Ahmad, Abū Dāwūd, and others also narrated from a son of Sa‘d ibn Abī Waqqās—may Allah be pleased with him—who said: “My father heard me saying, ‘O Allah, I ask You for Paradise, its bliss and splendor, and such-and-such; and I seek refuge in You from the Fire, its chains and shackles, and such-and-such.’ He said, ‘My son, I heard the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—say: “There will be people who overstep the proper bounds in supplication.” Beware of being one of them. If you are granted Paradise, you will be granted it together with all the good it contains; and if you are protected from the Fire, you will be protected from it and all the evil it contains.’”1.

Similarly, Ahmad, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah, and others narrated from Abdullāh ibn Mughaffal—may Allah be pleased with him—that he heard his son say, “O Allah, I ask You for the white palace on the right side of Paradise when I enter it.” He said, “My son, ask Allah for Paradise and seek refuge in Him from the Fire, for I heard the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—say: ‘There will be people in this nation who overstep the proper bounds in ritual purification and supplication.’”2.

These are but a few examples illustrating the eminent place of the Prophet’s supplications and the importance of carefully adhering to their transmitted wording, on account of their perfection, sublimity, soundness, and complete sufficiency for attaining the most important objectives and loftiest aims.