Reconciling between the fact that Salaat al-Haajah is not prescribed and the hadith which states that if something troubled him, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would get up and pray
Question

                How can we reconcile between the fact that there is no such thing as the prayer called Salaat al-Haajah and the hadith which says that if something troubled him, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would get up and pray, and the verse which says (interpretation of the meaning): “And seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer)” [al-Baqarah 2:45].
Praise be to Allah.
	Salaat al-haajah is mentioned in a number of da ‘eef hadiths 
	which are not proven to be from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be 
	upon him). Among these hadiths is the report narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn Abi 
	Awfa al-Aslami, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of 
	Allah be upon him) came out to us and said: ‘Whoever has need of something 
	from Allah or any one of His creation, let him do wudoo’ and pray two 
	rak’ahs, then let him say, “There is no god but Allah, the Forbearing, the 
	Most Generous. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the mighty Throne. Praise be to 
	Allah the Lord of the Worlds. O Allah, I ask You for Your mercy and 
	forgiveness and I ask You for all good things and for safety from all sins. 
	I ask You not to leave any sin without forgiving it, or any distress without 
	relieving it, or any need which it pleases You to fulfil without fulfilling 
	it for me.” Then let him ask Allah for whatever matter of this world or the 
	Hereafter that he wishes, for it will be fulfilled.”

	Narrated by Ibn Maajah (1374); this hadith is da‘eef (weak).

	Al-Tirmidhi said: this is a ghareeb [strange] hadeeth, 
	and concerning its isnaad it was said: Faa’id ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan is weak in 
	hadeeth.

	Al-Albaani said: rather it is da’eef jiddan (very 
	weak). Al-Haakim said: mawdoo’ (fabricated) ahaadeeth were 
	narrated from Abu Awfa.  

	Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 
	vol. 1, p. 417

	In Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah (8/1 62) it says:

	That which is called salaat al-haajah was narrated in da‘eef 
	(weak) and munkar (odd) hadiths – as far as we know – that cannot be quoted 
	as evidence. End quote.

	See also the answer to question no. 10387

	With regard to what you mentioned, that if something troubled 
	him, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would get up and 
	pray, this hadith was narrated by Abu Dawood (1319) from the hadith of 
	Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him), and classed as hasan by al-Albaani 
	in Saheeh Abi Dawood (1319)

	Doing this is prescribed, without reciting any specific du‘aa’ 
	or doing it in any specific manner. Rather if something upset him at the 
	time of an obligatory prayer, he would pray the obligatory prayer, otherwise 
	he would pray two rak‘ahs, and if he wished, he would offer whatever du‘aa’ 
	he liked in them, without always reciting a specific du‘aa’.

	Ibn Katheer (1/253) said, in his commentary on the verse in 
	which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), 
	“And 
	seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer)” 
	[al-Baqarah 2:45]:

	With regard to the word “As-Salat 
	(the prayer)”, prayer is 
	one of the greatest means of helping oneself to be steadfast, as Allah, may 
	He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

	“Recite (O 
	Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)) what has been revealed 
	to you of the Book (the Quran), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat). 
	Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha (i.e. great sins of 
	every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. 
	disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.) and the 
	remembering (praising, etc.) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is 
	greater indeed (than your remembering (praising, etc.) Allah in prayers, 
	etc.)”

	[al-‘Ankaboot 29:45].

	Then he narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with 
	him) that news was brought to him of his brother’s death whilst he was 
	travelling. He said: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi 
	raaji ‘oon (Truly! To 
	Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return)” 
	[al-Baqarah 2:156]. Then he swerved from the road and made his camel kneel, 
	then he prayed two rak‘ahs in which he made the sitting lengthy. Then he got 
	up and walked towards his camel, saying: “And 
	seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer) and truly it is extremely 
	heavy and hard except for Al-Khashioon (i.e. the true believers in Allah” 
	[al-Baqarah 2:45]. End 
	quote.

	Based on that, what is meant by saying that there is no 
	prayer that is called salaat al-haajah is to rule out this specific prayer.

	As for resorting to prayer, for the one who is worried or 
	troubled about something, this is included in the general meaning of the 
	words of Allah (interpretation of the meaning): “And 
	seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer)” 
	[al-Baqarah 2:45] and 
	the meaning of the hadith quoted above. That includes both obligatory and 
	supererogatory prayers. There is no specific du‘aa’; rather a person may 
	offer whatever du‘aa’ he wishes, without adhering to a specific du‘aa’.

	And Allah knows best.