who were suffering from some affliction. "Why don't theymake dua
(prayer) to Allah for protection?" he said. With all the suffering and
disasters Muslims are facing in various parts of the world, the
question can be directed to all of us today.
It is not that we have forgotten dua completely; we refer to it
regularly. But our ideas and practice regarding dua have become
distorted. Often it is reduced to the level of aritual. Generally it
is considered when all our efforts have failed --- an act of last
resort. It is belittled through actions and sometimes even with words.
Is it any wonder that today mostly a mention of dua is meant to
indicate the hopelessness of a situation?
What a tragedy, for dua is the most potent weapon of a believer. It
can changefate, while no action of ours ever can. It is the essence of
ibadah or worship. With it we can never fail; without it we can never
succeed. In the proper scheme of things, dua should be the first
andthe last resort of the believer, with all his plans and actions
coming in between.
The most empowering conversation
Dua is conversation with Allah, out Creator, our Lordand Master, the
All Knowing, the All Powerful.This act in itself is of extraordinary
significance. It is the most uplifting, liberating, empowering, and
transforming conversation a person can ever have. We turn to Him
because we know that He alone can lift our sufferings and solve our
problems. We feel relievedafter describing our difficulties to our
Creator. We feel empowered after having communicated with the All
Mighty. We sense His mercy all aroundus after talking to the Most
Merciful. We get a new commitment to follow His path for that is the
only path for success. We feel blessed with each such commitment.
Our first and last action
In every difficulty our first action is dua, as is our last.We ask
Allah to show us the way to handle that difficulty; we seek His helpin
following the path He shows to us; we seek His aid in making our
efforts successful. When we fall sick, we know that we cannot find the
right doctor without His Will; that the best doctor may not be able to
diagnose our condition without His Command; that the best treatment
plan will not succeed without His Permission. We make dua for all of
these. We make dua before we seek medical help, while we arereceiving
it and after it hasbeen delivered.
The essence of worship
Dua is the essence of ibadah. A person engaged in dua affirms his
belief in Tawheed (monotheism) and shuns belief in all falsegods. With
each dua his belief in Allah grows. He beseeches Him, affirming his
own powerlessness. A person seriously and sincerely engaged in dua
understands exactly the relationship between himself and the Creator
and affirms it through his actions. That is the essenceof worship!
Additionally, such a person can never become arrogant or proud, a
logical result of true worship.
Our most potent weapon
Dua is our most potent weapon in all struggles of life as well as in
jihad in the battlefield. During the battle of Badr, the
ProphetMuhammad stood up all night in prayer seeking Allah's help in
the battle between unequal armies that would follow the next day. In
the decisive battles against the crusaders, Sultan Salatuddin Ayyubi
was busy day and night. His days were devoted to Jihad. His nights
were spent making dua, crying, seeking Allah's help. This has been the
practice of alltrue mujahideen.
Big and small
We should make it a pointto make dua for all things big and small. It
is the beginning of wisdom to realize that big and small are arbitrary
labels that are totally irrelevant in this context. Nothing is too big
for Whom we are asking from; nothing is too small for the one who is
asking. That is why we have been taught to ask Allah when we need
something as small as shoelaces. We should ask as a beggar, as a
destitute person, for that is what we in reality are in relationship
to Allah. At the same time we should ask with great hope and
conviction that we shall begranted our prayers. We should remember the
Hadith: "There is nothing more dear to Allah than a servant making dua
to Him." On the other hand, aprayer lacking concentration and
conviction is no prayer at all.
All times and all needs
We should make dua at alltimes, not only during times of distress. The
Prophet Muhammad said: "Whosoever desires that Allah answers his duas
in unfavorable and difficult conditions, he should make plentiful dua
in days of ease and comfort."
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