools still list it as a recommended voluntary prayer, while others say any two rak'ahs followed by dua fulfil the same purpose without insisting on a fixed wording.
How to pray it
- Make wudu carefully.
- Pray two rak'ahs like any voluntary (nafl) prayer, with the intention in your heart that it's for your need.
- After the salam, praise Allah, send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, and then ask for what you need in your own words.
- You can also make dua in sujood, which is one of the closest moments to Allah.
Your dua can be in English. See Can I make dua in English during prayer?
When to pray it
Any time except the times when voluntary prayer is disliked: right after Fajr until the sun has risen, when the sun is at its peak, and after Asr until sunset. The last third of the night is an especially good time to ask. See What are the best times to make dua?
How it differs from istikhara
Salat al-hajah is for asking Allah for help with a need. Istikhara is for asking Allah to guide you when you are choosing between options, and it has an authentic dua in Sahih al-Bukhari 1166. See What is istikhara and should I pray it before marriage?
- Salat al-hajah means "the prayer of need."
- It is two voluntary rak'ahs plus a sincere dua.
- The specific narration is weak, but praying for help is clearly encouraged.
- Avoid the disliked times for voluntary prayer.
People also ask
Can I make dua for my pet?
Yes, you can make dua for your pet: for healing, safety or a lost animal. What Islam says about mercy to animals and grieving a pet that dies.
Read the full answer →What dua do I say when leaving a gathering?
When leaving a gathering, say Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika... (kaffarat al-majlis). It forgives the idle talk of that sitting. Words and meaning.
Read the full answer →What does "Qadarallah" mean?
Qadarallah means "Allah has decreed it". Muslims say it after a setback instead of "if only". The full phrase, its hadith source and when to use it.
Read the full answer →What dua do I say when I look in the mirror?
Many Muslims say "Allahumma kama hassanta khalqi fa hassin khuluqi" at the mirror. Its meaning, how authentic the mirror link is, and body image.
Read the full answer →Can I listen to dhikr instead of saying it?
Listening to dhikr is good, but it doesn't fully replace saying it. Why the reward is for saying the words, and how to listen and repeat.
Read the full answer →