Q 1: After every Friday Prayer, people in our country recite the following lines of poetry. Is this permissible? These lines read: O Lord, I deserve not in Paradise to dwellNor can I endure the fire of HellSo may you my repentance accept and my sins obliterateFor indeed You forgive sins, no matter how great.

A: A Muslim is allowed to make Du`a' (supplication) and to beseech Allah humbly at any time and in all circumstances. Allah (Exalted be He) stated: And your Lord said: “Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation). Allah also says: And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: (Part No. 2; Page No. 541)  Du`a' is the very core of worship However, chanting these lines of poetry after Friday Prayer is not an act of Sunnah. Rather, it is a forbidden act of Bid`ah (innovation in religion). It is authentically confirmed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: Whoever introduces any practice into this affair of ours that is not of it, it is to be rejected. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.