Learning To Help You In Your Hereafter
Musa (as) made du’a against Firaun and Allah said in Surah Yunus (10:89) that it was accepted. Yet, Firaun remained for another 40 years!
Just because you haven’t seen your du’a answered doesn’t mean it hasn’t been accepted. The timing of the response is with your Lord who Knows better than you when something is good for you.
So be patient and keep knocking and eventually al Fattah will grant you a mind-blowing opening. Your job is just to ask!
It’s narrated that some of the Sahaabah would have marks under their eyes due to their constant crying, due to the fear of Allah.
When was the last time we cried for the sake of Allah?
Have we become so busied with the dunya; work, children, spouse, or a hobby that our hearts have become hard that we don’t cry for the sake of Allah?
Ibn al Qayyim (rh) said that all of us know deep down where we would go if we were on the Siraat right now.
Imam Nawawi (rh) mentions in his book “al Adkhar” page 333, that the day of ‘Arafah is the best day of the year for du’a. So, a person should free themselves up and increase in making du’a, doing dhikr and reading Qur’an. One should make du’a with many different types of supplication and many different types of dhikr.
One should make du’a for themselves, their parents, those close to them from their family, their teachers, their companions, their friends, those whom they love, whoever has done good for them and for all the Muslims.
They should also take extra precautions of falling short in any of these as this day isn’t something to be missed out on and it can’t be made up.
Du’a of ‘Umar ibn al Khattab (ra):
اللهُمَّ اجْعَلْ عَمَلِي كُلَّهُ صَالِحًا وَاجْعَلْهُ لِوَجْهِكَ خَالِصًا وَلَا تَجْعَلْ لِأَحَدٍ فِيْهِ شَيْئًا
Al’lahum’ma-ja’al ‘amalee kullahu saalihan wa-ja’alhu liwajhika khaalisan wa laa taj’al liahadin feehee shay’a
Oh Allah, make all of my actions righteous, make them purely for your sake & pleasure, and don’t allow anyone else to have a share of them.
The day of ‘Arafah is the most important day for a Haji. Whilst only a select few of the Ummah are chosen by Allah to physically be on the plains of ‘Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, there are several virtues and deeds mentioned regarding the day of ‘Arafah which apply to those afar as well. Here are ten of them:
*VIRTUES OF THE DAY*
*1* The day of ‘Arafah is one of the *best days of the year*, Anas رضي الله عنه says:
“The day of ‘Arafah equals 10, 000 days in virtue.” [1]
*2* “On the day of Arafah, Allah *frees from Jahannam* even those who are not physically in Arafah. Therefore, the next day is ‘Eid for all.” [2]
*3* The Day of ‘Arafah has also been labelled as *“Yawmul Eid”* by ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) as it’s the day in which Allah announced the perfection of Islam. [3]
*DEEDS FOR THIS DAY*
*4* DO:
i. Fast
ii. Recite dhikr in abundance
iii. Excessive Du’a
iv. Sadaqah
*5* DON’T:
• Persist in Sin (rather, make *tawbah* -repent- from all sins)
• Be arrogant
These two types of people are deprived on this blessed day. [4]
*6* Dhikr on the Day of ‘Arafah
Rasulullah (saw) would recite the following abundantly on the day of Arafah:
“لاإلٰه إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد بيده الخير وهو على كل شئ قدير“
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul mulku walahul hamdu biyadihil khayru wahuwa ‘ala kuli shayin qadir [5]
*7* ‘Ali’s رضي الله عنه du’a on the Day of ‘Arafah
اللهم أعتق رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّار، وأَوسِعْ لِيْ مِنَ الرّزقِ الحلال، وَاصْرِفْ عني فَسَقة الجِن والإنس
Allahumma a’tiq raqabati minan nar wa awsi’li minar rizqil halal, wasrif ‘anni fasaqatil jinni wal ins
Translation: O Allah! Free me from the fire, increase my lawful sustenance, and keep away the transgressive Jin and humans from me. [6]
*8* “Fasting on the day of Arafah will *expiate the sins of the past and future year.*” [7]
*9* Rasulullah (saw) said:
“He who protects his ears, eyes and tongue on this day (Day of ‘Arafah) will be forgiven” [8]
*10* The day of ‘Arafah is the day when *Shaytan is most humiliated* (due to Allah’s extensive forgiveness). [9]
May Allah grant us all the tawfiq (ability) to practice on all the above and may He bless us with repeated opportunities of physically being on the plains of ‘Arafat.
________________________________________
1. At-Targheeb, vol. 2 pg.200 and Lataiful Ma’arif, p. 460
2. Ibn Rajab رحيم الله in Lataiful Ma’arif, p. 482
3. Sahih Bukhari
4. Ibn Rajab رحيم الله Lataiful Ma’arif, p. 494
5. Musnad Ahmad; see Majma’uz Zawaid, vol.3 p. 252
6. Ibn Abi Dunya, see Lataiful Ma’arif, p. 494
7. Sahih Muslim
8. Musnad Ahmad with a reliable chain, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol.3 p. 251
9. Muwatta Imam Malik, Musnad Ahmad and Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3013
If you are finding that you are unable to concentrate during the prayer, then this is usually due to a sin you’re doing outside the of the salaah. It is most likely not lowering the gaze.
If someone can’t take care of their salaah, they won’t be able to take care of anything.
The status of the prayer in a person’s heart shows how much he loves Allah.
