The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that the supplication must be one that has been reported. But does he mean that it must have been reported in a general sense, or in its specific wording and substance?

The answer is that both are possible. He may mean what has been specifically reported, or he may mean what has been reported in a general sense. The general category of supplication reported in connection with the prayer is that which relates to matters of the Hereafter. According to this possibility, the author’s words mean that one should supplicate for matters of the Hereafter, whether that particular supplication has been specifically reported or not. But according to the first possibility—that he means what has been specifically reported—one would be restricted in this place to the particular supplications that have been reported.

However, the first possibility is broader: that one supplicates with what has been reported in a general sense, namely, that which relates to matters of the Hereafter. Thus, he may ask for whatever he wishes concerning matters of the Hereafter. Yet there is a point to note here: one should give due attention to the particular supplications specifically reported for this place, and then supplicate afterward for whatever one wishes.

The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that one should not supplicate with anything other than what has been reported—whether we say that he means what has been reported generally or what has been specifically reported. Thus, one should not supplicate for worldly matters, such as saying, “O Allah, grant me a spacious house,” or, “O Allah, grant me a beautiful wife,” or, “O Allah, grant me abundant wealth,” or, “O Allah, grant me a comfortable car,” and the like. This is because such requests concern worldly matters. Some jurists even said that if a person supplicated for something related to worldly matters, his prayer would be invalidated (1). But this is undoubtedly a weak view.