WE RELATE IN the Ṣaḥīḥs of al-Bukhārī and Muslim that Ibn ‘Umar 
related that he heard the Messenger of Allah 
say: “Three of those who were before you were travelling one day when nightfall made them seek shelter inside a cave which they entered. A boulder fell from the mountain and closed off the cave with them inside. They said: ‘Nothing can save you from this boulder except supplicating to Allah 
through your pious deeds.’ One man of them said: ‘O Allah, I had two very aged parents and I never gave any of my family or slaves anything to drink before them. . ..’” He recounted the rest of the long hadith, and that each of them said about his own pious deed: “O Allah, if I did this seeking Your Countenance, deliver us from the predicament we are in.’ [The mouth of the cave] opened a little after each of their du‘ā’s and opened completely after the du‘ā’ of the third. And so they walked out.” [1].
related that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Three of those who were before you were travelling one day when nightfall made them seek shelter inside a cave which they entered. A boulder fell from the mountain and closed off the cave with them inside. They said: ‘Nothing can save you from this boulder except supplicating to Allah through your pious deeds.’ One man of them said: ‘O Allah, I had two very aged parents and I never gave any of my family or slaves anything to drink before them. . ..’” He recounted the rest of the long hadith, and that each of them said about his own pious deed: “O Allah, if I did this seeking Your Countenance, deliver us from the predicament we are in.’ [The mouth of the cave] opened a little after each of their du‘ā’s and opened completely after the du‘ā’ of the third. And so they walked out.” [1].I say that aghbiqu, with a ḍammah on the hamzah and a kasrah on the bā’, means ‘I give to drink’.
Al-Qāḍī Ḥusayn, one of our [Shāfi‘ī] colleagues, and others said something about the ṣalāh for rain which means: “It is mustaḥabb for one who is afflicted with difficulties to make du‘ā’ by means of his pious deeds.” They cite this hadith as proof. Other views have been expressed about this, however, inasmuch as [such a du‘ā’] contains a suggestion of less than total neediness towards Allah , and what is called for in du‘ā’ is being in need. However, the Prophet told this hadith in praise of them, so it indicates that he considered their action to be correct. And success is by Allah.
, and what is called for in du‘ā’ is being in need. However, the Prophet told this hadith in praise of them, so it indicates that he considered their action to be correct. And success is by Allah.AMONG THE BEST THINGS SAID BY THE SALAF ABOUT DU‘Ā’
Among the best things that have been conveyed from the first generations concerning du‘ā’ is what has been reported about al-Awzā‘ī, may Allah be merciful to him, who said: “The people went out to pray for rain. Bilāl ibn Sa‘d stood up among them. He praised Allah and extolled Him, then said, ‘You who have assembled, do you not admit to having done wrong?’ ‘Yes,’ they replied. So he said: ‘O Allah, we have heard Your words “There are no grounds for complaint against those who do good” [2]. and we have confessed to doing wrong. Is not Your forgiveness, then, for the likes of us? O Allah, forgive us, have mercy on us and grant us rain.’ He raised his hands and they raised their hands; and they were granted rain.
Allāhumma innā sami‘nāka taqūlu: “Mā ‘ala-l-muḥsinīn min sabīl” wa qad aqrarnā bi-l-isā’ah, fa-hal takūnu maghfiratuka illā li-mithlinā? Allāhumma-ghfir lanā wa-rḥamnā wa-sqinā.
In this same sense someone composed in poetry [in the metre ṭawīl]:
I do wrong, often straying, but [His] Pardon is vast;
without those wrong actions there could be no pardon.
References
[1] Al-Bukhārī (3465), Muslim (2743), and Abū Dāwūd (3387).
[2] Qur’ān 9:90.