Du`a' (Supplication) Reflections

The Power of Du`a’

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottwills/6336988091/in/photostream/By Zaineb Shebani

Du`a’ (supplication) is an incredible power that many of us sometimes don’t fully comprehend—because if we did, we would do whatever is necessary to get our du`a’s answered.  Sometimes our du`a’s are answered immediately and sometimes they take much longer than we expect. However, when made properly, du`a’ can transform our lives and bring about miraculous results.

In order to get our du`a’s answered we must fully comprehend the dynamics behind du`a’. Firstly, we must have complete certainty (yaqeen) that Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (Glorified and Exalted is He) will answer our prayer.  There should be absolutely no doubt in our minds that Allah (swt) is listening to our du`a’s and is capable of answering them. We must also be careful not to lose hope in our du`a’ and become impatient when we don’t see the results we want. We need to continuously remind ourselves that the key to getting our du`a’s answered is by being persistent in our du`a’.  And most importantly, we must make sure that there isn’t a sin we are committing that we haven’t repented sincerely from, as our sins can be the first thing that can get in the way of our du`a’s being accepted—especially if the sin includes earning a living through unlawful means.

Once this is understood and followed, rest assured that Allah (swt) will either give you what you want or something much better than it; and He will most likely give it to you in a way that you never imagined.

Allah (swt) says: “[…] And whoever fears Allah—He will make for him a way out / And will provide for him from where he does not expect […]” (Qur’an 65:2-3)


ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجاً، ويرزقه من حيث لا يحتسب

Allah (swt) also says: “And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me—indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of every supplicant when he calls upon Me […]” (Qur’an 2:186)


وإذا سألك عبادي عني فإني قريب أجيب دعوة الداع إذا دعان

Now, I would like to share a story that proves how powerful making du`a’ can be; and how Allah (swt) can answer our prayers in the most miraculous of ways. This story should be taken as a parable, rather than as fact:

Dr. Saeed, a well-known doctor, was once on his way to an important medical conference in another city in which he was going to be granted an award for medical research he had recently done. He could barely contain his excitement on his way to the airport and couldn’t wait until he arrived at the conference. He had worked long and hard on his research and felt his efforts deserved the award he was about to obtain. However, an hour after the plane took off, the pilot announced that there was a problem with the plane and that they were going to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport.

Afraid that he wouldn’t make it in time for the conference, the doctor ran to the information desk as soon as the plane landed and explained to the woman at the desk that he was expected to be at a very important conference and that he needed to find another way to get to his destination. She told him that there was nothing she could do to help him as there wouldn’t be another flight to his destination for another sixteen hours; but suggested he rent a car and drive down to the city as it was only three hours away. Having no other choice, the doctor agreed to the idea despite his hatred for driving long distances.

The doctor rented a car and started his journey. However, soon after he left, the weather suddenly changed and a heavy storm began.  The pouring rain made it very difficult for him to see and he missed a turn he was supposed to take. After two hours of driving, he was convinced he was lost. Driving in the heavy rain on a deserted road, feeling hungry and tired, he frantically began to look for any sign of civilization. After some time, he finally came across a dark tiny cottage. Desperate, he got out of the car and knocked on the door.

A small elderly woman opened the door for him. He explained his situation and asked if he could use her telephone.  She told him that she didn’t have a phone or electricity but that he was welcome to come in for some food and something warm to drink as he had completely lost his way and that it would take him some time to get back on the right road.  Hungry, wet and exhausted, the doctor accepted her kind offer and walked in. The woman told him to help himself to some food and hot tea on the table and then excused herself to finish her prayers.

Sitting on the table sipping his tea, the doctor watched the woman in the dim light of the candles as she prayed next to what appeared to be a small baby crib. Every time she finished a prayer, she would start another one, and she seemed to be engrossed in making du`a’ while in sujood (prostration). Every now and then she would rock the crib gently.

Feeling that the woman might be in need of help, the doctor seized the opportunity to speak as soon as she finished one of her prayers and told her that he hoped Allah (swt) would answer her du`a’s.  He then said that he noticed that she had been making a lot of du`a’ and asked if there was something she needed that he could get for her or help her with. The woman smiled and said that Allah (swt) had answered all her prayers except for one. She said she didn’t know why Allah (swt) hadn’t answered this specific prayer yet but perhaps it was because of her weak iman (faith).

The doctor asked if she didn’t mind telling him what she was making the du`a’ for. Nodding her head in approval, she said that the child in the crib was her grandson and that both his parents had recently died in a car accident. She said that the child had a very rare type of cancer and that all the doctors she had seen were unable to treat him. She also said that she had been told that there was a doctor who specialized in the type of cancer her grandson had, but there was no way for her to get to this doctor as he lived very far from her; so she has been spending her days and nights praying and making du`a’ that Allah (swt) helps her find a way to get to Dr. Saeed—the doctor who could treat her grandson.

Upon hearing her words, tears began to flow down the doctor’s cheeks and he said: ‘Subhan’Allah (glory be to God), there was a malfunction in the plane, a thunderstorm hit, and I lost my way; and all of this happened because Allah (swt) did not just answer your prayer by helping you find a way to get to Dr. Saeed, but he brought Dr. Saeed to your house. I am Dr. Saeed.’

With tears streaming down her cheeks, the woman raised her hands in du`a’ and said: ‘Oh Allah, how great and merciful You are!’

 

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43 Comments

  • Amazing story!!! Thank you for this article and jazakAllah khairan.
    I just wanted to tell you something, I’ m not an expert in Islam and Qoran but I think that the ayah you wrote are supposed to have vowel sounds in order not to give any misunderstandings… As I said I’ m not an expert, I just wanted to make sure and point it out… Thank you again for this amazing article!

    • salams rita,
      jahila arabic does not contain “vowels” you are referring to as these were later introduced to ease reading of the quran… so no it is not necessary however i can understand why that may be assumed… wassalam

  • assalam alaykum, mash allah – what a fabulous inspirational article! insha allah, i wish good fortune like this would happen to me. i hope allah (swt) answers my dua’s soon, insha allah. ramadan mubarak + masalaam.

  • i remembered the story of imam ahmad and one of an old man who willing to meet him..but its about the virtue of dhikr..and he kept on make du`a until Allaah allow him to meet imam Ahmad ..

    • Agree – “aasiyah” I was getting the feeling this was plagarized from that story. Would love to know if this is really a REAL story!

  • Beautiful story. I wonder if it was not borrowed from the story of Imam Ahmed. Either way, it still makes the point.

    During his old age, while Imam Ahmed was traveling he stopped by a town. After the prayers, he wanted to stay for the night in the masjid because he didn’t know anyone in the town. Owing to his humility, he hadn’t introduced himself to anyone thinking that if he did, he would be welcomed by many people.

    Failing to recognize Ahmed bin Hanbal, the caretaker of the mosque refused to let him stay the night in the mosque. As Imam Ahmed was quite old, the caretaker had to drag him out of the mosque. Imam Ahmed decided to sleep on the front steps of the masjid. When the caretaker saw him there he dragged him by the legs and dumped in in the middle of the road in front of the masjid. On seeing this, a baker from a nearby place felt pity for this man (Imam Ahmed) and offered to be the host to him for the night. During his stay with the baker, Imam Ahmed observed that the baker would constantly recite Istighfar (seek forgiveness from Allah). Imam Ahmed asked the baker if the constant practice of saying Istighfar had any effect on him. The baker responded by telling Imam Ahmed that Allah had accepted all of his duas (supplications), except one. When he asked him what dua was it that hadn’t been accepted, the baker replied that he had been asking Allah to provide him the privilege to meet the famous scholar Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal.

    On this, Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal said that Allah had not only listened to his dua but had dragged him by his legs onto his (the baker’s) doorsteps.

  • The articles on this website are always so beautiful. Jazakallah Khair to all the writers. This one brought tears to my eyes <3 May Allah reward you!

  • Assalamalaikum sister, may Allah reward you for such a beautiful story and reminder about importance of dua, especially in this blessed month of ramadan.

  • WHAT AN AMAZING STORY WHICH MADE ME CRYING FROM MY HEART AND SAID سبحان الله والحمد لله والله اكبر

  • Allahu Akbar, very beautiful and intresting story,I pray to Allah to send people that will helwill help me to me soon.

  • Assalamu alaikum wr wb jazak Allah khair for the enlightenjng article. Everyones talking about real story, so i’d just add a couple of stories that happened in my own case durjng aetikaf in a masjid i was standing in a queue with an old woman waiting for my turn for wudu, i noticed that lady turning towards me and trying to say something but she just couldnt. It was the time for sahoor, upon leaving i gave that lady a bottle of milk that i just bought for myself. After fajr prayer she came to me and asked me whoh told u that iman ulcer patient ans j needed milk, i’m a widow and i didn’t have enough money to buy it for myself, i prayed to Allah and u came along, tears were flowing down her cheeks as she was saying this..no wonder Allah is closer to us, much more than we’d ever be able to.know. HE provides for us subtly..

  • Subhanallah a heart liifting story. I sent this to my sister who is facing a trial at this moment in time for something she didn’t do. EVeryone has been making dua but things keep getting bad to worse. This story has really uplifted us and reminded us never to give up hope in Allah swt. Jazakallah

  • Allah hu Akbar! May Allah SWT grant us the same degree of belief and conviction as this wonderful lady! Ameen

  • I sincerely hope this is not a fake story-sounds like one of those internet stories, like the fire truck that came to the little boy’s hospital window. I do know that each one of us has a long list of past blessings that our nafs persuades to forget and minimize. Counting past blessing is an exercise in handling miracles.

  • very good article. i agree with this article. you have discussed the true meanings of dua in this article. you told the basic concept of dua. this article has increased my information and knowledge in my religion. May God give you more time to write the articles like this.

  • Assallamu Alaikum,
    very interesting to read everyone’s comment. I will tell you a personal story of mine. I have been suffering from
    back pain for more than 3 years. It had got to the point that I couldn’t walk and even do Sajjood. Everday I was crying not the fact that I couldn’t walk but not being able to do Sujjood. Within that time I had lost my job and home but I know Allah has better plans for me. My younger sister looked after me so much, May Almighty Allah give her blessings and on her household.
    Just two months ago I had Hijjama done and the next day after treatment 80% of my back pain gone.

    What did I learn during my difficult times?

    Always be persistent in your dua’s.
    Give Sadaqa, doesn’t matter how much. Almighty Allah can see your intentions.
    Give blessings upon the person that enquires about your health.
    Remember that there are other people in worse condition than you, so be grateful.

    Allah Hafiz

  • salam zainab,if u had a story like dis u should use references regardin who is Dr saeed where he lives and where he works and same to d nursing mother cos if u post with references nobody wil tink dat ur post is just a story dat u fabricate by urself

  • Assalaam alikum..my family and myself are in great difficulty and request u all to pray for us..we are good and god fearing Muslims..and good human beings too..we need your prayers and hope soon i will write about our miracle..jazakAllahu khairan.

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