Q: I wanted to ask you a question about some parts of the Quran that have been recommended to read in time of hardships and financial crisis. It

Praise be to Allah.

We do not think it is permissible to single out certain verses of the Quran to recite for specific purposes, unless there is specific shar’i evidence to that effect, such as if there is a saheeh hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) concerning the virtues of a certain soorah, which the Muslim may recite with the aim of attaining those virtues and benefits.

But if a person selects for himself various verses of Quran to recite, and claims that they may bring relief from hardship or help at times of crisis, and he compiles them in a book to be recited regularly by the Muslim as part of a recommended wird, then that is more akin to innovation (bid’ah) than following the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It is better for the Muslim to avoid that and not follow this example or act upon it.

The entire Quran is blessing and reward and goodness, but claiming that a certain verse has a certain effect, especially in the case of these claims that they can relieve difficulty and financial hardships, is something that requires evidence, and the author of this book has no evidence for the things he says, so attention must be paid to that.

Calling upon Allah in du’aa’ is prescribed at all times and in all places, in all situations, in hardship and ease. What is encouraged by Islam is to say du’aa’ when prostrating during the prayer, just before dawn, and at the end of the prayer before saying the salaam. It is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven every night when the last third of the night remains, and says: “Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him; who will ask of Me that I might give him; who will seek My forgiveness that I might forgive him?” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim.

And it is proven from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “As for rukoo’ (bowing), glorify your Lord therein, and as for sujood (prostration), strive hard in du’aa ‘therein, because then it is more likely that you may receive a response.” Narrated by Ahmad, Muslim, al-Nasaa’i and Abu Dawood.

It was proven from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The closest that a person is to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a lot of du’aa’ then.” Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawood and al-Nasaa’i.

In al-Saheehayn it is narrated from Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught him the tashahhud, he said to him: “Then let him choose whatever du’aa’ he likes and say it.”

And Allah is the Source of strength. End quote.