How Allah Almighty answers our prayers and supplications (Du’a), By Murtadha Gusau

Within the title of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All good reward be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. Could His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his household and companions.

Expensive brothers and sisters! Supplication (Du’a) is an act of worship that brings the servant nearer to Allah, the Most Excessive. By means of it, the servant realises the that means of servitude, neediness, and dependence, whereas concurrently invoking the divine nature, energy, and richness of Allah, the Most Excessive. Feeling one’s inadequacy and recognising the Creator’s abundance are the fruits of this worship, and certainly the specified consequence of all acts of worship. That’s the reason the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) stated:

“Supplication (Du’a) is worship.” [Reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi]

It’s also reported:

“Supplication (Du’a) is the essence of worship.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi]

It’s because by means of supplication (Du’a), the essence of worship is manifested within the servant’s want and helplessness, and within the richness and energy of the Lord.

Allah Almighty has promised to reply the supplications of those that name upon Him, as He the Almighty stated:

“And when My servants query you regarding Me, then absolutely I’m close to. I reply the prayer of the suppliant when he cried unto Me. So allow them to hear My name and allow them to belief in Me, so that they might be led aright.” [Al-Baqarah, 186]

He additionally stated:

“And your Lord had stated: Pray unto Me and I’ll hear your prayer. Lo! those that scorn My service, they are going to enter hell, disgraced.” [Ghafir, 60]

Nevertheless, this divine promise just isn’t unconditional and unrestricted. Within the noble Sunnah, there are particular circumstances and limitations related to it. Examples of such circumstances embody consuming what’s illegal (haram), hastiness, supplicating with sin, severing household ties, or whereas absent minded, and right here is their clarification:

Consuming what’s illegal (haram) prevents the supplicant from receiving a response. Due to this fact, one should be cautious to eat what’s lawful (halal). The Prophet Muhammad (Peace peace be upon him) talked about:

“A person who undertakes a protracted journey and is matted and dusty, elevating his palms to the sky, saying, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’ whereas his meals is illegal (haram), his drink is illegal, his clothes is illegal, and he has been nourished with the illegal. So how can he be answered [by Allah]?” [Reported by Muslim]

Moreover, the supplicant shouldn’t hasten and grow to be impatient if the response doesn’t come instantly. Saying, “I supplicated to Allah, however He didn’t reply my supplication,” displays an absence of etiquette with Allah, the Most Excessive, and signifies weak spot in religion. Relating to this, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) stated:

“The supplication of one in every of you’ll be answered so long as he doesn’t hasten and say, ‘I supplicated, however I acquired no reply.’” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]

Equally, the supplication of a Muslim just isn’t rejected so long as it doesn’t contain sin or severing household ties. That is indicated by the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him):

“The supplication (Du’a) of a servant will proceed to be answered so long as he doesn’t supplicate for one thing sinful, or for the severing of household ties.” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]

The supplicant should have certainty that Allah will reply his supplication. This requires a heedful coronary heart whereas supplicating together with full belief in Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) stated:

“Supplicate to Allah whereas being sure of a response, and know that Allah doesn’t reply a supplication from a coronary heart that’s heedless and distracted.” [Reported by Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi]

Due to this fact, heedlessness and distraction deprive the servant of a response to his supplication.

As well as, there are etiquettes for supplication (Du’a) {that a} supplicant ought to adorn him/herself with:

The servant ought to ask his Lord utilizing complete phrases of supplication, similar to: “O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and well-being, O Allah, forgive me and have mercy on me, and pardon me, and elevate me. O Allah, I ask You for piety, steerage, chastity, and sufficiency,’ and so forth. That is based mostly on the narration of our beloved mom, Aisha (could Allah be happy together with her), who stated:

“The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) used to want complete supplications and would go away apart others.” [Reported by Abu Dawud with a good chain of narration]

Moreover, one ought to start the supplication by praising Allah and sending blessings upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and conclude it with sending blessings upon the Messenger of Allah. It’s talked about within the commentary of Ibn Abidin:

“Al-Baji reported from Ibn Abbas: While you supplicate to Allah, ensure to incorporate sending blessings upon the Prophet (Peace be upon him) in your supplication, for sending blessings upon him is accepted. Certainly, Allah, could He be glorified, is extra beneficiant than to just accept some and reject some.”

The servant ought to seize the blessed instances during which the response to supplication is hoped for and extra assured. These embody the final third of the night time, after the compulsory prayers, on Friday, on the time of breaking the quick, and through prostration in prayer. That is understood from the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him):

“The closest {that a} servant is to his Lord is when he’s in prostration, so enhance your supplications.” [Reported by Muslim]

It was stated to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him):

“Which supplication (Du’a) is most heard?’ He replied: ‘Over the last a part of the night time and after the compulsory prayers.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi, who said: a good hadith]

An individual shouldn’t supplicate in opposition to himself, in opposition to his wealth, in opposition to his youngsters, in opposition to his leaders or in opposition to his nation, because the time of acceptance of supplication could coincide, and what he supplicated for could occur. Then, he would remorse it severely and lament his motion. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) stated:

“Don’t supplicate in opposition to yourselves, your youngsters, or your wealth, as there could also be a time when Allah solutions prayers and He grants you what you requested for.” [Reported by Muslim]

It is suggested to boost the palms throughout supplication (Du’a), whether or not in prayer or exterior of it, because of what has been established from the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in additional than thirty genuine hadiths within the Sunnah, together with:

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as soon as made ablution (wudu) with water after which raised his palms, saying:

“O Allah, forgive Ubaid Abi Amir.”

I noticed the whiteness of his armpits. Then he stated:

“O Allah, on the Day of Resurrection, place him above lots of Your creatures from among the many folks.” [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim]

As well as, the saying of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him):

“Certainly, your Lord is Modest (shy) and Beneficiant. He’s too Modest (shy) to let His servant increase his palms to Him after which let him return them empty (unanswered).” [Reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi]

As for what the 2 Sheikhs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) narrated, that “the Prophet (Peace be upon him) wouldn’t increase his palms in any supplication besides throughout prayers for rain (istisqa), and certainly he would increase them till the whiteness of his armpits was seen,” it may be understood that he didn’t carry out the in depth elevating of palms witnessed by the narrator of the hadith besides throughout prayers for rain. Alternatively, it may very well be that the narrator himself solely witnessed this motion throughout that specific occasion, however others noticed him elevating his palms in supplication. In such instances, the narrations that affirm the motion take priority over those who negate it.

Furthermore, it’s permissible to supplicate for a protracted life, because the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) prayed for Anas Ibn Malik. Anas reported:

“The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) supplicated for me, saying: ‘O Allah, enhance his wealth, his youngsters, and delay his life.” [Al-Muwatta]

Some Islamic students have restricted the advice of supplicating for a protracted life to these whose lengthy life would profit the Ummah. Nevertheless, if their profit is restricted to themselves, then the advice is lessened. As for others, the matter could even attain the extent of disapproval or prohibition if it goes in opposition to these two classes.

It’s well-known that the lifespan of an individual can’t be introduced ahead or delayed, and their lifespan neither will increase nor decreases. Nevertheless, the advantage of supplicating for a protracted life turns into obvious in that Allah, the Most Excessive, could have ordained that somebody’s lifespan be forty years. In the event that they supplicate for themselves or another person supplicates for them for an extended life, they might be granted an extension, maybe till they attain fifty. Supplication is without doubt one of the means among the many numerous non secular causes, and it doesn’t contradict perception in predestination and divine decree.

It’s permissible to supplicate for the removing of epidemics, diseases, insecurity, poverty and calamities, as it might be among the many means to alleviate afflictions and obtain well-being and security. There are quite a few narrations emphasising searching for refuge from madness, leprosy, extreme diseases, reprehensible behaviours, needs, and dangerous issues. Such supplications exhibit humility and submission to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and they don’t contradict perception in predestination and divine decree.

In conclusion, the response to supplication can take numerous kinds:

The requested consequence is granted precisely as requested, the response is healthier than what was requested for, the supplication is saved for the Day of Judgment, the place it serves as a supply of reward for the supplicant or the supplication serves as an expiation for the supplicant’s sins.

All reward is because of Allah, Lord of the worlds. Could the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and upon his household, his Companions and his true followers.

Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of: Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah Mosque; and Late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He may be reached through: gusauimam@gmail.com; or +2348038289761.

This Friday sermon (Jumu’ah Khutbah) was ready for supply immediately Friday, 20 Jumadal Ula, 1446 AH (November 22, 2024).