The dua can change our life, our outlook, and our fate. It is the most
potent weapon of a believer.
By Khalid Baig
POSTED: 14 RABI-UL-AWWAL 1423, 27 MAY 2002
Once Prophet Muhammad(sal-Allahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) passed by a people
who were suffering from some affliction. "Why don't they make dua
(prayer) toAllah 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 a ritual. Generally it
is considered when all our efforts have failed — an act of last
resort. It is belittled through actions and sometimes even withwords.
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 change fate, 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
and the last resort of the believer, with all his plans and actions
comingin between.
The most empowering conversation
Dua is conversation with Allah, out Creator, our Lord and Master, the
All Knowing, the All Powerful. This act in itselfis of extraordinary
significance. It is the most uplifting, liberating,empowering, and
transforming conversation a person can ever have. We turn toHim
because we know that He alone can lift our sufferings and solve our
problems. We feel relieved after describing our difficulties to our
Creator. We feel empowered after having communicated with the All
Mighty. We sense His mercy all around us after talking to the Most
Merciful. We get a new commitment to follow Hispath 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 help
in followingthe 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 HisCommand; that the best treatment
plan will not succeed without His Permission. We make duafor all of
these. We make dua before we seek medical help, while we are receiving
it and after it has been 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 false gods.
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 hisactions. That is the essence of worship!
Additionally, such a person can never becomearrogant 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 Prophet
Muhammad 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 all true mujahideen.
Big and small
We should make it a point to make dua for all things big and small. It
is the beginning of wisdomto realize that big and small are arbitrary
labels that are totally irrelevant in this context. Nothing istoo big
for Whom we areasking 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 greathope and conviction
that we shall be granted 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, a prayer lacking concentration and conviction
is no prayer atall.
All times and all needs
We should make dua at all times, 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." Also he said: "The person who does
not ask from Allah, Allah becomes angry with him."
We should ask for all of our needs: those related to this world as
well as those related to the Hereafter. Those who only concentrate on
the former are, in effect, announcing that they don't care for their
life inthe permanent abode. They should blame nobody but themselves
for the total ruin in that world that Qur'an assuresus awaits them.
Those who only concentrate on the later are also showing lack of
balance, for we need Allah's help to lead a good life here as well.
All people
We should make dua not only for ourselves but also for our parents,
brothers and sisters, spouses and children, relatives and friends,
teachers and other benefactors, and destitute and struggling Muslims
everywhere. We should pray for them for the good in this world as well
as in the Hereafter. The Prophet said: "The dua of a Muslim for his
brother (in Islam) in his absence is readily accepted. An angel is
appointed to his side. Whenever he makes a beneficial dua for his
brother the appointed angel says, 'Aameen. And may you also be blessed
with the same.'" [Sahih Muslim]
In the dark ages that we are living in today, everyday brings fresh
news about atrocities committed against our brothers in Palestine,
Kashmir, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, and the list goes on. And
what do wedo? We can continue to just feel frustrated and depressed.
We can petition the determined perpetrators or a fictional
"International Community". We can just forget all this and move on to
some other subject.Or we can stand up before Allah and pray for His
help, who alone can help. The dua can changeour life, our outlook, and
our fate. It is the most potent weapon. But it works only for those
whotry sincerely and seriously to use it.
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