What Does It Mean to Say “Ya Rabbi” Four Times According to the Hadith?
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
Does the hadith mean that one must say “Ya Rabbi” four times in a row for Allah to respond, or that the phrase should be said four times in total?
Our mother, A’isha (Allah be pleased with her), reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When a person says ‘Ya Rabba, Ya Rabbi’ four times, Allah Most High says, ‘I am listening to you, my servant. Ask, and you will be granted.’” [Bazzar; Musnad]
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Regarding the narration of Sayyida A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) mentioned below, the apparent meaning is that someone commences their supplication by saying Ya Rabb (O My Lord) four times in a row.
(Our mother) A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When the servant says, ‘My Lord; My Lord’ four times, Allah Blessed and Exalted says, ‘I am here, My servant. Ask, and you will be given.’” [Musnad Bazzar]
And Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Related
- Adab of Dua Series: Introduction and Etiquette
- Will the Du’a of Yunus at the Beginning of One’s Du’a Guarantee Acceptance?
- How Do I Supplicate during Salah While Sitting and Prostrating?
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he studied at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and later completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.
There, he completed memorization of the Quran and his studies in Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.
Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
