Question
I have come across the following narrations in Sunan Tirmidhi, Adabul Mufrad, and Sunan ibn Majah with a slight variation in wording. The first two have the words على ولده whilst the third has لولده. Are both versions correct?
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: ثَلاَثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ لاَ شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 1905)
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: ثَلاَثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٍ دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ
(Aladabul Mufrad, Hadith: 32)
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: ثَلاَثُ دَعَوَاتٍ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُنَّ لاَ شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ لِوَلَدِهِ
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3862)
Answer
Yes, both versions are indeed correct.
‘Allamah Suyuti, Munawi, and others (rahimahumullah) have acknowledged the difference in wording and have explained both versions accordingly.
(Faydhul Qadir, Hadith: 3454; Also see: At-Targhib Wat Tarhib, Hadith: 3292 and 4582, Al-Adhkar, Hadith: 608, Al-Futuhatur Rabbaniyyah, vol. 5 pg. 138)
“على ولده” would mean a du’a against the child whilst “لولده” would mean a du’a in favor of the child. The commentators of Hadith have mentioned that both types of du’as emanating from one’s parents are readily accepted.
(Refer: Faydhul Qadir, Hadith: 3454; Also see: Al-Futuhatur Rabbaniyyah, vol. 5 pg. 138, and Mirqat, Hadith: 2250)
Translation
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) has reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) has said: ‘Three du’as [supplications] are accepted without a doubt: the du’a of one who was oppressed, the du’a of a traveler, and the du’a of a parent for or against his child.
For further explanation regarding the commentary of this Hadith, kindly refer to the aforementioned sources.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar