Central Khutbah: “Supplication in Times of Ease – The Guarantee of Success” (Gallery + Video)

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the One without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger ﷺ. May peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and his companions.

Allah, the Most High, says:

“And your Lord says: Call upon Me; I will respond to you.”
(Surah Ghafir, verse 60)

This is the guarantee from the Lord of the heavens and the earth: supplication is not lost speech — it is direct access to the One who controls every affair.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“Whoever would be pleased that Allah should answer him in times of hardship and distress, let him supplicate often to Allah in times of ease.”
(Tirmidhi 3382, Abu Ya‘la 6396, Tabarani – the hadith is strengthened through other chains)

This is the path: if you wish to be certain of Allah’s response in times of crisis, build your reserve of supplications in times of serenity. Do not wait for the storm to fall in sincere prostration — your connection with Allah is built before the trial.

‘Imran ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“Three things enable a servant to attain all that he desires, in this world and the Hereafter: patience in adversity, contentment with Allah’s decree, and supplication in times of prosperity.”
(Abu Dawud, Az-Zuhd, 392)

This is the complete map of a believer’s life:

1. Patience in hardship.
   Do not rebel against Allah; carry the trial with dignity and hope.
2. Contentment with Allah’s decree.
   Not forced acceptance, but inner peace with Allah’s choice, believing that Allah never errs in His decisions for His servants.
3. Supplication in ease.
   When all is well — when the home is stable, health is sound, sustenance is lawful, and family life is calm — that is when gratitude and supplication must be abundant, asking for those blessings to be preserved. The mindful believer knows that nothing he loves is secure without Allah’s protection.

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to say:

“O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the loss of Your blessings, from the change of the good condition You have granted me, from Your sudden punishment, and from all that displeases You.”
(Muslim)

This supplication destroys the illusion that prosperity is our natural state or our right. Health is not guaranteed. Peace in the home is not guaranteed. Respect among people is not guaranteed. Lawful income is not guaranteed. All of it is fragile and depends entirely on Allah’s protection. Supplication, therefore, is not only saying, “Grant me,” but also, “Do not take away what You have given.”

Rifa‘ah ibn Rafi‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) once ascended the pulpit, wept, and said:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood here last year, wept, and said: ‘Ask Allah for forgiveness and for well-being (al-‘afiyah), for no one, after certainty (al-yaqîn), has been given a greater blessing than al-‘afiyah.’”
(Tirmidhi)

This hadith teaches us the correct priority: first, certainty in faith (yaqîn); then, the greatest blessing after that is ‘afiyah — safety of the soul, purity of faith, health of the body, peace at home, and lawful provision. What many consider “small everyday things” are, in fact, the greatest worldly gifts after sound belief. And they must be protected through supplication.

Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“While I was praying, when I sat for the tashahhud, I first praised Allah, then invoked blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, and then prayed for myself.”
The Prophet ﷺ said to him:
“Ask, and it will be given to you! Ask, and it will be given to you!”
(Ahmad 3662, Tirmidhi 593 – hasan hadith)

In another narration, Ibn Mas‘ud supplicated:

“O Allah, I ask You for faith that never falters, for a blessing that never ends, and for the companionship of Your Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the highest chambers of eternal Paradise.”
(Ahmad)

From this, two lessons emerge:

1. The true servant asks for the highest.
   He asks for firm, unwavering faith — not fleeting emotion. He asks for enduring blessings — not temporary luxury. He asks for the company of the Prophet ﷺ in Paradise — not mere survival.
2. The Prophet ﷺ did not lower his ambition.
   He did not say, “Be more modest.” Rather, he said: “Ask, and it will be given to you.” Meaning: ask for the greatest, the most complete, the highest.

From all these narrations arise three duties for every believer:

First duty:
Do not wait for calamity to begin supplicating. The one who opens his heart only during catastrophe has delayed his relationship with Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever would be pleased that Allah respond to him in times of distress – let him supplicate often in times of ease.”
(Tirmidhi 3382)

Second duty:
Learn the supplication for the preservation of blessings:

“O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the loss of Your blessings, from the change of the good condition You have granted me, from Your sudden punishment, and from all that displeases You.”
(Muslim)

Third duty:
Ask for the greatest without shame or spiritual inferiority:

“O Allah, I ask You for faith that never falters, for a blessing that never ends, and for the companionship of Your Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the highest chambers of eternal Paradise.”
(Ahmad)
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Ask, and it will be given to you.”
(Ahmad 3662, Tirmidhi 593)

Thus, supplication in times of ease is not a luxury — it is the assurance of being answered in the future.
Whoever remembers Allah in times of prosperity, Allah will remember him in times of hardship.

Supplications

O our Lord, grant us faith that never falters, blessings that never end, and the companionship of Your Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the highest chambers of eternal Paradise. (Ahmad)

O our Lord, we seek refuge with You from the loss of Your blessings, from the change of our good condition, from Your sudden punishment, and from all that displeases You. (Muslim)

O our Lord, grant us forgiveness and well-being (‘afiyah), for after certainty (yaqîn), no blessing is better than ‘afiyah. (Tirmidhi)

O Allah, make us among those who call upon You in times of ease so that You respond to them in times of hardship.
O Allah, grant peace to our homes, lawful provision to our families, guidance to our children, and firm faith to our hearts.
O Allah, heal the sick, have mercy on the deceased, relieve those in debt, protect the oppressed, and envelop us, the Muslims, in Your mercy.

(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on October 24, 2025, at the “Centre islamique Gazi Isa-beg” in Esch-sur-Alzette)