Part 13

voice in front of his master, or the peasant in front of the king, even ' so itis improper that a slave raise his voice loudly in front of the Creator — and to Allah belongs the highest parable and example. Since AlJah can hear the most silent of prayers, it is not befitting that a person make dua in a loud voice.

Thirdly, it is a means of achieving humility and humbleness, which is the essence of worship. The one who is humble does not ask except meekly, whereas the one who is arrogant asks loudly. So softening the voice aids one in achieving this desired humility in du ‘a.

Fourthly, it is a means of achieving sincerity, since others will not notice him.

Fifthly, it aids the heart in concentrating on the dw‘a, since raising one’s voice loudly distracts one from one’s thoughts. So, to make adu'a quietly will help the person keep his thoughts together, and not be distracted from the state that he is in.

Sixthly, it shows the closeness that the true believer feels to his Creator. So it is a means of strengthening the relationship that the believer should have with Allah, as it allows him to feel that Allah is

47 Reported by al-Bukhari (# 6384). 48 Daraphrased from Majma' al-Fatawa, v. 15, pp. 14-20.

closer than any other object to him. Hence why Allah praised Zakariyya when He described his du' a as being ‘secret’.

Seventhly, it aids a person in continuing the dw'a and not breaking off. This because it is easier on the tongue and body, for it does not wear out or tire a person, in contrast to one who makes a dua loudly.

Eighthly, it causes less distraction, for raising one’s voice brings about the attention of others, and this leads to a person becoming conscious of his surroundings. However, ifhe lowers his voice, then he will be able to cut himself off from his environment and not be distracted by it.

Lastly, it prevents a person from being the target of envy and jealousy. For indeed, men and jinn are full of evil souls that envy others, and there is no greater cause for enmity than to see a person turn to Allah in private conversation, engrossed in His remembrance. So ifa person makes du'@ silently, he protects himself from this evil.

So the Companions of the Prophet (#%) understood the importance of saying a dud silently. Ibn ‘Abbas stated: “A silent dua is seventy times better than a loud one!”"” And it has even been narrated that Ibn Mas‘td once forced a group of people out of the masjid (mosque), because they were raising their voices loudly while remembering Allah. In this respect he said, “I don’t think except that you are innovators!”

10. Acknowledging One’s Sins

Part of the etiquette of du’ a is to acknowledge one’s shortcomings and sins in front of one’s Creator. This is also a means of properly worshipping Allah.

“The best dua@ is for a person to say: O Allah! You are my

Narrated by Ibn al-Mubarak in his al-Zuhd (# 40). '30 Aba Zayd, p. 91.

Lord, and I am your servant. I have wronged myself, and acknowledge my sins. O my Lord! Forgive me my sins, for You, and only You, are my Lord, and none forgives sins except

And ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib reported that the Prophet (3%) said,

“Verily, Allah likes a worshipper who says: ‘There is no one worthy of worship except You. I have wronged myself, so forgive my sins, for none forgives sins except You.’ Allah says, ‘My servant knows that he has a Lord who forgives and pun-

The sayyid al-istighfar (the best du’ @ to ask for forgiveness) is that a person says: O Allah! You are my Lord, there is no one worthy of worship except You. You created me, and I am your slave. And I am (following) Your covenant and Promise as much as I can. I seek Your refuge in the evil that I have done. I acknowledge Your favours upon me, and I acknowledge my sins. So forgive me, since no one forgives sins except You!"

So when one raises one’s hands to Allah, expecting a response from Him, one should also ponder over one’s own relationship with Allah, and the shortcomings that one possesses. In this way the person should recall his many sins, and feel his own humility — that is he should remember that he is asking One whom he has disobeyed, and sinned against, and not fulfilled his rights upon Him. Let him taste his impudence when he asks AJlah for more and more, without fulfilling the basic deeds that are obligatory upon him.

Authentic as a statement of Aba Hurayrah, reported by Ahmad, 1/515.

152 Authentic, narrated by Ahmad, Aba Dawod, al-Tirmidhi and others, from

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, and authenticated by al-Albani in a/-Sahihah # 1653. 153 Reported by al-Bukhari (# 6306) and others.

11. To Implore Allah Earnestly

Continued within the etiquette of du‘a is that a person implore Allah, and beseech Him. This sense of urgency is demonstrated in the Sunnah of the Prophet (#8). ‘A’ishah reported that when the Prophet (#8) was afflicted with magic, he made du‘a, then he made du a, then he made dua.'* This incident demonstrates a sense of urgency and insistence that is needed while making dua.

O Allah! Forgive me all (my sins) that I have already done, and will do (in the future), and what I have done in private, and what I have done in public, and all (sins) that you know from me.'”

Now, it was possible to just say, ‘Forgive all my sins’, and the meaning would have been the same. However, in this beautiful prophetic du‘d, there is a strong sense of urgency — of imploring Allah, and beseeching Him, of pleaing to Him, and insisting on this forgiveness. All of this is not conveyed in the simple phrase, ‘Forgive my sins’.

12. To be Determined in One’s Request Anas ibn Malik narrates that the Prophet (#8) said:

“When one of you makes a du'a, then let him be firm and determined in his du’ a, and let him not say, ‘O Allah! If You

will, then please forgive me’, for there is no one who can force

Therefore, what is desired is that a person be firm in his du‘a, asking from Allah in a determined manner. If, on the other hand, a person says, “O Allah! Grant me my du'@ if you wish”, this goes

54 Reported by Muslim (# 2189) and others. '> Reported by Muslim (# 771) and others. 56Narrated by al-Bukhari (# 6339), Muslim (# 2678), Ahmad and others.

against the firmness and resolution that is desired, for it is as ifhe is saying, “O Allah! If You answer my du’ a, then I thank You, otherwise I do not ask You of it”. This shows a degree of arrogance towards Allah, all Glory and Praise be to Him, and implies a sense of self-sufficiency on the part of the person making the du’ @. A person is always in need of Allah’s help and aid, and as such should always ask of Allah in a manner that shows his poverty for Allah’s support.

It should be pointed out that it is allowed to use this phrase when the person does not know if the matter he is asking for is for his good or not. So, it is permissible to pray: ‘O Allah! If you know that such-and-such a matter (related to this world) is good for me, then ‘grant it to me’. What is prohibited is to use this phrase in matters that one needs without a doubt, such as Allah’s Forgiveness, or Mercy, or Blessings, etc.

13. To Use the Proper Names and Attributes of Allah

To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names and Perfect Attributes. One of the purposes of these Names and Attributes is so that believers can increase in their Love for Allah when they contemplate the meanings of these Names and Attributes. One of the best ways to truly understand and comprehend the meaning of these Names and Attributes is to use the appropriate one when making du 4.

So, when one is asking for forgiveness, one should use the Names that are appropriate to the concept of forgiveness, such as al-Tawwab (the One who continually accepts Repentance), al-Ghaffar (the One who continually Forgives), a/-Rakim (the Ever-Merciful), and so forth. And when one is asking for sustenance, one should use Allah’s Name al-Razzdq (the One who Provides), and al-Ghani (the One who Gives and is not in need of anything). Whatever a person is asking for, there will be an appropriate Divine Name or Attribute that he can use.

14. To Repeat the dua Three Times

This is a recommended action while making a du ‘@, for it shows a sense of urgency in obtaining what is asked for. The act of repeating a ded thrice is narrated in many ahadith from the Prophet (3), as, for example, the one reported by Ibn Mas‘ad, who said: “When the Prophet (3%) finished his prayer, he (#%) raised his voice, and prayed against them (the leaders of the Quraysh who had persecuted him). And whenever he made a du‘, he would repeat it thrice, and whenever he asked (from Allah), he would do so thrice. So he (#8) then said:

“O Allah! Upon you is (the retaliation) of the Quraysh! O Allah! Upon you is (the retaliation) of the Quraysh! O Allah! Upon you is (the retaliation) of the Quraysh!”"”

Anas ibn Malik also reported that the Prophet (3%) said:

“Whoever asks for Paradise three times, Paradise says: ‘O Allah! Enter him into Paradise!’ And whoever seeks refuge from the Hellfire three times, the Hellfire says: ‘O Allah! Save him from the Hellfire!”

15. To Pray with Concise Du’ as