By: Khursheed Alam Dawood Qasmi*
Introduction
Supplication means asking, begging, calling, prayer, request and plea. In Islamic terminology, supplication means invoking Allah for whatever one desires and asking Him for what one needs and requires. In Arabic language, it is called: “Duaa”. The Muslims supplicate for many reasons and at various times and occasions, such as after Salah, before eating a meal, before sleeping etc.
The Almighty Allah has blessed this Ummah with distinctive features. One of it is Allah’s order to “supplicate” and He has promised to respond to the supplication. The people can present their needs, necessities and lawful desire before Allah and can ask Him for their fulfillment. So, the supplication is very benefiting and has much significance. The one who doesn’t supplicate, Allah is unhappy with him. The Holy Qura’an speaks: “Your Lord has said, “Call Me, I will respond to you. Definitely those who show arrogance against worshipping Me shall enter Jahannam (Hell) with disgrace.” (Mumin: 60)
Mufti Muhammad Shafi (1897-1976) writes: “…This verse confers a special honour on the large community of the followers of the Holy Prophet (SAWS) when they were ordered to make Dua with the assurance that it would be answered. And whoever does not make a prayer has been warned of punishment.
Qatadah reports from Ka’b Ahbar that earlier this used to be peculiar to prophets (PBUT) as they were the ones who were ordered by Allah Ta’ala that they should make Dua and He would answer. Now, it is the distinction of the followers of the Holy Prophet (SAWS) (popularly identified as Ummah Muhammadiyyah) that this order was universalized for his entire Ummah.” (Ma’ariful Qura’an: 7/611)
At another place, the Glorious Qura’an speaks: “I respond to the call of one when he prays to Me; so they should respond to Me, and have faith in Me, so that they may be on the right path.” (Al-Baqarah: 186)
In supplication, Allah the Almighty likes the helplessness and sincere attention of His slaves. The Glorious Qura’an speaks: “Or the One who responds to a helpless person when he prays to Him and removes distress, and who makes you vicegerents of the earth? Is there any god along with Allah? No, but little you heed to advice.” (Al-Naml: 62)
“Imam Qurtubi has said that Allah Ta’ala has taken upon Himself to accept the supplication of a Mudtar (helpless and restless under some necessity). He has made declaration to this effect in this verse. The main reason for it is that by divorcing all mundane supports and connections, beseeching from Allah, while regarding Him as the sole redresser is the sincerity at its best. Sincerity has a special position before Allah Ta’ala. Whoever evinces sincerity, no matter if he is a believer or an infidel, a pious or a sinner, because of the auspiciousness of sincerity the divine favour gets attentive towards him. Allah Ta’ala Himself elaborates this point while describing the traits of the infidels. He has said that when they are in water and the boat is caught in storm, and they are sure of their death, they call out to Allah with all sincerity, saying that they would be thankful to Him forever if He would save their lives. But when Allah Ta’ala rescues them and brings them to land by accepting their supplication, they again indulge in associating Him with gods.” (Ma’ariful Qura’an: 6/606-607)
Supplication Strengthens the Relation
There are numerous narrations of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) which emphasizes on the supplication. They show its importance and benefits. The blessed tongue of the Prophet (SAWS) used to be busy in the supplication. Sometimes, he was supplicating for goodness of the world and the hereafter for himself and his Ummah. Occasionally, he asked protection from the evils of the world and the hereafter. We should also involve ourselves in supplication to strengthen our relations with our Creator Allah.
Either we are in prosper conditions and our lives are passing with easiness and comfort, we should not be neglectful from the supplication; rather we should keep ourselves in it as much as possible. It is also one type of worship. Then a faithful slave mustn’t be neglectful from worshiping his Master. If one is careless in supplication, it is disobeying Allah. Supplication strengthens the relation and link with Allah. It shows our helplessness and weakness and acknowledgment of our obedience to Allah. There is one narration that means: When a person offering Salah recites: “You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)”, Allah says: ‘This is between Me and My slave, and he will have what he asked for.” (Sahih Muslim: 395)
Supplication is Worship
As Salah, fasting, Zakah, Hajj etc. are worships and virtuous acts, in the same way, the supplication is also worship and righteous deed. Rather it is worship’s gist. It should not be doubted that a person asks his needs and desires in the Duaa, so it is his needs, not worship. It is true that he calls for his needs in the Duaa; but as it is in accordance with the commandment of Allah, so absolutely it is worship in itself. There is a Hadith narrated by Noman bin Bashir (RA) that the Prophet (SAWS) said: “The supplication is worship in itself or worship is supplication in itself.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: 3372)
“…The meaning is that Dua (prayer, supplication) and ‘Ibadah (worship, devotion) are, though separate from each other in terms of the literal sense, yet in terms of substantiation, they are unified, as every Dua is ‘Ibadah and every ‘Ibadah is Dua. The reason is that ‘Ibadah is the name of the attitude of showing one’s utter modesty and abasement before someone, and it is all too obvious that showing one’s utter helplessness before someone and extending one’s hand before him with the beggar’s bowl is a matter of great disgrace –which is the very sense of ‘Ibadah. Similarly, the outcome of every ‘Ibadah is also to ask Allah Ta’ala for forgiveness and Jannah and that He blesses us with a perfect state of well being in this world and in the world to come. Therefore, it appears in a Hadith Qudsi (a Hadith in which the Holy Prophet (SAWS) conveys a saying from Allah that is not included in the Qur’an) that Allah Ta’ala said: “One who is so engrossed in remembering Me that he does not have even the time to ask for what he needs, I shall give him more than those who ask (by fulfilling his needs without the asking)” (reported by al-Jazri in An-Nihayah) and in a narration appearing in Tirmidhi (Hadith: 2926) and Muslim, the words are: …’One who is so engrossed in the recitation of the Qur’an that he does not have even the time to ask for what he needs, I shall give him even more than what those who ask ever get’. This tells us that every ‘Ibadah brings the same benefit as is the benefit of Dua’.” (Ma’ariful Qura’an: 7/611-612)
Supplication is Honoured Deed
The supplication is honoured deed in the sight of the Almighty Allah; because His slaves are supplicating before Him with humility and total submission. They express their helplessness before their Allah, All-Independent and Ever-Praised in the supplication. Showing the helplessness, humility and submission before Allah are actually the highest status for the slaves. A narration speaks: “There is nothing more honorable with Allah (the Exalted) than supplication.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: 3370)
Allah Gets Angry
Allah has commanded His slaves to beg from Him. So, the supplication and begging is the precious deed in the sight of Allah. If a slave doesn’t beg and supplicate, it means that he is disobeying Him. That is why Allah gets angry with the one who doesn’t ask and supplicate. There is a narration which says: “Indeed, he who does not ask Allah, He gets angry with him.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: 3373)
Allah doesn’t Return One Empty-Handed
Following affliction with a problem or a crisis, an individual runs to a known person to get assistance to fulfill his needs and come out of the crisis. Sometime, the person assists him happily and sometimes returns him scolding empty-handed. It is hardly heard that a needy man meets a rich person for his needs and the rich never returned him empty-handed, since he feels shy to do so. But according to the Hadith, whenever a needy slave asks Allah the Exalted, He responds in positive and never returns him empty-handed as He feels shy to do so. Two narrations are quoted here: “Truly Allah feels shy that His slave stretches his hands before Him asking Him for something good and He rejects them unsuccessfully.” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Saheibah: 29555) Another narration goes like this: “Indeed, Allah, is Hayy, Generous, when a man raises his hands to Him, He feels shy to return them to him empty and rejected.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: 3556)
Prayer is Beneficial at Every time
Any kind of trouble, sickness, calamity etc. has happened or it is expected that it is going to happen in the future; the people should turn towards the Almighty Allah and start supplicating. While making prayer, they should have full confidence that Allah is going to remove the affliction and calamity from them. The prophet (SAWS) says: “The supplication benefits against that which strikes and that which does not strike. O worshipper of Allah, so hold fast to supplication.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: 3548)
Supplicate Plentifully in Prosperity
It is known to all that Allah is only the One who is All-Independent and Besought of all, needing none and all the creatures are needy, poor and helpless always. So, the people should not wait for that they would ask Allah during the time of grief and hardship; but despite being in happiness and prosperity, they should raise their hands with humility and humbleness supplicating before Him. In this case, the link between Allah and His slaves remains strong. Thereafter, when they are afflicted with a calamity and supplicate, their supplications are answered. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) says: “Whoever wishes that Allah would respond to him during hardship and grief, then let him supplicate plentifully when at ease.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: 3382)
Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlavi (1703-1762) writes after quoting the mentioned Hadith: “I say and that (supplication plentifully in prosperity) because that the supplication is not answered, except for the one whose desire and concentration is strong, whose determination is firm and he was habitual of supplication before the calamity which has befallen upon him.” (Hujjatulllah Al-Balighah: 2/241, Dar Ibn Kathir, Damascus – Beirut)
Maulana Muhammad Manzoor Nomani (1905-1997) writes under the commentary of the above Hadith: “It is confirmed through experiences that those people who have very weak link with Allah who turn to Him only in the time of difficulty and anxiety and raise their hands in supplications only in such a situation. Such people lack that confidence in the Mercy of Allah which produces soul and life in their supplication. In contrast those slaves of Allah who accustomed to request Him for their needs at all times have a strong link with Him and they have much confidence in the Mercy of Allah on which they continue to rely. Thus their supplication is very strong. The Messenger of Allah has given us advice in this Hadith that we must make plenty of supplication to Allah in days of happiness and prosperity. The result will be that we will establish connection whereby our supplications in the days of difficulty will be granted to us.” (Ma’ariful Hadith: 5/115-116)
Begin Supplication with himself
It was practice of Rasulullah (SAWS) to begin supplicating with himself, whenever he wanted to supplicate for someone else. It shows that the person is also in the need of the mercy and blessing of Allah. This habit will please Allah the Almighty. Therefore, one should begin supplication with himself. It is proven by a narration which speaks: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah would mention someone and supplicate for him, he would begin with himself.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: 3385)
Supplication of Heedless Person
It is correct that Allah the Exalted doesn’t return empty-handed anyone asking Him for his needs. It is also fact that during the supplication, the concentration of the supplicating person should be focused on Allah. He should have full trust in Allah and Duaa should be made wholeheartedly. Then such supplication is responded. The one who is heedless and doubtful about his Duaa being accepted and concentration is somewhere else, the supplication of such person is not responded. The prophet (SAWS) says: “Call upon Allah while being certain of being answered and Allah does not respond to a supplication from the heart of one heedless and occupied by play.” (Sunan Tirmidhi: 3479)
Supplication with Determination
During supplication, one should call upon Allah with determination, complete trust, confidence and hope. He should be sure that it is only Allah, the All-Merciful and all hearing who will hear the Duaa. While making Duaa one should be hopeful that it is Allah, the Great Giver of all things who gives what one needs and fulfills the desires, then the supplication will be answered, In Shaa Allah. Allah’s messenger (SAWS) says: “When anyone of you appeals to Allah for something, he should ask with determination and should not say, ‘O Allah, if You wish, give me’, for nobody can force Allah to do something against His Will.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari: 6338)
Supplication Answered in Particular
It is mentioned in the narrations that there are some people whose supplications are answered in particular. The reason behind is that these people supplicate from the bottom of their hearts with perfect humility and a sincere admission of their helplessness. It is the supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler and the supplication of (a broken hearted) father against his son. (Tirmidhi: 1905) It is also the supplication of a person on his Hajj trip as long as he is not back, the one who is on Jihad trip as long as he has not returned, the sick person as long as he is sick and the supplication of a brother for another one in his absence. (Al-Dawat Al-Kabeer Lil-Beihaqi: 671)
Meaning of Supplication Acceptance
It is a fact the supplication of a believer is not rejected. Allah answers his all supplications. But the acceptance is in different forms. One form is that what one has begged will be granted at the same time. Another one is that Allah will store up one’s supplication and will reward him in the hereafter. It is also one form that Allah will turn away from the seeker of supplication an equivalent amount of a calamity which was to befall upon him. It should be noted here that the Duaa made for a sinful act and breaking the ties of kinship are not answered. The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Any Muslim who makes a supplication, containing nothing which is sinful or which involves breaking the ties of kinship will be given by Allah one of the three things: (1) Allah will give him what he had asked at the same time, (2) He will store it up for him in the hereafter or (3) He will turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil (calamity).” (Musnad Imam Ahmad: 11133)
Special Times and Occasions for Acceptance of Supplication
When a person supplicates with humbleness, trust, concentration and great link with Allah, his supplication is answered at all times and occasions. In spite of this fact, there are some occasions and times when one’s supplication is responded specially. Maulana Muhammad Manzoor Nomani has recorded them. They are being noted here in brief:
“After the Fard prayers, after the whole Qrua’an is recited (Khatam Al-Qura’a), between Azan and Iqamah, on the battle field of Jihad, during fighting, when beautiful rain falls down, when the Ka’bah is before the eyes, after offering prayer in desolate desert where there is no one besides Allah, on the field of Jihad when the companions have deserted and the last part of the night. …. Lailatul Qader, on the plain of Arafat on the day of Arafah, at the particular moment on Friday, all the times of breaking the fast, during the journey for Hajj, during the journey for Jihad, during illness and during travel.” (Ma’ariful Hadith: 5/127)
The Causes of Supplication Not Being Answered
Sometimes, it happens that when the supplication of a person is not answered, he questions himself that why was not his supplication answered? It has been noted that that there are different forms of the supplication acceptance. If those forms are present in one’s mind, then the question will not arise. However, there are some causes due that a supplication is not answered. They are:
If Duaa is made for sin and breaking the ties of kinship, such Duaa is not answered. Making Duaa and asking for to be given promptly, such Duaa is not responded as asking immediately and making hast in Duaa makes it not worthy of approval. Allah does not respond to a supplication which is from the heart which is heedless and occupied by play. Some people make Duaa; but the fact is that their food is unlawful, drink is unlawful, clothing is unlawful and they are nourished with unlawful acquired food, then the Duaa of such people is not answered. (For details see Ma’ariful Hadith, 5/116-118)
Ada’iyah Mathurah (The Prophet’s Prayers)
Ada’iyah Mathurah (The Prophet’s Prayers) are the supplications which are mentioned in the narrations of the prophet (SAWS). There are some supplications for a particular time and occasion. The prophet (SAWS) and the companions (RA) used to recite them with punctuality. The people should also read them at those times and occasions with punctuality. It has a lot of benefits. By reading them the people seek the goodness of the world and the hereafter. They seek protection from the evils. They also fill their hearts and minds with Allah’s greatness and majesty. These supplications cause humbleness and humility in the people’s souls as well. Mufti Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri (1940-2020), ex-Sheikhul Hadeeth: Darul Uloom Deoband states:
“…The Duaa Mathurah is of two kinds. The first one is those supplications by which the people seek the goodness of the world and the hereafter as well as seek protection from the evil of several things. The second one is those supplications which are read to fill the hearts and the minds with the majesty and greatness of Allah or they are meant for creating humbleness and humility in the soul; because expressing the inner feeling by the tongue, informs the soul well with the inner situation, e.g. a son makes a mistake and regretting on it says to his father: “Beloved father! Really I have mistaken. I am wrongdoer. I regret on my mistake. Forgive me please!” By this confession, the mistake is expressed well and the carelessness comes before the sight.” (Tohfatul Alma’ee: 8/43)
Conclusion
If a person asks a man for something, it is not guaranteed that always the man would either fulfill his needs or if he fails, will talk to him tenderly. Mostly it happens that the man gets angry with the one who asks. The man thinks, why does he come always at his door? Doesn’t he find the door of someone else? The one who asks is even humiliated and insulted occasionally. It is the kindness and sympathy of our Lord, Master and Giver that He wants His slaves to ask Him for whatever they need. If they ask Him, He is not upset and angry, rather He provides from His hidden treasures pleasantly. For a dignified life, one should make firm determination that he would raise his hands for the needs and necessities only before Almighty Allah; so that he is not being humiliated and insulted by a person like him.
How nicely an Arab poet has said: (Translation) “Don’t ask the children of Adam for anything – And ask the One whose doors are always open – If you stop asking, Allah gets angry with you – And the children of Adam gets angry when you ask.” Akbar Husain Akbar Allahabadi (1846-1921) also said something like that: “O Akbar! Ask Allah for whatever you want to ask – This is only the door where none is humiliated.” ⦁⦁⦁⦁
*Moon Rays Trust School, Zambia, Africa,
Email: qasmikhursheed@yahoo.co.in
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خورشید عالم داؤد قاسمی
Khursheed Alam Dawood Qasmi
Mobile No. : +260978238541