Haram Sustenance and the Acceptance of Duʿā

Authored by: Fadhilat al-Shaykh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Hammad (may Allah preserve him)

✦ Consequences of Consuming the Unlawful ✦​

وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 2346]

"His food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothing is haram, and he is nourished with haram—how then can his supplication be accepted?"

✦ Benefits ✦​

This is part of a longer ḥadīth in which the Prophet ﷺ stated:
"O people! Verily, Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure. He has commanded the Messengers and the believers alike to consume only lawful and pure provisions."

Allah says to the Messengers:
"O Messengers! Eat from the good things and act righteously. Indeed, I am aware of what you do."
[al-Muʾminūn: 51]

To the believers, He commands:
"O you who believe! Eat from the good things We have provided you."
[al-Baqarah: 172]

✦ A Heartfelt Supplication Rejected Due to Haram Intake ✦​

The Prophet ﷺ described a man on a long journey, disheveled and dusty, raising his hands to the sky in duʿāʾ saying, "O my Lord, O my Lord!"

Yet his:

• Food is haram
• Drink is haram
• Clothing is haram
• Nourishment is from haram

How then can his duʿāʾ be accepted?

✦ A Timely Reminder for the Ummah ✦​

Many today wonder why their duʿās are not answered despite Allah’s promise:
"Call upon Me; I will respond to you."
[al-Muʾmin: 60]

This ḥadīth gives the answer: How many of those who supplicate truly differentiate between halal and haram?

وَاللهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ