Supplications IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL All praise is due to Allah, the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), his household, companions and followers of right guidance till the Day of Judgment. Allah, the Exalted, says: "When my servants ask thee (Muhammad) concerning Me I am indeed close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me; let them also with a will listen to My call and believe in Me; that they may walk in the right way". Q2:186. Our beloved Prophet said: "Nothing but supplication averts the decree, and nothing but righteousness increases life". (Tirmidhi hadith 2234) Any Muslim who makes a supplication containing nothing which is sinful or which involves breaking ties of relationship will be given for it by Allah one of three things: He will give him swift answer, or store it up for him in the next world, or turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil. "Those who heard it said they would then make many supplications and he replied that Allah was more ready to answer than they were to ask." (Tirmidhi hadith 2257) Islamic monotheism demands that all supplications should be directed to Allah, the Exalted, alone. It is polytheism (shirk) to pray to any other being besides Allah. Supplications should not be directed to any Prophet, Saint, Ancestor, Jinn, Angel, Sheik, etc. And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your prayers. But those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell in humiliation". Q40:60. Supplication is like the brain of worship, if the supplication is faulty, the whole worship is jeopardized. We all know what happens when the brain is damaged or not functioning properly. Anas (RA) narrated: The Prophet (SAW) said: "Supplication is the Pith of worship". (At-Tirmidhi) Allah, the Exalted, says: "Say (Muhammad): 'Call upon Allah or call upon Ar-Rahman: by whatever name you call upon Him (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak thy Prayer aloud nor speak it in a low tone but seek a middle course between". Q17:110. In an hadith it is reported that: "So far as these words of (Allah) Glorious and High are concerned: "And utter not thy prayer loudly, not be low in it". (17:110) (they) relate to supplication (du'a)." (Sahih Muslim Hadith 898). Allah is willing to accept our prayers or supplications if we have firm believe and trust in Him and do His Wills by obeying His commandments. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "O people, Allah is Good and He, therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying: 'O Messengers, eat of the good things, and do good deeds; verily I am aware of what you do' (Q23.51) And He said: 'O those who believe, eat of the good things that We gave you" (Q2.172). He (prophet) then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair dishevelled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): "O Lord, O Lord" whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How can then his supplication be accepted? " (Sahih Muslim Hadith 2214). We should be very careful about oppressing people because the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The supplications of three persons are accepted, and there is no doubt concerning their acceptance: the supplication of a father over his son, of a traveler, and of one who is wronged."(Reported by Ahmad, Abu Daw'ud, and Tirmidhi). Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "There are three whose supplication is not rejected: one who has just ended a fast, a just imam, and one who has been wronged whose supplication is raised by Allah above the clouds and for which the gates of Heaven are opened. The Lord says, 'I swear by My might that I shall certainly help you, though it be after some time.'" (Tirmidhi hadith 2248) Some of us that look around for prayers in order languages that we do not understand should be very careful. One should know the meanings of his supplications. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) thought his companions many beautiful supplications that have been compiled in different books like 'The Prayers of Muhammad (PBUH)' by A. H. Farid, and 'Al-Mathurat' by Imam Al'banna. Also, there are many supplications in the Holy Qur'an. We can use these supplications or say our supplications in our native languages. Allah understands all languages. Below are examples of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) supplications. Zayd ibn Arqam narrated: I am not going to say anything but only that which Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) used to say. He used to supplicate: "O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from incapacity, from sloth, from cowardice, from miserliness, decrepitude and from torment of the grave. O Allah, grant to my soul the sense of righteousness and purify it, for Thou art the Best Purifier thereof. Thou art the Protecting friend thereof, and Guardian thereof. O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the knowledge which does not benefit, from the heart that does not entertain the fear (of Allah), from the soul that does not feel contented and the supplication that is not responded". (Sahih Muslim Hadith 6568). O my father! I hear you supplicating every morning: 'O Allah! Grant me health in my body. O Allah! Grant me good hearing. O Allah! Grant me good eyesight. There is no god but Thou." You repeat them three times in the morning and three times in the evening'. He said: I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) using these words as a supplication and I like to follow his practice". The transmitter, Abbas, said in this version: And you say: 'O Allah! I seek refuge in Thee from infidelity and poverty. O Allah! I seek refuge in Thee from punishment in the grave. There is no god but Thee". You repeat them three times in the morning and three times in the evening, and use them as a supplication. I like to follow his practice. He said: The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) said: The supplications to be used by one who is distressed are: "O Allah! Thy mercy is what I hope for. Do not abandon me to myself for an instant, but put all my affairs in good order for me. There is no god but Thou." (Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 5071). Copyright © 2011 www.nmnonline.net. All rights reserved. |