Authentic Adhkar: Lesson 28

Sat 13th Oct 2018

Lesson 28: The Danger of asking for Destruction (upon yourself or others) and the need for Repentance

  • One needs to have an understanding of what they are making dua for and not to be hasty about it
  • Therefore a muslim needs to think carefully about what they make dua for
  • Many people when they become angry or agitated they may make dua against themselves, their family or their wealth
  • Allah says:And man invokes (Allah) for evil as he invokes (Allah) for good and man is ever hasty [i.e., if he is angry with somebody, he invokes (saying): “O Allah! Curse him, etc.” and that one should not do, but one should be patient].[Surah Al-Isra (The Journey by Night) verse 11]
  • This is one of the worst types of statements that a person may utter when he/she is in an angry/emotional state (to make dua for one’s own destruction, or for the Hellfire or to be prevented from entering Jannah or asking for himself to be cursed)
  • Only one who is at the pinnacle of foolishness makes these types of statements, however mankind are hasty and when they are hasty they are illogical and rash
  • Ibn Qayyim says regarding the above verse from Surah Al-Isra that Allah is informing us of the hastiness of mankind when making dua, to such an extent that they would make these types of dua for their own destruction or against their children or wealth and were Allah to answer his dua such a person would be destroyed
  • What did the Salaf say about this matter ?
    • Statement of Qataadah (may Allah be pleased with him)
    • Statement of Mujaahid (may Allah be pleased with him)
    • Statement of Al-Hasan Al-Basri (may Allah be pleased with him)
  • Sometimes a person may become angered by their family and thus they make dua against their own family in haste and in reality that is something that they would not like, however the foolishness which comes with such haste overtakes them
  • It is obligatory for a Muslim to be cautioned and warned against this, especially in times of anger and agitated
  • Dua is supposed to bring goodness and remove harm, therefore it is incorrect to do the opposite and ask for destruction
  • Therefore a Muslim should become accustomed to making dua FOR himself, his children, his wife and his wealth and asking for righteousness and rectification in these affairs and that he controls himself when he is angry

To begin your dua with Repenting from sins

    • We covered this in Lesson 23
    • One should being his dua by mentioning his sins and asking Allah for repentance
    • This is important because if sins are allowed to build up they could become a reason for your dua not to be answered
    • Seeking repentance and being sincere in doing so is among the causes for your dua to be accepted
    • What did Yahya Ibn Muadh Ar-Raazi (may Allah have mercy on him) say?
    • Sins have degrading and terrible consequences in this world and in the hereafter,
      • Sinning eradicates the blessings
      • It brings punishment and many types of difficulties in your life, health, and wealth

    • What did Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him) say?
    • Allah says: “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. (See the Quran Verse 35:45).” [Surah Ash-Shura () verse 30]
    • Sinning is something that degrades you and lowers you before Allah, and if you are degraded before Allah then who will honour you?
    • Allah says: “See you not that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and Ad-Dawab (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and many of mankind? But there are many (men) on whom the punishment is justified. And whomsoever Allah disgraces, none can honour him. Verily! Allah does what He wills.[Surah Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) verse 18]
    • Sinning also causes you to be left by Allah, and this is truly a disaster
    • What did Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) say about impact of making repentance?
    • Imam An-Nawawi said that the scholars have said seeking forgiveness is obligatory for every sin and that one constantly seeks forgiveness
    • Regular repentance helps to reduce the build up of sins
    • Therefore do not let your sins become your own downfall
    • Allah says:They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: that is an Adha (a harmful thing for a husband to have a sexual intercourse with his wife while she is having her menses), therefore keep away from women during menses and go not unto them till they have purified (from menses and have taken a bath). And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah has ordained for you (go in unto them in any manner as long as it is in their vagina). Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers, etc.).[Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) verse 222]
    • It is important to be quick with turning to Allah in repentance
    • There is a time period in which repentance is accepted, outside of this no repentance is accepted:
      • Ibn `Umar narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Indeed Allah accepts the repentance of a slave as long as (his soul does not reach his throat).” [At-Tirmidhi]
      • Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:“Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him”.[Muslim]

 

  • Criteria for Repentance (from Imam An-Nawawi):
    • 1. To have Regret for the sin
    • 2. To Stop doing it
    • 3. To Sincerely Repent to Allah for it
    • 4. To Not to return to doing it again and be sincere about this
    • NOTE: It is also important that time period is not up
  • The Prophet (ﷺ) used to seek forgiveness regularly
  • Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “All the sons of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent often.” [At-Tirmidhi]
  • Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) reported that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: “My slaves! I have forbidden injustice for Myself and I have made it forbidden among you, so do not wrong one another. “My slaves! You err by night and day and I forgive wrong actions and do not care. Ask me for forgiveness and I will forgive you. “My slaves! All of you are hungry unless I have fed you, so ask Me to feed you, and I will feed you. All of you are naked unless I have clothed you, so ask Me to clothe you and I will clothe you. “My slaves! If all of you, the first of you and the last of you, the jinn among you and the men among you, were to be as godfearing as the most godfearing heart of any one of you, that would not add anything to My kingdom. If they were to be as corrupt as the most corrupt heart of any one of you, that would not decrease anything in My kingdom. If they were to join together in one place and then ask of Me, and I gave every man among them what he asked for that, that would not reduce My kingdom at all, except as the sea is decreased if a needle is dipped into it. “My slaves! It is only your actions which I have appointed for you. Whoever finds good should praise Allah. Whoever finds other than that should only blame himself.’” [Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]
  • NOTE: regularly seeking repentance and being quick to do so is important, allowing sins to build up before seeking forgiveness may harm your dua

 

Q&A:

  • Some narrations mention that the Prophet (ﷺ) would seek forgiveness 70 times or 100 times in a day, what is the meaning behind this number?