Is it “Du`aa” (supplication) or “Dhikr” (remembrance of Allaah)?

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

In regards to the saying after breaking the Fast, the following authentic Hadeeth is being circulated as a “Du`aa”:

Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما said that the Prophet ﷺ said when he broke his fast:

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

❝The thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allaah Wills.❞

[Sunan Abu Dawood (2357), Sunan al-Kubraa of al_nasaa’ee (3315, 10058), Mustdrak al-Haakim (1536), Sunan al-Daraqutnee (2279) and he graded it as “Hasan”, and also graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Irwaa’ (920)]

But is it actually a “Du`aa” or a “Dhikr”?

1) As mentioned in Sharh Usool al-Thalaathah, Du`aa are of two types: Du`aa for asking (دعاء المسألة) and Du`aa for worship (دعاء العبادة).

Du`aa for asking is when a person beseeches Allaah for some benefit in this world and the Hereafter, or to ward of that which will cause harm etc. Example: saying: “O Allaah! Forgive me”, “O Allaah! Guide me”, “O Allaah! Protect me from punishment of the Fire” etc.

As for Du`aa of worship, it includes to all acts of worship, like: Salaah, Fasting, Hajj, remembrance of Allaah etc. Acts of worship are called as Du`aa because a person seeks reward from Allaah. [end of quote]

The Hadeeth under discussion does not belong to either categories, as it is rather a statement of hope, which will be discussed further.

2) If the Hadeeth under discussion was indeed a Du`aa, then saying: “In shaa Allaah” (if Allaah Wills) would be wrong, because the Prophet ﷺ himself disallowed it.

Anas رضي الله عنه said: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝When one of you supplicates, let him be decisive and he should not say: ‘O Allah, bestow upon me such and such if You wish’, because no one has the power to compel Him.❞

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (6338, 7477) and Saheeh Muslim (2678)]

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝None of you should say: ‘O Allaah, forgive me if You wish; O Allaah, be merciful to me if You wish,’ but he should always appeal to Allaah with determination, for nobody can force Allaah to do something against His Will.❞

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (6339) and Saheeh Muslim (2679)]

3) Rather, when a statement has the phrase: “In shaa Allaah”, it denotes a statement of hope, as Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله had said:

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله was asked about the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:

لَا بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

❝Don't worry, Allaah willing, (your sickness will be) expiation for your sins.❞

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3616, 5656, 5662, 7470)]

So is it allowed to say “in shaa Allaah” in the Du`aa?

The Shaikh رحمه الله said:

“If it was a Du`aa, the Prophet ﷺ would not have confined it by saying: “in shaa Allaah”, rather it is an advice and a (source of) hope. And it could be that they may say (about this narration): “It is abrogated” – but this is not apparent. The Prophet ﷺ would always say this whenever he visited the sick. This is optimism and hope that it would be expiation for the sins – Allaah Willing. From one angle it is addressing (a person) in a good manner; and a glad tiding from another angle. So, this is from the angle of goodness and hope.

As for saying: “in shaa Allaah” in the Du`aa, then this is not permissible. Like saying: “O Allaah! Forgive him – in shaa Allaah”, “Allaah have mercy on you in shaa Allaah”.”

[الفوائد الجلية من دروس الشيخ ابن باز العلمية]

4) As Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله, he said: “The time for Du`aa is while the person is Fasting, at the time when the sun is about to set. This is the time when a person humbles his soul and submit it to Allaah عز وجل while he is Fasting, and this is the means when the Du`aa is (readily) answered (and not rejected). But after breaking the Fast, the soul is at ease and is at joy (in having broken the Fast). But there is remembrance which has been reported from the Prophet ﷺ - if it is authentic – which should be said after breaking the Fast: ❝The thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if Allaah Wills.❞This should not be said except after breaking the Fast… So you should beseech Allaah with a Du`aa which is befitting the occasion, and which you feel you are in need of.”

[اللقاء الشهري]

Conclusion: The Hadeeth is authentic, and since the Prophet ﷺ said it, it becomes a Sunnah for us to say it too after breaking the Fast. But the purpose of this discussion was to remind the people that a Du`aa cannot and should not have the phrase: “In shaa Allaah” as it goes against the Sunnah, and this statement is a statement of hope and a reminder of Allaah’s favor upon us.