AZANLY · PRAYER GUIDES
Salatul Hajat: How to Pray the Prayer of Need
A simple guide to two rak‘ahs, the dua in Arabic and English, and choosing a suitable time to pray.
What is Salatul Hajat?
Salatul Hajat, also called Salat al-Hajah or the Prayer of Need, is a voluntary prayer followed by supplication for a need. This guide presents the two-rak‘ah method described in the Hanafi guidance from SeekersGuidance. It is not a universal procedure shared by every Muslim tradition. [1]
The specific narration in Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 479 has a disputed chain and is graded weak in the Darussalam edition. SeekersGuidance accepts the practice; other scholars reject establishing a specific prayer from these reports. The dua below is therefore identified as wording from a weak narration, rather than an undisputed authentic prophetic prescription. [1] [2] [3]
STEP BY STEP
How to pray Salatul Hajat
Already familiar with a two-rak‘ah prayer? Pray it normally, then praise Allah, send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ and make dua. If you are learning, use the outline below alongside our beginner’s salah guide. [1]
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Prepare for prayer
Have wudu, wear suitable clothing covering the parts required for prayer, and use a clean place. Face the qiblah; our Qibla Finder can help you find the direction.
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Make your intention
Intend in your heart to offer two rak‘ahs for Allah while seeking His help. You do not need a special spoken intention formula.
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Pray the first rak‘ah
Begin with the opening takbir. Recite Al-Fatihah and another surah, then bow in ruku‘. Return to standing, perform the first prostration, sit briefly, and perform the second prostration.
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Complete the second rak‘ah
Stand and repeat the recitation, bowing and two prostrations. Sit for the final tashahhud, send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, make the concluding supplication, and finish with taslim. Follow your school’s usual details of prayer. [4]
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Praise Allah and make dua
After finishing, praise Allah and send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ. You may then use the reported supplication below and ask Allah for your need. Outside salah, express your request in a language you understand. [1] [8]
ARABIC · TRANSLITERATION · MEANING
Salatul Hajat dua
The following wording appears in Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 479, a narration graded weak. See the evidence note above.
Arabic
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ، وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ، وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ، وَالسَّلَامَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ إِثْمٍ، لَا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلَّا غَفَرْتَهُ، وَلَا هَمًّا إِلَّا فَرَّجْتَهُ، وَلَا حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلَّا قَضَيْتَهَا، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.
Transliteration
La ilaha illallahu al-Halimu al-Karim. Subhanallahi Rabbi al-‘Arshi al-‘Azim. Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbi al-‘alamin. As’aluka mujibati rahmatika, wa ‘aza’ima maghfiratika, wal-ghanimata min kulli birrin, was-salamata min kulli ithmin. La tada‘ li dhanban illa ghafartahu, wa la hamman illa farrajtahu, wa la hajatan hiya laka ridan illa qadaytaha, ya arhama ar-rahimin.
English meaning
There is no deity except Allah, the Forbearing, the Generous. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the mighty Throne. Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds. I ask You for the means of Your mercy and Your assured forgiveness, a share in every good, and protection from every sin. Leave no sin of mine unforgiven, no distress unrelieved, and no need pleasing to You unfulfilled, O most merciful of those who show mercy.
Source: Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, 479. Arabic from the report; English meaning rendered for this guide. Transliteration is a reading aid.
When can you pray Salatul Hajat?
Choose a time when voluntary salah is permitted. The last third of the night is a time encouraged for supplication in authentic hadith; this is general guidance for dua, not a special timing requirement for Hajat. [5]
For the voluntary prayer described here, avoid the period after Fajr prayer until the sun has risen sufficiently, the sun’s zenith just before Dhuhr, and after Asr prayer until sunset has finished. Details and exceptions differ by school; follow your local timetable and trusted scholarly guidance. These restrictions concern salah, not making dua. [6] [7]
Common questions about Salatul Hajat
How many rak‘ahs should I pray?
This guide uses two rak‘ahs. Hanafi sources also discuss other forms; they are not combined into this tutorial. [1]
Do I need to recite a particular surah?
The report cited here does not assign a particular surah or repeated surah count. Follow the normal recitation of a two-rak‘ah voluntary prayer. [2]
Can I ask for marriage, work or relief from debt?
You can ask Allah for a lawful need. This guide does not prescribe a separate marriage ritual, a particular weekday or a promised deadline for results. [8]
Must I memorize this dua before praying?
You can still turn to Allah in supplication without memorizing this text. After the prayer, you may read it or express your need in your own words. [1] [8]
Does this guarantee that my request will be fulfilled?
Do not treat prayer as a formula promising a specific result or deadline. Ask with hope and trust in Allah, while taking appropriate practical steps. [8]
Sources & further reading
- SeekersGuidance — How to perform the Prayer of Need: the Hanafi approach used here.
- Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 479: reported method, Arabic dua and weak grading.
- IslamQA — What is Salat al-Hajah?: a contrasting scholarly assessment.
- Masjid ar-Rahmah — How to pray salah: general sequence of prayer movements.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1145: supplication in the last third of the night.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 586: prayer after Fajr and Asr.
- Sahih Muslim 831: sunrise, zenith and sunset.
- Al Maqam — Salatul Hajat guide: supplementary overview, not the primary authority for hadith grading.