WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN (EPISODE 6)

By Yusuff Ademola Adesina

EPISODE 6: The Significance and Etiquette of Making Supplication


All praise be to Allaah, may His peace and blessing be upon the last messenger, Prophet Muhammad, his households, his companions, and those on the path of righteousness until the Day of Judgement.

Human beings are created with disposition of religion; although, certain factors may kill or maim such consciousness. Our souls long for its Creator – Allaah – as the stomach longs for food. However, human can sometimes be neglectful; denying the soul its spiritual cravings.

Man is dependent on his Creator; he has no power to do anything or create anything except that he manipulates the completed works of the God. Thus, there is need for man to create connection with his Lord through certain legitimate acts of worship – among which is making supplication to his Lord.

On this regards, this episode and the next of this series aim to discuss the significance and etiquette of making supplication and other related matters.

The Significance and Etiquette of Supplication in Islam

The Arabic word “Du’a” means invocation or supplication. It is an act worship which should be directed to the Creator and Lord of the universe.

Numan ibn Basheer (Allah pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Supplication is worship” (Abu Dawud)

All forms of supplication – be it of worship or request – should not be directed to anyone or anything other than Allah, for any form of supplication of worship directed to other than Allah is an act of disbelief. Allaah says:

“And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.”(Q40:60)

Islam is a transparent religion that permits direct access to the God – Allaah – and thus, intermediaries should not be put between man and his Lord. Allaah tells us to call Him and He shall respond:

“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” (Q2:186)


Therefore, all forms of supplication directed to Angels, Jinns, Prophets, Heroes, Saints, the dead ones and others should be shunned, for they all constitute Shirk – which is the great unforgivable sin and leads the doers to Hell. Perhaps these people called upon could not hear nor could they respond to the supplication of the supplicant. May Allaah have mercy upon us and guide us. Allaah says:

“So do not invoke with Allaah another deity and [thus] be among the punished.” (Q26:213)

“...That is Allaah, your Lord; to Him belongs sovereignty. And those whom you invoke other than Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed. If you invoke them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they heard, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of

Resurrection they will deny your association...” (Q35:23-14)

“Indeed, you will not make the dead hear, nor will you make the deaf hear the call when they have turned their backs, retreating.” (Q27:80)

Other tips regarding supplication are those enlisted below:

●     Abstain from Haraam (prohibited) food, clothing and earnings

●     Stay away from sins

●     Make supplication with Ikhlaas (sincerity): believing that only Allah can fulfil the objectives

●     Seek Allah forgiveness

●     Make your supplication consistently and be patient

●     Perform good deeds as much as you can

●     Praise Allah and convey blessing and peace on the Prophet [PBUH]

Consistent Supplication and Patience

This world is full of ups and downs like a mountainous path. Those who want to reach the peak will have to go down at certain stages and keep marching forwards. Everyone needs to understand that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease. Thus, do not despair of the mercy of Allah, be patient and consistent in your supplication; perhaps we never can tell which of the supplications will be answered.

Abu Hurayrah (Allaah pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said:

“Take on only as much as you can of good deeds, for the best deed is that which is done consistently, even if it is little.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Allaah says: “And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allaah]” (Q2:45)

In addition, Abu Hurayrah (Allah pleased with him) narrated that: The prophet(PBUH) said: “One of you is granted his prayer as long as he does not become impatient and complain saying I have supplicated to my Lord but I was not granted my prayer” (Sahih Muslim)

With this, I hope and believe that you have recalled some of the teachings related to supplication. Allaah’s willing, I shall discuss the reasons why sometimes supplications were not answered, ways of acceptance and some specific times supplications are accepted in the next episode. Jazakumul-Laah Khayran   





RELATED POSTS

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN (EPISODE 5)
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN (EPISODE 4)
http://themindbuilders.blogspot.com.ng/2017/05/what-you-should-know-about-ramadan_30.html
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN (EPISODE 3) http://themindbuilders.blogspot.com.ng/2017/05/what-you-should-know-about-ramadan_28.html
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN (EPISODE 2) http://themindbuilders.blogspot.com.ng/2017/05/what-you-should-about-ramadan-episode-2.html
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAMADAN (EPISODE 1) http://themindbuilders.blogspot.com.ng/2017/05/what-you-should-know-about-ramadan.html
RAMADAN AND ITS SPIRITUALITY, HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW? http://themindbuilders.blogspot.com.ng/2017/05/ramadan-its-spirituality-how-much-do.html

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