(26) The Importance of Supplication in the Muslim Life
A- The Importance of Supplication
B- Manners of Supplication
The supplication is essential as a part of worshiping between the Muslim servant and his Lord. There is a direct connection between the Muslim servant, the weak creature; and the strong Lord, the Powerful Creator.
The Companions (RWA) asked the Prophet (PBUH): “Is our Lord near to us, so we whisper to Him? Or is He far away so we call on Him?”
Allah (SWT) revealed: “And when My slaves ask you concerning Me, I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” (Al Baqara, 186).
Allah (SWT) promised to accept the Muslim’s supplication when he calls on Him. The Muslim must not worry about Allah’s response, but keep focusing on his supplication to Allah (SWT) and this is a mandatory condition for the supplication’s acceptance.
Allah (SWT) orders the Muslim to declare their supplication only to Him and Allah (SWT) promised to respond. Allah (SWT) threatened the arrogant who does not invoke Allah (SWT) and he will be punished on the Day of Judgment.
Allah (SWT) says: “And your Lord says, `Call on Me, I will answer your prayer. But those who were too proud to worship Me will surely enter Hell in humiliation.” (Ghafer, 60)
The supplication to Allah (SWT) helps the Muslim in all of his matters, in case of hardships that have or have not descended.
In the Hadith, The Prophet (PBUH) said: when the Muslim calls on Allah with a supplication that does not include sin or separation of bonded relative, then Allah (SWT) will grant him one of the three rewards:
Allah (SWT) will fulfill his supplication in his life.
Or, Allah (SWT) will remove away misfortune that only Allah (SWT) knew about.
Or, Allah (SWT) will save the reward until the Day of Judgment and move him up one higher level in heaven. (At Targheeb wa At Tarheeb, 2/893).
Hence, the Muslim is always gaining as long as he keeps supplicating to Allah (SWT).
Muslims must obtain Halal food and drink. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Oh, Saad, have Halal food and Allah (SWT) will respond to your supplication.” (At Targheeb wa at Tarheeb, 3/17).
Allah (SWT) promised the Muslim in time of hardship to fulfill his supplication and especially if he called on Allah in extreme humility, begging.
Allah (SWT) says: “Is not He Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations. Is there any other ilâh with Allâh? Little is that you remember!”(Al Naml 62)
The supplication to Allah is worship. It is preferable for the Muslim to supplicate for other Muslims everywhere on earth and especially for the needy. In the Hadith, any Muslim servant who supplicates to other Muslims behind their backs, the angel will say to him, “You will be rewarded back with the same supplication.” (Muslim, 2732).
In the other Hadith, “Submit your supplication to Allah by a tongue that did not disobey Allah.” The companions wondered: “How is that? Oh, Messenger of Allah?” The Messenger replied, “Call on Allah to each other. This way, you did not disobey Allah in your Muslim brother’s tongue, and your Muslim brother did not disobey Allah in your tongue.”
B- Manners of Supplication:
- It is preferable to do Wudhu (ablution).
- Put yourself facing Qiblah (Ka’aba).
- Seek a favorable time for supplication; that is, at the mid of the night, before dawn (last third of the night), at the end of a prayer, between Adhan and Iqamah, when breaking the fast, when it rains, on the battle field, and there is one accepting hour on Friday.
- It is preferable to raise hands up during the supplication. Many ahadith support raising the hands.
- It is desirable to start the supplication by praising and thanking Allah and then follow by blessing the Messenger (PBUH).
- Prepare the heart for supplication.
- Show clearly to Allah your humbleness and begging Him in your supplication.
- Supplicate to Allah rigorously and repeatedly. In the Hadith, “Allah loves persistence in supplication.”
- Choose many supplications at once.
An example of the Prophet’s (PBUH) supplication is: “Almighty Allah, I ask Your satisfaction on me and to enter heaven. I revoke by You avoiding Your Anger and hellfire.”
Also, “O Almighty Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, cure me, give me wealth, provide me Halal and not the Haram, and make me rich with your blessing without asking anybody but You.”
We ask Allah to accept our supplications, to remove our distress,
and to make manifest to us a better live.
Written by: Dr. Ahmed Shaheen
Professor in Al-Azhar University
And Islamic American University
Translated by: Abdullah Zettili
