The Prayer of Need – Salat al Hajah

Salat al Hajah or the prayer of need is performed when a Muslim has a particular need or purpose to fulfill. It is offered to Allah for help in accomplishment and assistance.

How to Perform Salat al Hajah

Salat al Hajah is simple and easy to pray. Firstly do fresh ablution carefully with every step, make the niyat i.e. the intention and state the need in your mind and follow it by a calm prayer of two rak’ahs (or four). After the rak’ah make an earnest supplication that what you wish to accomplish and request Allah Ta'ala's help in its accomplishment.

Ahadith regarding Salat al Hajah

Abullah ibn Abi Awfa (RA) relates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Whoever has a need with Allah, or with any human being, then let them perform ritual ablutions well and then pray two rakats. After that, let them praise Allah and send blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). After this, let them say,

لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين
أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ وَالسَّلامَةَ مِنْ كُلّإِثْمٍ
لا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلا غَفَرْتَهُ وَلا هَمًّا إِلا فَرَّجْتَهُ وَلا حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلا قَضَيْتَهَا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

There there no god but Allah the Clement and Wise.
There is no god but Allah the High and Mighty.
Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Tremendous Throne.
All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
I ask you (O Allah) everything that leads to your mercy, and your tremendous forgiveness, enrichment in all good, and freedom from all sin.
Do not leave a sin of mine (O Allah), except that you forgive it, nor any concern except that you create for it an opening, nor any need in which there is your good pleasure except that you fulfill it, O Most Merciful!” [Related by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, although the hadith is weak yet it is acceptable by the Sunni thought of school]

Muslims are ordained to offer Salat al-Hajah for fulfilling any kind of need. A Muslim after performing salat al Hajah should have trust in Allah that He will fulfill his need.