Question
Does the following du’a exist without the word ‘خير’?
لما توالى على يعقوب ذهاب ابنه بنيمين بعد يوسف واطلع الله على ما في قلبه من الحزن بعث إليه جبريل أن يقول: يا كثير الخير، يا دائم المعروف الذي لا ينقطع أبدا ولا يحصيه غيره رد علي ابني، فأوحى الله سبحانه وتعالى إليه: وعزتي وجلالي وارتفاعي على عرشي لو كانا ميتين لنشرتهما لك
Answer
Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration as the statement of Sa’id ibn Yazid Abu ‘Abdillah As Saji (rahimahullah). The narration is regarding the du’a Jibril (‘alayhis salam) taught Ya’qub (‘alayhis salam) when he was grieved at the loss of two of his sons; Yusuf (‘alayhis salam) and Binyamin.
(Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 9 pg. 312/313)
I have not come across this narration in any other primary source, nor have I come across a version of the du’a without the word ‘khayr’.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar,
Further, the meaning would be corrupted if the word khayr was missing.