\u2018The Believer\u2019s weapon\u2019 is how Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam described du\u2019aa. \u2018A slack bow\u2019 is how Ibn-ul-Qayyim (ra) described the du\u2019aa that . . .<\/p>\n
People often wonder why their du\u2019aas are not accepted, especially when they hear or read the aayah:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\u0648\u064e\u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0631\u064e\u0628\u0651\u064f\u0643\u064f\u0645\u064f \u0627\u062f\u0652\u0639\u064f\u0648\u0646\u0650\u064a \u0623\u064e\u0633\u0652\u062a\u064e\u062c\u0650\u0628\u0652 \u0644\u064e\u0643\u064f\u0645\u0652
\u201cAnd your Rabb said: Call me, I will accept your call.\u201d
In fact, Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam is reported to have said, \u201cWhoever is given du\u2019aa is (also) given acceptance because Allah Ta\u2019aala says: Call me, I will accept your call.\u201d\u00a0 It is also narrated from Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam that, \u201cAllah does not open the door of du\u2019aa for a servant yet close on him the door of acceptance.\u201d\u00a0 Thus, Ibn \u2018Umar (ra)\u2019s freed slave, Naafi\u2019 (ra), narrates that he heard his former master say on the top of Mount Safa, \u201cO Allah! You said: Call me, I will accept your call and You do not break your promises. I therefore implore You that, having guided me to Islam, (please) do not snatch it away from me until You grant me death while I am a Muslim.\u201d
One Reason
One reason (although not too common) for the non-acceptance of du\u2019aa is the du\u2019aa itself. This is when the du\u2019aa entails something disliked by Allah Ta\u2019aala. For example, a man makes du\u2019aa to win the lottery or he makes du\u2019aa for barakah in his liquor business. A du\u2019aa of this sort could be compared to incorrect medication. For example, a diabetic taking hypertension medication to reduce his blood sugar levels. Du\u2019aas entailing things that disliked by Allah are fruitless just as incorrect medication yields no results.
A Second Reason
A second reason is inattention of the person making du\u2019aa. In the worldly life, inattention when speaking to people is regarded as rude. Inattention when seeking somebody\u2019s assistance is not only rude; it indicates a lack of urgency and therefore unconvincing. In du\u2019aa, we speak to Allah and seek His assistance. Hence, paying attention and focusing on Allah is of paramount importance. Inattention in du\u2019aa is rudeness to Allah. Can we be rude to Allah and expect Him to still accept our du\u2019aas? Inattention in du\u2019aa also implies that, Allah forbid, we are not really in need of Allah\u2019s help. Can anybody claim independence from Allah? It is for this reason that Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said that, \u201c. . . Allah does not accept du\u2019aa from a negligent, thoughtless heart.\u201d\u00a0 \u2018Like a slack bow\u2019 is how Ibn-ul-Qayyim (ra) described such a du\u2019aa.\u00a0 How far will the arrow travel if the bow is slack? If I say, \u2018not too far\u2019, you\u2019ll probably say, \u2018it will hardly leave the bow\u2019. Just as you cannot hunt with a slack bow, you cannot seek Allah\u2019s assistance with a \u2018slack\u2019 du\u2019aa \u2013 a du\u2019aa without concentration. I would compare a person who makes du\u2019aa in this manner to a hunter who has the best firearm but does not aim correctly. Alternatively, such a du\u2019aa could be compared to incorrectly administered medication. Do you blame your GP, the antibiotic he prescribed or yourself if you do not complete the course?\u00a0\u00a0
The Third Reason
The reason for the non-acceptance of du\u2019aa comprises of three aspects:
a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consumption of haraam food and drink \u2013 On one occasion, Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam quoted the aayaat \u201cO Messengers! Eat from the pure (halaal) things and do good actions, I am fully aware of whatever you do\u201d\u00a0 and \u201cO those who brought Imaan! Eat from the pure (halaal) sustenance that we give you.\u201d\u00a0 He thereafter spoke of a traveler on a long journey \u2013 his hair is disheveled and his clothes are covered in dust. \u201cStretching his hands to the sky, he cries \u2018O my Rabb! O my Rabb!\u2019 but his food is haraam, his clothes are haraam and he has been nourished with haraam substances. How can his du\u2019aa be accepted?\u201d\u00a0
b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Excessive sin \u2013 A narration in Imaam Ahmad (ra)\u2019s Kitaab-uz-Zuhd tells us that at the time of a particular period of difficulty experienced by the Bani Isra\u2019eel, they all went out of their town in order to beg Allah for His assistance. Allah, however, commanded their Nabi to inform them that, \u201cYou are going out to the fields with impure clothes. You raise to me hands by means of which you have shed blood and filled your houses with haraam. Now, when I am severely angry with you? (If this is your attitude) you will only get further from me!\u201d\u00a0 In this regard, Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (ra) said that, \u201ca small amount of du\u2019aa similar to the amount of salt required when cooking is sufficient if you are righteous.\u201d\u00a0
c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Haste \u2013 Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said, \u201cThe du\u2019aa of one of you will be accepted so long as he is not hasty, saying \u2018I made du\u2019aa but it was not accepted.\u201d\u00a0
d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Doubt in the acceptance of one\u2019s du\u2019aa \u2013 Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said, \u201cMake du\u2019aa with conviction that your du\u2019aa will be accepted.\u201d It is for this reason that we have been prohibited from saying, \u2018O Allah, forgive me if you desire\u2019. <\/p>\n
Du\u2019aa accompanied with any of the above could be likened to a diabetic who takes his medication religiously but does not reduce his sugar intake.
Similar to Salaah
Explaining the above in a different manner, many scholars mention that acceptance of du\u2019aa is similar to the validity of salaah. Just as the validity of salaah depends on certain shuroot (conditions), the acceptance of du\u2019aa is also dependent on certain shuroot. <\/p>\n
Is salaah valid without wudoo? Is salaah valid if the awrah (private area) is exposed? Is salaah valid if the musallee\u2019s clothes are najas (impure)? Is salaah valid if the musallee (person performing salaah) does not face the qiblah? The answer to all these questions is \u2018No!\u2019 Why not? Because wudoo, concealment of the awrah (private area), tahaarah (purity) of clothes and facing the qiblah are all shuroot for the validity of salaah. The acceptance of du\u2019aa is similar; it depends on certain shuroot.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
There are two types of shuroot for the acceptance of du\u2019aa:
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The shuroot of the person making du\u2019aa \u2013 They are:
a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Conviction that nobody but Allah is able to fulfill his need
b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Conviction that all apparent means for fulfillment of his need are controlled entirely by Allah
c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Conviction that one\u2019s du\u2019aa will be accepted
d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Sincerity
e.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Concentration
f.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Abstention from haraam food, drink etc.
g.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Perseverance \u2013 He must not get tired of making du\u2019aa.
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The shuroot of the du\u2019aa \u2013 There is only one shart (condition) in this regard viz. permissibility, whatever you are making du\u2019aa for must be permissible.\u00a0
Three Levels of Du\u2019aa
The strength of the du\u2019aa also plays a role in its acceptance. In this regard, there are three levels of du\u2019aa viz.
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The du\u2019aa is stronger than the difficulty and therefore deflects it.
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The du\u2019aa is weaker than the difficulty and therefore unable to deflect it.
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The du\u2019aa is neither stronger nor weaker than the difficulty. In this instance too, the du\u2019aa is unable to deflect the difficulty. In the words of a hadith attributed to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, the du\u2019aa and difficulty \u201cwrestle with each other\u201d.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
In short, one reason for the non-acceptance of du\u2019aa is insufficiency \u2013 you are not making enough du\u2019aa. A learner failed the physics examination. \u201cWhy did you not study?\u201d his father scolded. \u201cBut I did study\u201d he pleaded. That was the truth. He did study, except that he only did so on the night preceding the examination. How much could he cram in one night? So yes, he did study, but it was not enough. The same applies to du\u2019aa. We often make du\u2019aa, but not enough.\u00a0
I Love Hearing His Voice
Conversely, what is sometimes construed as rejection of du\u2019aa is actually a delay \u2013 it will be accepted, but not yet. Put differently, the du\u2019aa is accepted but the need is not yet fulfilled. The reason for this is the sincerity, dedication and humility of the person making the du\u2019aa. It is mentioned in some narrations that when a person who is loved by Allah makes du\u2019aa, Allah tells Jibreel (as), \u201cDo not be hasty in fulfilling my servant\u2019s need because I love hearing his voice.\u201d
One of Three Things\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
In fact, Sayyiduna Abu Sa\u2019eed (ra) narrated that Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said that whenever a Muslim makes du\u2019aa in which there is neither sin nor severance of family ties, Allah gives him one of three things:
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Allah fulfills his request
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He stores the reward of his du\u2019aa for the Hereafter
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He averts an equal amount of hardship from his path.
\u201cThen we will make a lot of du\u2019aa\u201d said the Sahaabah (ra) when they heard this. Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam replied that no matter how much du\u2019aa they make, Allah\u2019s treasures are always more!\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Considering the divine promise in \u0627\u062f\u0652\u0639\u064f\u0648\u0646\u0650\u064a \u0623\u064e\u0633\u0652\u062a\u064e\u062c\u0650\u0628\u0652 \u0644\u064e\u0643\u064f\u0645\u0652 (Call me, I will accept your call)\u00a0 and the above narration, many scholars have concluded that Allah accepts all du\u2019aas. Nevertheless, rejection of du\u2019aa due to reasons explained thus far is also a reality. Observation of the shuroot (conditions) of du\u2019aa is therefore essential.\u00a0
With Fear and Desire
\u0648\u064e\u0627\u062f\u0652\u0639\u064f\u0648\u0647\u064f \u062e\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0641\u064b\u0627 \u0648\u064e\u0637\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0639\u064b\u0627 \u0625\u0650\u0646\u0651\u064e \u0631\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0629\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0651\u064e\u0647\u0650 \u0642\u064e\u0631\u0650\u064a\u0628\u064c \u0645\u0650\u0646\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0645\u064f\u062d\u0652\u0633\u0650\u0646\u0650\u064a\u0646\u064e
Call Him with fear and desire.
Certainly, Allah\u2019s mercy is close to the good-doers.
According to one interpretation, \u062e\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0641\u064b\u0627 indicates fear that one\u2019s du\u2019aa may be rejected and \u0637\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0639\u064b\u0627 refers to desire for one\u2019s du\u2019aa to be accepted.\u00a0 Furthermore, acceptance of du\u2019aa is only due to Allah\u2019s mercy. Hence, we conclude that du\u2019aa accompanied with fear and hope is close to acceptance (sure to be accepted). \u2018Like the two wings of a bird\u2019 is how Shaikh Ahmad As-Saawi described such fear and hope, no bird can fly with only one wing. Similarly, our du\u2019aas do not \u2018fly\u2019 to Allah without the wings of fear and hope.
Finally
In conclusion, observe all the shuroot (conditions) and aadaab (etiquette) of du\u2019aa and do not ever give up because \u2018the door is eventually opened for the one who does not stop knocking\u2019. <\/p>\n
Abu Hudhaifa Muhammed Karolia
5th Ramadaan 1434 \/ 13th August 2013
Al-Jaami\u2019ah Al-Mahmoodiah
Persida, Springs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018The Believer\u2019s weapon\u2019 is how Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam described du\u2019aa. \u2018A slack bow\u2019 is how Ibn-ul-Qayyim (ra) described the du\u2019aa that . . . People often wonder why their du\u2019aas are not accepted, especially when they hear or read the aayah:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u0648\u064e\u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0631\u064e\u0628\u0651\u064f\u0643\u064f\u0645\u064f \u0627\u062f\u0652\u0639\u064f\u0648\u0646\u0650\u064a \u0623\u064e\u0633\u0652\u062a\u064e\u062c\u0650\u0628\u0652 \u0644\u064e\u0643\u064f\u0645\u0652\u201cAnd your Rabb said: Call me, I will accept […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jameah-mahmoodiyah.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}