The Hadith: 'Get your food from lawful means and your Du`a' will always be answered'

Q: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Get your food from lawful means and your Du`a' (supplication) will always be answered. Is this Hadith Sahih (authentic)? Who narrated it?


A: This is part of the Hadith narrated on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) which reads as follows: The following Ayah (Qur'anic verse) was recited before the Prophet (peace be upon him): O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth (Part No. 3; Page No. 260) Thereupon, Sa`d ibn Abu Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, supplicate to Allah that my Du`a' will always be answered.' He (peace be upon him) said, 'O Sa`d, get your food from lawful means and your Du`a' will always be answered. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, a servant who puts an unlawful morsel in his stomach, his actions will not be accepted for forty days. Any person whose flesh develops from ill-gotten means and usury, the Fire is more fitting for him.' (Related by Al-Tabarany in his book Al-Awsat) It is a Da`if (weak) Hadith. However, the meaning of this Hadith is confirmed by another Hadith, such as the one related in Sahih Muslim (may Allah be merciful to him) on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: ...Then he (the Prophet) mentioned a man who goes on a long journey, unkempt, full of dust, his food and clothes are ill-gotten, and he is fed from ill-gotten food. He stretches his hands to the sky, (supplicating), 'O Lord, O Lord.' How could his Du`a' be answered? May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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