The Power of Dua
The dua
can change our life, our outlook, and our fate. It is the most potent weapon of
a believer.
Posted:
14 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1423, 27 May 2002
Once
Prophet Muhammad 
passed by
a people who were suffering from some affliction. "Why don't they
make dua (pray ) to Allah
for protection," he said. With all the suffering and disasters Muslims are
facing in various parts of the world, the question can be directed to all of us
today.
It is not
that we have forgotten dua completely; we refer to it
regularly. But, our ideas and practice regarding dua
have become distorted. Often it is reduced to the level of a ritual. Generally
it is considered when all our efforts have failed --- an act of last resort. It
is belittled through actions and sometimes even with words. Is it any wonder
that today mostly a mention of dua is meant to
indicate the hopelessness of a situation.
What a
tragedy, for dua is the most potent weapon of a
believer. It can change fate, while no action of ours ever can. It is the
essence of ibadah or worship. With it we can never
fail; without it we can never succeed. In the proper scheme of things, dua should be the first and the last resort of the
believer, with all his plans and actions coming in between.
Dua is conversation with Allah, out Creator, our Lord and Master, the All
Knowing, the All Powerful. This act in itself is of extraordinary significance.
It is the most uplifting, liberating, empowering, and transforming conversation
a person can ever have. We turn to Him because we know that He alone can lift
our sufferings and solve our problems. We feel relieved after describing our
difficulties to our Creator. We feel empowered after having communicated with
the All Mighty. We sense His mercy all around us after talking to the Most
Merciful. We get a new commitment to follow His path for that is the only path
for success. We feel blessed with each such commitment
In every
difficulty our first action is dua, as is our last.
We ask Allah to show us the way to handle that difficulty; we seek His help in
following the path He shows to us; we seek His aid in making our efforts
successful. When we fall sick, we know that we cannot find the right doctor
without His Will; that the best doctor may not be able to diagnose our
condition without His Command; that the best treatment plan will not succeed
without His Permission. We make dua for all of these.
We make dua before we seek medical help, while we are
receiving it and after it has been delivered. The same is true of all other
difficulties we may encounter.
Dua is the essence of ibadah. A person engaged
in dua affirms his belief in Tawheed
(monotheism) and shuns belief in all false gods. With each dua
his belief in Allah grows. He beseeches Him, affirming his own powerlessness. A
person seriously and sincerely engaged in dua
understands exactly the relationship between himself and the Creator and
affirms it through his actions. That is the essence of worship! Additionally,
such a person can never become arrogant or proud, a logical result of true
worship.
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Dua is conversation with Allah … It is the most uplifting, liberating, empowering, and transforming conversation a person can ever have. |
Dua is our most potent weapon in all struggles of life as well as in
jihad in the battlefield. During the battle of Badr,
the Prophet Muhammad stood up
all night in prayer seeking Allah's help in the battle between unequal armies
that would follow the next day. In the decisive battles against the crusaders,
Sultan Salatuddin Ayyubi
was busy day and night. His days were devoted to Jihad. His nights were spent
making dua, crying, seeking Allah's help. This has
been the practice of all true mujahideen.
We should make
it a point to make dua for all things big and small.
It is the beginning of wisdom to realize that big and small are arbitrary
labels that are totally irrelevant in this context. Nothing is too big for Whom we are asking from; nothing is too small for the one
who is asking. That is why we have been taught to ask Allah when we need
something as small as shoelaces. We should ask as a beggar, as a destitute
person, for that is what we in reality are in relationship to Allah. At the
same time we should ask with great hope and conviction that we shall be granted
our prayers. We should remember the Hadith:
"There is nothing more dear to Allah than a
servant making dua to Him." On the other hand, a
prayer lacking concentration and conviction is no prayer at all.
We should make
dua at all times, not only during times of distress.
The Prophet Muhammad said:
"Whosoever desires that Allah answers his duas
in unfavorable and difficult conditions, he should
make plentiful dua in days of ease and comfort."
Also he said: "The person who does not ask from Allah, Allah becomes angry
with him."
We should ask
for all of our needs: those related to this world as well as those related to
the Hereafter. Those who only concentrate on the former are, in effect,
announcing that they don't care for their life in the permanent abode. They
should blame no body but themselves for the total ruin in that world that
Qur'an assures us awaits them. Those who only concentrate on the later are also
showing lack of balance, for we need Allah's help to lead a good life here as
well.
We should make
dua not only for ourselves but also for our parents,
brothers and sisters, spouses and children, relatives and friends, teachers and
other benefactors, and destitute and struggling Muslims everywhere. We should
pray for them for the good in this world as well as in the Hereafter. The
Prophet said:
"The dua of a Muslim for his brother (in Islam)
in his absence is readily accepted. An angel is appointed to his side. Whenever
he makes a beneficial dua for his brother the
appointed angel says, 'Aameen. And may you also be
blessed with the same.'" [Sahih Muslim]
In the dark
ages that we are living in today, everyday brings fresh news about atrocities
committed against our brothers in