My mother called me over whilst reading a book to my baby brother, and she sat me down and told me a story. The story was about the value of du’aa. It went as follows:Salahuddin al-ayubi or better known as Saladin was faced with an army from the west. The army consisted of fighters from all over the west, to irradiate Islam, and a large battle ship to attack from the sea which was the main threat; whilst at that precise moment in time Saladin was short of men to fight. So he asked Almighty Allah (SWT). Staying up all night, he wept bitterly asking Allah (SWT) for a change in fate, to benefit them. He cried till the sky turned orange, and the sun rose. When Saladin left the mosque, on his path he chanced to meet a pious Muslim. He asked this man to ask Allah (SWT) for his men, the Muslims to be the victors of the battle, and told him about the ship. The Pious Muslim saw the face of Saladin and noticed where the bags started to appear and where the streams of tears fell. Realising that Saladin had been up all night, he replied to him, your tears have sunk the ship into the depths of the ocean.Later on, Saladin received news that indeed the ship had sunk, and the pious Muslim had spoken the truth. Saladin stayed up all night, crying before his maker because he knew the value of du’aa. Du’aa’s literal translation into English would probably be prayer or most common supplication. The supplication is the actual du’aa, whilst the prayer can be translated as being a supplication, but is usually referred to the action of saying the supplication. According the Oxford concise English dictionary, 9th edition; prayer means “a solemn request or thanksgiving to god or an object of worship.” Allah (SWT) loves those who ask him for something, because if you ask Allah for something, you’re recognising the value of du’aa and are also recognising that Allah is the supreme, over all beings.We recite du’aa’s everyday in our short lives. Saying Bismillah is a form of du’aa, because you are submitting yourself and dedicating what you are about to do to Allah. That is also another point. Du’aa is a form of submission. Many du’aa’s are asking Almighty Allah’s protection In other words you are submitting youself to Allah to protect yourself from whatever you asked. The submission is not just for protection du’aa’s, but is for all du’aa’s, for you are recognising Allah as the one to ask, i.e as being the creator and the only one who we can fully trust. Crying whilst reciting a du’aa, shows that you are fully submitted and you recognise the supremeyy of your lord. You cry because you are either weak or hurt. People do not cry to show that they are strong. But crying in front of Almighty Allah (SWT) shows your weaknesses to Allah (SWT) (although he already knows them) and it pleases Almighty Allah (SWT). It also symbolises how you are powerless in front of Allah (SWT). One tear – it is said – is enough to melt a mountain of sins.The first Surah (Chapter) of the Qur’an, Al-Fatiha (The Opening – Although this surah has many names to it) can be divided into 3 parts. 1-Praising Allah. 2-What our duty towards Allah (SWT) is and 3-Asking Allah. When we recite this Surah, you are acknowledging what Allah (SWT) is, what He the supreme can do and then in turn asking him, after you have said that he is the only one who we can truly ask. Praying Salah is also a form of asking Allah. You praise, acknolewledge then ask. At times, Allah does not answer the Du’aa of a person straight away. Almighty Allah (SWT) either:1-Does answers the Du’aa straight away,2- Delays a little, till the time is right or3-Gives the reward for the Du’aa in the Hereafter.The story that I related was using point 1. Point 2 shows that there is truth in whatever Almighty Allah (SWT) does. I.e. Almighty Allah (SWT) answers your du’aa when most needed, or when it is a suitable time. You should never despair and think you are not part of Almighty Allah’s (SWT) mercy. A Muslim should not do this in any way. The word despair men’s to lose all hope or confidence. If this is the case, you are denying Allah and losing your faith and Iman (level of faith). And because you are doing that, you are denying that Allah (SWT) is the most supreme because you are saying the He is not worthy of worship for he cares of you not. And this in itself s a sin. Remember, every sin is in a form shirk, weather it be a small sin or a large one. And committing a sin shows you have no fear for Allah (SWT) in you heart, which will in turn become black (the actual heart will not, but your spiritual one will). The you become shrouded in the lies of this world, and eventually you eyes, ears and heart will become sealed from the truth and light, and a spiritual barrier will be placed around you as stated in the Holy Qur’an.The reward of Du’aa’s in the Hereafter is so great that when a Muslim realises this fact, he will wish that none of his du’aa’s were accepted in this temporary world, rather they were saved for the Hereafter.Du’aa can change fate. Allah the Almighty created your fate, so it is he who can also change it. That is why when there seems like there is no hope left, you should still ask Allah (SWT) for it is only He who can get you out of even the precarious of positions.Du’aa’s can also create which has not been created i.e. change fate. Fate is a complicated concept, and because it is stated hat your path in this world is already predestined, I myself am not sure if fate can be changed. I believe that if you ask Allah and your fate is changed, it was actually your fate to know what your fate could have been, and it was your fate to whatever your fate was changed to Let My servants know that I have the power to grant My servants’ wishes.”Do Du’aa for me, and us all.
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