The Merit of Making Du'a (Supplication)

Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:

"When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me." [2:186]

The place of du'a is so high to Allah, that the Prophet had said: "Nothing is more honourable to Allah the Most High than du`a." [Sahih al-Jami` no.5268]. He also said: "The most excellent worship is du`a." [Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1133]; and in order to warn those who are arrogant, or careless in making du'a, the Prophet said: "The most incapable person is the one who does not make du`a, and the most miserly person is the one who does not give salaam." [Sahih Al-Jami` no. 1055], and further, said: "If one does not ask Allah, He will get angry with him." [Sahih al-Jami` no.2414]

Allah is the Glorious and the Mighty, the answerer of every person in need and every person with a request. Indeed Allah is free of all wants, and He is answerable to non. We have no other god, but Him, whilst He has many servants other than us. Indeed Allah has revealed:

"O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of All Praise." [Qur'an 35:15] So to fulfill our needs and wants, we must call on Him. Making Du'a to Allah, is a recognition of our weakness and His greatness. The Prophet had said: "Ask Allah for everything, even the lace of your shoes. If Allah does not provide, it will never be available." [Ibn al-Sunni, no. 349 - hasan. Supported by at-Tirmidhi 4/298 and others.]

And let not there be anyone who says: "... my Lord won't answer my prayer, because of this and that.. or because of so and so..". No! Indeed Allah is the Most Generous King. Is there anyone who met a king, and praised and glorified him, and then asked, yet the request was not granted? So what about Allah, the King of the Heavens and the Earth - who has total control over your life, your wealth and your future. Why would He not grant you your request? Indeed, our beloved Prophet had said: "Verily your Lord is the One modest and Generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in supplication, He is diffident (in some wordings, shy or hesitant) from returning them empty." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]

Hadith checking from Sheikh Hussain al-'Awaayishah's "Kitab ad-du'a". An english translation has been published by JIMAS.

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WHEN DUA MOST LIKELY TO BE ANSWERED

Al-Haafidh ibn al-Qayyim explains the causes that lead to ones supplication being answered in a beautiful way saying…..When the servant combines in his supplication presence of the heart and its being attentive and devoting itself solely to Allah, sincerely asking Him for the desired matter, doing so at one of the six times when the supplication is more likely to answered - these being:

The last third of the night.

At the time of the adhaan.

Between the adhaan and iqaamah.

At the ends of the prescribed prayers.

From the time the Imaam ascends the pulpit to the time the prayer has finished on the day of Jumu`ah.

The last hour after the prayer Asr.

Alongside this the servant appends to this fear and reverence in the heart, beseeching his Lord in a state of humility and submissiveness. He faces the Qiblah and is in a state of purity, he raises his hands to Allah and begins by praising and extolling Him, then he invokes peace and blessings upon Muhammad, His servant and Messenger (SAW). He precedes mentioning his need by seeking forgiveness from Allah and then he earnestly and sincerely makes his request as one who is needy and impoverished, supplicating to Him out of hope and fear. He seeks the means of getting close to Him by mentioning His Names and Attributes and making the religion sincerely for Him Alone. Before making supplication he gives in charity. If all this is done then this supplication will never be rejected especially if the servant employs the supplications that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) informed us would be accepted or if his supplication includes mention of Allah’s Greatest Name.

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WHY DUA’S ARE NOT ANSWERED

By the noble Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymain [From Al-istiqaamah Published by Call to Islam Dawah Centre & Bookshop, London E17 UK]

[Q] : Allah says: "And your Lord says: Call upon Me and I will, respond to your supplication." [Soorah Ghaafir 40:60]. So why is it that a person's du'a (supplication) is sometimes un-answered?

[A]: "All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the salaah and salaam (Allaah's blessings of peace) be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family and his Companions. 1 ask Allah for the ability to be correct in belief, speech and actions, for myself and for my brothers.

Allah says: "And your Lord says: Call upon Me and I will respond to your supplication. Verily those who are too arrogant to worship Me will, enter Hell in humiliation." [Soorah Ghaafir 40:60]. The questioner stated that he did indeed make du'a (supplication) to Allah - the Mighty and Majestic - but it was not answered by Allah So he is in doubt with respect to this noble aayah (verse), in which Allah promises to answer the one who supplicates to Him, and indeed Allah - the Most Perfect - never breaks His promise.

So the clarification of this is: that there are certain conditions that need to be fulfilled in order for a supplication to be answered. These conditions are:

Firstly: Sincerity to Allah - the Mighty and Majestic. That is to say, one must be sincere in his du'a (supplication), so he turns to Allah - the One free from all imperfections with an attentive heart, being truthful in his turning to Him, knowing that Allah - the Most Perfect, the Most High - is capable of answering his du'a (supplication) and hoping that the du'a will be answered.

Secondly: During du'a, the caller should feel that he is in need of Allah - the Most Perfect, the Most High in fact in dire need; and that only Allah alone answers the supplication of the one in distress and the One who removes evil.

Thirdly: That the one making du'a should refrain from haraam (unlawful) matters, as this acts as a barrier between the person and his du'a (supplication) being answered - as has been established in the authentic hadeeth, from the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam who said: indeed Allah - the Most High -is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has ordered the Believers to do that which He commanded the Messengers. Allah - the Most High -has said.. "0 you Messengers! Eat of the good things and do righteous actions." [Soorah al-Mu'min 23:51]. And He - the Most High - says: "O you who Believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you. [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:172}. Then he mentioned (the case of) a man who, having joumeyed far is dishevelled and dusty and who spreads out his bands to the sky (saying): 0 Lord! 0 Lord! - whilst his food is unlawful, his drink unlawful and he is nourished unlawfully. So how can he be answered! (See Footnote 2)

So the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam explained the unlikelyhood that this person's du'a would be answered, even after fulfilling the apparent factors which aid the du'a being answered. The apparent factors being:

[I]: Raising ones' hands towards the sky, meaning towards Allah - the Mighty and Majestic - since Allah is above the heavens, above His 'Arsh (Throne). Extending the hands out towards Allah -the Mighty and Majestic - is amongst the causes of du'a being responded to, as is shown in the narration from the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam that he said: Indeed your Lord is Alive, Most generous. He feels shy that when his servant raises his bands towards Him, calling upon Him, that He should rebuff him empty, having nothing. {Footnote 3}

[ii]: This man called upon Allah - the Most High - using the name Rabb (Lord). Seeking tawassul (the means of nearness to Allah) with this name is also regarded as one of the causes for du'a to be responded to, since the Rabb is the Creator, the Owner, the Governor of all affairs - and the reigns of the Heavens and the earth are in His Hands. Due to this, you will find that most of the supplications made in the noble Qur'an are by this name: "Our Lord! We have heard the call of one calling us to faith: 'Believe you in the Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lordl Forgive us our sins, and remit from us our evil deeds, and take to Yourself our souls in the company of the righteous. Our Lordl Grant us what You did promise unto us through Your Messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of judgment, for You never break Your promise. And their Lord has accepted of them, and answered them: Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, whether male or female. " [Soorah Aal-'lmraan 3:193-195]. So tawassul (seeking the means of nearness to Allah) by this name is one of the causes for the du'a to be responded to.

[iii]: This man was a traveler, and journeying is often a cause for du'a to be responded to, because a person feels more in need of Allah - the Mighty and Majestic - when traveling, than when a person is resident with his family. He was dusty and dishevelled, seeming very insignificant in himself, as if the most important thing to him was to implore Allah and to call upon Him - in any condition he may be - whether dusty and dishevelled, or in ease and opulence. Being dusty and dishevelled is also instrumental, like in the hadeeth attributed to the Prophet saw in which he said: Indeed Allah boasts to the people of the Heaven about the people standing at 'Arafah, saying.. Look at My servants who have come to Me dusty and dishevelled. [4]

However, these factors did not bring about anything, because his food, his nourishment and his clothing were all haraam (unlawful). So the Prophet saw remarked: "So how can he be answered!"

Therefore, if these conditions are not satisfied, then the question concerning the du'a (supplication) being answered will seem distant. However, if the conditions are satisfied and the one supplicating is still not answered, then this is due to a wisdom which Allah - the Mighty and Majestic - knows, and the one supplicating does not know what this wisdom is; and maybe that you like a thing and it is bad for you.

So when these conditions are fulfilled and the one supplicating is not answered, then either he has been protected from an evil which is greater than what he has asked for, or Allah stores it for him until the Day of Resurrection, and he then gets a greater reward. This is so, because the one who makes du'a - calling upon Allah alone, fulfilling the conditions and not being answered, but rather being saved from a greater evil - is in the position of having carried out the causes yet has been prevented from being answered, and therefore has a twofold reward. One reward for making du'a (supplication), and another reward for bearing the trial of not being answered. So that which is greater and more complete is stored for him with Allah - the Mighty and Majestic.

Also of importance is that the one supplicating should not express dissatisfaction if his du'a is apparently not being answered, for this action in itself is a reason for the du'a not being answered - as the Prophet saw said: "A servants du'a continues to be answered as long as be does not ask for anything sinful or breaking the ties of relations, and as long as be does not become impatient. " It was said: How does one become impatient O Messenger of Allah? He said: He says: I have supplicated, I have supplicated, yet it has not been answered. He therefore becomes despondent and abandons supplicating. " So it is not befitting that the one supplicating should become impatient about being answered, then become disappointed and despondent, and thereby abandon making du'a Rather, one should call upon Allah, since every du'a you make to Allah is an act of worship, which brings you closer to Him and increases your reward.

So my brother, you should take to making du'a (supplication) in all affairs, be it general or specific, in difficulty or in ease. And if it was that supplication was only a means of worshipping Allah - the One free from all imperfections, the Most High - then that would be sufficient. So it is more befitting that a person strives in this - and with Allah lies the success and the ability."

FOOTNOTES

1. Majmoo'Fataawaa war-Rasaa'il (no. 155).

2. Related by Muslim in his Sabeeb (no.1015) from Abu Hurayrah ra.

3. Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (5/438) and Abu Daawood (no. 1488). It was authenticated by al-Haafidh Ibn Haiar in Fatbul-Baaree (11/ 143).

4. Saheeh: Related by Ibn Ilibbaan (no.1006), from 'Abdullaah ibn'Amr ra. It was authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Sabeebul-jaami' (no. 1868).

5. Related by al-Bukhaaree (11/140) and Muslim (no.2735), from Abu Hurayrah ra.

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DUA: OUR LORD AND TO YOU IS PRAISE, MANY GOOD BLESSED PRAISES TO HIM

Source of the dua: Hadith In Sahih Al-Bukhari and others Rafa`a bin Rafie` Az-Zirqi said: "One day we were praying behind the Prophet Muhammed ~ peace be upon him ~ and when he raised his head from the position of ruku` he said: 'Sami Allahu liman hamidah' (Allah hears whoever praises Him") A man from behind said: 'Rabbanna wa lakkal hamd -- hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubarakan fih (Our Lord, and to You is Praise -- many good blessed praises to Him'. When we finished (the salat) the Prophet Muhammed ~ peace be upon him ~ said: 'Who spoke?' The man said: 'I did'. He said, indeed I saw some 30-something Angels all scuffling to see which one of them could record it." [ You can probably find it under the Book of Knowledge or Iman. Also try Riyadh As Saaliheen - angels. Or try the sections of dua books that list the du'as that can be said during ruku and sajdah. Or the Book of Invocations in all the "Sahihs" - the kutub as sitta. In checking my favorite dua book, I find that it only says Al-Bukhari and Muslim and they translate it as "Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, all praise is due to You – praise which is abundant, excellent and blessed." This book is "The Muslim Supplication throughout the Day and Night" Collected and Arranged by Siddiqah Sharafuddeen.

In checking another dua book, a pocket version that is really handy; it is in there and I know that they have it in the States. Some sisters have quoted from it before. It's called "Husnul Muslim" or "Fortification of the Muslim through Remembrance and supplication from the Qur'an and the Sunnah", Compiled and Referenced by Sa'eed ibh Ali ibn Wahf Al-Qahtaani. You can find this hadith in Sahih Muslim Vol. 1/346.]

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SOME COMPREHENSIVE SUPPLICATIONS

Volume 4 Number 133a (Fiqh-us-Sunnah)

'Aishah says that the Prophet, peace be upon him, loved the short but comprehensive, meaningful supplications, more than others. We give below some of these supplications, which are a must for every believer.

Anas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, frequently prayed, "O Allah, give us all the good of this world, and the good of the life hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the fire."

The Prophet, peace be upon him, visited one of the Muslims who had become as feeble as a chicken, and inquired about his health. Allah's Messenger, peace be him, asked, "Did you supplicate Allah for anything or beg Him for it?" He replied, "Yes, I asked in these words, 'O, God punish me in this world with the punishment that You are going to inflict on me in the Hereafter'." Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, remarked, "Hallowed be Allah! You have neither the power nor the forbearance to take upon yourself the burden of Allah's punishment. Why did you not say this, 'O Allah, grant us all the good of the world, and all the good of the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of the fire?"' Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, made this supplication for him and he was all right. (Muslim)

Sa'd ibn Abu Waqqas heard his son praying, "O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and its blessings and its pleasure, and for such-and-such, and such-and-such. I seek refuge in You from Hell, from its chains, from its collars, and from such-and-such, and from such-and-such." At this Sa'd said, "You have asked Allah for a lot of good, and sought His refuge from a lot of evil. I heard Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, saying, 'There will be people who will exaggerate in supplication. For you it is sufficient to say, "O Allah, I seek from You all the good, whether I know it or I do not know it, and I seek Your refuge from all the evil, whether I know it or I do not know it.' (Ahmad and Nasa'i)

'Abdallah ibn 'Abbas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed to Allah, "My Lord, help me and do not turn against me. Grant me victory, and do not grant victory over me. Plan on my behalf and do not plan against me. Guide me, and make the guidance easy for me. Grant me victory over those who act wrongfully toward me. O Allah, make me grateful to You, mindful of You, in awe of You, devoted to your obedience,humble, penitent, and ever turning to You in repentance. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sins, answer my supplication, clearly establish my evidence, guide my heart, make my tongue true, and draw out malice from my breast."

Zaid ibn Arqam said, "I am not going to say anything except what Allah's Messenger, may peace be upon him, used to say. He used to supplicate, 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from incapacity, from sloth, from cowardice, from miserliness, from old age, and from the torment of the grave. O Allah, grant my soul righteousness, and purify it, for You are the Best Purifier. You are the Protecting friend, and Guardian. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not fear You, from a soul that is uncontented, and from supplication to which You do not respond." (Muslim)

The Prophet, peace be upon him, exclaimed to his Companions, "O people, would you like to be serious in your supplications?" They replied, "Yes, O Allah's Messenger." He said, "Then ask Him, 'O Allah, help us in remembering You, in offering thanks to You, and in worshipping You properly'.' (Al-Hakim)

Ahmad reports that the Prophet, peace be upon him, advised: "Recite frequently, "Ya dha al-jalali w al-ikram (O, Possessor of Majesty and sublimity)"'.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, also used to say, "O Controller of the Hearts, make my heart firm in Your faith. The balance is in the hands of the Beneficent, the Exalted, the Mighty, and He honors some and brings others low thereby. (Ahmad)

Ibn 'Umar reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to supplicate, "O Allah, I seek refuge in You against deprivation of Your bounties, against loosing Your security, against the suddenness of Your wrath, and against everything that might cause Your anger."

The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to say, "O Allah, benefit me with what You have taught me, and teach me what is beneficial for me, and increase me in knowledge. Thanks be to Allah under all circumstances, and I seek Allah's refuge from the plight of the people of the fire.' (At-Tirmidhi)

When (his daughter) Fatimah came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, asking him to give her a servant, he said, "Say, 'O Allah, the Lord of the seven heavens, and the magnificent throne, our Lord and the Lord of all things, the Revealer of the Torah, Injil, and the Qur'an, The Splitter and Grower of the seed grain and date stone, I seek Your refuge against the evil of all things that You hold under Your control. You are the First, there is nothing before You. You are the Last, and there is nothing after You. You are the Manifest and there is nothing above You, You are Innermost and there is nothing beyond You. Remove the burden of debt from us and relieve us from want'.' (Muslim)

The Prophet, peace be upon him, also used to supplicate, "O Allah, I beseech You for guidance, virtuousness, chastity, and detachment from the world."

'Abdallah Ibn 'Umar reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, seldom left an assembly without using these supplications for his Companions: "O Allah, apportion to us the fear of You that will stand between us and acts of disobedience to You, and the obedience to You that will bring us to Your Paradise, and the certainty sufficient for You to make the calamities of this world easy for us. Grant us enjoyment of our hearing, our sight, and our power as long as You grant us life, and do the same for those who inherit from us. Grant us victory over those who have wronged us and help us against those who are hostile to us. Let no calamity befall our din, do not let worldly affairs become our greatest concern or all that we know about, and do not let those rule over us who do not show us mercy." (Reported by Tirmidhi, who considers it a sound hadith)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no-one who is afflicted by distress and grief, and says: ‘Allaahumma inni ‘abduka ibn ‘abdika ibn amatija naasyati bi yadika, maada fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadaa’uka. As’aluka BI kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm il-ghayb ‘indaka an taj’al al-Qur’aana rabee’ qalbi wa noor sadri wa jalaa’ huzni wa dhihaab hammi (O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your maidservant; my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You make the Qur’an the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety),’ but Allaah will take away his distress and grief, and replace it with joy.” He was asked: “O Messenger of Allaah, should we learn this?” He said: “Of course; everyone who hears it should learn it.”

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QUNOOT-I-NAAZILAH

Mufti Zubair Bayat

It is narrated by Hazrat Anas RA in the 'Sahihain': "Nabi (saws) sent 70 'Qurra' (those Ulama who are experts in the recitation of the Holy Qur'an) Sahaba-Kiram RA as teachers. On the way, two tribes of Banu Sulaim, Ra`al and Zakwan, committed treachery and martyred all of them. The Nabi (saws) was greatly grieved by this incident and he called down the wrath of Allah upon those cruel people by reciting 'Qunut-i-Nazila' for one whole month in the Fajr salat. This was the beginning of 'Qunut-i-Nazila', before this incident we didn't know it."

Due to this action of the Nabi (saws) this Sunnah has been going on and whenever Muslims are faced with a great tragedy or affliction 'Qunut-i-Nazila' is recited. 'Nazila' means 'great calamity'.

The Masa'il of Qunut-i-Nazila are as follows:

1. Qunut-i-Nazila is only recited in the Fajr salat after the 'ruku' of the second 'rakah'

2. Qunut-i-Nazila is recited loudly. Imam should recite the 'du`a' in a loud voice and 'muqtadi' should go on saying 'aameen' softly

3. While reciting Qunut-i-Nazila hands should not be raised in front of the chest like in a 'du`a', but they should be kept folded under the navel(Extracts from 'Aalaa-i-Sunan'; Appendix 'Baqiyyatul-Ahkaam-i-Qunut-i-Nazila p.114-124, v.6)

Apart from this, other such Du`a's can also be recited which does not resemble people's talk (Jali Kabir; p.398; Publishers Mujtabai, Delhi)

Nowadays, atrocities and conspiracies by the two ring-leaders of Kufr, America and Russia, against two honourable and sovereign Muslim countries, Afghanistan and Chechnya, are at their peak. Therefore, Aimma-i-Kiraam should supplicate by adding the imprecation against these two enemies and muqtadis should say 'aameen' on it. Supplications by oppressed people make even the 'Arsh' tremble.

Nabi (saws) used to imprecate the mushrikeen by taking the names of each of their tribes. If we also revive this Sunnah then its not impossible that Allah Ta`ala's 'Rahmah' will become activated and He will send His wrath upon these enemies of Islam and Muslims.

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SUPPLICATION FOR BELIEVERS WHO ARE NOT PRESENT

Allah subhana wa TA’ala says: “And as for those who came after them, they say “O Lord forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in belief, and do not put into our hearts any rancor towards those who believe. Our Lord, surely You are the All-Gentle, the All-Compassionate.” [59:10]

Muslim transmitted from the hadith of Abu Darda that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “A supplication which a Muslim man makes secretly for his brother is answered. At his head is a guardian angel. Whenever he makes supplication for good for his brother, the angel who guards him says “Ameen, and the same for you.”

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THE SUPPLICATION OF THE MUSLIM

Ahul Qur'an wa Sunnah Association

In a time when the turmoil in the Middle East is escalating and the number of Muslims that are dying is increasing, the Muslims who are in other lands ask themselves what they can do to help their helpless and defenseless brothers and sisters overseas. Perhaps we have heard it over and over again that we must remember them in our du'a (supplication) and we should ask Allaah to give them victory over their oppressors, and we have felt that this is not sufficient. But the reality is that one should not readily dismiss the du'a as an unacceptable means for supporting the Muslim cause.

Indeed the Du'a is one of the most powerful of characteristics that Allaah has granted to this ummah. Did you not see the Prophet SAWS supplicating against His enemies, such as the time when some polytheists of Makkah put camel feces on his back while he was in sujood (prostration to Allaah? And what was the result except that the Prophet's Du'a brought fear into the hearts of the disbelieves and they met their swift demise on the battlefield in the battle of Badr. So how can we not be content with the du'a Indeed, it shows a lack of Eemaan on the part of the Muslim when he turns away from asking Allaah and instead rallies in front of the Kuffar leaders asking them for justice! Don't you know that a Muslim's Du'a to Allaah is answered? Does not Allaah say: "And your Lord says: 'Call unto Me, I will respond to you. Verily those who turn in pride away from worshipping Me, they will enter the Hellfie in disgrace"? [Surah Ghaafir: 60] So He has connected His response with His being asked.

And know O Muslims, that no matter how advanced the technology and warfare of the kufaar is, there is one weapon that they can never lay their hands on. Indeed, it is the du'a Neither the M-16 rifle nor the atomic bomb will ever be a match against the Du'a Allaah says: "And the supplication of the disbelieves is nothing but in vain." [Surah Ghaafir: 50] So the du'a of the disbelieves is not accepted by Allaah. But rather, it is the Du'a of the Believers that Allaah listens to and responds to. So O Muslims, let us do what is in our ability to support our brothers who are being oppressed at the hands of the disbelieves And let us not neglect or underestimate the power of the Du'a, thinking that it is something trival and ineffective. By Allaah, the Du'a has effects that we cannot even begin to imagine. Below are selected chapters from the book Ad-Daa wad-Dawaa (The Sickness and the Cure) of Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah and one chapter from Saleem Al-Hilaalee's book on Du'a that explain the supplication, its effects and its characteristics. May Allaah grant us the ability to call on Him in the best of manners and may He grant the Muslims a near victory, verily He is As-Samee' (All-Hearing), Al-Mujeeb (One who responds to supplications).

The supplication is from the most beneficial of cures

The supplication is from the most beneficial of cures and it is an enemy to tribulations. It suppresses and cures them. It prevents them from being caught and it removes or alleviates them, if they are caught. And it is the weapon of the believer, as Al-Haakim has reported in his Saheeh from the hadeeth of 'Alee Ibn Abee Taalib, that the Messenger of Allaah SAWS said: "The supplication is the weapon of the believer, a pillar of the Religion and the light of the heavens and the earth." [1]

The supplication has three stations in regards to tribulations (From Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah)

The supplication has three stations in regards to tribulations. The first is that it is stronger than the trial and thus suppresses it. The second is that it is weaker than the trial and therefore the trial becomes even stronger upon him. And the third is that they are both equivalent in their strength and each one of them refrains the other.

Al-Haakim reported in his Saheeh on 'Aa'ishah RAA that the Messenger of Allaah SAWS said: "It is of no benefit to be cautious against what has been decreed. The supplication benefits from what was sent down and what was not sent down. And verily, the tribulation will descend and be encountered by the supplication and thus be remedied by it, up until the Day of Judgment" [2]

From the hadeeth of Ibn 'Umar, he SAWS also said: "The supplication benefits from what was revealed and what was not revealed. So, O servants of Allaah, stick to the supplication!" [3]

Also, from the hadeeth of Thawbaan, the Prophet SAWS said: "Nothing repels Al-Qadr (Divine preordainment) except the supplication. And nothing increases one in age, except piety. And indeed, the individual will be forbidden (his) provision due to a sin that befalls him." [4]

The Times of Acceptance

When the presence of the heart combines with the supplication and it (heart) associates all of itself with the thing that is being sought. And it coincides with one of the six times in which the supplication is answered, and they are:

The last third of the night

During the Athaan

Between the Athaan and the Iqaamah

After each of the obligatory prayers

At the time when the Imaam ascends the mimbar on Jumu'ah until the prayer is finished for that day

And the final hour after the ASR prayer

And it coincides with humility (khushoo') in the heart, and its (heart's) contrition in the presence of the Lord, being humbled to Him, imploring and with graciousness.

And when the one supplicating faces the Qiblah and he is in a state of purity. And he raises his hands to Allaah and begins with the praising and extolling of Allaah. And he repeats that along with the sending of Salaah upon Muhammad R, His slave and His Messenger. And he presents his need along with repentance and the seeking of forgiveness. And he enters into the presence of Allaah and urges Him concerning his affair. And he flatters Him and invokes Him, with hope and fear. And he finds a way (of drawing close) to Him through His names, His attributes and His Oneness (Tawheed).

And he presents a charity in the presence of Allaah, then indeed, this is the type of supplication which will never be rejected. This is especially if it is in accordance with the supplications that the Prophet R has informed us are most likely to be accepted or those which contain the greatest names (of Allaah).

The supplication is from the strongest means

Therefore, the supplication is from the strongest means for attaining something. Thus, since the thing that is being supplicated for is decreed in relation to the supplication, it is not correct for one to say "There is no benefit in the supplication". This is just as one saying there is no benefit in eating, drinking and all of the other actions and deeds. And there is no means, which is more beneficial nor more able to attain that which is sought, other than the supplication.

'Umar sought victory through the supplication

Since the Sahaabah were the most knowledgeable of this nation (of Muslims) concerning Allaah and His Messenger R and the most understanding from them of His Religion, they were the most steadfast upon this means, its conditions and its manners, than anyone else.

'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab RAA would seek victory through it against his enemies, while he possessed the greatest of armies. And he RAA would say to his companions: "You will not achieve victory from large numbers. You will only achieve victory from the heavens."

And he would say: "Indeed, I do not carry the yearning for being answered, but instead the yearning for the supplication. So when you seek the supplication, then indeed, the response is with it."

Consequently, whosoever seeks after the supplication, then he (automatically) desires by it the response, for indeed Allaah says: “Call on Me, I will respond to you." [5]

And He says: "And when My slaves ask you concerning Me, then (say), I am indeed near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls on Me." [6]

And in the Sunan of Ibn Maajah from the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah, the Messenger of Allaah R said: "Whosoever does not ask of Allaah, He becomes angry with him." [7]

This indicates that His contentment is in His being asked and His being obeyed. And when the Lord is pleased, then every good is within his pleasure, just as every trial and tribulation is within His anger.

The Supplication of the Muslim is answered [from Saleem Al-Hilaalee)

In the previously quoted saying of the Prophet SAWS, there is proof that the supplication is a request from the Divine One through which His contentment is attained. This is since the abandonment of asking Allaah out of pride and self-dependence is not permissible with respect to the Self-sufficient, the Most Praiseworthy.

A poet took the meaning of this hadeeth and put it into poetic form saying: "Allaah becomes angry when you abandon asking him, but you see that when the Son of Adam is asked something, he gets angry."

Therefore, Allaah loves from His Servants that they ask Him and that they turn towards Him and that they manifest their destitution and lowness. And He has made it a duty upon Himself to not send them back disappointed and empty-handed, as we have been informed of by his Messenger SAWS: "There is not a Muslim upon the earth that calls upon Allaah with a supplication except that Allaah gives him it or He removes some evil of equal proportion from him, so long as he doesn't supplicate for something sinful or to sever family ties."

So a man amongst the people said: "So then we will ask numerous (akthar) things of Him."

He SAWS said: "Allah is akthar (Able to respond numerous requests)." [8]

In this is a sufficient clarification of the fact that Allaah guarantees the answering of the supplications. This is however, according to its conditions. Thus, we shall go into detail with the discussion concerning it, its description, condition, its time, its place and its etiquettes, as well as what is contrary to that.

Footnotes:

[1] Mawdoo' - (Fabricated) It has been reported by Ibn 'Adee (6/2181), Al-Haakim (1/492), Al-Qadaa'aee in Ash-Shihaab (143) and 'Abd-ul-Ghanee Al-Maqdisee in At-Targheeb fee Ad-Du'aa (18/no. 10). In its chain is Muhammad Ibn Al-Hasan Ibn Abee Yazeed Al-Hamdaanee. Ibn Ma'een said: "We have heard from him and he is not reliable." Al-Mirra said: "He lied." An-Nasaa'ee said: "Rejected." And Abu Dawood has declared him a liar.Al-Haithamee said of it: "In its chain is Muhammad Ibn Al-Hasan Ibn Yazeed and he is rejected," (Majma'-uz-Zawaa'id: 10/47). Al-Albaanee also declard it as being forged in his As-Da'eefah: no. 179

[2] Da'eef Jiddan - Reported by Al-Bazaar in his Musnad, At-Tabaraanee in Al-Awsat and Al-Haakim. The checker said: "Its chain is very weak. Zakariaa Ibn Mandhoor is matrook. And 'Attaaf Ibn Ash-Shaamee is unknown as has been mentioned by Adh-Dhahabee in Al-Meezaan. His reports on Hishaam Ibn 'Urwah are munkar (rejected).

[3] Da'eef Jiddan - Reported by At-Tirmidhee and Al-Haakim. The checker states that 'Abd-ur-Rahmaan Ibn Abee Bakr Al-Qurshee is weak.

[4] Saheeh - Saheeh-ul-Jaami': no. 7564

[5] Surah Ghaafir: 6

[6] Surat-ul-Baqarah: 186

[7] Hasan - Its checking has been stated previously

[8] Saheeh - I have checked it and provided its references in Saheeh Kitaab Al-Adhkaar wa Da'eefihi (1223/920 & 1224/961)

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25 DUAS FROM THE HOLY QURAN

(And when My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I respond to the dua (prayer) of every suppliant when they calleth on Me - Quran 2:186)

1. Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire (2:201)

2. Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance and make our foothold sure and give us help against those who reject faith. (2:250)

3. Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or fall into error. (2:286)

4. Our Lord! Lay not upon us such a burden as You did lay upon those before us. (2:286)

5. Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear, grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who deny the truth. (2:286)

6. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Your grace. Verily You are the Giver of bounties without measure. (3:8)

7. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and the lack of moderation in our doings, and make firm our steps and succour us against those who deny the truth. (3:147)

8. Our Lord! Whomsoever You shall commit to the Fire, truly You have brought [him] to disgrace, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers (3:192)

9. Our Lord! Behold we have heard a voice calling us unto faith: "Believe in your Lord" and we have believed. (3:193)

10. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and efface our bad deeds and take our souls in the company of the righteous. (3:193)

11. Our Lord! And grant us that which you have promised to us by Your messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement. Verily You never fail to fulfill Your promise. (3:194)

12. Our Lord! We have sinned against ourselves, and unless You grant us forgiveness and bestow Your mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost! (7:23)

13. Our Lord! Place us not among the people who have been guilty of evildoing. (7:47)

14. Our Lord! Lay open the truth between us and our people, for You are the best of all to lay open the truth. (7:89)

15. Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and make us die as those who have surrendered themselves unto You. (7:126)

16. Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the evildoing folk, and save as by Your mercy from people who deny the truth (10:85-86)

17. Our Lord! You truly know all that we may hide [in our hearts] as well as all that we bring into the open, for nothing whatever, be it on earth or in heaven, remains hidden from Allah (14:38)

18. Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Your presence and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way. (18:10)

19. Our Lord! Grant that our spouses and our offspring be a comfort to our eyes, and give us the grace to lead those who are conscious of You. (25:74)

20. Our Lord! You embrace all things within Your Grace and Knowledge, forgive those who repent and follow Your path, and ward off from them the punishment of Hell. (40:7)

21. Our Lord! Make them enter the Garden of Eden which You have promised to them, and to the righteous from among their fathers, their wives and their offspring, for verily You are alone the Almighty and the truly Wise. (40:8)

22. Our Lord! Relieve us of the torment, for we do really believe. (44:12)

23. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins as well as those of our brethren who proceeded us in faith and let not our hearts entertain any unworthy thoughts or feelings against [any of] those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness and Most Merciful (59:10)

24. Our Lord! In You we have placed our trust, and to You do we turn in repentance, for unto You is the end of all journeys. (60:4)

25. Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for verily You have power over all things. (66:8)

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AD-DUA IS WORSHIP

Al-Manar Issue 33

Du'a or supplication, is an essential part of the faith, as all Muslims would agree. However, a large number of Muslims do not seem to realise the full significance of du'a and the necessity for a believer to call unto Allah as often as possible. Moreover the Prophet (saws) defined du'a as worship, "Supplication (du'a) is worship ('ibaadah)." [Abu Dawood].

Undoubtedly, it is also an act of righteousness to call unto Allah, be it for a materialistic object or to save one from trials (fitnahs)! A regular supplication to Allah is one of the believers' characteristics.

Supplication to Allah (swt) has greater significance rather than a mere request from Allah (swt). To supplicate to Allah and Allah alone is to recognise that only Allah can answer the du'as. All creatures rely and are totally dependent on their Creator.

"O people! It is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (free of all wants and needs), worthy of all praise." [35:15]

Supplication to Allah alone is an act of Tawheed and a confirmation of belief in the names and attributes of Allah (swt), for He is As–Samad (the Self–Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need), Al–Malik (the King) and Al–Azeez (the All–Mighty). There is no means and no power except that of Allah! (La hawla wala quwata illa billah).

Allah our Lord, loves when His servants supplicate to Him, as is stated in the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (saws) said (in the meaning), "Nothing is dearer to Allah than one's supplication to Him." [Ibn Majeh].

How does Allah respond to the supplication?

Allah Has promised to respond to our supplications. He (swt) said (in the meaning), "And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation)." [40:60]

also

"And when My slaves ask you concerning Me, then I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me." [2:186]

Therefore, a believer should be extremely confident about Allah's response to his supplication and should not have the slightest doubt regarding this. The Prophet (saws) said: "Supplicate Allah and be confident of being answered…" [at–Tirmidhi].

Yet, it is important to bear in mind that the response to a supplication may be granted in one of three forms. This is explained in the hadeeth narrated by 'Ubadah ibn Samit (ra) who reported that the Prophet (saws) said (in the meaning), "Whenever a Muslim supplicates Allah, He (swt) grants his supplication or averts some kind of evil from him so long as he does not supplicate for something sinful or something that would cut off the ties of kinship." Thereupon someone said: Then we shall supplicate plenty. The Prophet (saws) said: Allah is more plentiful in responding." [at-Tirmidhi, Al–Hakim's version adds: "…Or lays up an equivalent reward for him."].

Also, we should not be hasty about the answer. The Prophet (saws) warned us by saying, (in the meaning), "Your supplication is answered as long as you are not hasty, he (the supplicant) says I have supplicated but was not granted (what I asked for)." [Agreed Upon].

As an example, let's consider the advent of Prophet Muhammad (saws) which indeed was a response to a supplication made by one of Allah's Messenger — Ibraheem (as), who said, (in the meaning), "Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own…" [2:129]

We can see that this supplication was answered thousands of years later!

As true believers, all we can and need to do is offer the supplication sincerely, and then leave it to the wisdom of Allah as to when and how He (swt) will respond.

"Sufficient is Allah, there is no god but He, and on Him I place my trust." [3:173]

Could a supplication be unanswered?

Yes. If that happens, the blame should fall on ourselves. The Prophet (saws), warned us against things that render supplication unanswered:

When the supplication is only offered by tongue, whilst the heart and mind are absent. "…And know that Allah does not answer a supplication that comes from a careless and inattentive heart." [At–Tirmidhi]

When the supplication is offered by a person whose sustenance and livelihood are from haraam sources, as stated eloquently in this part of a hadeeth. The Prophet made mention of: "a person who, travels widely, his hair is dishevelled and covered with dust. "He stretches his hands up to the sky (supplicating), 'O Lord, O Lord' but his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothes are unlawful, and his nourishment is unlawful. How then can his supplication be answered?" [Muslim]. Dear brothers and sisters, how many Muslims do we know who deal with Riba (interest), who sell alcohol, who eat all types of haraam food, who care little where their money comes from? Such people, apart from incurring the wrath of Allah, would have all their supplications unanswered? What a desperate and terrible state they are in!

When a person does not enjoin the good and forbid the evil. The Prophet (saws) said (in the meaning), "By Him in Whose hand my soul is, you must enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, or Allah will certainly send punishment from Himself unto you. Then you will make supplication and not receive an answer." [at–Tirmidhi].