Is It from Lack of Faith to Leave Making Du’a for Things Almost Impossible?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: Assalamu alaykum

Sometimes I think of something which almost seems impossible, so I think “maybe I should make dua’a for it,” then I start to think that what I want is pretty much impossible and decide not to make the duaa.

Would this be a sign of lack of faith?

Answer:  Walaikum assalam,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

It is a pillar of faith to believe that Allah can will anything rationally possible to exist or not to exist. Allah describes Himself in the Qur’an as being, “The one who does whatsoever He wills.” [Qur’an, 85.16]

However, Allah has chosen to place us in a world of means, whether normative causes and effects are manifest—by His creating. In this world, it is from the proper manners of slavehood to Allah Most High that we only ask for things that are not normally impossible. [Zakariyya al-Ansari, Talkhis al-Azhiya fi Ahkam al-Ad’ia]

Thus (while rationally possible) it would be bad, for example, to ask Allah: “O Allah, can you make a brand new car appear immediately in my driveway.”

Rather, one should ask for one’s needs, worldly and spiritual, in a normally attainable manner. Thus, it is perfectly good to ask Allah, “I Allah, grant me a car,” and best to add, “… and facilitate the means to acquiring it.”

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a scholar and researcher of Islamic law and Executive Director of SeekersHub Global After ten years overseas, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in the Summer of 2007. In May 2008 he founded SeekersHub Global to deal with the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge—both online and on the ground—in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He has been repeatedly listed as one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims (The Muslim500).