1354 – Nuʿmān ibn Bashīr (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Indeed, supplication is worship itself.” The Four Sunan compilers transmitted it, and al-Tirmidhī declared it authentic (1).

Al-Tirmidhī likewise records—traced back to the Prophet—from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) the wording: “Supplication is the marrow of worship.” (2)

He also transmits—traced back to the Prophet—from Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): “Nothing is more honored by Allah than supplication.” Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Ḥākim judged this report sound (3).

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Grading of the narrations:
The ḥadīth of Nuʿmān is authentic, whereas the ḥadīth of Anas is weak.

Al-Nawawī said of Nuʿmān’s report: “Its chains of transmission are sound.”

Shaykh Ṣiddīq ibn Ḥasan states in Nuzul al-Abrār: “It was narrated by Aḥmad, al-Tirmidhī, Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasāʾī, and Ibn Mājah, and was also produced by Ibn Abī Shaybah and Ibn Ḥibbān. Al-Ḥākim and al-Tirmidhī declared it authentic. All of them transmitted it through Nuʿmān ibn Bashīr with the wording, ‘Supplication is worship.’ ”

Al-Tirmidhī also transmitted—from Anas—that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Supplication is part of worship.”

His statement “is worship” carries a sense of exclusivity, and the noble verse, “Your Lord has proclaimed, ‘Call upon Me and I will answer you’ ” (40:60), likewise shows that supplication is an act of worship.