Question:
I came to know that the best time to do dua is while in prostration (Sujood). I have also heard that talking in salah will nullify salah. Please advise if saying duas in sujood during prayers nullifies the prayer.
Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
Thank you for your question.
“The nearest a slave can be to his Lord (Allah) is while they are prostrating, so increase in supplication” (Ṣaḥiḥ Muslim, Musnad Ahmad)
The above noted narration does not specify any particular supplication. Therefore one may ask Allah for any worldly or spiritual need. This prostration need not to be in the salah (prayer). One may render a sujud (prostration) outside salah and make the supplication in any language.
As for inside the prayers (salah), there is a difference of opinion.
A group of scholars such as Imam Abu Ḥanifah, Imam Ṭaus and Imam Ibrahim al Nakha’i, only permit Arabic in the salah (prayers), since the dua’s (supplications) in other languages resemble regular speech which invalidates the prayer.
“The (ordinary) speech of people is not appropriate in these salahs (prayers). It is only tasbih, takbir and recitation of the Qur’an [that is permitted]” (Sahih Muslim)
Others such as the fraternity of the Shafi‘e school allow the supplication in any language, regardless of the nature of the prayer, based on the generality of the above cited narration.
(See: I’ela al Sunan)
And Allah knows best.
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Badat
Hadith of the Day Imam
Imam of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto and Director of Mathabah Institute
