DU’A AS THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP

As we approach the beginning of a new Islamic year in the month of Muharram, and as
we begin a new lunar calendar year, which happens to be our working calendar as a
Nation, there appears a need to rejuvenate and rededicate ourselves to the worship of
Allah and service to humanity. Meanwhile, worshipping of Allah should not only be
restricted to observance of the five pillars of Islam, namely; Believing and testifying that
there is no deity worthy of worship serve Allah and that Prophet Mohammad is the last
and final messenger of Allah, observing the five daily mandatory prayers, paying Zakaat
as at when due to whom it is due, fasting in the holy Month of Ramadan and lastly
performing the rights of Hajj for whom Allah as made it easy.

While all the aforementioned are individually and collectively act(s) of worship (ibadah),
we however deserve to know that the real essence of worship (for those who worship
Allah and nothing but Allah) is Du’a (supplications). This was confirmed by one of the
prophetic hadith, and it has equally become a popular saying that Du’a is the weapon of
any true believer. If this is so, then, what I am trying to emphasize here is the need for all
Muslims to rededicate themselves to Du’a as a form of worship more than ever before. It
is in doing so that we can ever dream of attaining the fulfillment and satisfaction we so
much seek elsewhere. Du’a is the answer to all questions and solution to all problems.

Ibn Qayyim, the great scholar, (may Allah be pleased with him), explained the efficacy of
Du’a thus: “Du’a and the seeking of protection from Allah are like weapons, but the
sharpness of a weapon is not sufficient for it to cause effect, but the person that handles it
also has to play a role. So, whenever the weapon is a perfect one, having no flaw in it,
and the firearm is strong, and there are no preventing factors, then it will cause an effect
on the enemy…”

In order words, the fact that we as Muslims had an effective weapon in Du’a does not
make it to automatically be effective. We need to learn and make the effective use of this
weapon. And we should remember the role of perseverance, patient and consistency as a
standing rule for the efficacy of Du’a. Allah has described the failure to make Du’a as an
act of arrogance which will attract severe punishment. “And your Lord (Allah) has
stated: Make Du’a to Me, I will (of surety) respond to you. Verily, those who are too
arrogant to worship Me (i.e. make Du’a) will enter the fire of Hell, humiliated”. Qur’an
40 verse 60. The Prophet (s.a.w.) was reported to have said: “Du’a is worship”, that is to
say it is synonymous with worship.

Allah has also guaranteed in the same verse that there is surety of response to our
invocations whenever we invoke Him. I had once submitted that no prayer well intended
actually go unanswered because Allah does not contradict nor renege on His promise. So
if a prayer of a Muslim will not be answered, Allah will rather not make him to have the
opportunity to observe the prayer, either by forgetfulness or laziness. And those who
know will testify that summoning the courage to sit down and perform Du’a, particularly
with consistency takes the grace and mercy of Allah. It is never a piece of cake because
you need to battle several times with Satan and his funny tricks on the mind of man.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) was reported to have said: “there is nothing that is nobler in
the sight of Allah than Du’a”. The reason being that it is only through Du’a that one is
practically able to demonstrate his acceptance of his incapability, powerlessness and state
of poverty to Allah. It is a manner of humiliating ones’ self before Allah and
acknowledging the power and capabilities of Allah. This hadith was strongly backed by
the Qur’an verse that states: “And I have not created Jinn and Man except to worship
Me”. Qur’an 51: 56. And the Prophet (s.a.w.) has equally said:” the best form of worship
is Du’a”. This is so because Du’a is a direct link between man and his Lord, and it is a
sign of the cordiality of relationship between them.

For instance, when we come across a Nigerian that has direct link with the presidency or
the president in Aso rock villa, you will immediately notice the kind of confidence
radiating in him. He talks with authority as if he owns the heavens and earth, so full of
himself. We can from here imagine the confidence of a person that has direct link with
Allah, the true President and the owner of heavens and earth.

In order to establish and sustain a proper and direct link with Allah, Du’a should not be
contracted to a third party but done by the individual in need. Allah demands a
relationship with every single believer and the only way to establish such a relationship is
through Du’a. No person is given priority over another in terms of calling on Allah. All
those who appear to us as pious Mallams started building there relationship with Allah
just as you are being asked to start now till they attain such status. It is not an honour
conferred, it is to be earned and it is open to all believers with equal chances. So, it is
sheer laziness and lack of understanding of the concept of Ima`n that made people to
contract Du’a to a third party. This does not mean you cannot request people in
congregation or individually to pray for you but that should be in addition to your own
prayer by yourself, because Allah needs your relationship too.

Therefore we should not be lazy about making Du’a because Allah is close to the one
making Du’a, as stated in the Holy Qur’an: “And when My servant ask you concerning
Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near to them. I respond to supplications of the
supplicant when he calls on Me”. Qur’an 2 verse 186. This implies that when Allah is
close to a servant no harm can befall him. So in that state of supplication he has a
guarantee of spiritual immunity and solid protection from the Most High, the Most
Powerful.

It has also been argued that; were it not for the Du’a that we make to Allah, he would not
have bothered about creation. This is buttressed by the Qur’an verse which says: “say (O
Mohammad, to the disbeliever): My Lord only pays attention to you because of your
Du’a to Him. But now you have indeed rejected (Him), so the torment will be yours
permanently”. Qur’an 25: 77. Imam Al-Sharkawi writes in his commentary to this verse,
‘Allah has made it clear in this verse that He is not in need of anyone’s worship, and that
He has only commanded them so that they can benefit themselves’.
Du’a also has the capacity to repel Allah’s anger on someone. The Prophet (s.a.w) said:
“Verily, if a person does not ask Allah, Allah gets angry at him”. Because failing to
make Du’a is a clear demonstration of arrogance, and in fact, the most disgusting type of
arrogance. How is it possible that a slave can feel arrogant in making Du’a to the one that
created him, and gave him sustenance, and made him something out of nothing? There is
no doubt that such arrogance is a type of madness and an indication of sheer
ungratefulness.

A poet once wrote in one of his lyrics: “Allah gets angry if you stop asking Him \\ And
the son of Adam (human beings) when he is asked get angry”. This relates to the fact that
Allah loved to be asked. The Prophet (s.a.w.) was reported to have said: “there is no
Muslim on the face of the earth that asks Allah for anything except that Allah gives it
to him, or averts from him a similar evil, so long he does not ask for evil or for
breaking the ties of kinship”. Aren’t we lucky to be Muslims?

Du’a also has the capacity to repel and indeed change predestination known as ‘qadar’.
According to the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.), who said: “Nothing repels predestination
(qadar) except Du’a”. In order words, it is possible that a certain misfortune has been
decreed for a person, yet, because of the sincerity and quality of his Du’a, Allah will
repel that misfortune from him and change it to fortune.

Du’a has so much benefit that we cannot be able to exhaust on this page, but the bottom
line is that we need to open a new line of communication and interaction with Allah in
the New Year for the benefit of whatever is remaining in our life time, and most
importantly for the benefit of our hereafter. Having a desire or being in need is clever bait
design by Allah to lure us into an everlasting relationship with Him.

The one referred to as the ‘doctor of the heart’ Ibn Al-Qayyim wrote the following lines:
“It is possible that a person has a need for something… so he earnestly prays and requests
Allah for it, until the sweetness of asking and imploring Allah is opened for him. so he
enjoys being humbled before Allah and trying to draw closer to Him, using His Names
and Attributes, and his earth becomes void of everything besides Him, and he cuts off any
relationship or hope for good from anyone else – all of which would never have occurred
had it not be for his need… so it is possible that what good has come about because of
this state of his is even greater, and more pleasing than the actual need (that was the cause
of such a state), to such an extent that he wishes to continue in this state and prefers it
over the actual fulfillment of his need.

So his happiness due to this state is greater than the happiness he would achieve had his
need actually been fulfilled. Some of those that have recognized (the sign of Allah) have
stated: ‘sometimes I have a certain need (that I wish to ask) Allah, so I ask Him earnestly.
Then, I find that the door of dialogue opens up for me, and I recognize Allah more (i.e.
become more aware of Him), and feel humbled before Him, due to which I prefer that the
answer to my prayer be delayed, so that this state may continue.”
It is possible therefore that a believer may so enjoy his new found relationship with Allah
that he actually fears the response of his Du’a, and wishes that Allah prolong it so that he
can enjoy is servitude to Allah.

Moved by this new spirit, God willing, I will seek to create a small window from this
page for Du’a and supplication of the week, for the benefit of our esteem readers. May
Allah accept the effort as act of ibadah. Amen.