Is it permissible to supplicate in colloquial Arabic or for anything, no matter how small, and does frequent seeking of forgiveness fulfill wishes?
Supplicating in a colloquial dialect or a non-Arabic language is permissible. Allah Almighty hears and answers supplications, whether they are grammatically correct (mu'rab) or incorrect (malhoon). The essence of supplication is that it stems from the heart, with the tongue merely following. Overburdening oneself with grammatical correctness or rhyming prose (saj') can diminish devotion and weaken the heart's focus. It is disliked to force rhyming prose in supplication, but there is no harm if it occurs naturally without effort. It is permissible to supplicate to Allah for everything, whether great or small, as stated by Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, who cited the verse: "And to your Lord direct your longing," and the Hadith: "Let one of you ask his Lord for all his needs, even for the shoelace of his sandal if it breaks." Seeking forgiveness (Istighfar) is a means of attaining what is desired and repelling what is feared, based on the words of Noah (peace be upon him): "And I said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever Forgiving. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [copious] showers and give you increase in wealth and children and make for you gardens and make for you rivers," and the Hadith: "Whoever adheres to seeking forgiveness, Allah will make for him a way out of every difficulty, and relief from every worry, and will provide for him from where he does not expect." However, during prayer, it is preferable to avoid supplicating in a colloquial dialect.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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