Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah by His grace, mercy and kindness has once again given me the opportunity to continue on the subject of my sermon on the duahs, more specifically the duahs which are found in the Holy Quran.
By the grace of Allah - I do not know how to thank Him for the blessed opportunities He has granted me to speak on this important subject and at the same time to take the opportunity to recite these duahs to you, and for your good and mine also.
Certainly, all of this is the result of the Spirit [i.e. the Holy Spirit], which has been caused to descend like a flame upon me and which will intoxicate you with the love of God which flows through my heart. Caught in this state, I spend my time remembering God, not to complete some formalities or to appear so, but because God is going to make my spiritual life, which I love, dependent on this food which is the remembrance of God, just as he made the bodily life of man dependent on physical food. Just as he would swallow an unpleasant-tasting medicine to cure himself, in the same way, it is important that man persevere in his practice of Salat (prayers), and continue to beg God even if he does not derive any pleasure from it.
Faced with such a situation, we, the human race, believers in the Unique God, will have to, through the following supplication, seek pleasure and joy in our Salat, in our supplications to God. This pleasure will come little by little and that too in an illuminating way. We must pray for the mercy of Allah [Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim]:
Rabbana zalamna anfusana wa il-lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna la-na-kunanna minal-khaasirin.
Our Lord, we have acted unjustly towards ourselves! If You don’t forgive us and if You don’t have mercy on us, we will certainly be among the losers!
When you desire victory, success, and divine judgment in difficult situations, call upon God as follows:
Rabbanaftah baynana wa bayna qawmina bil-haqqi wa anta khayrul-faatihin.
Our Lord, make a decision between us and our people. You are the best of judges/ arbitrators!
Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa tawaffana muslimin.
Our Lord, pour endurance on us and grant us death in complete submission to You!
Also call on God in prayer to avoid the unrighteous, people who like to argue for small things, vain things - people who are haughty, arrogant, jealous and who hate you, such as the hypocrites. They are always looking to create havoc for you. They do not hesitate to look for unfounded things [like for example, palaver, spreading rumours etc.] and they use them to create big brawls. These are people with sickness in their hearts. Jealousy sets their hearts on fire. So despite you, the believers were trying to establish peace with them, but these people do not understand and are not cooperative in establishing this peace. On the contrary, they try to create disorder so that the truth from God is banished from the hearts and conscience of the people. So, to save yourselves from their machinations, recite this duah that Allah has taught us in the Holy Quran:
Rabbana la taj’alna ma’-al-qawmiz-zaalimin.
Our Lord, do not place us with the unjust!
And ask God to protect you from these unjust people as I mentioned earlier, and also to protect you from disbelieving people:
Rabbana la taj’alna fitnatal-lil-qawmiz-zaalimina wa najjina bi-rahmatika minal-qawmil-kaafirin.
Our Lord, do not make us a target for the persecution of the unjust! By Your mercy, protect us from the disbelievers!
When you are travelling, whether in a car, on a plane, on a ship, or any other vehicle (means of transportation), make this supplication:
Bismillahi madj-riha wa mursaha, inna Rabbi la Ghafurur-Rahim.
In the name of Allah be its sailing and its anchorage. Surely my Lord forgives a lot, He is Merciful.
Pray to Almighty God that you remain in submission to Allah until your last hour/ breath (death):
Fatiras samawaati wal ardh, anta waliyi fid-dounya wal aakhirah, tawaffani mouslimaww, wa alhiqni bis-saalihiin.
O Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my Protector in this world and in the hereafter. May my death come to me while I am subject to Your will, and put me with the righteous.
Before starting a work, recite this duah:
Rabbana atina milladunka rahmataww-wa hayyi’ lana min amrina rashada.
Our Lord, grant us Your mercy and provide us with the right guidance in our affairs.
Pray also that your task will become easy and also that you have “the power of tongue”, that is, the power of words and arguments for the sake of truth.
Rabbish rahli swadri, wa yassirli amri wahloul ouqdatam milli-saani, yafqahou qawli.
My Lord, open my heart and facilitate for me my work and make it easy for me to express myself, so that they will understand my speech.
Students and anyone who seeks religious and academic knowledge can do this duah:
Rabbi zidni ilma.
My Lord, increase my knowledge.
When you are suffering from any harm/ evil/ difficulty, do not worry but turn to Allah (swt) and recite this duah several times:
Massaniyaz zurru wa anta Arhamur Raahimiin.
Evil touched me. But You are the most merciful of the merciful!
If you’ve hurt someone’s heart or think you’ve done something wrong, recite this duah a lot:
Laa Ilaaha Illaa anta subhaanaka innii kuntu minaz zaalimiin.
There is no God but You, Glory to You, verily I was among those who were unjust.
When you give Al-Haqq’s message (for God is The Truth), and people doubt your words and call you a liar, seek the help of your Creator by reciting this duah:
Rabbinsurnii bimaa kazzabuun!
O my Lord! Help me because they call me a liar.
Read this duah asking for the grace of Allah:
Rabbigfir warham wa anta Khayrul Raahimiin!
Lord, forgive and have mercy. You are the Best of the Merciful.
And also seek forgiveness and mercy from Allah:
Rabbana amanna faghfir lana warhamna wa anta khayrur Rahimiin.
Our Lord, we believe in You, forgive us, have mercy on us, You are the most merciful!
We the human race are very weak in faith in God because there are many worldly attractions that make us forget God and fall into sins. All of us together should make an effort to become pious, and therefore we should pray a lot to God to become pious. I quote you a duah to this effect:
Rabbi hablii hukmaw wa alhiqnii bis Saalihiin; Waj’al lii lisaana sidqin fil Aakhiriin, Waj’alnii miw warasati Jannatin Na’iim.
Lord, grant me wisdom (and knowledge) and make me join the good people; Give me an honourable mention among posterity; And make me one of the heirs of the Garden of Delights.
While taking one’s mount [means of transport, particularly horse-riding or camel riding], we must recite:
Subhanallazi sakh-khara lana haaza, wa maa kunna lahu muq-renin, wa anna ilaa rabbina laa munqalibun.
Holy is the One Who subjected it to us, and by ourselves we did not have the strength to harness it. And it is to our Lord that we must surely return.
When you are in difficulty, turn to God and recite:
Innii magluubun fantaswir !
I am overwhelmed (O Lord). So come to my help.
Ask God to accept your supplications and prayers:
Rabbana taqabbal minna innaka antas Sami’ul Aleem.
Lord, accept this [work] from us. You are the All-Hearing, All-Knowing!
Make this supplication; ask God to make you accept His will and teach you the sacred rites as Muslims and accept your repentance:
Rabbana waj’alna Muslimayni laka wa min zurriyatina ‘Ummatan Muslimatalaka wa ‘arina Manasikana wa tub ‘alayna ‘innaka ‘antat-Tawwabur-Rahim.
Our Lord, make us submit to Your will, make our posterity a people resigned to Your will, teach us the sacred rites, and accept our repentance, for You love to accept penance and You are Merciful!
Pray to God for patience and victory over unbelievers:
Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa sabbit aqdaamana wansurna ‘alal-qawmil-kafireen.
Lord, arm us with patience, strengthen our steps and give us victory over this disbelieving people!
We are very weak. Often by forgetfulness we make mistakes. We are so weak that we cannot bear the heavy burden of our sins and then we must turn to God to receive His mercy and forgiveness, as well as victory over our own passion and over the infidels.
Rabbana la tu’akhizna in-nasina aw akhtaa’na. Rabbana wala tahmil alayna isran kamaa hamaltahu ‘alal-lazeena min qablina. Rabbana wala tuhammilna maa laa taqata lana bihi wa fu’-anna waghfir lana warhamna anta mawlana fansurna ‘alal-qawmil kafireen.
Our Lord, do not impose punishment upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, do not place on us the burden that You imposed on those who lived before us! Our Lord, do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Erase our sins, forgive us, have mercy on us! You are our Master! Grant us victory over the infidels !
Rabbana innaka jami’unnaasi li-Yawmil la rayba fi innal’laaha laa yukhliful mi’aad.
Our Lord! You will bring mankind together on a day about which there is no doubt! Certainly, Allah does not fail in His promises!
Rabbana maa khalaqta haaza baatila Subhanaka faqina ‘azaaban-Naar.
Our Lord, You did not create all this in vain (i.e. the universe)! Glory to You! Protect us from the punishment of the Fire!
Rabbana innaka man tudkhilin naara faqad akhzaytah wa ma liz-zwalimeena min answaar.
Our Lord, the one You cast into hell falls into ignominy, the perverts will not be able to count on any help!
Rabbana innana sami’na munaadiy’ ayy-yunaadi lil-imaani an aaminu bi Rabbikum fa’aamanna. Rabbana faghfir lana zunoobana wa kaffir ‘anna sayyi’aatina wa tawaffana ma’al Abraar.
Our Lord, we heard the man calling; he called us to the Faith, he cried: “Believe in God”, and we believed! Our Lord, forgive us our sins, wash away our sins, and cause us to die with (amongst) the good people.
Rabbana wa ‘aatina ma wa’adtana ‘ala rusulika wa laa tukhzina yawmal-Qiyamah innaka la tukhliful mi’aad.
Our Lord, give us what You promised through Your Messengers! Do not let us be humiliated on the day of resurrection, You who never fail in Your promises!
Rabbana aamana faktubna ma’ ash-shahideen.
Our Lord, we believe! Join us among the Witnesses!
Rabbana anzil ‘alayna maa’idatam minas-Samaai takunuu lana ‘idal li-awwa-lina wa aakhirna wa ayatam-minka war-zuqna wa anta Khayrul-Raziqeen.
Our Lord, bring down a table for us from heaven; may it be a feast for the first and last of us, and a sign of Your power! Feed us, for You are the best Feeder (Nourisher)!
Rabbana innaka ta’lamu ma nukhfi wa maa nuh’lin wa ma yakhfa ‘alal-laahi min shay’in fil-ardwi wa la fis-Sama’.
Our Lord, You know what we are hiding and what we are showing! For Allah, there is nothing hidden in Heaven and on Earth!
Rabbana innana nakhaafu ayy-yafruta ‘alayna aw ayy-yatgha.
Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment/ violence] against us or that he will transgress.
Rabbana la Ghafurun Shakur.
Our Lord is Forgiving and Grateful!
Rabbana wasi’ta kulla sha’ir Rahmataww wa ‘ilman faghfir lillazina tabu wattaba’u sabilaka waqihim ‘azaabal-Jahiim.
Our Lord, You encompass all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire.
Rabbana wa adhkhihum Jannati ‘adninil-lati wa’attahum wa man salaha min aba’ihim wa azwaajihim wa zuriyyatihim innaka antal ‘Azizul-Hakim, waqihimus sayyi’at wa man taqis-sayyi’ati yawma’izin faqad rahimatahu wa zaalika huwal fawzul-’Azim.
Our Lord, and admit them to gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. And protect them from the evil consequences [of their deeds]. And he whom You protect from evil consequences that Day – You will have given him mercy. And that is the great attainment.
Always pray to be on the right path and to be enlightened:
Rabbana atmim lana nuranaa waghfir lana innaka ‘ala kulli shay-in qadir.
Our Lord, perfect our light for us, and forgive us! You are powerful over all things!
Right after the duah I recited earlier, found in verse 129 of Sura Al-Baqara, that is to say:
Rabbana waj’alna Muslimayni laka wa min zurriyatina ‘Ummatan Muslimatalak, wa ‘Arina Manasikana wa tub ‘alayna ‘innaka ‘antat-Tawwabur-Raheem.
Our Lord, make us submit to Your will, make our posterity a people resigned to Your will, teach us the sacred rites, and accept our repentance, for You love to accept repentance and You are Merciful!
There is in the following verse (Al-Baqara 2:130) this very important duah that Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and Hazrat Ismail (as) recited. Father and son prayed for the coming of a prophet in the offspring of Ismail (as) and to gain people who will submit to the will of Allah. In other words, to receive such divine favour, such divine blessing that will last until the Last Day. This invocation is as follows:
Rabbana wab’as fiihim Rasuulam minhum yatluu ‘alayhim ‘aayaatika wa yu’allimuhumul Kitaaba wal Hikmata wa yuzakkiihim. Innaka Antal Aziizul Hakim.
Our Lord, raise up a Messenger among them, who can recite Your signs to them and teach them the Book and Wisdom and can make them pure; assuredly, You are the Mighty, the Wise!
This duah has a deep connection with the Darood Ibrahim:
Allahumma Salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa’ala ali Muhammadin kama, sallaita ‘ala Ibrahima wala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hameedum Majeed. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Mohammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa’ala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hameedum Majeed.
“O Allah, pour down Your Grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have graced Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. Allah, shower Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious”.
There is another duah in the Quran (Taha 20:135) where Allah (swt) says: And if We had destroyed them with a punishment before him, they would have said:
Rabbana law laa arsalta ‘ilaynaa rasuulan fanattabi’a aayaatika wa nakkuuna minal mu’miniin.
Our Lord, why haven’t You sent us a Messenger? We would then have followed Your verses [commandments/ revelations] and we would have been believers.
They make this prayer in order to follow Allah’s commandments and to stay on the right path, and also in order to stay away from humiliation and shame, but when Allah (swt) sends them a Messenger, they turn their backs and ridicule the signs of Allah and His Messenger. So Allah commands His Messenger to say:
“Each [of us] is waiting; so wait. For you will know who are the companions of the sound path and who is guided.”
I pray that Allah makes you understand the importance of duahs, and the knowledge of His will and the key to success found therein. In truth, these are Quranic duahs revealed to the prophets of God and to pious people throughout the ages. It behoves us to recite them often so that Allah’s help and success come to us with peace of mind and confidence. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
Insha-Allah, I will continue the fourteenth part of my sermon on duahs next Friday.
---Friday Sermon of 02 October 2020 ~14 Safar 1442 AH delivered by Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (atba) of Mauritius.