Is it permissible to supplicate in prayer using worldly desires and comforts?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is not permissible to supplicate in prayer for things related to worldly temptations and desires, such as seeking a beautiful maiden, a luxurious house, fine food, or an elegant garden. This is based on the Prophet's statement: 'Indeed, this prayer of ours is not suitable for anything from the speech of mankind; it contains only glorification, magnification (Takbir), and the recitation of the Quran.' Such worldly requests constitute the speech of mankind.
Supporting text
Al-Shafi'i holds that one may supplicate with whatever one likes, based on the Hadith of Ibn Mas'ud in the Tashahhud: 'Then let him choose from the supplication what is most appealing to him,' and another narration stating, 'Then let him choose from the requests what he wills or loves.' This is interpreted by some as permitting the selection from supplications that resemble the narrated ones or those similar to them, while restricting requests for pure worldly gains.