Power in Making Dua - 12 Reasons to Level Up

Power in Making Dua - 12 Reasons to Level Up

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. We sense His mercy all around us after talking to the Most Merciful. We get a new commitment to follow His path for that is the only path for success. We feel blessed with each such commitment.

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; that 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 ibadah. A person engaged in dua affirms his belief in Tawheed (monotheism) and shuns belief in all false gods. With each dua his belief in Allah grows. He beseeches Him, affirming his own powerlessness. 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, the Prophet Muhammad stood up all night in prayer seeking Allah's help in the battle between unequal armies that would follow the next day. In the decisive battles against the crusaders, Sultan Salatuddin Ayyubi was busy day and night. His days were devoted to Jihad. His nights were spent making dua, crying, seeking Allah's help. This has been the practice of all true mujahideen.

We should make it a point to make dua for all things big and small. It is the beginning of wisdom to realize that big and small are arbitrary labels that are totally irrelevant in this context. Nothing is too big for Whom we are asking from; nothing is too small for the one who is asking. That is why we have been taught to ask Allah when we need something as small as shoelaces.

We should ask as a beggar, as a destitute person, for that is what we in reality are in relationship to Allah. At the same time we should ask with great hope and conviction that we shall be granted our prayers. We should remember the Hadith: "There is nothing more dear to Allah than a servant making dua to Him." On the other hand, a prayer lacking concentration and conviction is no prayer at all.

We should make dua at all times, not only during times of distress when times are difficult, we should make dua for ease and when times are good, make dua to thank Allah. The Prophet Muhammad said: "Whosoever desires that Allah answers his duas in unfavorable and difficult conditions, he should make plentiful dua in days of ease and comfort." Also he said: "The person who does not ask from Allah, Allah becomes angry with him."

We should ask for all of our needs: those related to this world as well as those related to the Hereafter. Those who only concentrate on the former are, in effect, announcing that they don't care for their life in the permanent abode. They should blame no body but themselves for the total ruin in that world that Qur'an assures us awaits them. Those who only concentrate on the later are also showing lack of balance, for we need Allah's help to lead a good life here as well.

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, and destitute and struggling Muslims everywhere. We should pray for them for the good in this world as well as in the Hereafter.

The Prophet 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.'" [Sahih Muslim]

In the dark ages that we are living in today, everyday brings fresh news about atrocities committed against our brothers in Palestine, Kashmir, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, and the list goes on. 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 this and move on to some other subject. Or we can stand up before Allah and pray for His help, who alone can help.

The 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.

Here is a summary of why we as members of the final Ummah of our belove Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) need to all level up insha'Allah;

1. It is the best act of worship.

It is such a blessed act that the Prophet equated it to worship itself.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Supplication (du’a’) is itself the worship. (He then recited:) ‘And your Lord said: Call on Me, I will answer you.’ [Abu Dawud]

2. It is the easiest form of worship.

There are no prerequisites (shuroot) of making dua, as there are in other acts of worship. For example, before making salah you need to have wudu, your clothes and place of prayer needs to be clean and you need to face the qiblah. For fasting you need to be free from menses and you need to make an intention, and it needs to be at specific times of the day (from dawn till dusk). As for dua, there is no time or place, you can make dua in any situation you may be in. However, there are some things which prevent dua from having effect, such as earning in a haram manner.

3. It is a sign of the strength of Iman.

If you know for sure that your boss likes you, and that his business is going through a highly profitable period, then you will ask him for a pay-rise. When you have a strong belief in the existence of the Lord, and in the truthfulness of the Quran and the Messenger, then you will definitely make dua, knowing that it is only He who can fulfill your needs, and He is all Powerful, He is able to do all things.

4. It is a command from Allah.

Allah the Exalted said,

And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible. [40:60]

5. It is a sign of humility.

The proof for this is the same ayah quoted above. Allah calls those who do not make dua ‘those who behave arrogantly’.

6. Allah is near the one who makes dua.

Allah the Exalted said,

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. [2:186]

7. It is a manifestation of the beautiful Names and Attributes of Allah

When we call on Allah for certain needs, we are asserting one of His names and attributes. When we ask Him for money or provision, we are asserting that He is ar Razzaq. When we are calling on the One who is above the Heavens from down here, we are asserting that He is al Aleem, as Sami’, al Baseer.

8. It is a sunnah of the prophets and pious predecessors

It is clear from the life of the Prophet how much he used to supplicate, in every situation. Also, there are many examples in the Quran of prophets making dua, some of the examples are:

Yusuf:

My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. And if You do not avert from me their plan, I might incline toward them and [thus] be of the ignorant. [12:33]

Musa:

My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need. [28:24]

Yaqub:

I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah [12:86]

9. It is a signature of the Muslim personality

Allah praised Zakariyyah a.s. in the following ayah as being one who used to make dua.

So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive. [21:90]

10. It is the weapon of the oppressed

The Prophet, when sending Mu’adh ibn Jabal to Yemen, told him: ‘Beware of the supplication of the oppressed; for indeed there is no barrier between it and Allah.’ [Tirmidhi]

11. It is a stress reliever

When you express your problems and sorrows to Allah, you build a connection with Him. You start realizing that you don’t have any reason to feel stressed anymore, since you have told Him about it and now He will take care of it.

   12. It is a spiritual booster

Duas can propel you towards your goals in life and whatever you want to achieve. If your connection to dua has gone stale perhaps you need to renew them duas as you would with you annual goals. Learn the meaning of the 99 names of Allah and utilise these beautiful names when making your dua.

Lastly, be positive and have tawakkul in Allah that it will be accepted in some shape or form. Use the power of dua wisely and consistently and you will see how it will help level up your life and impact positively the loved ones around you.

Please kind share your comments, advice and further tips below.