Supplication - The Importance of Supplication
Supplication (Du’a) is a characteristic of devotion, the garden of the heart, and the paradise of this world. It is an easy way of worship, not restricted by place, time, or circumstance. It is the enemy of calamity, defending against it, treating it, and preventing it. It diminishes its impact if it happens. Umar ibn Al-Khattab said, "I do not carry the burden of answers; rather, I carry the burden of supplication. When I am inspired to supplicate, the response comes with it."1
It is a great honor for a servant to be in proximity to Allah during supplication. Allah, glorified be He, says,
By the permission of Allah, supplication unveils calamities and disasters, preventing the occurrence of punishment and destruction. It is the weapon of the believer, and nothing is more effective in reaching a higher degree in attaining what is desired than it. It holds the power to obtain blessings and repel afflictions like no other. It relieves worries and eliminates distress. It is sufficient honor for a servant to be in proximity to Allah during supplication. Allah, glorified be He, says;
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ١٨٦
“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.”
(Surah Baqarah: Ayat 186).
Through supplication, the soul transcends, aspirations rise, and greed for what is in the hands of creation diminishes. It is the arrows of the night released by the devout, and it is a stretched rope between the heavens and the earth. so, seek refuge in Allah alone in request and attainment, pour yourself out to Him in supplication and seeking refuge, and submit humbly before Him. Sustenance is treasure and their keys are in supplication. Have faith that Allah's provisions are full, and His generosity knows no bounds, continuously bestowing day and night. They are never diminished by giving.
Call upon Allah, the Most Generous, and surrender yourself before Him. Submit all your affairs to Him and be determined in your request, with great desire. The supplicant will not be turned away, and the seeker will not be disappointed.
Whoever is burdened by poverty and seeks assistance from fellow humans will find no relief in their poverty. However, those who bring their needs to their Lord will witness the wonders of His provision, for He is the most magnificent Provider.
Whoever thinks well of Allah, He will flood them with abundant goodness and pour upon them beautiful blessings. Therefore, persist in asking, for the Giver is generous, and the Revealer is capable. Do not rush the response when you supplicate, and do never consider it as slow if it is delayed. Whoever regularly knocks on many doors is likely to have one opened.
And whoever is afflicted by the hardships of life should turn to Allah. He protects and gives peace to the distressed when they call upon Him. Allah, glorified be He, says,
أَمَّن يُجِيبُ ٱلْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ ٱلسُّوٓءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌۭ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٦٢
“Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember.”
(Surah An-Naml: Ayat 62)
This is similar to the situation of Yunus (Jonah) inside the belly of the whale. Through supplication, he was expelled from it unharmed.
With a single supplication, all the people of the earth were drowned, and Allah, glorified be He, saved Noah, peace be upon him, and those with him among the believers. Allah says,
"He said, 'My Lord, indeed my people have denied me. Then judge between me and them with decisive judgement and save me and those with me of the believers. So We saved him and those with him in the laden ship. Then We drowned thereafter the remaining ones.” (Surah Ash-Shuara, 26:117-120). Pharaoh was destroyed by the supplication of Musa (Moses), peace be upon him. Allah, glorified be He, said:
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيْتَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَأَهُۥ زِينَةًۭ وَأَمْوَٰلًۭا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِكَ ۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطْمِسْ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَٱشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَلِيمَ ٨٨
“And Moses said, "Our Lord, indeed You have given Pharaoh and his establishment splendor and wealth in the worldly life, our Lord, that they may lead [men] astray from Your way. Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment." (Surah Yunus: Ayat 88)
Allah bestowed upon Sulaiman (Solomon), peace be upon him, such a gift without measure through his supplication to the Bestower, saying;
وَمَآ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُم بِٱلَّتِى تُقَرِّبُكُمْ عِندَنَا زُلْفَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَزَآءُ ٱلضِّعْفِ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَهُمْ فِى ٱلْغُرُفَـٰتِ ءَامِنُونَ ٣٧
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَسْعَوْنَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا مُعَـٰجِزِينَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُحْضَرُونَ ٣٨
“He said, "My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower. So We subjected to him the wind blowing by his command, gently, wherever he directed. And [also] the devils [of jinn] - every builder and diver. And others bound together in shackles.”
(Surah Sad: Ayat 35-38)
Allah cured Ayub (Job) may Allah have mercy on him from his illness through his humble supplication. Allah, glorified be He, said:
۞ وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ٨٣
“And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful;"
(Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:83)
When people enjoy the comfort of their beds, raise their hands in prayer to the Allah in the darkest hours of the night. With supplication, circumstances can be transformed. The barren will have children, the sick will be healed, the needy will be provided for, and the miserable will find happiness.
Referensi
1 Majmu' Al-Fatawa by Sheikh Al-Islam (193/8)
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