Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I always pray namaz-e-hajaat before for example I take an exam or if I have other “worldly” needs to be met, I even fast some times for example when I have some major exam to ask Allah to help me get through and to grant me success I thought I was doing the right thing but now I feel as if I am just being selfish doing ibadat in order to gain worldly success…
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
Asking Allah is sincerity. One should ask Allah for worldly matters, spiritual matters, and for His closeness and favor. However, our asking should be an expression of need and slavehood, not a placing of demands’ upon Allah.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani