Alhuda Bolton

AUTHENTIC ADHKAR: LESSON 17

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alhudabolton
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Saturday 14 Jul 2018

Lesson 17: The Virtue of making Dua

  • Recap of previous lessons:
    • The statements, Subhaanallaah, Alhamdulillaah, Laa Ilaaha Illallaah and Allaahu Akbar
  • Making dua has a lofty status in the religion
  • Dua is from the noblest of worship, greatest obedience and most beneficial ways of getting closer to Allah
  • Many texts have come in the Qur’an and the sunnah which clarify the virtue of Dua, command it and provide encouragement for it
  • Dua is of two types:
    • Praise of Allah
    • Asking for a need that you have
  • Indeed Allah has opened the Qur’an with Dua and sealed it with Dua
    • “All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).” [Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening) verse 2]
      • Surah Al-Fatiha also includes another dua which is for guidance (see verse 6), this is one of the greatest dua to make
    • “Say: “I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind,” until the end of the Surah. [Surah An-Naas (Mankind) verses 1-6]
  • In fact Allah has termed Dua as worship in multiple verse of the Qur’an
    • “And your Lord said: “Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!” [Surah Al-Ghafir (The Forgiving) verse 60]
      • What does Allah mean “those who are arrogant from my worship”
    • This indicates to us the great status of Dua as it is the core of worship
  • Dua is an indicator of your submission, poverty, need and humility before your lord
  • Therefore Allah encourages the people to make dua much
    • “Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors.” [Surah Al-A’raaf (The Heights  (or The Walls with Elevations)) verse 55]
    • “And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allah’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers.” [Surah Al-A’raaf (The Heights (or The Walls with Elevations)) verse 56]
    • “He is the Ever Living, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), so invoke Him making your worship pure for Him Alone (by worshipping Him Alone, and none else, and by doing righteous deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake only, and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship). All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).” [Surah Al-Ghafir (The Forgiving) verse 65]
  • Allah informs us that he is close to us and answers our dua and that he will make reality what you hope for and will give you what you ask for
    • “And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) verse 186]
    • “Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations. Is there any ilah (god) with Allah? Little is that you remember!” [Surah An-Naml (The Ants) verse 62]
    • NOTE: the scholars say that the one in desperation and need who asks Allah at the time of need will have his dua answered as the above verse says.

  • The closer a servant is to Allah, the more dua he makes and the more humility he has before Allah
  • Allah has praised the Prophets and Messengers for making dua
    • “So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya (John), and cured his wife (to bear a child) for him. Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.” [Surah Al-Anbiyaa (The Prophets) verse 90]
  • Cases where The Prophets and Messengers made Dua are mentioned often in the Qur’an
    • The dua of Prophet Ibraahim (may peace be upon him) [Surah Ibraahim (Abraham) verses 35-41]
      • “And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said: “O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” [v35]
      • “O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeys me, – still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [v36]
      • “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka’bah at Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.” [37]
      • “O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah.” [38]
      • “All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Isma’il (Ishmael) and Ishaque (Isaac). Verily! My Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.” [39]
      • “O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation.” [40]
      • “”Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.” [41]
  • What are the evidence from the Sunnah regarding the virtue if making Dua, and what is better Dua or dhikr?
    • An-Nu’man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Du’a (supplication) is worship.”[Abu Dawud, Riyad As-Salihin]
      • What does this mean?
    • Abu Hurairah narrated that: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “There is nothing more honorable with Allah [Most High] than supplication.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi]
  • Why is dua such a tremendous act of worship? The Scholars have said:
    • Within Dua is your humility and submissiveness before Allah
    • It highlights your weakness, your poverty and need before Allah
    • The more submissive and focused the heart is to Allah during any worship, the better the worship. During Dua, the hearts are very submitted and focused since they may be seeking a need
    • Dua is a realisation of someone having trust in Allah and seeking aid and assistance from him
  • This matter is something very important for all Muslims to be aware of
  • Q&A:
    • Which is better salah or dua?
    • Making dua during prostration
    • If Eid falls on a Friday, and you’ve prayed the Eid prayer, do you have to pray Jumuah or can you just pray Dhur?
    • Is there a legislated dua to make between the Iqaamah and the start of the prayer?
    • Making dua after a good deed?
    • Making dua between the two halves of the Friday Khutbah
    • Is it permissible to ask people to move forward during the Khutbah?
    • Correcting the Imam if he is about to make a mistake
    • Having aides to straighten the line for prayer, or having lines on the ground in the masjid