The Power of Dua
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Dua is the most potent weapon of a believer. With it, we can never fail,
without it, we can never succeed. Once Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) passed by a
group of people who were suffering from some affliction. Why dont they make
Dua (supplication) to Allah for protection, he said. With all the suffering
and disasters Muslims are facing in various parts of the world, the question
can be directed to all of us today.
It is not that we have forgotten Dua completely, we refer to it regularly.
But our ideas and practice regarding Dua have become distorted. Often it is
reduced to the level of a ritual. Generally it is considered when all our
efforts have failedan act of last resort. It is belittled through actions and
sometimes even with words. Is it any wonder that today mostly a mention of Dua
is meant to indicate the hopelessness of a situation?
What a tragedy, for Dua is the most potent weapon of a believer. It can
change fate, while no action of ours ever can. It is the essence of Ibaadah or
worship. With it, we can never fail, without it, we can never succeed. In the
proper scheme of things, Dua should be the first and the last resort of the
believer, with all his plans and actions coming in between.
Dua is conversation with Allah, our Creator, our Lord and Master, the All
Knowing, the All Powerful. This act in itself is of extraordinary significance.
It is the most uplifting, liberating, empowering, and transforming conversation
a person can ever have. We turn to Him because we know that He alone can lift
our sufferings and solve our problems. We feel relieved after describing our
difficulties to our Creator. We feel empowered after having communicated with
the All Mighty.
In every difficulty, our first action is Dua, as is our last. We ask Allah to
show us the way to handle that difficulty; we seek His help in following the
path He shows to us, we seek His aid in making our efforts successful. When we
fall sick, we know that we cannot find the right doctor without His Will, that
the best doctor may not be able to diagnose our condition without His Command.
The best treatment plan will not succeed without His permission. We make Dua
for all of these. We make Dua before we seek medical help, while we are
receiving it and after it has been delivered. The same is true of all other
difficulties we may encounter.
Dua is the essence of Ibaadah. A person engaged in Dua affirms his belief in
Tauheed (monotheism) and shuns belief in all false gods. A person seriously and
sincerely engaged in Dua understands exactly the relationship between himself
and the Creator and affirms it through his actions. That is the essence of
worship!
Additionally, such a person can never become arrogant or proud, a logical
result of true worship. Dua is our most potent weapon in all struggles of life
as well as in jihad in the battlefield. During the battle of Badr, Prophet
Muhammad (Pbuh) stood up all night in prayer seeking Allahs help in the battle
between unequal armies that would follow the next day. In the decisive battles
against the crusaders, Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi was busy day and night. His
days were devoted to jihad. His nights were spent making Dua, crying, and
seeking Allahs help.
We should make Dua at all times, not only during times of distress. We should
ask for all of our needs: those related to this world as well as those related
to the Hereafter. We should make Dua not only for ourselves, but also for our
parents, brothers and sisters, spouses and children, relatives and friends,
teachers and other benefactors, destitute and struggling Muslims everywhere. We
should pray for them for the good in this world as well as in the Hereafter.
The Prophet (Pbuh) said: The Dua of a Muslim for his brother (in Islam) in his
absence is readily accepted. An angel is appointed to his side. Whenever he
makes a beneficial Dua for his brother the appointed angel says, Aameen. And
may you also be blessed with the same.[Muslim, Hadith 4914]
In the dark ages that we are living in today, everyday brings fresh news
about atrocities committed against our brothers in Palestine, , , Afghanistan,
Iraq, Chechnya, etc. And what do we do? We can continue to just feel frustrated
and depressed. We can petition the determined perpetrators or a fictional
International Community. We can just forget all of this and move on to some
other subject. Or we can stand up before Allah and pray for His help, Who alone
can help.
Dua can change our life, our outlook, and our fate. It is the most potent
weapon. But it works only for those who try sincerely and seriously to use it.
All praises and thanks be to Allah, Lord of everything that exists.The
most Gracious, the Most Merciful.Master of the Day of Judgment You (alone) we
worship, and You (alone) we ask for help.Guide us to the Straight Way The Way
of of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who
earned Your Anger, nor those who went astray. Ameen
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