contains no transgression. Transgression may lie either in excessive wording or in the meanings expressed, as [one] (1) of the Companions explained when he addressed his son after the latter said:

“O Allah, I ask You for the white palace on the right side of Paradise when I enter it.”

Another said:

“I ask You for Paradise, its palaces and its rivers, and I seek refuge in You from the Fire, its chains and its shackles.”

He said:

“My dear son, ask Allah for Paradise and seek refuge in Him from the Fire, for I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: ‘There will be people in this community who transgress in supplication and purification.’”

Transgression may also occur in worship and asceticism.

Ahmad’s statement, “With what has been transmitted in the reports,” is sound. The definite article in “the supplication” refers to supplication that Allah loves, not supplication in general, for some supplications are forbidden.

If it is said, “Whatever supplication is permissible outside prayer is permissible during prayer, such as asking for a house and a beautiful slave girl,” the reply is: “Who says that such a supplication is prescribed outside prayer, or that such wording does not constitute transgression?”

It may then be said: Recommended supplication is supplication prescribed by revelation, for its recommended status can only be established by the Lawgiver. Whatever He has not prescribed cannot be recommended. Rather, one would thereby be instituting as religion something Allah has not authorized, for supplication is among the greatest aspects of religion.

However, if someone offers a supplication without knowing whether it is recommended, or knowing that it is permissible but not recommended, his prayer is not invalidated by that. Prayer is invalidated only by ordinary human speech, and supplication is not a form of ordinary human speech; rather, it is