❖ Question:
Is the following duʿā’ authentic to be recited while standing in the prayer row (saff)?
"اللهم آتني أفضل ما تؤتي عبادك الصالحين"
(Some say it is weak, others authentic — what is the correct view?)
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
➊ Narration Sources:
This duʿā’ is narrated in several reputable ḥadīth collections:
- عمل الیوم واللیلۃ للنسائی (Ḥadīth: 93)
- السنن الکبریٰ للنسائی (Ḥadīth: 9921)
- ابن خزیمہ (Ḥadīث: 453)
- ابن حبان (موارد الظمآن) (Ḥadīث: 1609)
These latter two declared the narration as authentic.➋ Endorsement by Great Scholars:
- Imām al-Ḥākim and Imām al-Dhahabī declared it:
"Ṣaḥīḥ ʿalā shart Muslim"
("Authentic according to the conditions of Imam Muslim")
(Al-Mustadrak, 1/74)➌ Narrator Authentication – Ibn ‘Ā’idh (محمد بن مسلم بن عائذ):
Some early scholars criticized him as majhūl or unknown,
However, multiple trustworthy authorities authenticated him:
- Imām al-ʿAjlī: Thiqah (reliable)
- Ibn Ḥibbān: Included in Thiqāt
- Ibn Khuzaymah: Used his narration in his Ṣaḥīḥ
Thus, the weight of evidence affirms his reliability.
➍ Scholarly Conclusion:
Due to the multiple endorsements and acceptance by Imams of ḥadīth, this duʿā’ is classified as:
✔ Ṣaḥīḥ (authentic)
✔ Permissible and recommended (مستحب) to recite
➎ Practical Implementation:
This duʿā’ may be recited when one stands in the row before beginning the prayer, as a supplication for piety and excellence among Allah's righteous servants:
"اللهم آتني أفضل ما تؤتي عبادك الصالحين"
"O Allah! Grant me the best of what You grant to Your righteous servants."
Verdict:This is a sound and authentic supplication, and reciting it before or at the time of forming the prayer row is in line with the sunnah spirit.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
