In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

Say a prayer or Duaa

Written by: Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

07 Rabee Al-Awal 1436.

18 December 2015   -- Was also used on: (13 July 2018)



Dearly beloved in Allah, All thanks be to Allah, we seek His support and His forgiveness. We fortify ourselves with Allah against ourselves and the evil of our deeds.

Dearly beloved in Allah,
Duaa is the title of our talk on this blessed Friday. Linguistically, the word Duaa, is to call someone or something to you vocally with your own words. But, conventionally or commonly; Duaa is showing or exposing the high levels of poverty, needs, deficiency, humbleness, submissiveness and being compelled towards the Revered, the Almighty, the most forgiving Allah. Duaa is the needy tong that expresses the state of disparity. Duaa is of two types: Duaa of worship and compliments; or Duaa of requests, demands and hopes.
Allah joined or merged both types of Duaa when He says in the Quran: { And when My slaves ask you about Me, then I am close I respond to the call or prayer of the caller when he calls Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, so they may be led aright} 2:186. Scholars say that this verse contains both types, the Duaa of worship, and the Duaa of needs and demands.

Slaves of Allah, there are many references in the Quran and the teachings of the messenger ppbu that show the benefits of Duaa and its great status. In fact Allah may He be praised started His book (The Quran) and ended it with a Duaa. Chapter1in the Quran, Al-Fatiha, consists of giving thanks, complements and glorifications. That is followed by asking Allah the greatest question that can be asked. That is asking for the guidance to the straight path, and asking for help and assistance to do worship. The Quran also ends with Duaa. The last chapter 113 “Annas” is the final chapter and it contains asking for protection from the evil of the obsession of demon. That is some type of Duaa. This is a clear sign of the great status of Duaa, having it at the start and end of the Quran. Allah may He be praised, commanding His slaves He says: {And your Lord has said: Pray or call Me and I will answer your prayer. Those who think they are too big to worship Me, they will enter hell, disgraced. } 40:60. You either; call Allah and ask Him, with the promise that you will be answered, Or you are of those who are arrogant and proud to worship Allah.

The Almighty says: {Call your Lord in humble appealing supplication and in a hidden form} 7:55. Allah also says: {Therefor (O believers) pray unto Allah and call Him, making religion pure for Him (only), . . } 40:14. He also says: {Call Him in fear and expectation} 7:56. Those are commands, which show the great status of Duaa and that; it is loved to Allah. In fact, Duaa is the foundation of worship, slavery and its spirit. It is the sign of humility, submission and being weak before the hands of Allah praise be to Him. It also shows the need for Allah by the slave.

Allah; praised and complemented prophets and messengers (pbut) because they made much Duaa. He said about some of them: {They used to strive in doing good deeds, and they called unto Us in longing or desire and in fear, and they were humble and submissive unto Us} 21:90. Allah gave us many examples of how He answered many of the prayers of the prophets and messengers in order to entice us to make Duaa.
Allah also commended the true devout people by the plenty of Duaa they make, He says: {Who forsake their beds to calling unto their Lord in fear and expectation, . . . } 32:16.
Allah commands us to keep the company of those who make a lot of Duaa, and commands against the company of those who are forgetful and oblivious about Duaa.

Dearly beloved, Duaa or calling and asking Allah is of a tremendous status in Islam, and its benefits are great, and it is one of the best acts of worship and the greater acts of obedience, and the most beneficial of the acts of devotion. The messenger ppbu said: {Duaa is worship}. He also said: {There is nothing more honourable, or more respectable upon Allah than Duaa}. Just listen to what the messenger ppbu said which will generate affection, security and assurance within the hearts of the believers. The messenger ppbu said: {Allah is too ashamed and embarrassed and too generous that if a person puts his hands up to Him; that Allah turns him back empty handed and disappointed}. Did you hear this? Allah feels embarrassed from you, and you do not feel embarrassed from Him. So Dear brother and sister, put your hands up in chastity and purity; towards Allah may He be praised. Say to your creator and the provider of your subsistence, say to Him: “I have no confidence into anything or anyone in this world except in You, and I have no hope except that hope in You, and I have no concession and I do not concede to anyone except to You. O Allah, I delegate authority or empowerment to no one except to You alone, and I put my trust into no one else but into You, and I persevere and I can be patient only at Your gate. and I do not humiliate myself doing anything; except if it is in Your obedience, and I have hope in nothing except having hope in Your good hands. I have no fearsomeness and respect except to Your majesty”. If you ask, ask Allah alone, and if you seek support seek it from Allah. Know that Allah becomes angry if you stop asking Him. The messenger ppbu said: {Who does not ask Allah, then Allah gets angry at him}. Allah wants you to humble down to Him, He wants you to announce your lack of power, and you announce your lack of means and poverty, and that you ask Him for your needs. Allah wants you to go towards Him, and seek the most Powerful and from the Richest, the most Honourable and the most Wise. Who do we call upon if we do not call Allah. Allah says: {Say: if the punishment of Allah comes upon you or the Hour come upon you, Can you see yourselves, (calling upon anyone else other than Allah)? Do you then call (for help) to any other than Allah? (Answer that) if ye are truthful. No, but unto Him you call, and He removes what you called Him for, if He will, and you forget whatever partners you ascribed unto Him. } 6:40-41.

What makes us want to say Duaa is that we are promised with the answer from the one who is so close; who responds and who is capable to respond. Allah says: {And when My slaves ask you about Me, then I am close I respond to the call of the caller when he calls Me} 2:186. No one responds to those in need except Him praise be upon Him.

Slaves of Allah, in His Qudsi hadeeth; Allah is calling you saying: {My slaves, you are all misguided except this that I guide, so ask me for guidance and I will guide you. My slaves, you are all hungry except this that I feed, so ask me for food and I will feed you. My slaves you are all naked except this that I dress, so ask me for clothing and I will cover you}.

In fact, every night Allah comes to the nearer heavens and calls you, He says: {Is there any caller then I will give them, is there a caller then I will respond to them, is there any who is asking for forgiveness then I will forgive them}. Allah also tells you that His storage is ever so full that it does not become less full by Him answering all requests. His hand is ever so generous when giving by night or by day, and it never reduces the giving no matter how much it spends. Allah says: “My slaves, if all of you, from your first to your last, your humans and your Jinn, they all assembled in one ground and asked me, and I gave each of them what they asked, then what I have will not be reduced except by as much as a needle will be reduced if it was dipped into the sea and taken out”.

Dear Muslims, No one will win if you make Duaa except you. The fruit of Duaa is guaranteed with Allah’s will. The messenger ppbu gave us the good news when he said: {Any Muslim who makes a Duaa with a request that does not contain a sin, and does not contain a break of blood ties or breaks a kin relation then Allah would give them either of the following three: either promptly answers the request, or saves answering it into the next life, or Allah will save them from a similar amount of evil}. They said: “Then messenger of Allah, we should make plenty of Duaa”. He said: “Allah is even more”.

Dearly beloved in Allah, there are rrequirements or conditions for Duaa (or prayers), and they are:

1.      Sincerity of the intention.

2.      Purity and honesty of earned food which you consume.

3.      Certainty or confidence or trust into Allah.

4.      Avoiding rushing and hurrying of the response.

5.      The heart is to be conscious or aware during Duaa.

6.      Avoiding violating a Duaa (or a prayers).

Regarding the times and conditions during which Allah will respond and answer prayers (or Duaa ) are thankfully many. This is due to the grace of Allah upon this nation. Some of which are:

1.   The messenger ppbu said: {There are three people whose prayer (or Duaa ) will not be turned back unanswered, (one of them is:) the duaa of a fasting person at the time of breaking the fast}.

2.   Out of the days; is the day of Arafa. The messenger ppbu told us that day of Arafa is the most honoured day. A Duaa (or prayer) made on day of Arafa is an answered prayer.

3.   Also the day of Friday. On the of Friday there is an hour during which if a slave makes a prayer (or a Duaa) and asks his God something then Allah will answer and give him what he asked.

4.   Among the times are also the hours of the last third of the night as told by the messenger ppbu by Abi-Hurairah.

5.   Times during which prayers made are answered include the times between Azan (a call to prayer) and Eqama (starting of the same prayer).

6.   The messenger ppbu also said: {the nearest a slave can be to his Lord is while he is prostrating. So make plenty of Duaa then}.

So, you Muslims, make a lot of Duaa, plenty of demands to the Richest of all. Make requests for yourselves. There is no intermediary between you and Allah. Make Duaa for your children. The Duaa of a parent is answered. Make Duaa for your brothers. A Duaa made for your brother unknown to your brother is answered. Make a Duaa to brothers of yours in faith who have suffered aggression and wrong, and whose blood were shed, their souls were terrified, and their properties were robbed, and they were forcefully displaced from their homes. Your simplest duty towards them is to make Duaa for them.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com