The Importance of Prayer- I

Prayer is such a medicine that it can turn a dry wood into a green branch and can fuse life into (spiritually) dead people. It has unlimited credentials. If someone is in an unresolved situation, the prayer only can save him. 

A materialist considers this life to be a machine, the parts of which are being run by the blind forces of cause and effect, and he does not admit that there is an ultimate Being who is directing it. But one who knows the reality, while agreeing that the law of cause and effect is working, further knows that this is being done under the orders and directions of a Supreme Being. He, therefore, while keeping an eye on the causes and their effects, appeals to the Creator of the universe, the Supreme Cause for help, and surrenders gladly to His will and pleasure. God [Allah], the Creator of the Universe, may do whatever is good for him, for it is only the Lord (God) who knows what is good for him. 

Qur’an: Guiding Souls

Our life on earth is a gift from God, the Lord and Master of the Universe. It is our solemn duty to learn and recognize the Way of Life ordained by our Sustainer. For, His laws and commandments throw clear light on life’s complex crossroads so that we  find right directions and always remain on the correct path, the Way of the Righteous (Muttaqin). Indeed, a Muttaqi, even when bruised by the complicated trajectories of earthly trials, in submitting to the Divine expectations and regulations, will invariably find sprouting signs of  mercy, grace and infinite kindness of God around her. 

Moreover, to help and guide the deeply-flawed and evil-prone humans in every day life, our Creator and True Friend has sent down the Book of revelations (Kitaab) with practical wisdom (Hikmah) through the sublime blessing of Prophecy (Nubuwwah). Likewise, Sunnat Allah has established Wilayah/ Khilafa -the Divine practice of  raising holy men as an unbroken chain in every age in the Ummah to preserve, sustain and to renew the spiritual highway for all times. It is by accepting the Divine revelations and messages as well as by following in the noble footsteps of the Divinely-inspired men when they arrive that we can remain on the Way of Divine Pleasure, so as not to be lost or drowned, or be confused, in the difficult journey of earthly life. The ringing words of the Qur'an is as follows:  ‘When guidance comes to you from Me, as it certainly will, there will be no fear for those  who follow My guidance, nor will they grieve’----(2:39) 

'Duah': Invocations to Allah- XXI

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue, by the grace of Allah, The Possessor of Majesty, Honour and Glory [Dhul Jalali wal Ikram] my 21^st and final sermon in this series of sermons centred on duahs. This subject is certainly very vast and we can never stop talking about the subject of duahs; I cannot put before you [in these few sermons] all the duahs that Allah revealed to His Messengers, Messiah and the Khalifatullah of the time.                                 

Rabbi atinee milladunka ansaaran fee deenika wa adh-hib annee huznee wa asli lee shaanee kullahu laa ilaaha illa anta.

O my Lord! Grant me helpers to assist me in Your religion, and take away my worries and make me succeed in my efforts; there is nobody else to help except You.

 

Wamaa taufeeqee illa billaahi, rabbi’an-tiquaa bil-haqqi waksif’-alainal haqqa wahdinaa ilaa haqqin mubeen.

I am not in a position to achieve anything without the favour of Almighty God. O my Lord, help me to speak truth, reveal truth to us and guide us to righteousness.

 

Bismillah-illazi laa yazwurru ma’asmihi shay-unn fil ardzi wa laa fis-samaa’a-ee wa huwa sami’-ul ‘aleem.

In the name of Allah, the name of Whom none in this world and in the heavens can do any harm, and He hears all and knows all.

 

Rabbin surrni ‘alal qawmil-mufsideen.

O my Rab, help me against the people who are creating havoc.

 

Wa laa tousmitbi aduwan wa laa laasedan.

Let not any jealous or enemy humiliate me.

 

Rabbi kullu shay-inn khaadimuka; Rabbi faahfazna wan surna war hamna.

My Rab, all things are Your servant; My Lord protect us and guide us and have pity on us.