The Virtue of Patience and prayer taken from Tafseer ibn kathir (Suarah Al bakarah)
Bimillahi Rahman Roheem
After Allah commanded that He be appreciated, He ordained patience and prayer. It is a fact that the servant is either enjoying a bounty that he should be thankful for, or suffering a calamity that he should meet with patience. A Hadith states:
«عَجَبًا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ لَا يَقْضِي اللهُ لَهُ قَضَاءً إلَّا كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ: إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ فَشَكَرَ كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ وإنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ فَصَبَرَ كَانَ خَيْرًا لَه»
(Amazing is the believer, for whatever Allah decrees for him, it is better for him! If he is tested with a bounty, he is grateful for it and this is better for him; and if he is afflicted with a hardship, he is patient with it and this is better for him.)
Allah has stated that the best tools to help ease the effects of the afflictions are patience and prayer. Earlier we mentioned Allah's statement:
[وَاسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَوةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلاَّ عَلَى الْخَـشِعِينَ ]
(And seek help in patience and As-Salah (the prayer) and truly, it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi`in [i.e., the true believers in Allah]) (2:45)
There are several types of Sabr ـ patience: one for avoiding the prohibitions and sins, one for acts of worship and obedience. The second type carries more rewards than the first type. There is a third type of patience required in the face of the afflictions and hardships, which is mandatory, like repentance.
`Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said, "Sabr has two parts: patience for the sake of Allah concerning what He is pleased with (i.e., acts of worship and obedience), even if it is hard on the heart and the body, and patience when avoiding what He dislikes, even if it is desired. Those who acquire these qualities will be among the patient persons whom Allah shall greet (when they meet Him in the Hereafter; refer to Surat Al-Ahzab 33:44), Allah willing.''
"O Allah.. Lord of Power (And Rule), Thou givest power to whom Thou pleasest, and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest: Thou enduest with honour whom Thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest: In Thy hand is all good. Verily, over all things Thou hast power.
"Thou causest the night to gain on the day, and thou causest the day to gain on the night; Thou bringest the Living out of the dead, and Thou bringest the dead out of the Living; and Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou pleasest, without measure." (3: 26-27)
May Allah bless us to serve him in all aspects of our lives.
Allahumma infa`ni bima `allamtani wa `allamni ma yanfa`uni! Meaning (OH ALLAH! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me).
Allahu Mustahan
Thursday, December 17, 2009
7 tips for improving your relationship with the Qur'an
Bismillahi Rahman Roheem
Are you one of those people who rarely touches the Qur'an? Or do you read daily, but don't find it is having the impact on you that it should? Whatever the case may be, these are some simple tips that can help you connect with the Qur'an.
1. Before you touch it, check your heart. The key to really benefiting from the Qur'an is to check your heart first, before you even touch Allah's book. Ask yourself, honestly, why you are reading it. Is it to just get some information and to let it drift away from you later? Remember that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was described by his wife as a "walking Qur'an": in other words, he didn't just read and recite the Qur'an, he lived it.
2. Do your Wudu (ablution). Doing your Wudu is good physical and mental preparation to remind you you're not reading just another book. You are about to interact with God, so being clean should be a priority when communicating with Him.
3. Read only 5 minutes everyday. Too often, we think we should read Qur'an for at least one whole hour. If you aren't in the habit of reading regularly, this is too much. Start off with just five minutes daily. If you took care of step one, Insha Allah (God willing), you will notice that those five minutes will become ten, then half an hour, then an hour, and maybe even more!
4. Make sure you understand what you've read. Five minutes of reading the Qur'an in Arabic is good, but you need to understand what you're reading. Make sure you have a good translation of the Qur'an in the language you understand best. Always try to read the translation of what you've read that day.
5. Remember, the Qur'an is more interactive than a CD. In an age of "interactive" CD-Roms and computer programs, a number of people think books are passive and boring. But the Qur'an is not like that. Remember that when you read Qur'an,you are interacting with Allah. He is talking to you, so pay attention.
6. Don't just read, listen too. There are now many audio cassettes and CDs of the Qur'an, a number of them with translations as well. This is great to put on your walkman or your car's CD or stereo as you drive to and from work. Use this in addition to your daily Qur'an reading, not as a replacement for it.
7. Make Dua (supplication). Ask Allah to guide you when you read the Qur'an. Your aim is to sincerely, for the love of Allah, interact with Him by reading, understanding and applying His blessed words. Making Dua to Allah for help and guidance will be your best tool for doing this.
Allahu Mustahan
Are you one of those people who rarely touches the Qur'an? Or do you read daily, but don't find it is having the impact on you that it should? Whatever the case may be, these are some simple tips that can help you connect with the Qur'an.
1. Before you touch it, check your heart. The key to really benefiting from the Qur'an is to check your heart first, before you even touch Allah's book. Ask yourself, honestly, why you are reading it. Is it to just get some information and to let it drift away from you later? Remember that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was described by his wife as a "walking Qur'an": in other words, he didn't just read and recite the Qur'an, he lived it.
2. Do your Wudu (ablution). Doing your Wudu is good physical and mental preparation to remind you you're not reading just another book. You are about to interact with God, so being clean should be a priority when communicating with Him.
3. Read only 5 minutes everyday. Too often, we think we should read Qur'an for at least one whole hour. If you aren't in the habit of reading regularly, this is too much. Start off with just five minutes daily. If you took care of step one, Insha Allah (God willing), you will notice that those five minutes will become ten, then half an hour, then an hour, and maybe even more!
4. Make sure you understand what you've read. Five minutes of reading the Qur'an in Arabic is good, but you need to understand what you're reading. Make sure you have a good translation of the Qur'an in the language you understand best. Always try to read the translation of what you've read that day.
5. Remember, the Qur'an is more interactive than a CD. In an age of "interactive" CD-Roms and computer programs, a number of people think books are passive and boring. But the Qur'an is not like that. Remember that when you read Qur'an,you are interacting with Allah. He is talking to you, so pay attention.
6. Don't just read, listen too. There are now many audio cassettes and CDs of the Qur'an, a number of them with translations as well. This is great to put on your walkman or your car's CD or stereo as you drive to and from work. Use this in addition to your daily Qur'an reading, not as a replacement for it.
7. Make Dua (supplication). Ask Allah to guide you when you read the Qur'an. Your aim is to sincerely, for the love of Allah, interact with Him by reading, understanding and applying His blessed words. Making Dua to Allah for help and guidance will be your best tool for doing this.
Allahu Mustahan
Quranic Way of Life
Bismillahi Rahman Roheem,
Some of the lessons learnt from Quran that apply to our general
living!
1. Respect and honour all human beings irrespective of their religion,
colour, race, sex, language, status, property, birth, profession/job
and so on [Q17/70]
2. Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception
[Q33/70]
3. Choose best words to speak and say them in the best possible way
[Q17/53,Q 2/83]
4. Do not shout. Speak politely keeping your voice low. [Q31/19]
5. Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and
ostentatious [Q22/30]
6. Do not confound truth with falsehood [Q2/42]
7. Say with your mouth what is in your heart [Q3/167]
8. Speak in a civilized manner in a language that is recognised by the
society and is commonly used [Q4/5]
9. When you voice an opinion, be just, even if it is against a
relative [Q6/152]
10. Do not be a bragging boaster [Q31/18]
11. Do not talk, listen or do anything vain [Q23/3, Q28/55]
12. Do not participate in any paltry. If you pass near a futile play,
then pass by with dignity [Q25/72]
13. Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious
or overt [Q6/151].
14. If, unintentionally, any misconduct occurs by you, then correct
yourself expeditiously [Q3/134].
15. Do not be contemptuous or arrogant with people [Q31/18]
16. Do not walk haughtily or with conceit [Q17/37, Q31/18]
17. Be moderate in thy pace [Q31/19]
18. Walk with humility and sedateness [Q25/63]
19. Keep your gazes lowered devoid of any lecherous leers and
salacious stares [Q24/30-31, Q40/19].
20. If you do not have complete knowledge about anything, better keep
your mouth shut. You might think that speaking about something without
full knowledge is a trivial matter. But it might have grave
consequences [Q24/15-16]
21. When you hear something malicious about someone, keep a favourable view about him/her until you attain full knowledge about the matter.Consider others innocent until they are proven guilty with solid and truthful evidence [Q24/12-13]
22. Ascertain the truth of any news, lest you smite someone in
ignorance and afterwards repent of what you did [Q49/6]
23. Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct
knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you
must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be
held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning
[Q17/36].
24. Never think that you have reached the final stage of knowledge and
nobody knows more than yourself. Remember! Above everyone endowed withknowledge is another endowed with more knowledge [12/76]. Even the Prophet [p.b.u.h] was asked to keep praying, "O My sustainer! Advance me in knowledge." [Q20:114]
25. The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of
one family, brothers and sisters unto one another [Q49/10].
26. Do not make mockery of others or ridicule others [Q49/11]
27. Do not defame others [Q49/11]
28. Do not insult others by nicknames [Q49/11]
29. Avoid suspicion and guesswork. Suspicion and guesswork might
deplete your communal energy [Q49/12]
30. Spy not upon one another [Q49/12]
31. Do not backbite one another [Q49/12]
32. When you meet each other, offer good wishes and blessings for
safety. One who conveys to you a message of safety and security and
also when a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a
greeting still more courteous or (at least) of equal courtesy [Q4/86]
33. When you enter your own home or the home of somebody else,
compliment the inmates [Q24/61]
34. Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought
permission; and then greet the inmates and wish them a life of
blessing, purity and pleasure [Q24/27]
35. Treat kindly
" Your parents
" Relatives
" The orphans
" And those who have been left alone in the society [Q4/36]
36. Take care of
" The needy,
" The disabled
" Those whose hard earned income is insufficient to meet their needs
" And those whose businesses have stalled
" And those who have lost their jobs. [Q4/36]
37. Treat kindly
" Your related neighbours, and unrelated neighbours
" Companions by your side in public gatherings, or public
transportation. [Q4/36]
38. Be generous to the needy wayfarer, the homeless son of the street,
and the one who reaches you in a destitute condition [Q4/36]
39. Be nice to people who work under your care. [Q4/36]
40. Do not follow up what you have given to others to afflict them
with reminders of your generosity [Q2/262].
41. Do not expect a return for your good behaviour, not even thanks
[Q76/9]
42. Cooperate with one another in good deeds and do not cooperate with
others in evil and bad matters [Q5/2]
43. Do no try to impress people on account of self-proclaimed virtues
[Q53/32]
44. You should enjoin right conduct on others but mend your own ways
first. Actions speak louder than words. You must first practice good
deeds yourself, then preach [Q2/44]
45. Correct yourself and your families first [before trying to correct
others] [Q66/6]
46. Pardon gracefully if anyone among you who commits a bad deed out
of ignorance, and then repents and amends [Q6/54, Q3/134]
47. Divert and sublimate your anger and potentially virulent emotions
to creative energy, and become a source of tranquillity and comfort to
people [Q3/134]
48. Call people to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful
exhortation. Reason with them most decently [Q16/125]
49. Leave to themselves those who do not give any importance to the
Divine code and have adopted and consider it as mere play and
amusement [Q6/70]
50. Sit not in the company of those who ridicule Divine Law unless
they engage in some other conversation [Q4/140]
51. Do not be jealous of those who are blessed [Q4/54]
52. In your collective life, make rooms for others [Q58/11]
53. When invited to dine, Go at the appointed time. Do not arrive too
early to wait for the preparation of meal or linger after eating to
engage in bootless babble. Such things may cause inconvenience to the
host [Q33/53]
54. Eat and drink [what is lawful] in moderation [Q7/31].
55. Do not squander your wealth senselessly [Q17/26]
56. Fulfill your promises and commitments [Q17/34]
57. Keep yourself clean, pure [Q9/108,Q4/43, Q5/6].
58. Dress-up in agreeable attire and adorn yourself with exquisite
character from inside out [Q7/26]
59. Seek your provision only by fair endeavour [Q29/17, Q2/188]
60. Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor
bribe the officials or the judges to deprive others of their
possessions [Q2/188]
61.Allah increase in guidance for those who seek His Guidance[Q19/76]
Allahu Mustahan
Some of the lessons learnt from Quran that apply to our general
living!
1. Respect and honour all human beings irrespective of their religion,
colour, race, sex, language, status, property, birth, profession/job
and so on [Q17/70]
2. Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception
[Q33/70]
3. Choose best words to speak and say them in the best possible way
[Q17/53,Q 2/83]
4. Do not shout. Speak politely keeping your voice low. [Q31/19]
5. Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and
ostentatious [Q22/30]
6. Do not confound truth with falsehood [Q2/42]
7. Say with your mouth what is in your heart [Q3/167]
8. Speak in a civilized manner in a language that is recognised by the
society and is commonly used [Q4/5]
9. When you voice an opinion, be just, even if it is against a
relative [Q6/152]
10. Do not be a bragging boaster [Q31/18]
11. Do not talk, listen or do anything vain [Q23/3, Q28/55]
12. Do not participate in any paltry. If you pass near a futile play,
then pass by with dignity [Q25/72]
13. Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious
or overt [Q6/151].
14. If, unintentionally, any misconduct occurs by you, then correct
yourself expeditiously [Q3/134].
15. Do not be contemptuous or arrogant with people [Q31/18]
16. Do not walk haughtily or with conceit [Q17/37, Q31/18]
17. Be moderate in thy pace [Q31/19]
18. Walk with humility and sedateness [Q25/63]
19. Keep your gazes lowered devoid of any lecherous leers and
salacious stares [Q24/30-31, Q40/19].
20. If you do not have complete knowledge about anything, better keep
your mouth shut. You might think that speaking about something without
full knowledge is a trivial matter. But it might have grave
consequences [Q24/15-16]
21. When you hear something malicious about someone, keep a favourable view about him/her until you attain full knowledge about the matter.Consider others innocent until they are proven guilty with solid and truthful evidence [Q24/12-13]
22. Ascertain the truth of any news, lest you smite someone in
ignorance and afterwards repent of what you did [Q49/6]
23. Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct
knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you
must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be
held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning
[Q17/36].
24. Never think that you have reached the final stage of knowledge and
nobody knows more than yourself. Remember! Above everyone endowed withknowledge is another endowed with more knowledge [12/76]. Even the Prophet [p.b.u.h] was asked to keep praying, "O My sustainer! Advance me in knowledge." [Q20:114]
25. The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of
one family, brothers and sisters unto one another [Q49/10].
26. Do not make mockery of others or ridicule others [Q49/11]
27. Do not defame others [Q49/11]
28. Do not insult others by nicknames [Q49/11]
29. Avoid suspicion and guesswork. Suspicion and guesswork might
deplete your communal energy [Q49/12]
30. Spy not upon one another [Q49/12]
31. Do not backbite one another [Q49/12]
32. When you meet each other, offer good wishes and blessings for
safety. One who conveys to you a message of safety and security and
also when a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a
greeting still more courteous or (at least) of equal courtesy [Q4/86]
33. When you enter your own home or the home of somebody else,
compliment the inmates [Q24/61]
34. Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought
permission; and then greet the inmates and wish them a life of
blessing, purity and pleasure [Q24/27]
35. Treat kindly
" Your parents
" Relatives
" The orphans
" And those who have been left alone in the society [Q4/36]
36. Take care of
" The needy,
" The disabled
" Those whose hard earned income is insufficient to meet their needs
" And those whose businesses have stalled
" And those who have lost their jobs. [Q4/36]
37. Treat kindly
" Your related neighbours, and unrelated neighbours
" Companions by your side in public gatherings, or public
transportation. [Q4/36]
38. Be generous to the needy wayfarer, the homeless son of the street,
and the one who reaches you in a destitute condition [Q4/36]
39. Be nice to people who work under your care. [Q4/36]
40. Do not follow up what you have given to others to afflict them
with reminders of your generosity [Q2/262].
41. Do not expect a return for your good behaviour, not even thanks
[Q76/9]
42. Cooperate with one another in good deeds and do not cooperate with
others in evil and bad matters [Q5/2]
43. Do no try to impress people on account of self-proclaimed virtues
[Q53/32]
44. You should enjoin right conduct on others but mend your own ways
first. Actions speak louder than words. You must first practice good
deeds yourself, then preach [Q2/44]
45. Correct yourself and your families first [before trying to correct
others] [Q66/6]
46. Pardon gracefully if anyone among you who commits a bad deed out
of ignorance, and then repents and amends [Q6/54, Q3/134]
47. Divert and sublimate your anger and potentially virulent emotions
to creative energy, and become a source of tranquillity and comfort to
people [Q3/134]
48. Call people to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful
exhortation. Reason with them most decently [Q16/125]
49. Leave to themselves those who do not give any importance to the
Divine code and have adopted and consider it as mere play and
amusement [Q6/70]
50. Sit not in the company of those who ridicule Divine Law unless
they engage in some other conversation [Q4/140]
51. Do not be jealous of those who are blessed [Q4/54]
52. In your collective life, make rooms for others [Q58/11]
53. When invited to dine, Go at the appointed time. Do not arrive too
early to wait for the preparation of meal or linger after eating to
engage in bootless babble. Such things may cause inconvenience to the
host [Q33/53]
54. Eat and drink [what is lawful] in moderation [Q7/31].
55. Do not squander your wealth senselessly [Q17/26]
56. Fulfill your promises and commitments [Q17/34]
57. Keep yourself clean, pure [Q9/108,Q4/43, Q5/6].
58. Dress-up in agreeable attire and adorn yourself with exquisite
character from inside out [Q7/26]
59. Seek your provision only by fair endeavour [Q29/17, Q2/188]
60. Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor
bribe the officials or the judges to deprive others of their
possessions [Q2/188]
61.Allah increase in guidance for those who seek His Guidance[Q19/76]
Allahu Mustahan
Best times to make Du'a ....part 2
13. The Traveler
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih] During travel supplication is heard by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) if the trip is for a good reason, but if the trip is for a bad intention or to perform illegal things (making sins) this will not apply to it.
14. The Parent's Supplication For Their Child
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
15. Dua After Praising Allah And Giving Salat On The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasalam) in the tashahhud at the end of salat.
Narrated Faddalah ibn Ubayd (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'When anyone of you makes du'a, let him start by glorifying his Lord and praising Him, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), then let him pray for whatever he wants'[abu Dawud #1481, at-Tirmidhi #3477]In another hadith; Baqiy ibn Mukhallid (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Every du'a is not responded to until one sends blessings upon the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)'[al-Bayhaqi]In another hadith; Umar (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Du'a is detained between the heavens and the earth and no part of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)'[at-Tirmidhi #486] After a person has finished his tashahhud and before saying the 'salam', supplication at this time is one likely to be responded to.Ibn Mas'ud narrates: I was once praying, and the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), Abu Bakr and Umar (were all present). When I sat down (in the final tashahhud), I praised Allah, then sent salams on the Prophet, then started praying for myself. At this, the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Ask, and you shall be given it! Ask, and you shall be given it!'[at-Tirmidhi #593 - hasan, Mishkat al-Misbah #931]
16. The dua of a Muslim for his absent brother or sister Muslim stemming from the heart.
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother in his absence where the angels do not say, 'the same be for you''[Muslim]
17. Dua on the Day of Arafat
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'The best supplication is the supplication on the day of Arafat'. [at-Tirmidhi and Malik] The day of Arafat is the essence and pinnacle of Hajj. On this great and momentous day, millions of worshippers gather together on one plain, from every corner of the world, with only one purpose in mind - to respone to the call of their Creator. During this auspicious day, Allah does not refuse the requests of His worshippers.
18. Dua during the month of Ramadan
Ramadan is month full of many blessings, thus the du'a of Ramadan is a blessed one. This can be inferred from the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) saying:'When Ramadan comes, the Doors of Mercy (another narration says Paradise) are opened, and the doors of Hell are closed, and the Sahitans are locked up'Thus, it is clear that du'a during Ramadan has a greater chance of being accepted, as the Gates of Paradise and Mercy are opened.[Sahih al-Bukhari #1899, Muslim #1079 and others]
19. Dua when the Armies meet
When the Muslim is facing the enemy in battle, at this critical period, the du'a of a worshipper is accepted.Sahl ibn Sa'd (radiAllahu anhu) narrtaed the the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Two duas are never rejected, or rarely rejected: the du'a during the call for prayer, and the du'a during the clamity when the two armies attack each other'[abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah, al-Hakim]In another narration: 'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469]
20. When Muslims gather for the purpose of invoking and remembering Allah (Dhikrullah)
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:If a group of people sit together remembering Allah, the angels will circle them, mercy will shroud them, peace will descend onto them and Allah will remember them among those with Him. [Muslim]
21. First Ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than during these ten days'[Sahih al-Bukhai #969 and others]
22. Dua when the heart reaches out to Allah and is ready to be totally sincere
23. At Midnight
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) said, the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was questioned; 'Which du'a is heard (by Allah)?' He answered,'At midnight and at the end of every obligatory prayer.'[at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
25. Dua of people after the death of a person
In a long hadith, Umm Salamah (radiAllahu anha) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, when Abu Salamah had just passed away, and had closed his eyes,'Do not ask for yourselves anything but good, for the angels will say 'Ameen' to all that you ask for. O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah, and raise his ranks among those who are guided.'[Muslim, abu Dawud, Ahmad]
26. Dua of the one fasting until he breaks his fast
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
27. Dua of the one fasting at the time of breaking fast
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: when a fasting person breaks fast (in another narration, the fasting person until he breaks his fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
29. Dua of a just Ruler
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
Surah Isra 17 verse 80 Say: "O my Lord! let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)."
Ameen,Thumameen.
Transliteration :Wa qur rabbi adkhilni mudkhala sidqiw wa akhrijni mukhraja sidqiw wa-j'al li mil ladunka sulta_nan nasira_(n).
Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 2482 Narrated by AbuHurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him)
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say, " O Allah, grant me benefit in what Thou hast taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise be to Allah in all circumstances. I seek refuge in Allah from the state of those who go to Hell."
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib.
Transliteration:an Abi Hurairah (radiya Allahu anhu) qaal:
qaala Rasul Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam): "Allahumma infa'ni bima 'allamtani, wa allimni maa yanfa'oni wa zidni 'ilman, alhamdulillahi alaa kolli haal, wa a'odtho billahi min haali ahlil naar."
“Every soul shall taste death and you will merely be repaid your earnings on resurrection Day"
There are certain times dua (supplication) is more likely to be accepted by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) as mentioned by Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam). These times are as follows:
1. The Last Third Of The Night
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)) descends to the lowermost heaven and says; "Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?."' [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi]Amr ibn Absah narrated that the Prophet said: 'The closest any worshipper can be to His Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.'[at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, al-Hakim - Sahih]
2. Late At Night
When people are sleeping and busy with worldly pleasures Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) gives the believers an opportunity, or an answer hour if they can fight sleep and invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for whatever they need.
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'There is at night an hour, no Muslim happens to be asking Allah any matter of this world or the Hereafter, except that he will be given it, and this (occurs) every night.'[Muslim #757]
3. Between Adhan and Iqamah
Anas (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected.' [Ahmad, abu Dawud #521, at-Tirmidhi #212, Sahih al-Jami #3408, an-Nasai and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (sound)]
4. An Hour On Friday
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu): Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) talked about Friday and said: 'There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), then Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will definitely meet his demand.' And he (the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands.[Sahih al-Bukhari]Some have said that this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer's leader) enters the mosque on Friday's prayer until the prayer is over (ie between the two khutbahs), whereas others have said that it is the last hour of the day (ie after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer). (Note: when we say an hour here we do not mean the hour everyone knows (60 minutes) but an unspecified period of time because the time counters which we use today came after the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) had died.
5. While Drinking Zamzam Water
Jaber (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Zamzam water is for what it is drunk for.' [Ahmad 3: 357 and Ibn Majah #3062] This means that when you drink Zamzam water you may ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for anything you like to gain or benefit from this water such as healing from illness.... etc.
6. While Prostrating
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), said: 'The nearest a slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) much in it. [Muslim, abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and others, Sahih al-Jami #1175]
When a Muslim is in his Salat (prayer) he is facing Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and when he prostrates he is the nearest he can be to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) so it is best to invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) at this time.It is said that while in prostration, one should not ask for worldy needs (ie a nice car, a new job, etc), but for the Hereafter.
7. When Waking Up At Night
Narrated Ubada Bin As-Samit that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Whomever wakes up at night and says La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shrika lahu lahulmulku, wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shai'in qadir. Alhamdu lillahi, wa subhanallahi wa la ilaha illallahu, wallah akbir, wa la hawla wala quwata illa billah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) He is the only one who has no partners. His is the kingdom and all the praises are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) All the glories are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is the most Great and there is neither might nor power except with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and then says, Allahumma ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me) or invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), he will be responded to and if he makes ablution and performs Salat (prayer), his Salat (prayer) will be accepted. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
8. At The End Of The Obligatory Salat
Narrated Abu Omamah (radiAllahu anhu): that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was asked, O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) [at-Tirmidhi] This time is after saying 'At-tahyat' , and before making Tasleem (finishing prayer)
9. The Night Of 'Qadr' (Decree)
This night is the greatest night of the year. This is the night which the almighty Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) said about it, "The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months." [Surah al-Qadr, 97: 3]The Night of Decree is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. The angels descend down to the earth, and the earth is overwhelmed with peace and serenity until the break of dawn and when he doors of Paradise are opened, the worshipper is encouraged to turn to Allah to ask for his needs for this world and the Hereafter.
10. During The Rain
Narrated Sahel Ibn Sa'ad (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Two will not be rejected, Supplication when the Adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of the rain'. [Al-Hakim 2: 114, and Abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah] 'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469] The time of the rain is a time of mercy from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) so, one should take advantage of this time when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is having mercy on His slaves.
11. At The Adhan
'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469] In another hadith; 'When the prayer is called, the doors of the skies are opened, and the du'a is answered'[al-Tayalisi in his Musnad #2106, al-Sahihah #1413]
12. The One Who Is Suffering Injustice And Opression
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to Mua'ad Ibn Jabal (radiAllahu anhu), 'Beware of the supplication of the unjustly treated, because there is no shelter or veil between it (the supplication of the one who is suffering injustice) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)' [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan] In another hadith; The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared:'Three du'as are surely answered: The du'a of the oppressed, the du'a of the traveler, and the du'a of the father/mother (upon their child)'The One who is suffering injustice is heard by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) when he invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) to retain his rights from the unjust one or oppressor. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has sworn to help the one who is suffering from injustice sooner or later as the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said.
13. The Traveler
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih] During travel supplication is heard by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) if the trip is for a good reason, but if the trip is for a bad intention or to perform illegal things (making sins) this will not apply to it.
14. The Parent's Supplication For Their Child
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
15. Dua After Praising Allah And Giving Salat On The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasalam) in the tashahhud at the end of salat.
Narrated Faddalah ibn Ubayd (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'When anyone of you makes du'a, let him start by glorifying his Lord and praising Him, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), then let him pray for whatever he wants'[abu Dawud #1481, at-Tirmidhi #3477]In another hadith; Baqiy ibn Mukhallid (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Every du'a is not responded to until one sends blessings upon the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)'[al-Bayhaqi]In another hadith; Umar (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Du'a is detained between the heavens and the earth and no part of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)'[at-Tirmidhi #486] After a person has finished his tashahhud and before saying the 'salam', supplication at this time is one likely to be responded to.Ibn Mas'ud narrates: I was once praying, and the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), Abu Bakr and Umar (were all present). When I sat down (in the final tashahhud), I praised Allah, then sent salams on the Prophet, then started praying for myself. At this, the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Ask, and you shall be given it! Ask, and you shall be given it!'[at-Tirmidhi #593 - hasan, Mishkat al-Misbah #931]
16. The dua of a Muslim for his absent brother or sister Muslim stemming from the heart.
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother in his absence where the angels do not say, 'the same be for you''[Muslim]
17. Dua on the Day of Arafat
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'The best supplication is the supplication on the day of Arafat'. [at-Tirmidhi and Malik] The day of Arafat is the essence and pinnacle of Hajj. On this great and momentous day, millions of worshippers gather together on one plain, from every corner of the world, with only one purpose in mind - to respone to the call of their Creator. During this auspicious day, Allah does not refuse the requests of His worshippers.
18. Dua during the month of Ramadan
Ramadan is month full of many blessings, thus the du'a of Ramadan is a blessed one. This can be inferred from the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) saying:'When Ramadan comes, the Doors of Mercy (another narration says Paradise) are opened, and the doors of Hell are closed, and the Sahitans are locked up'Thus, it is clear that du'a during Ramadan has a greater chance of being accepted, as the Gates of Paradise and Mercy are opened.[Sahih al-Bukhari #1899, Muslim #1079 and others]
19. Dua when the Armies meet
When the Muslim is facing the enemy in battle, at this critical period, the du'a of a worshipper is accepted.Sahl ibn Sa'd (radiAllahu anhu) narrtaed the the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Two duas are never rejected, or rarely rejected: the du'a during the call for prayer, and the du'a during the clamity when the two armies attack each other'[abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah, al-Hakim]In another narration: 'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469]
20. When Muslims gather for the purpose of invoking and remembering Allah (Dhikrullah)
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:If a group of people sit together remembering Allah, the angels will circle them, mercy will shroud them, peace will descend onto them and Allah will remember them among those with Him. [Muslim]
21. First Ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than during these ten days'[Sahih al-Bukhai #969 and others]
22. Dua when the heart reaches out to Allah and is ready to be totally sincere
23. At Midnight
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) said, the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was questioned; 'Which du'a is heard (by Allah)?' He answered,'At midnight and at the end of every obligatory prayer.'[at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
25. Dua of people after the death of a person
In a long hadith, Umm Salamah (radiAllahu anha) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, when Abu Salamah had just passed away, and had closed his eyes,'Do not ask for yourselves anything but good, for the angels will say 'Ameen' to all that you ask for. O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah, and raise his ranks among those who are guided.'[Muslim, abu Dawud, Ahmad]
26. Dua of the one fasting until he breaks his fast
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
27. Dua of the one fasting at the time of breaking fast
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: when a fasting person breaks fast (in another narration, the fasting person until he breaks his fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
29. Dua of a just Ruler
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
Surah Isra 17 verse 80 Say: "O my Lord! let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)."
Ameen,Thumameen.
Transliteration :Wa qur rabbi adkhilni mudkhala sidqiw wa akhrijni mukhraja sidqiw wa-j'al li mil ladunka sulta_nan nasira_(n).
Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 2482 Narrated by AbuHurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him)
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say, " O Allah, grant me benefit in what Thou hast taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise be to Allah in all circumstances. I seek refuge in Allah from the state of those who go to Hell."
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib.
Transliteration:an Abi Hurairah (radiya Allahu anhu) qaal:
qaala Rasul Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam): "Allahumma infa'ni bima 'allamtani, wa allimni maa yanfa'oni wa zidni 'ilman, alhamdulillahi alaa kolli haal, wa a'odtho billahi min haali ahlil naar."
“Every soul shall taste death and you will merely be repaid your earnings on resurrection Day"
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih] During travel supplication is heard by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) if the trip is for a good reason, but if the trip is for a bad intention or to perform illegal things (making sins) this will not apply to it.
14. The Parent's Supplication For Their Child
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
15. Dua After Praising Allah And Giving Salat On The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasalam) in the tashahhud at the end of salat.
Narrated Faddalah ibn Ubayd (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'When anyone of you makes du'a, let him start by glorifying his Lord and praising Him, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), then let him pray for whatever he wants'[abu Dawud #1481, at-Tirmidhi #3477]In another hadith; Baqiy ibn Mukhallid (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Every du'a is not responded to until one sends blessings upon the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)'[al-Bayhaqi]In another hadith; Umar (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Du'a is detained between the heavens and the earth and no part of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)'[at-Tirmidhi #486] After a person has finished his tashahhud and before saying the 'salam', supplication at this time is one likely to be responded to.Ibn Mas'ud narrates: I was once praying, and the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), Abu Bakr and Umar (were all present). When I sat down (in the final tashahhud), I praised Allah, then sent salams on the Prophet, then started praying for myself. At this, the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Ask, and you shall be given it! Ask, and you shall be given it!'[at-Tirmidhi #593 - hasan, Mishkat al-Misbah #931]
16. The dua of a Muslim for his absent brother or sister Muslim stemming from the heart.
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother in his absence where the angels do not say, 'the same be for you''[Muslim]
17. Dua on the Day of Arafat
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'The best supplication is the supplication on the day of Arafat'. [at-Tirmidhi and Malik] The day of Arafat is the essence and pinnacle of Hajj. On this great and momentous day, millions of worshippers gather together on one plain, from every corner of the world, with only one purpose in mind - to respone to the call of their Creator. During this auspicious day, Allah does not refuse the requests of His worshippers.
18. Dua during the month of Ramadan
Ramadan is month full of many blessings, thus the du'a of Ramadan is a blessed one. This can be inferred from the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) saying:'When Ramadan comes, the Doors of Mercy (another narration says Paradise) are opened, and the doors of Hell are closed, and the Sahitans are locked up'Thus, it is clear that du'a during Ramadan has a greater chance of being accepted, as the Gates of Paradise and Mercy are opened.[Sahih al-Bukhari #1899, Muslim #1079 and others]
19. Dua when the Armies meet
When the Muslim is facing the enemy in battle, at this critical period, the du'a of a worshipper is accepted.Sahl ibn Sa'd (radiAllahu anhu) narrtaed the the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Two duas are never rejected, or rarely rejected: the du'a during the call for prayer, and the du'a during the clamity when the two armies attack each other'[abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah, al-Hakim]In another narration: 'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469]
20. When Muslims gather for the purpose of invoking and remembering Allah (Dhikrullah)
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:If a group of people sit together remembering Allah, the angels will circle them, mercy will shroud them, peace will descend onto them and Allah will remember them among those with Him. [Muslim]
21. First Ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than during these ten days'[Sahih al-Bukhai #969 and others]
22. Dua when the heart reaches out to Allah and is ready to be totally sincere
23. At Midnight
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) said, the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was questioned; 'Which du'a is heard (by Allah)?' He answered,'At midnight and at the end of every obligatory prayer.'[at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
25. Dua of people after the death of a person
In a long hadith, Umm Salamah (radiAllahu anha) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, when Abu Salamah had just passed away, and had closed his eyes,'Do not ask for yourselves anything but good, for the angels will say 'Ameen' to all that you ask for. O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah, and raise his ranks among those who are guided.'[Muslim, abu Dawud, Ahmad]
26. Dua of the one fasting until he breaks his fast
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
27. Dua of the one fasting at the time of breaking fast
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: when a fasting person breaks fast (in another narration, the fasting person until he breaks his fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
29. Dua of a just Ruler
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
Surah Isra 17 verse 80 Say: "O my Lord! let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)."
Ameen,Thumameen.
Transliteration :Wa qur rabbi adkhilni mudkhala sidqiw wa akhrijni mukhraja sidqiw wa-j'al li mil ladunka sulta_nan nasira_(n).
Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 2482 Narrated by AbuHurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him)
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say, " O Allah, grant me benefit in what Thou hast taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise be to Allah in all circumstances. I seek refuge in Allah from the state of those who go to Hell."
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib.
Transliteration:an Abi Hurairah (radiya Allahu anhu) qaal:
qaala Rasul Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam): "Allahumma infa'ni bima 'allamtani, wa allimni maa yanfa'oni wa zidni 'ilman, alhamdulillahi alaa kolli haal, wa a'odtho billahi min haali ahlil naar."
“Every soul shall taste death and you will merely be repaid your earnings on resurrection Day"
There are certain times dua (supplication) is more likely to be accepted by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) as mentioned by Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam). These times are as follows:
1. The Last Third Of The Night
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)) descends to the lowermost heaven and says; "Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?."' [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi]Amr ibn Absah narrated that the Prophet said: 'The closest any worshipper can be to His Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.'[at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, al-Hakim - Sahih]
2. Late At Night
When people are sleeping and busy with worldly pleasures Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) gives the believers an opportunity, or an answer hour if they can fight sleep and invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for whatever they need.
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'There is at night an hour, no Muslim happens to be asking Allah any matter of this world or the Hereafter, except that he will be given it, and this (occurs) every night.'[Muslim #757]
3. Between Adhan and Iqamah
Anas (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected.' [Ahmad, abu Dawud #521, at-Tirmidhi #212, Sahih al-Jami #3408, an-Nasai and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (sound)]
4. An Hour On Friday
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu): Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) talked about Friday and said: 'There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), then Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will definitely meet his demand.' And he (the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands.[Sahih al-Bukhari]Some have said that this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer's leader) enters the mosque on Friday's prayer until the prayer is over (ie between the two khutbahs), whereas others have said that it is the last hour of the day (ie after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer). (Note: when we say an hour here we do not mean the hour everyone knows (60 minutes) but an unspecified period of time because the time counters which we use today came after the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) had died.
5. While Drinking Zamzam Water
Jaber (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Zamzam water is for what it is drunk for.' [Ahmad 3: 357 and Ibn Majah #3062] This means that when you drink Zamzam water you may ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for anything you like to gain or benefit from this water such as healing from illness.... etc.
6. While Prostrating
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), said: 'The nearest a slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) much in it. [Muslim, abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and others, Sahih al-Jami #1175]
When a Muslim is in his Salat (prayer) he is facing Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and when he prostrates he is the nearest he can be to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) so it is best to invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) at this time.It is said that while in prostration, one should not ask for worldy needs (ie a nice car, a new job, etc), but for the Hereafter.
7. When Waking Up At Night
Narrated Ubada Bin As-Samit that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Whomever wakes up at night and says La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shrika lahu lahulmulku, wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shai'in qadir. Alhamdu lillahi, wa subhanallahi wa la ilaha illallahu, wallah akbir, wa la hawla wala quwata illa billah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) He is the only one who has no partners. His is the kingdom and all the praises are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) All the glories are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is the most Great and there is neither might nor power except with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and then says, Allahumma ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me) or invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), he will be responded to and if he makes ablution and performs Salat (prayer), his Salat (prayer) will be accepted. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
8. At The End Of The Obligatory Salat
Narrated Abu Omamah (radiAllahu anhu): that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was asked, O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) [at-Tirmidhi] This time is after saying 'At-tahyat' , and before making Tasleem (finishing prayer)
9. The Night Of 'Qadr' (Decree)
This night is the greatest night of the year. This is the night which the almighty Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) said about it, "The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months." [Surah al-Qadr, 97: 3]The Night of Decree is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. The angels descend down to the earth, and the earth is overwhelmed with peace and serenity until the break of dawn and when he doors of Paradise are opened, the worshipper is encouraged to turn to Allah to ask for his needs for this world and the Hereafter.
10. During The Rain
Narrated Sahel Ibn Sa'ad (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Two will not be rejected, Supplication when the Adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of the rain'. [Al-Hakim 2: 114, and Abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah] 'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469] The time of the rain is a time of mercy from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) so, one should take advantage of this time when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is having mercy on His slaves.
11. At The Adhan
'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469] In another hadith; 'When the prayer is called, the doors of the skies are opened, and the du'a is answered'[al-Tayalisi in his Musnad #2106, al-Sahihah #1413]
12. The One Who Is Suffering Injustice And Opression
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to Mua'ad Ibn Jabal (radiAllahu anhu), 'Beware of the supplication of the unjustly treated, because there is no shelter or veil between it (the supplication of the one who is suffering injustice) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)' [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan] In another hadith; The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared:'Three du'as are surely answered: The du'a of the oppressed, the du'a of the traveler, and the du'a of the father/mother (upon their child)'The One who is suffering injustice is heard by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) when he invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) to retain his rights from the unjust one or oppressor. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has sworn to help the one who is suffering from injustice sooner or later as the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said.
13. The Traveler
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih] During travel supplication is heard by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) if the trip is for a good reason, but if the trip is for a bad intention or to perform illegal things (making sins) this will not apply to it.
14. The Parent's Supplication For Their Child
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
15. Dua After Praising Allah And Giving Salat On The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasalam) in the tashahhud at the end of salat.
Narrated Faddalah ibn Ubayd (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'When anyone of you makes du'a, let him start by glorifying his Lord and praising Him, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), then let him pray for whatever he wants'[abu Dawud #1481, at-Tirmidhi #3477]In another hadith; Baqiy ibn Mukhallid (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Every du'a is not responded to until one sends blessings upon the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)'[al-Bayhaqi]In another hadith; Umar (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Du'a is detained between the heavens and the earth and no part of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)'[at-Tirmidhi #486] After a person has finished his tashahhud and before saying the 'salam', supplication at this time is one likely to be responded to.Ibn Mas'ud narrates: I was once praying, and the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), Abu Bakr and Umar (were all present). When I sat down (in the final tashahhud), I praised Allah, then sent salams on the Prophet, then started praying for myself. At this, the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Ask, and you shall be given it! Ask, and you shall be given it!'[at-Tirmidhi #593 - hasan, Mishkat al-Misbah #931]
16. The dua of a Muslim for his absent brother or sister Muslim stemming from the heart.
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother in his absence where the angels do not say, 'the same be for you''[Muslim]
17. Dua on the Day of Arafat
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'The best supplication is the supplication on the day of Arafat'. [at-Tirmidhi and Malik] The day of Arafat is the essence and pinnacle of Hajj. On this great and momentous day, millions of worshippers gather together on one plain, from every corner of the world, with only one purpose in mind - to respone to the call of their Creator. During this auspicious day, Allah does not refuse the requests of His worshippers.
18. Dua during the month of Ramadan
Ramadan is month full of many blessings, thus the du'a of Ramadan is a blessed one. This can be inferred from the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) saying:'When Ramadan comes, the Doors of Mercy (another narration says Paradise) are opened, and the doors of Hell are closed, and the Sahitans are locked up'Thus, it is clear that du'a during Ramadan has a greater chance of being accepted, as the Gates of Paradise and Mercy are opened.[Sahih al-Bukhari #1899, Muslim #1079 and others]
19. Dua when the Armies meet
When the Muslim is facing the enemy in battle, at this critical period, the du'a of a worshipper is accepted.Sahl ibn Sa'd (radiAllahu anhu) narrtaed the the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'Two duas are never rejected, or rarely rejected: the du'a during the call for prayer, and the du'a during the clamity when the two armies attack each other'[abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah, al-Hakim]In another narration: 'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469]
20. When Muslims gather for the purpose of invoking and remembering Allah (Dhikrullah)
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:If a group of people sit together remembering Allah, the angels will circle them, mercy will shroud them, peace will descend onto them and Allah will remember them among those with Him. [Muslim]
21. First Ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:'There are no days during which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than during these ten days'[Sahih al-Bukhai #969 and others]
22. Dua when the heart reaches out to Allah and is ready to be totally sincere
23. At Midnight
Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) said, the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was questioned; 'Which du'a is heard (by Allah)?' He answered,'At midnight and at the end of every obligatory prayer.'[at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
25. Dua of people after the death of a person
In a long hadith, Umm Salamah (radiAllahu anha) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, when Abu Salamah had just passed away, and had closed his eyes,'Do not ask for yourselves anything but good, for the angels will say 'Ameen' to all that you ask for. O Allah, forgive Abu Salamah, and raise his ranks among those who are guided.'[Muslim, abu Dawud, Ahmad]
26. Dua of the one fasting until he breaks his fast
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]
27. Dua of the one fasting at the time of breaking fast
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: when a fasting person breaks fast (in another narration, the fasting person until he breaks his fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
29. Dua of a just Ruler
The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]
Surah Isra 17 verse 80 Say: "O my Lord! let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)."
Ameen,Thumameen.
Transliteration :Wa qur rabbi adkhilni mudkhala sidqiw wa akhrijni mukhraja sidqiw wa-j'al li mil ladunka sulta_nan nasira_(n).
Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 2482 Narrated by AbuHurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him)
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say, " O Allah, grant me benefit in what Thou hast taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise be to Allah in all circumstances. I seek refuge in Allah from the state of those who go to Hell."
Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib.
Transliteration:an Abi Hurairah (radiya Allahu anhu) qaal:
qaala Rasul Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam): "Allahumma infa'ni bima 'allamtani, wa allimni maa yanfa'oni wa zidni 'ilman, alhamdulillahi alaa kolli haal, wa a'odtho billahi min haali ahlil naar."
“Every soul shall taste death and you will merely be repaid your earnings on resurrection Day"
Best Times to make Du'a..part 1
Bismillahi Rahmaan Raheem
Assalamau alaykum wa rahmatuallahi wa baratatuhu
There are certain times dua (supplication) is more likely to be accepted by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) as mentioned by Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam). These times are as follows:
1. The Last Third Of The Night
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)) descends to the lowermost heaven and says; "Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?."' [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi]Amr ibn Absah narrated that the Prophet said: 'The closest any worshipper can be to His Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.'[at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, al-Hakim - Sahih]
2. Late At Night
When people are sleeping and busy with worldly pleasures Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) gives the believers an opportunity, or an answer hour if they can fight sleep and invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for whatever they need.
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'There is at night an hour, no Muslim happens to be asking Allah any matter of this world or the Hereafter, except that he will be given it, and this (occurs) every night.'[Muslim #757]
3. Between Adhan and Iqamah
Anas (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected.' [Ahmad, abu Dawud #521, at-Tirmidhi #212, Sahih al-Jami #3408, an-Nasai and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (sound)]
4. An Hour On Friday
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu): Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) talked about Friday and said: 'There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), then Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will definitely meet his demand.' And he (the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands.[Sahih al-Bukhari]Some have said that this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer's leader) enters the mosque on Friday's prayer until the prayer is over (ie between the two khutbahs), whereas others have said that it is the last hour of the day (ie after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer). (Note: when we say an hour here we do not mean the hour everyone knows (60 minutes) but an unspecified period of time because the time counters which we use today came after the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) had died.
5. While Drinking Zamzam Water
Jaber (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Zamzam water is for what it is drunk for.' [Ahmad 3: 357 and Ibn Majah #3062] This means that when you drink Zamzam water you may ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for anything you like to gain or benefit from this water such as healing from illness.... etc.
6. While Prostrating
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), said: 'The nearest a slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) much in it. [Muslim, abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and others, Sahih al-Jami #1175]
When a Muslim is in his Salat (prayer) he is facing Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and when he prostrates he is the nearest he can be to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) so it is best to invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) at this time.It is said that while in prostration, one should not ask for worldy needs (ie a nice car, a new job, etc), but for the Hereafter.
7. When Waking Up At Night
Narrated Ubada Bin As-Samit that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Whomever wakes up at night and says La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shrika lahu lahulmulku, wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shai'in qadir. Alhamdu lillahi, wa subhanallahi wa la ilaha illallahu, wallah akbir, wa la hawla wala quwata illa billah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) He is the only one who has no partners. His is the kingdom and all the praises are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) All the glories are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is the most Great and there is neither might nor power except with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and then says, Allahumma ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me) or invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), he will be responded to and if he makes ablution and performs Salat (prayer), his Salat (prayer) will be accepted. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
8. At The End Of The Obligatory Salat
Narrated Abu Omamah (radiAllahu anhu): that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was asked, O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) [at-Tirmidhi] This time is after saying 'At-tahyat' , and before making Tasleem (finishing prayer)
9. The Night Of 'Qadr' (Decree)
This night is the greatest night of the year. This is the night which the almighty Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) said about it, "The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months." [Surah al-Qadr, 97: 3]The Night of Decree is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. The angels descend down to the earth, and the earth is overwhelmed with peace and serenity until the break of dawn and when he doors of Paradise are opened, the worshipper is encouraged to turn to Allah to ask for his needs for this world and the Hereafter.
10. During The Rain
Narrated Sahel Ibn Sa'ad (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Two will not be rejected, Supplication when the Adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of the rain'. [Al-Hakim 2: 114, and Abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah] 'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469] The time of the rain is a time of mercy from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) so, one should take advantage of this time when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is having mercy on His slaves.
11. At The Adhan
'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469] In another hadith; 'When the prayer is called, the doors of the skies are opened, and the du'a is answered'[al-Tayalisi in his Musnad #2106, al-Sahihah #1413]
12. The One Who Is Suffering Injustice And Opression
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to Mua'ad Ibn Jabal (radiAllahu anhu), 'Beware of the supplication of the unjustly treated, because there is no shelter or veil between it (the supplication of the one who is suffering injustice) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)' [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan] In another hadith; The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared:'Three du'as are surely answered: The du'a of the oppressed, the du'a of the traveler, and the du'a of the father/mother (upon their child)'The One who is suffering injustice is heard by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) when he invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) to retain his rights from the unjust one or oppressor. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has sworn to help the one who is suffering from injustice sooner or later as the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)said.
Allahu Mustahan
Assalamau alaykum wa rahmatuallahi wa baratatuhu
There are certain times dua (supplication) is more likely to be accepted by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) as mentioned by Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam). These times are as follows:
1. The Last Third Of The Night
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)) descends to the lowermost heaven and says; "Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?."' [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi]Amr ibn Absah narrated that the Prophet said: 'The closest any worshipper can be to His Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.'[at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, al-Hakim - Sahih]
2. Late At Night
When people are sleeping and busy with worldly pleasures Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) gives the believers an opportunity, or an answer hour if they can fight sleep and invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for whatever they need.
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'There is at night an hour, no Muslim happens to be asking Allah any matter of this world or the Hereafter, except that he will be given it, and this (occurs) every night.'[Muslim #757]
3. Between Adhan and Iqamah
Anas (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected.' [Ahmad, abu Dawud #521, at-Tirmidhi #212, Sahih al-Jami #3408, an-Nasai and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (sound)]
4. An Hour On Friday
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu): Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) talked about Friday and said: 'There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), then Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will definitely meet his demand.' And he (the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands.[Sahih al-Bukhari]Some have said that this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer's leader) enters the mosque on Friday's prayer until the prayer is over (ie between the two khutbahs), whereas others have said that it is the last hour of the day (ie after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer). (Note: when we say an hour here we do not mean the hour everyone knows (60 minutes) but an unspecified period of time because the time counters which we use today came after the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) had died.
5. While Drinking Zamzam Water
Jaber (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Zamzam water is for what it is drunk for.' [Ahmad 3: 357 and Ibn Majah #3062] This means that when you drink Zamzam water you may ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for anything you like to gain or benefit from this water such as healing from illness.... etc.
6. While Prostrating
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), said: 'The nearest a slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) much in it. [Muslim, abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and others, Sahih al-Jami #1175]
When a Muslim is in his Salat (prayer) he is facing Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and when he prostrates he is the nearest he can be to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) so it is best to invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) at this time.It is said that while in prostration, one should not ask for worldy needs (ie a nice car, a new job, etc), but for the Hereafter.
7. When Waking Up At Night
Narrated Ubada Bin As-Samit that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Whomever wakes up at night and says La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shrika lahu lahulmulku, wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shai'in qadir. Alhamdu lillahi, wa subhanallahi wa la ilaha illallahu, wallah akbir, wa la hawla wala quwata illa billah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) He is the only one who has no partners. His is the kingdom and all the praises are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) All the glories are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is the most Great and there is neither might nor power except with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and then says, Allahumma ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me) or invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), he will be responded to and if he makes ablution and performs Salat (prayer), his Salat (prayer) will be accepted. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
8. At The End Of The Obligatory Salat
Narrated Abu Omamah (radiAllahu anhu): that Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was asked, O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) [at-Tirmidhi] This time is after saying 'At-tahyat' , and before making Tasleem (finishing prayer)
9. The Night Of 'Qadr' (Decree)
This night is the greatest night of the year. This is the night which the almighty Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) said about it, "The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months." [Surah al-Qadr, 97: 3]The Night of Decree is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. The angels descend down to the earth, and the earth is overwhelmed with peace and serenity until the break of dawn and when he doors of Paradise are opened, the worshipper is encouraged to turn to Allah to ask for his needs for this world and the Hereafter.
10. During The Rain
Narrated Sahel Ibn Sa'ad (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Two will not be rejected, Supplication when the Adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of the rain'. [Al-Hakim 2: 114, and Abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah] 'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469] The time of the rain is a time of mercy from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) so, one should take advantage of this time when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) is having mercy on His slaves.
11. At The Adhan
'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls'[reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469] In another hadith; 'When the prayer is called, the doors of the skies are opened, and the du'a is answered'[al-Tayalisi in his Musnad #2106, al-Sahihah #1413]
12. The One Who Is Suffering Injustice And Opression
The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to Mua'ad Ibn Jabal (radiAllahu anhu), 'Beware of the supplication of the unjustly treated, because there is no shelter or veil between it (the supplication of the one who is suffering injustice) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala)' [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim] The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared,'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: the fasting person until he breaks his fast (in another narration, when he breaks fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hasan] In another hadith; The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) declared:'Three du'as are surely answered: The du'a of the oppressed, the du'a of the traveler, and the du'a of the father/mother (upon their child)'The One who is suffering injustice is heard by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) when he invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) to retain his rights from the unjust one or oppressor. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has sworn to help the one who is suffering from injustice sooner or later as the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)said.
Allahu Mustahan
Islamic Theory of Sovereignty.
The Definition of Sovereignty
Sovereignty by simple definition for better understanding, it is the Supreme power or Will or Authority of an individual which is unquestionable and obeyed by the bulk of people as laid down by his laws.
Muslim experts’ theory of Sovereignty:
Sovereignty or sultaniyah is an internal quality that we all understand. It is what we know by presence or consciousness (‘ilm huduri). To conceptualize it, we can use the expression: "The agent may or may not act". There is no necessity to act or not to act.
Sovereignty is similar to any of necessity and contingency from one aspect and different from each from the other. Sovereignty similar to necessity in being is rationally enough to justify the existence of a contingent being and leaving no need to look for something else. The difference between sovereignty and necessity is that with necessity an act loses its equal relations to existence and non-existence and necessity of existence takes its place, while with sovereignty the contingency remains the same. Necessity consists in the fact that the agent has to act or not to act, but sovereignty means that the agent may or may not act.
Sovereignty is similar to contingency in preserving the equal relations of the contingent to both existence and non-existence, but sovereignty is different from contingency in being rationally enough to justify the existence of a contingent being while with contingency the question remains why it must come into existence.
Having known that the sovereignty of the agent may substitute necessity and suffice the existence of a voluntary act which is the question at issue, reflection on our conscience and the way voluntary acts are issued from us shows clearly that the relation between us and our voluntary acts is one of sovereignty and not necessity. We as voluntary agents find that we have sovereignty upon our acts. We clearly understand the fact that even in circumstances in which all prerequisites and conditions of a voluntary act exist, it is not necessary to act. What we find deep in ourselves is this sovereignty upon our acts. It is up to us to act or not act and we are not compelled to do so.
In what follows, we will briefly present The Theory of Sovereignty and then will focus on the Islamic Ideology on the Topic.
Man as a case study:
This argument is based on two thoughts, laws that both can be affirmed after a short reflection:
First Law: Will (iradah) of the free agent itself is not voluntary. Reflecting on the process of decision-making inside ourselves, we realize that after conceiving the act and affirming its benefit our will automatically comes into existence. Will is an inevitable outcome of conceiving the act and affirming its benefit and indeed all those qualities that belong to the soul such as Will, conception and affirmation are not voluntary
In respect to God, it can be demonstrated that His will is not voluntary, because his essence is simple and free from any attributes accidental and additional to it. Therefore, “Will” cannot be accidental to His essence, since it is in conflict with the simplicity of the essence. Will of God is identical with His essence and this implies that the Divine will is essential and it is self-evident that essential attributes are not voluntary.
Second Law: Human soul has complete sovereignty and authority upon its voluntary acts. In other words, man always feels very clearly that he has complete power to make his decisions regarding his voluntary acts.
Surely, the soul has complete effect and authority on muscles without facing any obstacle in exercising its sovereignty.
Hence there must be something between the will (iradah) and act. This element is called "ikhtiyar". Ikhtiyar is an act of soul that takes place after the formation of iradah (Will) and its prerequisites. Also in another view ikhtiyar (or talab), Ikhtiyar is not caused by the will; it is originated from the essence of the soul and another view believes that there is no necessary relation between ikhtiyar and the soul. Human soul in making ikhtiyar just needs some preponderating factor. For this it would suffice that the agent purses an end or goal in the act.
To develop this theory of sovereignty first we must acknowledge some premises:
First premise- Equal relation of act to existence and non-existence is a clear fact that no intuition or argument can disprove it. Every one of us clearly feels that after the completion of all prerequisites he still may or may not act. This is something that we understand clearly by our conscience and no argument can bring it into question.
Second premise- Necessity of prerequisites of an act leads to denial of free will and philosophers’ answers are not able to solve the problem. Their answers are just some linguistic rationalizations (such as saying that ikhtiyar means the agent’s consent or that the voluntary agent is the one that acts whenever he is willing and does not act whenever he is willing to do so) that cannot solve the conflict between reality of necessity and reality of ikhtiyar.
Third premise - The principle of causality is not demonstrated. So it cannot be said that it cannot have any exception, because it is rationally proved. This principle is indeed an intuitive and evident principle. To find the scope and extent of it we have to investigate its origins in our conscience
Based on the above premises, arguments arises that; rationally any contingent being to come into existence needs an external factor. This factor can be either a cause that necessitate its existence or a voluntary agent that makes the act by his sovereignty. Having such an agent besides the act does rationally justify its existence. It is certain that the essential contingency does not suffice the existence of something. However, there might be something other than necessity that can preponderate the existence of a contingent being such as sovereignty.
Western versus Islamic Sovereignty:
Islamic theory of Sovereignty is radically different from the western theories of Sovereignty. It is derived from pure; Quran and Sunnah, which are its basic sources.
There is a general consensus among Islamic scholars and Muslim laymen that Islam places sovereignty in God. The Quran explicitly describes God as Al-Malik meaning sovereign and Al-Malik-ul-Mulk the eternal possessor of sovereignty. These two adjectives are also among the ninety nine names of God. The Quran (51:58) also makes it clear beyond any doubt that all power lies in God; who is Al-Muqtadir (possessor of all power). Various Muslim political thinkers like Maulana Maududi, Syed Qutb, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ali Shariati have argued that the basic distinction between Western polity and Islamic polity is that while the former places sovereignty in either the state or in Man through the notion of popular sovereignty, the latter places it absolutely in God. Thus a simple explanation of the Islamic polity would be that God is sovereign and he is the source of all legislation in the form Al-Quran.
Sovereignty in Islam as Human Agency:
The Islamic state will base its precepts on Islamic law and constitution, the Shari’ah, which is derived from the Quran and Hadith. The Khalifah, vicegerent will rule on behalf of God and his endeavor shall be to implement and enforce the Shari’ah. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes the unity of the sovereign and Tauheed, oneness or unity of God is the most important article of faith in Islam. The denial of this unity is the greatest conceivable violation of Islamic precepts (Quran, 2:163, 6:19, 16:22, 23:91-92, 37:1-5, 38:65-68, 112:1-4). The sovereign by definition is universal as the Muslim community is seen as one Ummah (people) which are united under one sovereign by virtue of their faith and submission to the will of God. The word Islam means complete submission to God in the similar sense that the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes visualized the complete surrender of power by the individual to the state. The Islamic concept of submission is more powerful in that it subordinates human will to the will and law of God unconditionally. It is an ontological requirement and not a condition of any contract.
Thus to state succinctly, the Quranic concept of sovereignty is universal, that is non territorial, transcendental, meaning beyond human agency, indivisible, inalienable and truly absolute. God the sovereign is the primary law-giver while agents such as the Islamic state and the Khalifah enjoy marginal autonomy necessary to implement and enforce the laws of their sovereign. Man, as God's Khalifah on earth (vicegerent) is not only the primary agent of the sovereign but also enjoys a margin of autonomy. This margin of autonomy by virtue of vicegerency is the Islamic equivalent of popular sovereignty.
At a basic theoretical level the difference between the modern conception and Islamic conception of sovereignty is clear. The operational implications on closer examination seem to blur the distinction. The agency or political action remains within human jurisdiction in either case. So which ever institution (form of government) is vested with the agency to act it either follows the Shari’ah (in the Islamic case) or the constitution in modern states. While constitutions can be amended the Quran is eternal, but it is open to different interpretations based on ijtihad or independent reasoning.
Maulana Maududi conceived of the term Al-hakimiya, a derivative of an Arabic word that means "to govern'". He introduced it in his work Al-Mustalahat al-Arba'a fi'l-Quran. The term Al-hakimiya has been used by Islamic political thinkers ever since to mean sovereignty. He argued that according to Islam, sovereignty belonged to God. He alone was the law-giver and that believers could neither resort to totally independent legislation, nor could they modify any law laid down by God. He saw the Islamic state as a political agency set up to enforce the laws of God. Herein lies the cardinal difference between the modern and Islamic conceptions. While modernity made the state a repository of sovereignty, in Islam the state was merely an agency of the sovereign. Thus the Islamic state is conceptually weaker than the modern state. Maududi also recognized the vicegerency of man and explained that each believer was a repository of the Khalifah (vicegerency). The Quran makes this explicitly clear (45:12, 13). Maududi's understanding of the Khalifah of Man is definitely in the popular sense but he does not explain it in conjunction with sovereignty.
Thus sovereignty lies in God, state is an agency of the sovereign and every believer is God's vicegerent on Earth. This however means that both the state and believers can legitimately act on behalf of the sovereign. Thus in Maududi's interpretation the sovereign has created dual agency in the Islamic state and the Khalifah, creating a balance or division of power between state and society. This mechanism can help ensure that both state and society follow the straight path.
The rise of political Islam has made the concept of Islamic sovereignty central to Islamic political theory and often it is presented as a barrier to any form of democracy. Democracies are seen as system where human whim is the source of law where as Islamic principles are transcendental and cannot be undermined by popular whim. Unfortunately, what many of the Islamists fail to understand is that democratic institutions are not just about law. They are also about prevention of tyranny by the state. Regardless of where sovereignty is placed theoretically, in practice it is the state which exercises it in their world and not God or his angels.
These Islamists also fail to see that Muslims actually enjoy greater autonomy than even the citizens of a democracy like the US. It is nearly impossible to change or alter the American constitution. It would require an enormous amount of consensus in the society to make even a minor change. However, Islamic scholars have enjoyed a great deal of freedom, both politically and traditionally, to reinterpret the Quran and Islamic principles. While in the US people with different understanding of the constitution are not free to act legally according to their own interpretation, Muslims have done precisely that and legitimately. The presence of the various madhahib is a concrete proof that a constitution/Shari’ah can be interpreted differently and practiced.
Sovereignty is a complex concept and any attempt to simplify it can only cause problems. Nevertheless, Muslims must understand that while sovereignty belongs to God it has already been delegated in the form of human agency (Quran 2:30). The political task at the moment is not to indulge in rhetoric that merely emphasizes this point, but to reflect on how this God given agency can be best employed in creating a society that will bring welfare and goodness to people in the here and in the hereafter.
Muslims as individuals and as an Ummah cannot be held accountable for what they do unless they have the freedom/agency/sovereignty to do as they please. The discretion and the judgement with which Muslims apply the given law not just to apply it but to achieve its maqasid (purpose) constitute human sovereignty. The day of judgement is the natural consequence of human sovereignty, there cannot be one without the other. Therefore we must remember that the freedom to act, human agency is the most precious of gifts. But it will have to be accounted for in full. So while we recognize the God’s sovereign in all affairs, he has exercised his sovereignty in delegating some of it in the form of human agency. Having said that I must also add that God alone is sovereign cannot become an excuse for installing and legitimizing governments which are not accountable and responsible to their citizens.
Conclusion:
Sovereignty is the basic concept of political thought which is universally recognized by political scientists of modern age.
Sovereignty is an indivisible, inalienable and unpunishable; and sovereignty in Islam extends to spiritual as will and as secular affairs. According to the Quran, absolute and totality of power and authority belongs to God and Him only.
God says in the Quran:
“It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His
Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any
choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has
certainly strayed into clear error”. (Q33:36)
May Allah bless us to serve Him in all aspects of our lives.
Allahumma infa`ni bima `allamtani wa `allamni ma yanfa`uni! Meaning (OH ALLAH! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me).
Allahu Mustahan
Sovereignty by simple definition for better understanding, it is the Supreme power or Will or Authority of an individual which is unquestionable and obeyed by the bulk of people as laid down by his laws.
Muslim experts’ theory of Sovereignty:
Sovereignty or sultaniyah is an internal quality that we all understand. It is what we know by presence or consciousness (‘ilm huduri). To conceptualize it, we can use the expression: "The agent may or may not act". There is no necessity to act or not to act.
Sovereignty is similar to any of necessity and contingency from one aspect and different from each from the other. Sovereignty similar to necessity in being is rationally enough to justify the existence of a contingent being and leaving no need to look for something else. The difference between sovereignty and necessity is that with necessity an act loses its equal relations to existence and non-existence and necessity of existence takes its place, while with sovereignty the contingency remains the same. Necessity consists in the fact that the agent has to act or not to act, but sovereignty means that the agent may or may not act.
Sovereignty is similar to contingency in preserving the equal relations of the contingent to both existence and non-existence, but sovereignty is different from contingency in being rationally enough to justify the existence of a contingent being while with contingency the question remains why it must come into existence.
Having known that the sovereignty of the agent may substitute necessity and suffice the existence of a voluntary act which is the question at issue, reflection on our conscience and the way voluntary acts are issued from us shows clearly that the relation between us and our voluntary acts is one of sovereignty and not necessity. We as voluntary agents find that we have sovereignty upon our acts. We clearly understand the fact that even in circumstances in which all prerequisites and conditions of a voluntary act exist, it is not necessary to act. What we find deep in ourselves is this sovereignty upon our acts. It is up to us to act or not act and we are not compelled to do so.
In what follows, we will briefly present The Theory of Sovereignty and then will focus on the Islamic Ideology on the Topic.
Man as a case study:
This argument is based on two thoughts, laws that both can be affirmed after a short reflection:
First Law: Will (iradah) of the free agent itself is not voluntary. Reflecting on the process of decision-making inside ourselves, we realize that after conceiving the act and affirming its benefit our will automatically comes into existence. Will is an inevitable outcome of conceiving the act and affirming its benefit and indeed all those qualities that belong to the soul such as Will, conception and affirmation are not voluntary
In respect to God, it can be demonstrated that His will is not voluntary, because his essence is simple and free from any attributes accidental and additional to it. Therefore, “Will” cannot be accidental to His essence, since it is in conflict with the simplicity of the essence. Will of God is identical with His essence and this implies that the Divine will is essential and it is self-evident that essential attributes are not voluntary.
Second Law: Human soul has complete sovereignty and authority upon its voluntary acts. In other words, man always feels very clearly that he has complete power to make his decisions regarding his voluntary acts.
Surely, the soul has complete effect and authority on muscles without facing any obstacle in exercising its sovereignty.
Hence there must be something between the will (iradah) and act. This element is called "ikhtiyar". Ikhtiyar is an act of soul that takes place after the formation of iradah (Will) and its prerequisites. Also in another view ikhtiyar (or talab), Ikhtiyar is not caused by the will; it is originated from the essence of the soul and another view believes that there is no necessary relation between ikhtiyar and the soul. Human soul in making ikhtiyar just needs some preponderating factor. For this it would suffice that the agent purses an end or goal in the act.
To develop this theory of sovereignty first we must acknowledge some premises:
First premise- Equal relation of act to existence and non-existence is a clear fact that no intuition or argument can disprove it. Every one of us clearly feels that after the completion of all prerequisites he still may or may not act. This is something that we understand clearly by our conscience and no argument can bring it into question.
Second premise- Necessity of prerequisites of an act leads to denial of free will and philosophers’ answers are not able to solve the problem. Their answers are just some linguistic rationalizations (such as saying that ikhtiyar means the agent’s consent or that the voluntary agent is the one that acts whenever he is willing and does not act whenever he is willing to do so) that cannot solve the conflict between reality of necessity and reality of ikhtiyar.
Third premise - The principle of causality is not demonstrated. So it cannot be said that it cannot have any exception, because it is rationally proved. This principle is indeed an intuitive and evident principle. To find the scope and extent of it we have to investigate its origins in our conscience
Based on the above premises, arguments arises that; rationally any contingent being to come into existence needs an external factor. This factor can be either a cause that necessitate its existence or a voluntary agent that makes the act by his sovereignty. Having such an agent besides the act does rationally justify its existence. It is certain that the essential contingency does not suffice the existence of something. However, there might be something other than necessity that can preponderate the existence of a contingent being such as sovereignty.
Western versus Islamic Sovereignty:
Islamic theory of Sovereignty is radically different from the western theories of Sovereignty. It is derived from pure; Quran and Sunnah, which are its basic sources.
There is a general consensus among Islamic scholars and Muslim laymen that Islam places sovereignty in God. The Quran explicitly describes God as Al-Malik meaning sovereign and Al-Malik-ul-Mulk the eternal possessor of sovereignty. These two adjectives are also among the ninety nine names of God. The Quran (51:58) also makes it clear beyond any doubt that all power lies in God; who is Al-Muqtadir (possessor of all power). Various Muslim political thinkers like Maulana Maududi, Syed Qutb, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ali Shariati have argued that the basic distinction between Western polity and Islamic polity is that while the former places sovereignty in either the state or in Man through the notion of popular sovereignty, the latter places it absolutely in God. Thus a simple explanation of the Islamic polity would be that God is sovereign and he is the source of all legislation in the form Al-Quran.
Sovereignty in Islam as Human Agency:
The Islamic state will base its precepts on Islamic law and constitution, the Shari’ah, which is derived from the Quran and Hadith. The Khalifah, vicegerent will rule on behalf of God and his endeavor shall be to implement and enforce the Shari’ah. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes the unity of the sovereign and Tauheed, oneness or unity of God is the most important article of faith in Islam. The denial of this unity is the greatest conceivable violation of Islamic precepts (Quran, 2:163, 6:19, 16:22, 23:91-92, 37:1-5, 38:65-68, 112:1-4). The sovereign by definition is universal as the Muslim community is seen as one Ummah (people) which are united under one sovereign by virtue of their faith and submission to the will of God. The word Islam means complete submission to God in the similar sense that the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes visualized the complete surrender of power by the individual to the state. The Islamic concept of submission is more powerful in that it subordinates human will to the will and law of God unconditionally. It is an ontological requirement and not a condition of any contract.
Thus to state succinctly, the Quranic concept of sovereignty is universal, that is non territorial, transcendental, meaning beyond human agency, indivisible, inalienable and truly absolute. God the sovereign is the primary law-giver while agents such as the Islamic state and the Khalifah enjoy marginal autonomy necessary to implement and enforce the laws of their sovereign. Man, as God's Khalifah on earth (vicegerent) is not only the primary agent of the sovereign but also enjoys a margin of autonomy. This margin of autonomy by virtue of vicegerency is the Islamic equivalent of popular sovereignty.
At a basic theoretical level the difference between the modern conception and Islamic conception of sovereignty is clear. The operational implications on closer examination seem to blur the distinction. The agency or political action remains within human jurisdiction in either case. So which ever institution (form of government) is vested with the agency to act it either follows the Shari’ah (in the Islamic case) or the constitution in modern states. While constitutions can be amended the Quran is eternal, but it is open to different interpretations based on ijtihad or independent reasoning.
Maulana Maududi conceived of the term Al-hakimiya, a derivative of an Arabic word that means "to govern'". He introduced it in his work Al-Mustalahat al-Arba'a fi'l-Quran. The term Al-hakimiya has been used by Islamic political thinkers ever since to mean sovereignty. He argued that according to Islam, sovereignty belonged to God. He alone was the law-giver and that believers could neither resort to totally independent legislation, nor could they modify any law laid down by God. He saw the Islamic state as a political agency set up to enforce the laws of God. Herein lies the cardinal difference between the modern and Islamic conceptions. While modernity made the state a repository of sovereignty, in Islam the state was merely an agency of the sovereign. Thus the Islamic state is conceptually weaker than the modern state. Maududi also recognized the vicegerency of man and explained that each believer was a repository of the Khalifah (vicegerency). The Quran makes this explicitly clear (45:12, 13). Maududi's understanding of the Khalifah of Man is definitely in the popular sense but he does not explain it in conjunction with sovereignty.
Thus sovereignty lies in God, state is an agency of the sovereign and every believer is God's vicegerent on Earth. This however means that both the state and believers can legitimately act on behalf of the sovereign. Thus in Maududi's interpretation the sovereign has created dual agency in the Islamic state and the Khalifah, creating a balance or division of power between state and society. This mechanism can help ensure that both state and society follow the straight path.
The rise of political Islam has made the concept of Islamic sovereignty central to Islamic political theory and often it is presented as a barrier to any form of democracy. Democracies are seen as system where human whim is the source of law where as Islamic principles are transcendental and cannot be undermined by popular whim. Unfortunately, what many of the Islamists fail to understand is that democratic institutions are not just about law. They are also about prevention of tyranny by the state. Regardless of where sovereignty is placed theoretically, in practice it is the state which exercises it in their world and not God or his angels.
These Islamists also fail to see that Muslims actually enjoy greater autonomy than even the citizens of a democracy like the US. It is nearly impossible to change or alter the American constitution. It would require an enormous amount of consensus in the society to make even a minor change. However, Islamic scholars have enjoyed a great deal of freedom, both politically and traditionally, to reinterpret the Quran and Islamic principles. While in the US people with different understanding of the constitution are not free to act legally according to their own interpretation, Muslims have done precisely that and legitimately. The presence of the various madhahib is a concrete proof that a constitution/Shari’ah can be interpreted differently and practiced.
Sovereignty is a complex concept and any attempt to simplify it can only cause problems. Nevertheless, Muslims must understand that while sovereignty belongs to God it has already been delegated in the form of human agency (Quran 2:30). The political task at the moment is not to indulge in rhetoric that merely emphasizes this point, but to reflect on how this God given agency can be best employed in creating a society that will bring welfare and goodness to people in the here and in the hereafter.
Muslims as individuals and as an Ummah cannot be held accountable for what they do unless they have the freedom/agency/sovereignty to do as they please. The discretion and the judgement with which Muslims apply the given law not just to apply it but to achieve its maqasid (purpose) constitute human sovereignty. The day of judgement is the natural consequence of human sovereignty, there cannot be one without the other. Therefore we must remember that the freedom to act, human agency is the most precious of gifts. But it will have to be accounted for in full. So while we recognize the God’s sovereign in all affairs, he has exercised his sovereignty in delegating some of it in the form of human agency. Having said that I must also add that God alone is sovereign cannot become an excuse for installing and legitimizing governments which are not accountable and responsible to their citizens.
Conclusion:
Sovereignty is the basic concept of political thought which is universally recognized by political scientists of modern age.
Sovereignty is an indivisible, inalienable and unpunishable; and sovereignty in Islam extends to spiritual as will and as secular affairs. According to the Quran, absolute and totality of power and authority belongs to God and Him only.
God says in the Quran:
“It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His
Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any
choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has
certainly strayed into clear error”. (Q33:36)
May Allah bless us to serve Him in all aspects of our lives.
Allahumma infa`ni bima `allamtani wa `allamni ma yanfa`uni! Meaning (OH ALLAH! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me).
Allahu Mustahan
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