Zikr Lesson for the week
Importance of Dua
Allah (swt) is Most Compassionate and He can do anything or change anything. This is because He is As Samad. One thing He says is that Allah He never changes His Word; however there is some measure of petition that He has left opened for His servants. He says:
And your Lord says: Beg from Me, and I will respond; those who are too proud to beg from Me, they will end up in Hell (40:60)
I listen to the prayers of the suppliant when he calls on Me. (2:186)
Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said:
Dua is the marrow and jewel of worship (Trimizi)
Nothing is dearer to Allah (from man) than dua. (Trimizi)
We must understand that everything is Decreed by Allah (swt). For example, it is decreed that Satan’s final abode will be the Hell fire; however he begged Allah (swt) for respite and was granted it until the Day of Judgement. The decree stood for Satan but he was given respite.
Dua is an avenue where we can beg Almighty Allah and, Insha Allah, He will respond. Zakaria (as) begged Allah (swt) to grant him a pious son. He was granted Yahya (as) who later became a Prophet. Allah has recorded this in the Holy Qur'an to show to us that when we make dua, He can respond immediately or fulfil our request at some later date.
Allah has given us another example with Abraham, how in his old age he begged the Lord for a righteous son to carry on his mission. Allah then gave him Ishmael and later Isaac. This means that you should go to your Lord for any and everything before going to other than Him.
If you go to Allah (swt), Insha Allah He will respond. He says:
(O mankind), Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret; lo: He does not love the aggressors. (7:55)
Dua is an avenue for us to approach Allah (swt) and, through His Divine Decree, He can accommodate us. He says in Surah At-Talaq;
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا
And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.
(Chapter 65, verse 3)
Allah (swt) wants us to submit humbly and beg Him. He once told Prophet Musa (as), “O Musa! Ask Me for everything, even the mending of your shoelace”. We constantly acknowledge this in our salaat whenever we recite Surah Fatiha;
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
(Chapter 1, verse 5)
Allah (swt) knows when it’s the appropriate time to bestow His favours upon you. Sometimes we may want something and it might not be beneficial to us and vice versa. He says:
It is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you; and that you love a thing that is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know. (2:216)
Remember no sincere dua is left unanswered. When will it be answered? Only Allah (swt) alone knows. It is possible that Allah may not answer the dua of that person who does make and effort to avoid the prohibited. In this connection Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said:
By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, you must enjoin what is reputable and forbid what is disreputable, or Allah will certainly send punishment from Himself to you. Then you will make dua and will not receive an answer. (Tirmizi)
Humble yourself and beg Him and, Insha Allah, He will take care of your affairs. He provides sustenance for all of us, even though we may not be conscious of it. Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said:
When making dua, feel sure that Allah will accept it and that He will grant your requests. Remember that Allah will not grant a dua of one who is begging from Him but his mind is elsewhere.
Some of the best times to make dua are:
In the plain of Arafat when the sun is about to set.
In the month of Ramadan.
In the last part of the night.
When on Jihad.
When standing in the rows for Salaat just before it begins.
At the time of rainfall
At the end of the obligatory prayer.
Between the Azan and the Iqamat
When is fasting
When one is on a journey.
Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said:
Never pray in the following manner: O Allah, if You feel, have mercy , etc. Instead, you should ask with certainty, so that Allah will accept your prayer, e.g. you should say, O Allah, fulfil my need. Surely, Allah does what He wills.
