Supplicating before Almighty Allah

 We commit a big mistake that we are careless in making supplications (Du’a) although supplicating is also a form of worship and in this world there is nothing more beneficial than it.  If other forms of worship are mixed with this material, they don’t remain worship any more.  On the contrary, even if this world is desired in supplications, still it remains worship, because the sense of slavery always remains intact while supplicating.

 

        Also, every beneficial thing in this world has either the benefit of this world or the benefit of the hereafter.  A special thing about supplications is that it has both kinds of benefits.  Even if this material world is asked for in supplications, one still gets reward, provided what is asked for in not forbidden and impermissible.

 

Hadith:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) says:  A slave surely gets any one out of these 3 things from a supplication:  Either, his (or her) sins are forgiven, or something better is given, or something is set aside for him (or her).  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also said:  Supplication is the essence of worship.

 

        Someone asked Hadhrat Ibrahim bin Adham (May Allah shower His mercy on him) that why our supplications are not accepted.  He said:  Your hearts are dead.  Your supplications are not accepted because of these 8 reasons:

 

1.  You know the right of Allah Most High but don’t fulfill it.

 

2.  You read the Holy Quran but don’t act as per it.

 

3.  You claim to love the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) but don’t act as per His custom.

 

4.  You fear death but don’t make any preparations for it.

 

5.  It is the command of Almighty Allah to treat the Satan as one’s enemy.  You befriended him in sinning.

 

6.  Each morning, you ignore your own faults and go after the faults of others.

 

7.  You desire paradise with all your heart, but don’t work for it.

 

8.  You fear hell, but fling your body into it.

 

When Almighty Allah is displeased because of these reasons, how can your supplications be accepted?

 

Turn towards the Qiblah and supplicate.  While supplicating, keep your hands open.  The voice should be low and soft.  If the supplication should be made with utmost humility, helplessness and sincerity, it will surely be accepted.

 

Hadith:  When Almighty Allah considers someone as a friend, He embroils them in difficulties to hear his (or her) entreaties.

 

There should be repetitions in supplication.  The supplication should start with praise and extolment of Almighty Allah and with Salutations (Durud) on the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Don’t consider supplication as a means of fulfilling needs and gaining one’s desire, but consider it a means of remembering the Beloved Lord Almighty.  The more the delay in the acceptance of the supplication, the more the yearning should increase.  Think that we are the accepted ones of Allah and that the talk with Allah Most High is still going on.

 

        A lady would entreat before Almighty Allah with utmost humility, but her supplication wouldn’t be accepted.  At last, she despaired and wanted to stop her supplications.  The Prophet of that age was ordered to go to her and convey:  We like your humility and entreaties.  If your supplication is accepted, then you will forego supplicating.  That’s why We are delaying the acceptance of your supplication.

 

        Supplications surely have their effect, but it is not necessary that it should be expressed immediately.  Do supplicate.  It is an expression of slavery.  The effect will be expressed in its own time.  The times when the supplication is accepted are these:

 

The day of ‘Arafah i.e. 9^th Dhul Hijjah, in the month of Ramadhan, Friday, at the time of the pre-dawn meal (Sehri), when it is raining, between the Adhaan and the Iqaamah, the supplication of a fasting person in a fast.

 

When Hadhrat A’amir bin ‘Abdullah (May Allah shower His mercy on him) would be saddened by a person and would curse him, he would say:  O Allah!  Give him a lot of wealth, keep him healthy and give him a long life.