Is abandoning supplication for oneself, one's family, and the believers, and dedicating all of one's supplication time to praying upon the Prophet (peace be upon him)—as might be understood from the hadiths "Whoever dedicates all of his prayers to the Prophet (peace be upon him), his worries will be sufficient, and his sins will be forgiven" and "It will suffice him for whatever worries him in his worldly life and his Afterlife"—the recommended course of action, or is that an incorrect interpretation? And how should this prayer be: Is it merely the repetition of "Al-Salat wa al-Salam" (prayers and peace), or does it include supplicating for him with "Al-Wasilah," "Al-Fadilah," and "Al-Maqam Al-Mahmoud" (the means, the virtue, and the praised station)? And is it permissible to ask Allah for the Prophet what one wishes for oneself, or should one only adhere to what the Prophet recommended? And is it permissible to make a supplication such as, "I seek refuge in Allah from being, due to my wretchedness, a cause of His Messenger's anger or sorrow"?
Praying upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is one of the greatest deeds, and increasing in it is a cause for relief from worries and forgiveness of sins. If a Muslim dedicates all his supplications to praying upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, then Allah will suffice him in all matters that concern him in this world and the hereafter. The prayer mentioned in the Hadith refers to supplication, and the Hadith does not mean abandoning supplication for oneself. Rather, it is an encouragement to increase in praying upon him, peace and blessings be upon him. The most probable understanding of the Hadith is that either Ubayy dedicated a specific supplication to the Messenger, or he included the Messenger in all his supplications for himself. The best way to pray for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is by using the Abrahamic formula, because it is a request for Allah to praise him, and it is what the Prophet taught his companions.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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