694 - ما يَنبَغي عَلَى الدَّاعي تَركُهُ‏

694. WHAT THE SUPPLICANT MUST NOT DO

1 - الدُّعاءُ لِما لا يَكونُ ولا يَحِلُ‏

1. Supplication for the Impossible and the Impermissible:

2148.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : يا صاحِبَ الدُّعاءِ ، لا تَسأل عَمّا لا يَكونُ ولا يَحِلُّ .¹

2148.Imam Ali (AS) said, 'O supplicant, do not ask for the impossible and the impermissible.' ²

2 - الاِستِعجالُ‏

2. To Seek a Hasty Response:

2149.الكافي عن أبي بصير عن الإمام الصّادق عليه السلام : لا يَزالُ المُؤمِنُ بِخَيرٍ ورَجاءٍ رَحمَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ ما لَم يَستَعجِلْ فَيَقنَطُ وَيَترُكُ الدُّعاءَ . قُلتُ لَهُ : كَيفَ يَستَعجِلُ ؟ قالَ : يَقولُ : قَد دَعَوتُ مُنذُ كَذا وكَذا وما أرَى الإجابَةَ !³

2149.Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'The believer continues to remain in goodness, comfort, and mercy from Allah as long as he does not seek a hasty response, then despair and abandon supplication as a consequence'. The Imam was asked, 'How does he hasten?', to which he (AS) replied, 'He says, 'I have supplicated since such and such a time and I do not yet see an answer.' ⁴

3 - أنْ لا يُعَلِّمَ اللَّهَ ما يُصلِحُهُ‏

3. Do Not Instruct Allah about What is Good for You:

2150.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : قالَ اللَّهُ تَبارَكَ وتَعالى‏ : يابنَ آدَمَ ، أطِعْني فيما أمَرتُكَ ، ولا تُعَلِّمْني ما يُصلِحُكَ .⁵

2150.The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Allah, Blessed and most High, has said, 'O son of Adam, obey Me in what I have commanded, and do not instruct Me about what is good for you.' ⁶