بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم
الحمد لله رب العالمين ، أرسل رسوله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و كفي بالله شهيدا ، و أشهد ألا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ؛ له الملك و له الحمد ، يحيى و يميت و هو على كل شئ قدير
In the the name of Allah, the most beneficient, the most merciful, the one who created us to be in His worship, the one who created everything around us so we may recognize Him. Salutations be upon Prophet Mohammad SAW who was sent as a messenger and guide to the mankind.
Whenever a muslim is in the time of need, he asks Allah SWT to ease the suffering and the trial for him. Whenever a muslim is in a state of desparity, he asks Allah SWT to bring happiness to him. This teaching of asking Allah SWT is one of the most powerful teachings of Islam.
We see from the life of Rasulallah SAW, that he taught his companions to rely on Allah SWT for any need, big or small. This concept of supplication wherein there is no intermediatory figure is the most sophisticated form of worship where a servant asks directly from his Creator, Allah SWT.
Allah SWT made Islam as a seal to all religions and faiths that He sent to humanity through out time. Among the most important concepts in Islam is the clarity of relationship between Allah SWT and the Muslim.
If we see other religions around us, they have adopted a system whereby the followers approach their creator through Intermediatories such as a rabbi, a priest or saints. Every Muslim has the ability to have a direct relationship with Allah SWT through different kinds of worship e.g. prayer i.e. “Salah”, supplication i.e. “Du’aa’a”, pilgrimage I.e. Hajj, fasting i.e. Sawm and other means of worship.
This relationship does not require blood sacrifice or an intermediate person. Islam is built on one principle that has no second, that is Allah, and Allah alone is the one who answers all supplications and prayers directly and fulfils all needs and requirements and a Muslim has no right to ask anyone or anything to provide for him or answer his prayers.
Allah SWT says in the Quran:
أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاء الْأَرْضِ أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Translation:
Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations. Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Little is that you remember! (27:62)
And in Surah Al-Fussilat:
Whoever works righteousness benefits his own soul; whoever works evil, it is against his own soul: nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His Servants
In Islam we understand our Creator Allah SWT to be all-hearing and all seeing. He has the absolute power and he has all knowledge of everything that is shown or that is hidden.
This is the reason why we are commanded by Rasulallah SAW to pay special attention to our salaat when we are in worship infront of Allah SWT. Rasulallah SAW is reported to have said that when one is in salaat, one must be as if he is standing before Allah SWT or if one cannot attain that status then one must know that Allah is watching him at all times.
Incident about saying takbeer while climbing hill:
Abu Musa Al-Asha’aree, RAA narrated that they (the companions) were with the messenger of Allah PBUH riding and every time they went over a hill or a cliff they used to raise their voices with “Takbeer” i.e. by saying: “Allahu-Akbar”. The messenger of Allah PBUH came up to them and said: “O’ People, rest yourselves and lower your voices for you are not calling on someone who is deaf or absent but you are calling on someone who sees and hears everything. The one you are calling on is closer to you than the neck of your ride (horse or Camel). Then he said: “O’ Abdullah Ibn Quayis, do you want me to teach you words from the treasures of Paradise? Say: “La-Hawla wala Qwwata Illa Bi-Llah”, i.e. there is no power or ability but with Allah.” Reported by Al-Bukharee, Muslim and Al-Imam Ahmad.
Allah SWT says in Surah Araaf:
ادْعُواْ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. [7:55]
We remain in constant contact with Allah SWT because in Islam we have taken the responsibility for our actions. Nobody else can alleviate us of the outcome of these actions. If I have carried out a good task, Allah SWT will reward me for that and if I have committed a sin or mistake, then I shall be responsible for that. It is for this reason that we ask the repentance from Allah SWT for each action that we do against His commandment. We will be questioned on the day of Judgement for every action that we have committed in this life.
Allah SWT says in Quran:
إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا آتِي الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدًا (19:93
لَقَدْ أَحْصَاهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا (19:94
وَكُلُّهُمْ آتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَرْدًا (19:95
93. There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent (Allâh) as a slave. 94. Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting. 95. And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector or defender).
And Allah SWT says in Quran:
مَّنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً
Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his ownself. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss. No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden. And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning) (17:15)
The slaves of Allah supplicate to Him through dua, through salaat, through saum and other forms of worship and seeking mercy, sustenance, wealth, health, children and protection from the punishments of the grave and the hell fire and supplicating to be admitted to Paradise.
Some of us have the idea that the only pillars of Islam like Salaat and Saum are the basics of the religion and that supplication is something that is extra and optional. This is not the case.
Al-Nu’oman Ibn Basheer, RAA narrated that the messenger of Allah PBUH said: “Supplication is the true worship, then the messenger of Allah PBUH recited the verse
الحمد لله رب العالمين ، أرسل رسوله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و كفي بالله شهيدا ، و أشهد ألا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ؛ له الملك و له الحمد ، يحيى و يميت و هو على كل شئ قدير
In the the name of Allah, the most beneficient, the most merciful, the one who created us to be in His worship, the one who created everything around us so we may recognize Him. Salutations be upon Prophet Mohammad SAW who was sent as a messenger and guide to the mankind.
Whenever a muslim is in the time of need, he asks Allah SWT to ease the suffering and the trial for him. Whenever a muslim is in a state of desparity, he asks Allah SWT to bring happiness to him. This teaching of asking Allah SWT is one of the most powerful teachings of Islam.
We see from the life of Rasulallah SAW, that he taught his companions to rely on Allah SWT for any need, big or small. This concept of supplication wherein there is no intermediatory figure is the most sophisticated form of worship where a servant asks directly from his Creator, Allah SWT.
Allah SWT made Islam as a seal to all religions and faiths that He sent to humanity through out time. Among the most important concepts in Islam is the clarity of relationship between Allah SWT and the Muslim.
If we see other religions around us, they have adopted a system whereby the followers approach their creator through Intermediatories such as a rabbi, a priest or saints. Every Muslim has the ability to have a direct relationship with Allah SWT through different kinds of worship e.g. prayer i.e. “Salah”, supplication i.e. “Du’aa’a”, pilgrimage I.e. Hajj, fasting i.e. Sawm and other means of worship.
This relationship does not require blood sacrifice or an intermediate person. Islam is built on one principle that has no second, that is Allah, and Allah alone is the one who answers all supplications and prayers directly and fulfils all needs and requirements and a Muslim has no right to ask anyone or anything to provide for him or answer his prayers.
Allah SWT says in the Quran:
أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاء الْأَرْضِ أَإِلَهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Translation:
Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations. Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Little is that you remember! (27:62)
And in Surah Al-Fussilat:
Whoever works righteousness benefits his own soul; whoever works evil, it is against his own soul: nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His Servants
In Islam we understand our Creator Allah SWT to be all-hearing and all seeing. He has the absolute power and he has all knowledge of everything that is shown or that is hidden.
This is the reason why we are commanded by Rasulallah SAW to pay special attention to our salaat when we are in worship infront of Allah SWT. Rasulallah SAW is reported to have said that when one is in salaat, one must be as if he is standing before Allah SWT or if one cannot attain that status then one must know that Allah is watching him at all times.
Incident about saying takbeer while climbing hill:
Abu Musa Al-Asha’aree, RAA narrated that they (the companions) were with the messenger of Allah PBUH riding and every time they went over a hill or a cliff they used to raise their voices with “Takbeer” i.e. by saying: “Allahu-Akbar”. The messenger of Allah PBUH came up to them and said: “O’ People, rest yourselves and lower your voices for you are not calling on someone who is deaf or absent but you are calling on someone who sees and hears everything. The one you are calling on is closer to you than the neck of your ride (horse or Camel). Then he said: “O’ Abdullah Ibn Quayis, do you want me to teach you words from the treasures of Paradise? Say: “La-Hawla wala Qwwata Illa Bi-Llah”, i.e. there is no power or ability but with Allah.” Reported by Al-Bukharee, Muslim and Al-Imam Ahmad.
Allah SWT says in Surah Araaf:
ادْعُواْ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ
Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. [7:55]
We remain in constant contact with Allah SWT because in Islam we have taken the responsibility for our actions. Nobody else can alleviate us of the outcome of these actions. If I have carried out a good task, Allah SWT will reward me for that and if I have committed a sin or mistake, then I shall be responsible for that. It is for this reason that we ask the repentance from Allah SWT for each action that we do against His commandment. We will be questioned on the day of Judgement for every action that we have committed in this life.
Allah SWT says in Quran:
إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا آتِي الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدًا (19:93
لَقَدْ أَحْصَاهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا (19:94
وَكُلُّهُمْ آتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَرْدًا (19:95
93. There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent (Allâh) as a slave. 94. Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting. 95. And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector or defender).
And Allah SWT says in Quran:
مَّنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً
Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his ownself. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss. No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden. And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning) (17:15)
The slaves of Allah supplicate to Him through dua, through salaat, through saum and other forms of worship and seeking mercy, sustenance, wealth, health, children and protection from the punishments of the grave and the hell fire and supplicating to be admitted to Paradise.
Some of us have the idea that the only pillars of Islam like Salaat and Saum are the basics of the religion and that supplication is something that is extra and optional. This is not the case.
Al-Nu’oman Ibn Basheer, RAA narrated that the messenger of Allah PBUH said: “Supplication is the true worship, then the messenger of Allah PBUH recited the verse
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!"
- reported by Al-Imam Ahmad, Al-Tirmizhee, Al-Nasa’iee and Ibn Majah.
Four chacteristics that should be in a muslim’s life.
Anas Ibn Malik, RAA narrated from the messenger of Allah PBUH who narrated from Allah SWT in the Holy Hadeeth of Allah SWT that Allah SWT Said: “Four characteristics, one for my sake and one for your sake and one between me and you and the last is between you and my servants. The first one for my sake is to worship me alone and not to ascribe an equal to me. The second for your sake is that anything good you do I shall reward you for. The third between you and me is for you to supplicate and for me to respond and answer. And the fourth is to wish for others what you wish for yourself” reported by Al-Imam Abou Ya’ala Al-Mousilee.
Some may say: I ask Allah all the time but I don’t see any evidence of response. Does he not like me? Is He ignoring me?
Islam answered these extremely important questions that Allah SWT does not ignore nor forgets the supplications of anyone. Instead Allah SWT may either answer immediately, delay the response, change the request to something better or better suited to the person or denies the request for reasons He SWT may see and we don’t.
Abou Hurayrah, RAA also narrated that the messenger of Allah PBUH said: “Allah shall answer his servant as long as he does not ask for Allah for a sinful thing (like –for example-wishing to win in Gambling, or asks Allah to break a relation with a relative, etc..) and as long as the servant does not act in a hurry for the response” The people then asked the messenger of Allah PBUH: “O’ messenger, what is being in a hurry?” He answered: “it is for the servant to say: I asked Allah over and over and did not see response so he then stops asking Allah”. Reported by Muslim.
A few points that we gather from the Quran and ahadeeth of Rasulallah SAW regarding supplication are:
1) Not everything we ask for is good for us. Allah SWT knows what will benefit us and what will harm us and something that we may ask for that looks good to us, Allah SWT who knows the future, the past and the unseen may know that if he grants us the request it will harm us in the long run.
2) Although you may supplicate to Allah SWT anytime and anywhere, there are times and places that Allah SWT has set aside and favored over other times and places for answering the supplications more than others. Try to supplicate during such chosen times and in those places.
3) For the servant to stay away from disobeying Allah SWT and committing sins and to obey Allah SWT and His messenger PBUH.
4) Remembering Allah SWT all times and not only in the times of the need.
5) The person must no give up on Allah’s answering of his supplications. Giving up is one of the characteristics of the unbeliever who loses hope with Allah SWT and His mercy. Losing hope makes the person lose the spiritual connection between him and Allah SWT and become open to the whisperings of the devil that may drive him away from Allah SWT or even to killing him self in desperation.
May Allah SWt give us the taufeeq to implement in our lives from what has been said and may He give us the istiqama to use the powerful too of supplication so we may have a smooth live in this duniya and a blessed life in aakhirah.
Wa akhiruhu dawana anil hamdulillahi rabbilalimeen.
- reported by Al-Imam Ahmad, Al-Tirmizhee, Al-Nasa’iee and Ibn Majah.
Four chacteristics that should be in a muslim’s life.
Anas Ibn Malik, RAA narrated from the messenger of Allah PBUH who narrated from Allah SWT in the Holy Hadeeth of Allah SWT that Allah SWT Said: “Four characteristics, one for my sake and one for your sake and one between me and you and the last is between you and my servants. The first one for my sake is to worship me alone and not to ascribe an equal to me. The second for your sake is that anything good you do I shall reward you for. The third between you and me is for you to supplicate and for me to respond and answer. And the fourth is to wish for others what you wish for yourself” reported by Al-Imam Abou Ya’ala Al-Mousilee.
Some may say: I ask Allah all the time but I don’t see any evidence of response. Does he not like me? Is He ignoring me?
Islam answered these extremely important questions that Allah SWT does not ignore nor forgets the supplications of anyone. Instead Allah SWT may either answer immediately, delay the response, change the request to something better or better suited to the person or denies the request for reasons He SWT may see and we don’t.
Abou Hurayrah, RAA also narrated that the messenger of Allah PBUH said: “Allah shall answer his servant as long as he does not ask for Allah for a sinful thing (like –for example-wishing to win in Gambling, or asks Allah to break a relation with a relative, etc..) and as long as the servant does not act in a hurry for the response” The people then asked the messenger of Allah PBUH: “O’ messenger, what is being in a hurry?” He answered: “it is for the servant to say: I asked Allah over and over and did not see response so he then stops asking Allah”. Reported by Muslim.
A few points that we gather from the Quran and ahadeeth of Rasulallah SAW regarding supplication are:
1) Not everything we ask for is good for us. Allah SWT knows what will benefit us and what will harm us and something that we may ask for that looks good to us, Allah SWT who knows the future, the past and the unseen may know that if he grants us the request it will harm us in the long run.
2) Although you may supplicate to Allah SWT anytime and anywhere, there are times and places that Allah SWT has set aside and favored over other times and places for answering the supplications more than others. Try to supplicate during such chosen times and in those places.
3) For the servant to stay away from disobeying Allah SWT and committing sins and to obey Allah SWT and His messenger PBUH.
4) Remembering Allah SWT all times and not only in the times of the need.
5) The person must no give up on Allah’s answering of his supplications. Giving up is one of the characteristics of the unbeliever who loses hope with Allah SWT and His mercy. Losing hope makes the person lose the spiritual connection between him and Allah SWT and become open to the whisperings of the devil that may drive him away from Allah SWT or even to killing him self in desperation.
May Allah SWt give us the taufeeq to implement in our lives from what has been said and may He give us the istiqama to use the powerful too of supplication so we may have a smooth live in this duniya and a blessed life in aakhirah.
Wa akhiruhu dawana anil hamdulillahi rabbilalimeen.
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