Salat al-Haja (Prayer of Need)
Abullah ibn Abi Awfa (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever has a need with Allah, or with any human being, then let them perform ritual ablutions well and then pray two rakats. After that, let them praise Allah and send blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). After this, let them say:
“There there no god but Allah the Clement and Wise. There is no god but Allah the High and Mighty. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Tremendous Throne. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds. I ask you (O Allah) everything that leads to your mercy, and your tremendous forgiveness, enrichment in all good, and freedom from all sin. Do not leave a sin of mine (O Allah), except that you forgive it, nor any concern except that you create for it an opening, nor any need in which there is your good pleasure except that you fulfill it, O Most Merciful!”
The prayer of need is very simple: It is essentially to raise one’s need to Allah Most High, by performing ritual ablution (wudu), praying 2 rakats (or four), and then making whole-hearted dua to Allah. If one uses the above mentioned Prophetic supplication, or other similar supplications transmitted from the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), it is best. [Ibrahim al-Halabi, Sharh Munyat al-Musalli; al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
The inward manners of supplication is exhibiting our neediness and absolute slavehood to Allah, consigning one’s matters to Allah, and knowing that the only one who gives or benefits is Allah Most High. With this, one should be certain that Allah Most High answers our duas, but in the way He knows is best for us.
When circumstances do not permit us to pray 2 rakats, one should still turn to Allah in supplication, raising one’s needs to Him, for He answers our supplications and loves being asked.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani
Taken from SunniPath: http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?id=1117
Healing Hearts 
10 comments
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May 16, 2011 at 12:35 am
Precious Star
I like reading Salatul Hajaa, but I recently heard that it is based on a “weak” hadith.
Anyway, I have prayed it for about 8 months now, and so far my problem has not been solved and I am still broken inside, emotionally. Maybe it does not work for everyone.
May 16, 2011 at 8:52 am
sidramushtaq
Dear “Precious Star”
As-salamu’alaykum,
Many thanks for your comment. Scholars have recommended this form of prayer when one is in need; it’s a very beautiful Lord and we use every possible means of gaining our Lord’s pleasure. Allah answers and hears ALL PRAYERS; our Lord is not a stingy Lord and if He doesn’t respond to something straight away, doesn’t mean He never will. He responds in a way which He thinks is befitting for us, not what we think is best for us. We cannot limit ourselves nor put a time frame on when our needs should be fulfilled or dua should be answered. It took our beloved prophet salla’Allahu ‘alayhi wasalam 23 years to complete his message, did he give up? no he didn’t! He continued with delivering his message despite all the hardships he faced, and the hardships we face are nothing compared to what he had to face. You want to give up after 8 months of trying? Perhaps Allah has solved your problems but in a different way. That feeling of brokeness doesn’t just go over overnight; the deeper the attachment, the longer it takes. Sometimes it can take years for the pain to go, but this shouldn’t deter our resolve and hope in Allah. Lets have a good opinion of our Lord, and know that He is aware of our situation and only He will resolve it. We use any opportunity to heal ourselves via His remembrance, whether its through this prayer or any other form of dhikr.
Wasalams,
Sidra
May 16, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Precious Star
Deep in my heart I know what you say is true, Sister Sidra. Thank you. Hopefully I won’t be hurting for the next 23 years, or the 40 years that Yaqub waited for Yusuf to come back. I do try to heal by remembrance and Ibadat.
Someday, the pieces of my heart, and my soul, will be glued back together. Until God wills, they remain in pieces on the floor.
Thanks again.
May 19, 2011 at 8:54 am
Dreamlife
Earlier this year, I read something about this hadith being weak…which surprised me, because I have prayed this type of salaah many times in the past.
Could you please clarify the authenticity of this hadith?
May 24, 2011 at 10:17 pm
Rahat
Salaams Sidra May Allah bless you a thousand times. Thank you for these wonderful postings. They truly enlighjen our hearts and Imaan. Jazakallahkahr. X
November 27, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Anonymous
I am confuse on the process of salat hajat. I know you have to say salawat and duas to Allah (swt) in the process but when it comes to your specific request (in my own language), do you say it before or after salam. And do you add an extra sujood to this.
September 7, 2012 at 8:37 am
doha
Realy thank’s gad for give me and forget me something.
May 7, 2013 at 5:42 pm
nida
jazakallah hu khayr.iam sure that this salat will help in my problems.
October 30, 2013 at 5:12 am
rizwanulla
assalamu alaikum, allah is creator of universe, only god of us, allah can do anything without anybodies help,allah has affection on each human being(muslim) that equals to more than 70 mothers affection. so sincerely pray to allah,allah will grant the best to his beloved.insha allah. Pray for me also.allahu akbar
October 24, 2014 at 6:45 am
naima
3afako charhiliya imta na9dar nsali salat lhaja aw istikhara