Du’aa’ asking to attain the attributes of the Prophets
Question

                What is the ruling on du’aa’ asking to attain the attributes of the Prophets, such as saying ‘O Allaah, grant me the patience of Ayyoob and the wisdom of Yoosuf’ and so on?.
Praise be to Allah.
    Asking Allaah to grant the attributes of the Prophets may be 
    divided into two categories: 

    1.

    Du’aa’ asking for the miracles or virtues for which Allaah 
    singled them out, such as asking one's Lord to give one the sovereignty of 
    Sulaymaan, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “He said: ‘My 
    Lord! Forgive me, and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to 
    any other after me. Verily, You are the Bestower’” [Saad 38:35]; or 
    asking Allaah for a miracle that can only be given to a Prophet, such as the 
    miracle of ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) who was born without a father, or 
    asking Allaah for the status of al-waseelah in Paradise, as the Prophet 
    (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) said: “Then ask Allaah to grant 
    me al-waseelah, for it is a station in Paradise which only one of the slaves 
    of Allaah will attain, and I hope that I will be the one” (narrated by 
    Muslim, no. 384).” 

    The ruling on this type of du’aa’ is that it is forbidden and 
    is not allowed, because it is obviously overstepping the mark, because in it 
    a person is asking for that which it is not permissible to him to ask for. 

    It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mughaffal (may Allaah be 
    pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace 
    of Allaah be upon him) say: “There will be among this ummah people who 
    overstep the mark in purification and supplication.”

    Narrated by Abu Dawood (96) and classed as saheeh by Ibn 
    Hajar in al-Talkhees (1/144) and by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi 
    Dawood. 

    Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) 
    said: 

    Overstepping the mark in supplication means asking for 
    something that the Lord will not do, such as asking Him for the status of 
    the Prophets when he is not one of them, or asking for forgiveness for the 
    mushrikeen and so on, or asking for that which involves disobedience to 
    Allaah, such as asking for help in committing disbelief, evildoing and sin. 
    End quote. 

    Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 1/130 

    See also the answer to question number
    41017. 

    2.

    Asking Allaah to help one acquire the attitude of the 
    Prophets, and to follow their guidance and their example, to adhere to their 
    way and attain their honourable characteristics, such as patience, wisdom, 
    compassion and other things which are required of people in the first 
    place. 

    We do not think that there is anything wrong with this 
    supplication, although it is better for the Muslim to follow the high 
    example of the Prophets and Messengers in their worship, attitude, piety and 
    devotion to Allaah. The Qur’aan is full of encouragement to follow in their 
    footsteps in all matters, to take them as an example, to seek to acquire 
    their characteristics and to imitate their actions. Allaah says 
    (interpretation of the meaning):

    “They are those whom Allaah had guided. So follow their 
    guidance”

    [al-An’aam 6:90]

    “Therefore be patient (O Muhammad
    صلى الله عليه وسلم) as did the 
    Messengers of strong will”

    [al-Ahqaaf 46:35]. 

    If a person calls upon his Lord as he has been commanded and 
    is required to do, and asks Allaah to give him what He gave the Prophets of 
    good attitudes, deeds and words, and to help him as He helped them to be 
    patient in obeying Him or refraining from sin, to be wise in calling, to be 
    kind to people, to be steadfast and to have peace of mind, if he asks for 
    all of that, he will be rewarded in sha Allaah for his supplication, and 
    there is the hope that Allaah will grant him his request. 

    But we have some reservations about asking  to be like them, 
    such as asking for the patience of Yoosuf, or the understanding and wisdom 
    of Sulaymaan… We are afraid that this request may come under the heading of 
    overstepping the mark in supplication, especially if he starts to ask for 
    the best quality by which each of the Prophets was distinct from the others, 
    such as the understanding of Sulaymaan, the patience of Ayyoob and the 
    weeping of Dawood, and he begins to ask for them all in his du’aa’, because 
    combining the different virtues by which each Prophet was distinguished, and 
    for which Allaah praised them, in one ordinary person is not possible.  

    What we advise is to adhere to the supplications which are 
    narrated and proven from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon 
    him), or narrated from his noble Companions, or known from the imams and 
    scholars. Otherwise, then he may pray for himself for what he wants in this 
    world and in the Hereafter, whilst striving to observe proper etiquette in 
    supplication and seeking out the times when a response is most likely. 

    As for the made up supplications which people circulate in 
    text messages and the like, how often people hasten to spread them, then it 
    becomes apparent that they contain inappropriate material such as 
    overstepping the mark in supplication or going against the Sunnah and proper 
    etiquette. 

    And Allaah knows best.