"Truly, Allah loves those who repent, and He loves those who cleanse themselves."
[Al-Baqarah 2:222]
[Al-Baqarah 2:222]
One of the things all Muslims must do when faced with a problem or difficult decision is to pray Salat al-Istikhara. This is a prayer for asking Allah's guidance and help.
There seems to be a lot of confusion among many Muslims regarding how Istikahara is performed, who should say the prayer, and what rituals should surround it.
Take the time to read this article and learn how to perform the Istikhara prayer properly. It will benefit you tremendously in your life choices.
Salam everyone, I have made a step-by-step video to teach people surat al fatiha. It is especially for converts, or muslims who are just beginning to learn quran, but inchaallah it will benefit everybody. The rules aren’t perfect, but the pronunciation and words are quite good (I think), so I feel it would be an easy and clear place for people to start learning the surat.
Allah (God) wants us to be pure and good. If we are good Muslims (a person that believes in one God and accepts that Prophet Mohammed is the final messenger of God, as mentioned in the Quran and prophesised by Jesus in the Bible), we do good deeds and stop evil, and we therefore become good pious people. Allah wants us to know about Him accurately. That is why He has a religion called Islam. Through Islam, Allah taught us to purify ourselves and become good people (if you want to judge Islam, look at the holy scriptures and the hadith’s, don’t look at the people who profess to be Muslims) .
Before Allah (God) created Adam, He had created Angels and Jinns. One of the Jinns was called Iblees (Satan). When Allah created Adam He ordered the angels and Iblees to bow down to him. (To be subservient to him.) When ordered, all the angels obeyed and bowed (prostrated). But Iblees (Satan) refused. Satan, not being an angel, decided to defy Allah, and he defiantly disobeyed the order of Allah. Iblees (Satan) decided to become disdainful, bad, and arrogant.
Allah (God) did not like what Iblees did, and for this defiance He wanted to punish him. But Iblees asked for an act of kindness from Allah. The favour was to give Iblees time until the Day of Judgment so he could freely do whatever he wished. Iblees wanted to make mischief and do evil deeds and to tempt Adam and his descendants to do evil things.
As a result, Satan has been misleading mankind for a long time.
Before Allah (God) created Adam, He had created Angels and Jinns. One of the Jinns was called Iblees (Satan). When Allah created Adam He ordered the angels and Iblees to bow down to him. (To be subservient to him.) When ordered, all the angels obeyed and bowed (prostrated). But Iblees (Satan) refused. Satan, not being an angel, decided to defy Allah, and he defiantly disobeyed the order of Allah. Iblees (Satan) decided to become disdainful, bad, and arrogant.
Allah (God) did not like what Iblees did, and for this defiance He wanted to punish him. But Iblees asked for an act of kindness from Allah. The favour was to give Iblees time until the Day of Judgment so he could freely do whatever he wished. Iblees wanted to make mischief and do evil deeds and to tempt Adam and his descendants to do evil things.
As a result, Satan has been misleading mankind for a long time.
Allah (God) always listens to our prayers...we just don't know how to ask!
How does Allah (God) communicate with Humans indirectly?
Read the text below for a metaphor of how God may communicate with us:
A young woman had been to her Night Class of Theological Studies.
The professor had shared about listening to Allah and obeying Allah through perception.
The young woman couldn't help but wonder, 'Does Allah still speak to people through intuition?'
After Lessons, she went out with some friends for coffee and they discussed the message.
Several different opinions and talks about how Allah had led them in different ways and that at the end of a certain event you'll always know it was Allah (SWT) Who has directed you.
It was about nine o'clock when the young woman started driving back home. Sitting in her car, she just began to pray, 'Allah...If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey’.
As she drove down the main street, she had the strangest thought to stop and buy a bottle of milk. She shook her head and said out loud, 'Allah is that you?' she didn't get a reply and started on towards home. But again, the thought, buy a bottle of milk came into her mind.
'Okay, Allah, in case that is You, I will buy the milk.' It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. She could always use the milk. She stopped and purchased the bottle of milk and started off towards home. As she passed Ninth Street, She again felt the urge, 'Turn
Down that street.'
This is crazy she thought, and drove on past the intersection. Again, she felt that she should turn down Ninth Street. At the next intersection, she turned back and headed down the Ninth.
One thing to remember here is that we spend much of our time engrossed in this world and its material affairs,we dedicate very little if any time to thinking about the true essence of being in this world...watch the video below in which a scholar discusses heedlessness:
A young woman had been to her Night Class of Theological Studies.
The professor had shared about listening to Allah and obeying Allah through perception.
The young woman couldn't help but wonder, 'Does Allah still speak to people through intuition?'
After Lessons, she went out with some friends for coffee and they discussed the message.
Several different opinions and talks about how Allah had led them in different ways and that at the end of a certain event you'll always know it was Allah (SWT) Who has directed you.
It was about nine o'clock when the young woman started driving back home. Sitting in her car, she just began to pray, 'Allah...If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey’.
As she drove down the main street, she had the strangest thought to stop and buy a bottle of milk. She shook her head and said out loud, 'Allah is that you?' she didn't get a reply and started on towards home. But again, the thought, buy a bottle of milk came into her mind.
'Okay, Allah, in case that is You, I will buy the milk.' It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. She could always use the milk. She stopped and purchased the bottle of milk and started off towards home. As she passed Ninth Street, She again felt the urge, 'Turn
Down that street.'
This is crazy she thought, and drove on past the intersection. Again, she felt that she should turn down Ninth Street. At the next intersection, she turned back and headed down the Ninth.
One thing to remember here is that we spend much of our time engrossed in this world and its material affairs,we dedicate very little if any time to thinking about the true essence of being in this world...watch the video below in which a scholar discusses heedlessness:
ALLAH'S (God’s) JUSTICE
Allah's justice is perfect and absolute. He is impartial in His judgment. This means He is never unjust to anyone. The Justice of Allah is an extremely important attribute. Let us see how the Almighty describes Himself in His Book, the Holy Quran in Surah 4: Ayah 40
"ALLAH CAUSES NOT ANY INJUSTICE, EVEN TO THE SLIGHTEST EXTENT.
IF A GOOD DEED IS DONE, ALLAH WILL DOUBLE ITS MERIT,
AND HE WILL GIVE OF HIS OWN A GREAT REWARD."
Because Allah is very just, the following points are important:
1. He never asks us to do things beyond our capacity. He says in the Holy Quran in Surah 2, Ayah 286
"ALLAH WILL NOT PLACE A BURDEN ON A PERSON UNLESS HE IS ABLE TO BEAR IT......."
2. He will only hold us responsible for our actions, and nothing else.
3. He will not hold us responsible for actions of other people before us or after us.
4. He will forgive us if we do something wrong and we truly ask for His forgiveness.
"ALLAH CAUSES NOT ANY INJUSTICE, EVEN TO THE SLIGHTEST EXTENT.
IF A GOOD DEED IS DONE, ALLAH WILL DOUBLE ITS MERIT,
AND HE WILL GIVE OF HIS OWN A GREAT REWARD."
Because Allah is very just, the following points are important:
1. He never asks us to do things beyond our capacity. He says in the Holy Quran in Surah 2, Ayah 286
"ALLAH WILL NOT PLACE A BURDEN ON A PERSON UNLESS HE IS ABLE TO BEAR IT......."
2. He will only hold us responsible for our actions, and nothing else.
3. He will not hold us responsible for actions of other people before us or after us.
4. He will forgive us if we do something wrong and we truly ask for His forgiveness.
Have you tried Praying?
Conclusion – Does God speak to us?
Sometimes we are just not ready to hear or accept what God (Allah) say’s to us, which is why we think we are alone and God does not speak with us. If only we spare some time each day to contemplate how fortunate we are in comparison to Palestinians dying in droves due to the illegal sanctions imposed on them, the poor people in Afghanistan stuck between Allied bullets and Taliban henchmen. Can you ever consider yourself in a position where the physician has given you a few months of life, because you have a terminal illness, it is only in moments like that people realize how fortunate they are.
Mentioned in the Holy Quran:
“It is not fitting for a man that Allah (God) should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with Allah’s permission, what Allah wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise” (Quran 42:53)
Mentioned in the Holy Quran:
“It is not fitting for a man that Allah (God) should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with Allah’s permission, what Allah wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise” (Quran 42:53)
The Quran is a witness upon the stupidity and ignorance of those who wish that Allah should speak to them directly, the Quran states:
“And those who have no knowledge say, ‘Why does not Allah speak to us (face to face)… So said the people before them word of similar import. Their hearts are alike; We have Indeed, made plain the signs for people who believe with certainty.”Surah al-Baqarah (2): 118.
Ayah: "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."
Ayah: "When my servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls on Me. . ."
[Baqarah:186] "Dua is (a form) of worship; your Lord said, "Call on Me; I will answer you (your prayer).
Hadith: "Verily, your Lord (Blessed is He and Almighty) is alive, generous and if His servant raises his hands towards Him, He feels reluctant not to return anything to him."
Hadith: "Any Muslim who supplicates Allah with a supplication that does not contain any sin or cutting off of family relations, Allah will give him one of three things for it:
1. Either He will speedily answer his dua
2. or He will save it for him until the Hereafter
3. or He will avert something bad from him equal to the value of his dua.
(Explanation: a dua has a certain relative value determined by Allah, so if a person says a particular dua, say 15 times in a day, then Allah protects him from something bad that is equal to the valued amount of his dua.)Customs and Manners of Making duas and the Causes for their Being Answered:
1. Faithfulness to Allah
2. To start with thanking Allah and praising Him and then giving salat on the Prophet (SAW) and ending the dua with the same.
3. To be serious in dua and certain that it will be answered
4. Persistence in the dua and not rushing it (Hadith says don't rush or be impatient. Don't say "I prayed for such and such a thing and Allah didn't answer my prayer. Allah dislikes that.)
5. To put your heart into the dua -- make it from your heart (even if you are reading the words, i.e., mean what you say)
6. Say dua in times of crises as well as times that are good -- don't just say dua in times of need only.
7. Ask Allah alone -- and no one else.
8. Do not make dua on someone's family or money or child or life -- that is, don't say I wish that that person's family be destroyed, or I pray that she loses all her money, or I wish his oldest son would fail or I wish that he would die.
9. Make dua in a moderately low voice -- not silent yet not completely out loud.
10. Know your sins (faults) and seek forgiveness for them and know and acknowledge the benefits and blessings you have been given and thank Allah for them.
11. The oppressor should make amends for what he has done and repent.
12. Turn to Allah with humility, desire and fear of Him.
13. Do not use rhymed prose when making dua.
14. The supplication is (said) three (times). [Hadith that states that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) when making dua, repeated it 3 times.]
15. Face the Qiblah when making dua.
16. Raise the hands during dua [sunnah, not wajib]
17. Make wudu before making dua when possible.
18. Don't pray for injurious or harmful things to happen to people (like praying someone has an unfortunate mishap, or falls down, or chokes or breaks his leg, etc.) Also remember, that the Angels say "Ameen" and the same for you," after your dua.
19. The person making dua should start with himself if he is going to pray for someone else.
20. To make intercession to Allah by use of His beautiful Names and superior Attributes, or by some good deed that the supplicator performed or by the dua of a good man living, who is in his presence (e.g., asking someone who is a good Muslim to make dua for you)
21. That the food and drink and clothing is halal and of a halal source
22. Do not make dua for a sin or cutting off of family ties.
23. To order that which is good and forbid that which is forbidden
24. Distancing one's self from all types of sin.
THE PREFERRED TIMES, CONDITIONS AND PLACES SUPPLICATIONS ARE ANSWERED: (bearing in mind that one can make dua at any time and in any place; however, the following are the most preferable times, conditions and places.)
1. Lailatul Qadr
2. Deep in the last third of the night
3. Immediately after the mandatory prayers
4. Between the adhan and iqamah
5. An hour during every night -- [hadith states that Allah comes down to the sky of the earth during the last 3rd of the night and hears the duas of the believers]
6. At the time of the call to the mandatory prayers
7. At the time of rain
8. During jihad when the ranks of fighters (mujahidoun) advance in the path of Allah
9. An hour every Friday -- the soundest opinion regarding this hour is the last hour between the hours of Asr on the day of Juma, and it could be the hour of the khutba and salat.
10. At the time of drinking Zamzam water with true intentions
11. During sajda
12. At the time of waking up at night and there are hadith regarding what the Prophet r said in these duas
13. If you sleep after having made wudu then wake up at night and then make supplication
14. After you say dua Yunus, make your personal dua or one from Qur'an or sunnah and it is La illah ila Allah subhannaka inni kuntu min al thaalimeen.
15. Dua of people after the death of a person (e.g. the dua of a person who is praying for someone who has just died)
16. Dua after praising Allah and giving salat on the Prophet (SAW) in the tashah-hud at the end of salat. Make your dua before the 2 tasleems.
17. At the time of dua, call upon Allah by the greatest of His names that, if called by them, He answers, and if asked by them, He gives (e.g. Ya Rahman, Ya Raheem, Ya Thal Jalaali wal Ikraam, Ya Al Ahad As Samad, lam yalid wa lam yulad wa lam yakum kuf wan ahad)
18. The dua of a Muslim for his brother or sister Muslim stemming from the heart.
19. Dua on the Day of Arafat
20. Dua during the month of Ramadan
21. Dua at the time of a Muslim gathering for the purpose of remembering Allah.
22. Dua at the time of a crisis by saying Inna lilahi wa inna ilaihi raje'oon, Allahuma ajurni fi museebati, wa akhlif li khairun minha. Verily, we belong to Allah, and verily, to Him is our return. O Allah, Bless me in my problem and replace it for me with something better than it.
23. Dua when the heart reaches out to Allah and is ready to be totally sincere
24. Dua of the oppressed against the one who is oppressing him
25. Dua of the father or mother for or against the son
26. Dua of the traveler
27. Dua of the one fasting until he breaks his fast.
28. Dua of the one fasting at the time of breaking fast
29. Dua of a desperate person
30. Dua of a just Imam
31. Dua of a son or daughter obedient to his or her parents
32. Dua immediately after wudu saying what has been mentioned in the hadith that is directly related to it (ablution)
33. Dua after stoning the small Shaitan (jamrat sugra) during Hajj
34. Dua after stoning the middle Shaitan (jamrat wusta) during Hajj.
35. Dua made inside the Ka'aba and the dua of one who prays inside the hijr as it is part of the house (bait Allah). [This is the semicircle to the right of the Ka'aba if you face the door.]
36. Dua on the mount of Safa during Umrah or Hajj
37. Dua on the mount of Marwa during Umrah or Hajj
38. Dua at any of the holy sites.
Note: The believer can call to his Lord at any time, wherever he is but these times and conditions and places are special and more care should be taken.
Note: All of these circumstances are substantiated by hadith.
"There is nothing more dear to Allah Ta’ala than a servant making dua to him."[at Tirmidhi]
"The person who does not ask from Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala becomes angry with him."
[at Tirmidhi, Ahmad]
"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]
"Dua is the essence of Ibadah (worship)."
[at Tirmdhi, Ahmad]
"If you ask, ask Allah and if you seek help, seek help from Allah."
[at Tirmdhi, Ahmad]
"O my servants, were the first of you and last of you, the human of you and jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request from me, and were I to give everyone what they requested, that would not decrease what I have anymore than a needle decreases the sea if put into it."
[Sahih Muslim]
"When a person dies, all his actions come to an end with the exception of three:
1) Sadaqa Jaariyaa recurring charity>,
2) Knowledge from which benefit continues to be reaped,
3) And the prayers of his pious children for him."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
""The invocation of any one of you is granted [by Allah] as long as he does not show impatience by saying "I have invoked Allah but my request has not been answered."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim]
"And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[surah an-Nisa; 4:110]
"And declare the freedom of your Rubb from imperfection beginning with His praise, and ask His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives."
[surah 110:3]
"Any muslim who supplicates to Allah in a Du'a which contains no sin breaking of kinship, Allah will give him one of three things: either his Du`a will be immediately answered or, it will be saved for him in the hereafter, or it will turn away an equivalent amount of evil (from him)" The companions said "so we will ask for more" he replied, "Allah is more [generous]."
[at-Tirmidhi, Ahmad]
"Ask forgiveness for your sin and also for the believing men and women"
[Surah 47:19]
"The Prophet, salAllahu alaiyhi wasalam, said to him while Ibn-Abbas was riding behind him on the same mount;
"young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]:
Be mindful of Allah and you will find him in front of you. If you ask, ask only Allah and if you seek help, seek help only from Allah. And know that if all the nations were to gather together to benefit you, they would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and if they gather together to harm you, they would harm you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages are dry."
[at-Tirmidhi]
"Ask and you will be given, ask you will be given"
[at-Tirmidhi]
"And when my servants ask you concerning me, [tell them] I am indeed near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls."
[surah al Baqarah; 2:187]
"And your lord said, invoke me and I will respond to your invocation."
[Surah 40:60]
"Invoke your lord with humility and in secrecy, for God loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds."
[Surah 7:55]
"So invoke Allah making your worship pure for him."
[Surah 40:14]
"Invoke Him only, making your religion sincere to him."
[Surah 7: 29]
"the Prophet, salAllahu alayhi wasalam, was asked "which Du'a is more heard (by Allah)?" The Prophet, salAllahu alayhi wasalam, said, "The Du'a during the last part of the night and after the Fard prayers."
[at-Tirmidhi, 3421]
"Abu Hurayrah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah, salAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said,
"When someone of you prays, let him not say, 'O Allah forgive me if that is Your wish.' But let him be firm in conviction and cherish a great hope and Allah does not consider anything too great which He is able to grant."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
"Aisha radhiallaahu anha said, "No believer makes Dua and it is wasted. Either it is granted here in this world or deposited for him in the Hereafter as long as he does not get frustrated."
"Or, Who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and Who relieves its suffering, and makes you (making) inheritors of the earth? (Can there be another) God besides Him? Little it is that ye heed!."
[an-Naml: 62]
"For any one among you, if the door of acceptance of du`a is opened, then the doors of His Mercy are also opened. The best du`a Allah likes is the one in which the caller asks for the goodness of this world and the goodness of the next world."
[at-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim]
"Du'a is a weapon of a believer, a pillar of religion, and a light of the heavens and the earth."
[al-Hakim]
"Nothing prevents predestination except Du'a, and nothing stretches the age except righteousness."
[at-Tirmidhi]
"Do not feel hopeless with Du'a, since nobody is to be annihilated with Du'a."
[ibn Hiban]
"Abu Darda' (radiAllahu anhu) reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah, salAllahu alayhi wasalam, saying, "Whenever a Muslim supplicates for his (Muslim) brother in his absence, the angels say: `May the same be for you too."
[Muslim, 1494]
"Abu Darda' (RadiAllahu anhu) reported:
The Messenger of Allah, SalAllahu alayhi wasalam, said,
"The supplication of a Muslim for his (Muslim) brother in his absence will certainly be answered. Everytime he makes a supplication for good for his brother, the angel appointed for this particular task says: `A meen! May it be for you, too."
[Muslim, 1495]
"And ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women"
[Surah 47:19]
"I heard Allah's Apostle saying." By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, 8:319]
"Narrated abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anha)
Allah's Apostle said, "For every prophet there is one (special invocation (that will not be rejected) with which he appeals (to Allah), and I want to keep such an invocation for interceding for my followers in the Hereafter."
[Sahih al-Bukhari, 8:317e]
An-Numan bin Bashir (radiAllahu anhum) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) said:
"Verily, Supplication is worship."
[al-Arba'a (the four), at-Tirmidhi]
abu Hurairah(radiAllahu anhum) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) said:
"Nothing is more honorable (most liked) before Allah (Ta'ala) than Supplication."
[at-Tirmidhi, ibn Hibban and al-Hakim]
"Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before us."
[surah 21:90]
"Dhan-Nun (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him. But he cried through the darkness (saying): La ilaha illa Anta (none has the, right to be worshiped but You) Glorified be You, Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers."
[surah 21:87]
Anas (radiAllahu anhum) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) said:
"A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected."
[an-Nasai and ibn Hibban]
abu Hurairah(radiAllahu anhum) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) said:
"There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (Ta'ala), then Allah (Ta'ala) will definitely meet his demand." And he (the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands."
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
abu Hurairah(radiAllahu anhum) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) said:
"The nearest a slave can be to his Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (Ta'ala) much."
[Sahih Muslim]
abu Ummamah (radiAllahu anhum) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) was asked:
"O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (Ta'ala), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer)."
[at-Tirmidhi]
"Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (Ta'ala)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveler)."
[al Bayhaqi]
"Is not He Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generation after generation. Is there any god with Allah? Little is that you remember."
[surah 27:62]
There are deep sighs of remorse and sorrow echoed from every corner of the Muslim World. Frustration and anger at the attitude and behaviour of so-called “Islamic states” has only added fuel to the already blazing fire. No matter what we do and how much we speak, Allah Ta’ala is fully aware of the plight and condition of every soul. Everything happens only with His permission and will.
In every crisis RasulAllah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)'s total effort and focus was directed towards dua. The most glaring example was during the battle of Badr, when RasulAllah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) spent the entire night in fervent dua until the Sahaba (radiAllahu anhum) had to stop him. Dua is certainly the most lethal weapon we have and no crisis or catastrophe should deter us a single degree from this course. The benefits of dua are innumerable and its effects and fruits will be seen in the Hereafter also. However, acceptance of dua is dependant on two crucial aspects viz. pure halal sustenance and total unconditional abstention from sin.
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