What is the ruling on supplicating for the the realization of a matter whose outcome has already been determined and concluded, such as supplicating for a high exam result after the results sheet has been printed?

Supplication (Du'a) is a great act of worship beloved to Allah, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, Du'a is worship."

In such cases, Du'a takes two forms:

1. Supplicating for something that has already been decreed and known: Such as a student who has failed supplicating for success after knowing of their failure, or supplicating for the resurrection of a deceased person after knowing of their death. This Du'a is futile and an transgression, because it is a supplication for the impossible, and for something that Allah does not do. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "There will be in this Ummah people who transgress in purification and in supplication."

2. Supplicating for something that has occurred but its decree is not yet known: In this case, there is no harm in supplicating, and it is legislated for a Muslim to turn to Allah with what they desire, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, Du'a benefits against what has descended and what has not descended, so cling, O servants of Allah, to Du'a." As long as the person does not know what has been decreed, it is legislated for them to supplicate for good and for the repulsion of evil. This falls under the texts that encourage supplication, such as the hadith: "There is no Muslim who supplicates with a supplication in which there is no sin or severing of family ties, except that Allah will give him one of three: either He hastens his supplication for him, or He stores it for him in the Hereafter, or He averts from him an equivalent amount of evil."