❀ Islamic Ruling on Praying for a Long Life in Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah ❀
Source: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Pg. 43
People often say in supplication: “May Allah grant you a long life,” or “May Allah keep you alive for a long time.”
Is it permissible to make such prayers? If not, what is the evidence for its prohibition?
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Islam gives particular attention to the etiquettes and wording of supplications (duʿā’). Regarding the prayer for longevity and extended life, scholars have presented differing viewpoints.
In Zād al-Maʿād (2/42), he considered such phrases as disliked (makrūh), stating:
These phrases are disliked because a long life is not inherently beneficial. If one spends it in sin, it may become a source of harm rather than benefit.
In Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā (2/225-226), Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn stated:
Praying for “long life” in itself is not suitable, as it may be beneficial or harmful depending on how one uses that time.
He cited the Hadith:
“The worst of people is he whose life is prolonged while his deeds are evil.”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 15233, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 3297)
However, saying:
“أطال الله بقائك على طاعته”
(May Allah prolong your life in obedience to Him) — this is permissible, because it conditions longevity with righteousness.
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn further explained:
The phrase “أدام الله أيامك” (May Allah prolong your days forever) is an exaggeration in supplication and contradicts Islamic belief, because perpetual days are impossible.
Allah says:
﴿كُلُّ مَن عَلَيها فانٍ﴾
﴿وَيَبقىٰ وَجهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الجَلـٰلِ وَالإِكرامِ﴾
(Ar-Raḥmān: 26–27)
"Everyone upon the earth will perish. And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor."
Also:
﴿وَما جَعَلنا لِبَشَرٍ مِن قَبلِكَ الخُلدَ ۖ أَفَإِي۟ن مِتَّ فَهُمُ الخـٰلِدونَ﴾
(Al-Anbiyāʾ: 34)
"We did not grant eternal life to any human before you. Then if you die, would they be eternal?"
This clearly proves that perpetual human life is not possible, thus such phrases are un-Islamic and incorrect.
The Prophet ﷺ prayed:
اللهم اكثر ماله و ولده واطل عمره واغفرله
(Saḥīḥ al-Adab al-Mufrad: 653, As-Ṣaḥīḥah by al-Albānī: 2541)
"O Allah! Increase his wealth and children, prolong his life, and forgive him."
This shows that praying for long life is permissible, if accompanied by duʿā’ for righteous deeds and forgiveness.
◈ “May Allah make your days eternal” → Eternity belongs to Allah alone.
◈ “May you live a thousand years” → Long life is not always beneficial and may lead to evil.
◈ “May Allah bless your life”
◈ “May Allah grant you a long life in obedience to Him”
◈ “May Allah bless your wealth, children, and lifespan”
Such supplications are in accordance with Qur’ān and Sunnah, and the Prophet ﷺ made similar prayers for his companions.
Therefore, if one wishes to make a prayer for long life, it should be conditioned with obedience, righteousness, and forgiveness. Otherwise, merely saying “May Allah grant you long life” without context is disliked in Islamic tradition.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Pg. 43
❖ Question
People often say in supplication: “May Allah grant you a long life,” or “May Allah keep you alive for a long time.”
Is it permissible to make such prayers? If not, what is the evidence for its prohibition?
❖ Answer
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Islam gives particular attention to the etiquettes and wording of supplications (duʿā’). Regarding the prayer for longevity and extended life, scholars have presented differing viewpoints.
✿ Evidence for the Dislike of Praying for Mere Longevity
① Opinion of Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله
In Zād al-Maʿād (2/42), he considered such phrases as disliked (makrūh), stating:
- “أطال الله بقاءك” (May Allah keep you alive for long)
- “أدام أيامك” (May Allah make your days perpetual)
- “عشت ألف سنة” (May you live for a thousand years)
These phrases are disliked because a long life is not inherently beneficial. If one spends it in sin, it may become a source of harm rather than benefit.
② Explanation by Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله
In Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā (2/225-226), Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn stated:
Praying for “long life” in itself is not suitable, as it may be beneficial or harmful depending on how one uses that time.
He cited the Hadith:
“The worst of people is he whose life is prolonged while his deeds are evil.”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 15233, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 3297)
However, saying:“أطال الله بقائك على طاعته”
(May Allah prolong your life in obedience to Him) — this is permissible, because it conditions longevity with righteousness.
③ Saying “May Allah make your days eternal” is Incorrect
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn further explained:
The phrase “أدام الله أيامك” (May Allah prolong your days forever) is an exaggeration in supplication and contradicts Islamic belief, because perpetual days are impossible.
Allah says:
﴿كُلُّ مَن عَلَيها فانٍ﴾﴿وَيَبقىٰ وَجهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الجَلـٰلِ وَالإِكرامِ﴾
(Ar-Raḥmān: 26–27)
"Everyone upon the earth will perish. And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor."
Also:
﴿وَما جَعَلنا لِبَشَرٍ مِن قَبلِكَ الخُلدَ ۖ أَفَإِي۟ن مِتَّ فَهُمُ الخـٰلِدونَ﴾(Al-Anbiyāʾ: 34)
"We did not grant eternal life to any human before you. Then if you die, would they be eternal?"
This clearly proves that perpetual human life is not possible, thus such phrases are un-Islamic and incorrect.
✿ Evidence for the Permissibility of Praying for Long Life (With Conditions)
① Prophet’s ﷺ Duʿā’ for Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه
The Prophet ﷺ prayed:
اللهم اكثر ماله و ولده واطل عمره واغفرله
(Saḥīḥ al-Adab al-Mufrad: 653, As-Ṣaḥīḥah by al-Albānī: 2541)
"O Allah! Increase his wealth and children, prolong his life, and forgive him."
This shows that praying for long life is permissible, if accompanied by duʿā’ for righteous deeds and forgiveness.
✿ Conclusion
✘ Disliked Duʿās Include:
◈ “May Allah make your days eternal” → Eternity belongs to Allah alone.
◈ “May you live a thousand years” → Long life is not always beneficial and may lead to evil.
✔ Permissible Duʿās Include:
◈ “May Allah bless your life”
◈ “May Allah grant you a long life in obedience to Him”
◈ “May Allah bless your wealth, children, and lifespan”
Such supplications are in accordance with Qur’ān and Sunnah, and the Prophet ﷺ made similar prayers for his companions.
Therefore, if one wishes to make a prayer for long life, it should be conditioned with obedience, righteousness, and forgiveness. Otherwise, merely saying “May Allah grant you long life” without context is disliked in Islamic tradition.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
