The Reflexive Dimensions of Du'a/Supplication
| Khatib : | Dr. Omar Ezzeldine |
| Khutbah No: | 124 |
| Khutbah Date: | 11/19/04 |
“ Du'aa is the essence of Worship .”
[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]
Ask and Act
And your Lord says: " Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): but those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell - in humiliation !" [Q40:60]
Herein we find that the very nature of asking Allah is an act of worship.
- It connects you to Allah, drawing us nearer to Him
- It humbles us by reminding us that it is to Allah with whom the ultimate authority lies. Those that believe otherwise are in fact “too arrogant” to realize that no matter what we do and whatever successes we achieve, it is by the will of Allah.
- Because du'a also entails work and effort – we must ask, but the request includes the need for effort on our part.
The will of Allah is manifested in the pattern he has set up wherein we gain only through effort, even if that effort is little.
Throughout our history, as documented in the Qur'an we have many examples where Allah has helped, but only after his servants have put forth an effort to help themselves:
- Hajar ran between Safa and Marwa hills searching for water and asking
- Musa helps the women and then asks Allah for help. ~ So he watered (their flocks) for them; then he turned back to the shade, and said:"O my Lord! truly am I in (desperate) need of any good that Thou dost send me! " [Q 28:24]
- Maryam shakes the tree ~ "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. [Q 19:25]
From this we have a valuable application of the so often repeated verse in many khutbas these days: For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect. [Q13:11]
Reflect and Learn – this builds serenity in the heart
Consider the need for reflection when we make du'a. In essence we not only send the du'a out to Allah, but we also must contemplate upon what we say.
When we make du'a it should cause us to reflect upon ourselves and through that become empowered with the hope built into the very concept of du'a
Let us go through some simple examples. The best du'a is the du'a of the Qur'an.
• Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek. [Q 1:5]
• We seek aid from Allah in our effort to worship him ( Allahuma A'inna ‘ala thikrika wa shukrika wa husna ‘ibadatik ). Also as indicated before, seeking Allah's aid is an act of worship.
When we make du'a it should cause us reflect and think about the fact that embedded in that du'a we make is a message to ourselves. A guide with which we find solace and develop confidence as we take on the challenges of this life " Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction. “ [Q 13:28]
On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:) "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to
bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those who stand against faith ." [Q 2:286]
In this remembrance, we find comfort that Allah is with us
Say: " O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful . [Q 39:53]