The Significance of 'Duah'

Supplicating (to Allah) * Making 'Duah'

 

Duah or supplicating is to petition Allah (twt) for one’s needs and requirements, be such needs mundane or spiritual - be they in regard to one’s worldly affairs or Deeni affairs - whether such affairs and needs are within one’s ability of acquisition or not. In all cases, the Muslim has to supplicate to Allah (twt) for the fulfillment of his needs.

 

Duah for unlawful desires and needs is not permissible. While making duahs, all the lawful means and agencies for the requirement should be harnessed, e.g. the farmer while making duah for his farm to yield should at the same time engage in the means and ways of farming; the one making duah for protection against an enemy should at the same time engage in the ways and means of warding off the enemy; the sick while making duah for recovery should resort to medicine and treatment as well; one involved in litigation should while making duah for success in his court-case, engage the proper means of achieving the success as well; one engaged in the acquisition of Qur’ani and Deeni knowledge should make duah for Barakat [blessings] and success while at the same time study properly and acquire whatever ways are essential for the correct acquisition of knowledge; one involved in Ibaadat [worship of Allah] should strive against the lowly desires and the diversions of Satan and the Nafs [ego/ passion] while at the same time make duah [supplications] for aid from Allah (twt) for sincerity and steadfastness in his acts of worship.

 

In affairs in which physical and material means and agencies have no role to play; one should in entirety resort to only duah, e.g. rainfall [protection against rainfall in case of too much rainfall causing floods etc. & prayers for rainfall in case of drought], protection against plagues, the Satan and the deception of the Nafs, protection from the oppression of cruel persons, etc.

Duah does not mean the mere recitation of some words and the ritual reiteration of words after Salat. The nature of duah consists of petitioning in the court of Allah (twt). The earnestness and concern which people have when making appeals in the courts of the world should at least be adopted when making duah in the court of Allah (twt). When making duah, one’s mind and body have to be concentrated and directed into the purpose of duah. One should never lose hope in the event of fulfilment of the duah being delayed or if fulfilment is not discerned. One has to submit to the Will of Allah (twt). Duah is an appeal of His servants. We have no right to become disillusioned and despondent if we cannot discern acceptance of our duah.

 

The times of duah are not restricted to the time of Salat. Duah should be made at any time, whenever one requires something although the time during and after Salat is very efficacious for acceptance of the duah. Whenever and whatever one is in need of, immediately make duah with the heart as well as with the tongue. This then is the reality and nature of duah.

 

Now when supplicating, do so according to the reality and nature of duah as has been described. If you do so, you will discern the efficacy and blessings of duah. Blessings of duah do not necessarily mean that whatever you ask for will be granted. At times the very object sought for, is obtained, e.g. something in regard to the Hereafter, because a favour or bounty of the Hereafter is pure goodness for the servant. For the attainment of the fortunes of the Aakhirat (hereafter), Imaan (faith) and Itaa’at (obedience) are conditions. Without these conditions, the blessings of Aakhirat are not attainable. Sometimes, the object asked for is not obtained, e.g. an object or requirement of the world. This is so because sometimes the worldly object supplicated for is harmful and sometimes beneficial. If it is beneficial in the Wisdom of Allah (twt), he grants it to the servant and when it is harmful, he withholds it from the servant just as a father will deny his child an object which is detrimental to his interests.

 

The meaning of Barakat in this context is that the attention of Allah (twt) is directed to the servant. Thus, if due to some reason known to Allah (twt), the object asked for is not granted, thus in this situation also the person should be content with whatever Allah has decided for him. He is not overcome with frustration and weakness. This spiritual strength with which the heart is imbued is the effect of the special attention of Allah (twt) as a result of duah made by the servant. This special attention of Allah (twt) is indeed a great treasure. All other treasures pale into insignificance in its presence. This special attention is in fact man’s original capital which he has to strive for. It is the possession of this treasure which will bring him comfort and peace in this world and in the Hereafter. The limitless bounties of the Hereafter are obtainable as a result of this special attention which Allah (twt) focuses on His servants. There is, therefore, never the slightest fear of being deprived. The one who makes duah is never deprived because of this inherent Barakat of duah.

 

I will now present before you some ahadith pertaining to the significance of duah.

 

Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said; “The servant’s duah is accepted as long as he neither ask for something sinful nor for something unkind for his relatives; and, as long as he is not impatient.”

 

It was asked: “O Messenger of Allah! What is the meaning of being impatient?” The reply came as: “It means to say: ‘I have asked duah time and again, but it has not been answered’. So saying, one gives up asking duah”. (Muslim)

 

This Hadith stresses the continuous making of duah even if the duah seemingly is not accepted.

 

Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Nothing is more appreciable to Allah than duah”. (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

 

Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Duah is beneficial in everything; it is efficacious in warding off misfortunes which have already descended as well as misfortunes which are about to descend. Therefore, the servants of Allah should be steadfast in making duah”. (Tirmidhi, Ahmad)

 

Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Allah becomes angry will one who refrains from duah”.

 

Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “You should continuously engage in duah and firmly believe that Allah is accepting your duah. Allah (twt) does not accept the duah of one whose heart is careless”. (Tirmidhi)

 

Duah must be made with earnestness and concentration of mind and body while at the same time believing that the duah is definitely being accepted by Allah (twt). Non-attainment of the object of the duah should not be misconstrued as non-acceptance. The duah is most certainly accepted, but for one to obtain the object sought after, is subject to the Wisdom of Allah (twt).

 

Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (ra) narrates that The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

 

“Any Muslim who makes a duah and his does not contain a request for anything regarding the severance of family ties, Allah (twt) grants him one of three things most assuredly, viz.,

1.     What he has asked is granted immediately, or

2.     What he has asked is saved for him as a treasure in the hereafter, or

3.     Allah wards away some calamity from him in lieu of the object asked for.”

 

The Sahaba then said that they will resort to duah in abundance. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) replied that by Allah (twt) everything is in abundance. Thus, no duah is returned empty.

 

Hazrat Anas (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Everyone should petition his Creator for all his needs”.

 

In the narration of Hazrat Thabit (ra) it is said: “Everyone should ask his Creator for all his needs be it even salt or be it a shoe-lace when his breaks.” (Tirmidhi)

 

One should not consider it improper to make duah for insignificant items because by Allah (twt) even such things which are significant, great and valuable by us, are insignificant in His Gaze. So, every duah, as long as it is licit in the eyes of Allah and approved by Him, is very valuable, even for the smallest thing. We should always rely on Allah and seek His help to acquire only what He wants us to acquire with His approval and pleasure. Insha-Allah, Ameen.

----Friday Sermon of 29 July 2022 ~29 Dhul Hijjah 1443 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius.