Al-Rabī said regarding the meaning of the verse: “Beware of asking your Lord for something you have been forbidden to ask for, or for anything inappropriate for you to ask.”
Ibn Jurayj said regarding the meaning of the verse: “Some supplications contain transgression. Raising one’s voice, calling out loudly, and shouting in supplication are disapproved, while one is instructed to supplicate with humility and submission.”1
Reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) indicate that some members of this community will overstep the proper bounds in supplication. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) foretold this, he did so to warn against it, prohibit it, and make its danger clear. This reflects the fullness and perfection of his sincere counsel to his community—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—and is also one of the signs of his prophethood (peace and blessings be upon him).
Imam Ahmad, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah, and others narrated from Abdullah ibn Mughaffal that he heard his son say, “O Allah, when I enter Paradise, I ask You for the white palace on its right-hand side.” He said, “My dear son, ask Allah for Paradise and seek refuge in Him from the Fire, for I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘There will be people in this community who overstep the proper bounds in supplication and ritual purification.’”2
Imam Ahmad and Abū Dāwūd narrated from Sa‘d ibn Abī Waqqās that he heard one of his sons supplicating: “O Allah, I ask You for Paradise, its bliss, its brocade, and the like; and I seek refuge in You from the Fire, its chains, and its shackles.” He said, “You have asked Allah for abundant good and sought refuge in Allah from abundant evil. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)—