STATUS OF SUPPLICATION IN ISLAM
By: Yasin T. al-Jibouri
One can come to know the Almighty from contemplating on supplications, actually even from just reciting them. In these supplications, the one who supplicates envisions the Almighty in a way, depicts an image for Him in his/her imagination, stamps his/her heart with a concept of this Almighty, our Creator Who is never separated from us but is part of us, within us, watching over us and guiding our steps, protecting and sustaining us, loving us all the time, even when we err and showing us the way to correct our errors and wash away our sins.
Supplications/invocations and pleas to the Creator provide one with a great deal of information about how God is conceived, envisioned, hence this part of the book. The significance enjoyed by supplication can be appreciated from contemplating on thi and the other verse above of the Holy Qur’ān:
“When My servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me: Let them also listen to My call with a will, and believe in Me so that they may walk along the path of guidance” (Qur’ān, 2:186).
These verses give you an idea about how important supplication in Islam is.
Most likely, there is no religion in the world that has more supplications and invocations than Islam. This is so because Islam teaches the faithful
that the Almighty created His servants so they may worship Him and only Him. This verse indicates so
]وما خلقْت الْجنّ والإنس إلاّ ليعْبدون[
I have only created jinns and men so that they may worship Me (Qur’ān, 51:56)
There are numerous traditions (ahadith) of the Prophet of Islam that highlight the importance of supplication in Islam; here are some of them for you. We are quoting them from pages 321-25 of the Arabic reference titled نهج الفصاحة Nahjul Fasahaa which is edited and organized by Ghulam Hussain al-Majīdi and published by Ansariyan in 2008:
أكثر من الدعاء فان الدعاء يرد القضاء
Supplicate much, for supplication repels a fateful decree.
ان أبخل الناس من بخل بالسلام و أعجز الناس من عجز عن الدعاء
The most miser of all people is one who is too miser to greet others.
The most incapable of all people is one who cannot supplicate.
ان الرجل ليحرم الرزق بالذنب يصيبه، و لا يرد القدر الا الدعاء، و لا يزيد في العمر الا البر
One is deprived of sustenance on account of a sin he commits.
Nothing repels a fateful decree save supplication, and nothing increases one’s lifespan save kindness.
ان الله يحب الملحين في الدعاء
Allāh loves those who persist in pleading to Him.
دعاء الوالد لولده كدعاء النبي لأمته
A father’s supplication for his children is like a prophet’s supplica-tion for his nation.
دعوتان ليس بينهما و بين الله حجاب: دعوة المظلوم و دعوة المرء لأخيه بظهر الغيب
Two types of supplications are not separated by a barrier from reaching Allah:
The supplication of a wronged person, and the supplication of one for his brother without the latter’s knowledge.
دعوة في السر تعدل سبعين دعوة في العلانية
A private supplication equals seventy public ones.
الداعي و المؤمن في الأجر شريكان، و القاريء و المستمع في الأجر شريكان، و العالم و المتعلم في الأجر شريكان
One who pleads and one who says “Lord amīn” (Amen) share the same rewards.
One who recites the Qur’an and one who listens to his recitation
share the same rewards. And the learned man as well as the man who is learning share the same rewards.
الدعاء بين الأذان و الاقامة لا يرد
The supplication that takes place during the time between the call for prayers and the Iqama is never ignored.
الدعاء سلاح المؤمن
Supplication is a believer’s weapon.
الدعاء مفتاح الرحمة، و الوضوء مفتاح الصلاة، و الصلاة مفتاح الجنة
Supplication is the key to Allah’s mercy; ablution is the key to prayers, and prayers are the keys to Paradise.
الدعاء هو العبادة
Supplication is adoration.
الدعاء يرد البلاء
Supplication repels affliction.
حصنوا أموالكم بالزكاة و داووا مرضاكم بالصدقة و أعدوا للبلاء الدعاء
Fortify your money with zakat; treat your sick with charity,
and prepare supplication for the time of affliction.
ان الله تعالى حيي كريم يستحي اذا رفع الرجل اليه يديه أن يردهما صفرا خائبين
Allāh, the most Exalted One, is bashful, generous; He is too bashful when
one raises his hands to Him to send them back empty, disappointed.
STATUS OF SUPPLICATION IN ISLAM
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