Supplication is one of the greatest acts of worship that connects the servant to his Lord. It is a manifestation of humility and submission before Allah, the Exalted. Through supplication, a person acknowledges his constant need for Allah and asks for mercy, kindness, and success in his life. Supplication is not merely words spoken; rather, it is a spiritual communication that reflects the servant's faith and certainty in Allah's mercy and ability to change destinies.
Allah, the Most High, says in His noble Book: "And your Lord says, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you.'" (Ghafir: 60). This verse emphasizes the importance of supplication and how it is an effective tool to recognize Allah's kindness and mercy. It is a clear promise from Allah that whoever calls upon Him sincerely and with devotion, He will respond to him, either by granting what he requests, repelling harm from him, or by storing rewards for him in the Hereafter.
The Meaning of Prayer and Its Importance in Human Life
1. Prayer is a means of communication with God
Prayer is the way a servant speaks to their Creator; it is not merely a request for needs but a spiritual connection that grants the heart peace and tranquility. When a person prays, they feel God's closeness, and this closeness gives them inner reassurance.
Prayer is the act of turning to God with requests for needs and desires, whether they are material or spiritual. It includes supplication and pleading to God, as well as acknowledging one's weakness and need for Him. Prayer is not just a request but an expression of faith in God and reliance on Him in all matters.
2. Prayer reflects the Oneness and submission to God
When a person calls upon God, they implicitly acknowledge that only God is capable of fulfilling their requests, which reinforces the belief in divine Oneness and makes the servant rely solely on God.
Prayer strengthens a person's faith in God because it reminds them that God is capable of everything and that nothing is beyond His power.
3. Prayer lifts calamity and opens doors to goodness
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Caution does not avail against fate, and prayer is beneficial for what has happened and what has not happened. Indeed, calamity descends and prayer receives it, and they struggle until the Day of Resurrection." (Reported by Al-Hakim).
This indicates that prayer can change the course of events, ward off evil, and bring about goodness.
4. Acknowledging weakness and need: Prayer makes a person acknowledge their weakness and need for God. This acknowledgment increases a person's humility and brings them closer to God.
5. Tranquility and serenity: Prayer makes a person feel tranquility and serenity, as they know that God is with them and hears their supplication.
How does prayer reveal to us God's kindness and mercy?
Prayer is an effective tool for recognizing God's kindness and mercy. Through prayer, a person can feel God's kindness and mercy in their life. Here are some ways prayer leads us to recognize God's kindness and mercy:
1. God's response to prayer in the best ways
God, Blessed and Exalted, does not reject the prayers of His servants, but may delay a response for wisdom known to Him, or compensate them with something better than what they requested. For example, a person might pray for wealth, and God may grant them provision in health or righteous offspring, and this is part of His kindness and mercy.
When God answers a person's prayer, they feel God's kindness and mercy. The response may be direct or indirectly, but ultimately it indicates that God hears the prayer and responds to it. God Almighty says: **"Call upon Me; I will respond to you."** (Ghafir: 60). When God responds to a person's prayer, they feel that God is close to them and cares for them.
2. The feeling of closeness to God in times of hardship
When a person falls into a crisis or trial and finds himself weak, he resorts to God in prayer. This reliance alone gives him a sense of security because he knows that there is a merciful God who listens to him and will not leave him alone.
3. Prayer teaches us patience and contentment
When a servant prays and does not see the response immediately, he learns patience and acceptance of God's decree, realizing that God always chooses what is best for him. This makes him more certain of God's kindness and wisdom.
4. Prayer opens the doors of hope and dispels despair
A person may go through moments of frustration and despair, but as soon as he raises his hands to the sky in prayer, he finds that his heart is filled with hope. Prayer reminds the servant that God is near and that His mercy encompasses everything.
5. The sense of mental comfort
Even if God does not respond to the prayer directly, simply praying makes a person feel psychological comfort and tranquility. Prayer reminds a person that God is with him and hears his supplication, which brings him comfort and peace.
6. Reflecting on God's Blessings
When a person calls upon their Lord, they remember God's blessings upon them. This remembrance makes the person feel God's grace and mercy, as they realize that God has granted them many blessings they did not ask for.
7. Trusting in God
Supplication teaches a person to trust in God. When a person prays to their Lord, they place their trust in God in everything, which makes them feel God's kindness and mercy. Trusting in God makes a person feel that God is the one managing their affairs, thus reassuring their heart.
Types of Supplication in Islam
1. Supplication of Request (Asking for Needs)
This is the prayer in which a servant asks for something specific, such as sustenance, success, healing, or guidance.
2. Supplication of Worship (Remembrance of Allah, Praising Him, and Glorifying Him)
This is the prayer that consists of glorifying Allah and praising Him, such as saying: "SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar."
3. Supplication for Forgiveness and Repentance
This is one of the most important supplications, as a person is always in need of forgiveness and mercy, such as saying: "O Allah, forgive me and accept my repentance, for You are the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Etiquettes and Conditions of Supplication
For supplication to be more acceptable, there are certain etiquettes that the servant should adhere to, including:
1. Sincerity to Allah in supplication: The supplication must be directed solely to Allah, without associating anyone with Him.
2. Beginning with praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ: As this is one of the reasons for the acceptance of supplication.
3. Supplicating with insistence, confidence, and certainty of response: The Prophet ﷺ said, "Call upon Allah while you are certain of the response." (Reported by Tirmidhi).
4. Choosing times of acceptance: Such as the last third of the night, between the call to prayer and the establishment of prayer, and on Friday.
5. Not supplicating for sin or severing family ties: As this is one of the reasons for non-acceptance of supplication.
Stories from the Qur'an and Sunnah about the acceptance of prayers
1. The prayer of Zakariya (peace be upon him) and his blessing with offspring
The Prophet of Allah Zakariya (peace be upon him) was an old man and had no children, but he sincerely prayed to Allah saying:
"Lord, do not leave me alone, and You are the best inheritors." (Al-Anbiya: 89)
So Allah answered him and blessed him with Yahya (peace be upon him), and this shows that prayer can achieve miracles.
2. The prayer of Yunus (peace be upon him) in the belly of the whale
When Yunus (peace be upon him) was in the belly of the whale, he called upon Allah saying:
"There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." (Al-Anbiya: 87)
So Allah relieved his distress and saved him from the darkness. This teaches us that prayer is the key to salvation in the most difficult situations.
How do we make prayer a part of our daily lives?
1. Consistency in morning and evening remembrances, as they remind us of prayer and make us more connected to God.
2. Praying in every difficult or joyful situation, so that prayer becomes a continuous habit in our lives.
3. Teaching children the importance of prayer from a young age, so they grow up recognizing the value of communicating with God.
4. Supplicating to God during moments of solitude and at night, because these times are more impactful on the heart.
Prayer is not just words; it is a spiritual means of communication between the servant and his Lord, and it is the key that opens the doors of mercy and divine kindness. Through prayer, a person learns to rely on God and discovers that His mercy is broader than one can imagine.
If we make prayer a part of our daily lives, we will find our hearts more at peace, and we will live under the mercy and kindness of God, as the Prophet ﷺ said: "Prayer is worship." (Narrated by Tirmidhi).
Let us raise our hands to the sky and call upon God with sincere hearts, for He is the near responder who does not turn away from those who knock on His door.
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