Some Supplications of the Righteous: For Themselves and Their Offspring
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The inspiration for this article – from references 1 to 9 – arose from a captivating tweet by Shaikh Abdulilah, may Allah preserve him. In light of this, we felt compelled to share a short selection of insights from the Mufassiroon, as an additional layer of reflection and benefit alongside his reminder, for our own benefit and our families.
https://x.com/Abdulilah_UK/status/934006936017821696?t=VY1CKttBfsFUMXB14RV7Eg&s=35
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا ۚ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bore him (in her womb) with hardship and gave birth to him with (more) hardship. And his bearing (in the womb) and weaning (period) is thirty months (in total). (Then he continues to grow) until, when he reaches the peak of his youth, and reaches (the age of) 40 years, he says: “O my Lord, grant me the ability to be grateful to you for Your favour (of guidance) which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to work righteousness that pleases You, and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I repent to you and I am of the Muslims (in submission to You alone).” (1)
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي
“And make righteous for me my offspring”.
When he supplicated for his own righteousness, he also supplicated for his offspring that Allah rectifies their affairs. He (Allah) stated that their righteousness would benefit their parents due to His statement:
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي
“And make righteous for me my offspring”. (2)
فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَضَعْتُهَآ أُنثَىٰ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ وَلَيْسَ ٱلذَّكَرُ كَٱلْأُنثَىٰ وَإِنِّى سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَإِنِّىٓ أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ
Then when she delivered her [child Maryam (Mary)], she said: “O my Lord! I have delivered a female child,” – and Allah knew better what she delivered, – “And the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam (Mary), and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast.” [3:36]
وإني أعيذها بك وذريتها من الشيطان الرجيم
And I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast.
She supplicated for her and her offspring, asking Allah to protect them from the accursed devil. (3)
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the pious”. [25:74]
They ask Allah to grant them the comfort of the eye by making their wives and offspring obedient to Allah, and to grant them happiness in their hearts due to being followed by the righteous in obedience and servitude to Allah. That is because a trustworthy leader in the religion co-operates with (others) upon obedience (to Allah and His Messenger). (4)
رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ
O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat, and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation. [14:40]
Meaning: from those who establish the prayer with its pillars and guard it strictly (or be consistent upon it). Make my descendants among those who establish the prayer. (5)
رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manasik (all the ceremonies of pilgrimage – Hajj and ‘Umrah, etc.), and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful. [2:128]
They supplicated for themselves and their offspring to be granted Islam, whose reality is the submission of the heart and its obedience to its Lord, which necessitates the obedience of the limbs. (6)
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
At that time Zakariyyah invoked his Lord, saying: “O my Lord! Grant me from You, a good offspring. You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation.” [3:38]
Zakariyyah, peace be upon him, sipplicated to his Lord for righteous offspring; meaning, children with pure morals and good manners, to complete the blessings of both religious and worldly life for them, thus his supplication was answered. (7)
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ
And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said: “O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. [14:35]
Meaning: Distance me and them from worshiping the idols. (8) Then he mentioned the reason for his fear for himself and his children due to the many who have been tempted and afflicted by its worship. (9)
Prophet Adam – peace be upon him
Allah, The Most High, said that Adam and Hawwaa -peace be upon them- said:
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡخَـٰسِرِينَ
Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers]- Meaning: Indeed, we committed the sin You forbade us from committing; we have harmed ourselves by committing the sin and have fallen into that which is a cause of loss unless you forgive us, wipe away the consequences of the sin and the punishment attached to it; grant us mercy by accepting our repentance and [free us from the calamity, harms etc] of the likes of these mistakes. So, Allah forgave them just as Allaah stated:
وَعَصَىٰٓ ءَادَمُ رَبَّهُ ۥ فَغَوَىٰ
ثُمَّ ٱجۡتَبَـٰهُ رَبُّهُ ۥ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡهِ وَهَدَىٰ
Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray. Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness, and gave him guidance. [Ta Ha. 21-22]
Adam attained success through five matters: acknowledgement of his sin, showed regret, blamed himself, hasten towards repentance and did not lose hope in Allah’s Mercy. Iblees was condemned to wretchedness through five matters: he did not acknowledge his sin, he was not regretful, and did not blame himself, rather he blamed his Lord, he did not repent and he lost hope in Allah’s Mercy. [10]
Prophet Nuh – peace be upon him
Allah, The Most High, said:
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوۡمِى كَذَّبُونِ
فَٱفۡتَحۡ بَيۡنِى وَبَيۡنَهُمۡ فَتۡحً۬ا وَنَجِّنِى وَمَن مَّعِىَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
He (Nuh) said: “My Lord! Verily, my people have belied me. Therefore judge You between me and them, and save me and those of the believers who are with me. [Ash-Shu’ara. 117-118]
Meaning: Judge between me and them – a judgement of Yours by way of which You’ll destroy the deniers and inflict punishment against those who disbelieve in You – who wilfully deny that you alone have the right to be worshipped and belie Your Messenger. He asked Allah to save him and the people of Iman with him. Indeed, Allah clarified that He answered the supplication of His slave and Prophet. Allah said:
فَأَنجَيۡنَـٰهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلۡمَشۡحُونِ
ثُمَّ أَغۡرَقۡنَا بَعۡدُ ٱلۡبَاقِينَ
إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَةً۬ۖ وَمَا ڪَانَ أَكۡثَرُهُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And We saved him and those with him in the laden ship. Then We drowned the rest (disbelievers) thereafter. Verily, in this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers. And verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful. [Ash-Shu’ara. 119-122] [11]
Prophet Ibrahim – peace be upon him
Allah, The Most High, informed us of a supplication of Prophet Ibrahim in Surah Ash-Shu’ara verses 83-89:
رَبِّ هَبۡ لِى حُڪۡمً۬ا وَأَلۡحِقۡنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
My Lord! Bestow Hukman on me, and join me with the righteous.
Meaning: Grant me abundant knowledge through which I will acquire knowledge of the rulings on what is halal and haram, and utilise it as a means of judging between the people. Place me together with the righteous people in this worldly and Hereafter; place me in the same station and status together with those Prophets who came before me.
وَٱجۡعَل لِّى لِسَانَ صِدۡقٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرِينَ
And grant me an honourable mention in later generations.-
Meaning: That I become one who is mentioned with good amongst the people who come after me.
The scholars say that Allah did answer Ibrahim’s supplications by granting him knowledge and wisdom that made him one of the most virtuous messengers, placed him in the same station with his brothers amongst the Messengers, loved, accepted and praised amongst all the people who received revelation [i.e. nations of the Prophets who came after him].
وَٱجۡعَلۡنِى مِن وَرَثَةِ جَنَّةِ ٱلنَّعِيم
And make me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight]- Meaning: Amongst those whom You will grant paradise and blessed with entry into paradise. Indeed, Allah accepted his supplication by raising his status in the gardens of paradise.
وَلَا تُخۡزِنِى يَوۡمَ يُبۡعَثُونَ
يَوۡمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ۬ وَلَا بَنُونَ
إِلَّا مَنۡ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلۡبٍ۬ سَلِيمٍ۬
And do not disgrace me on the Day when (all creation) will be resurrected; the Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail; except him who brings to Allah a clean heart.
Meaning: O Allah! Grant me (safety) from disgrace on the day of resurrection- the day on which all humankind will be resurrected, the first to the last of them; help me on that day on which neither wealth nor children will benefit a person except those with a clean heart. This is what will benefit a person, save him from Your punishment, bring a noble reward and a beautiful final abode. The clean heart is the one free of Shirk, doubt (in Allah’s religion), love of evil, free from persistence upon bidah and sins. Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “The clean heart is the heart that is free from Shirk, (blameworthy) hatred, malice, (blameworthy) envy, vehement greed, pride, (blameworthy) love of the worldly life [i.e. by preferring the worldly life over the Hereafter] and love of leadership”. It is the heart that is free from every evil that distances it from Allah, free from every Shubhah – [i.e. beliefs, views, opinions etc that resemble the truth but are falsehood in reality] – that opposes what Allah has stated, free from every desire that opposes Allah’s command, free from every want that contradicts what Allah wants from a person and free from every obstacle that obstructs a person from (obedience to Allah). This clean heart is in a paradise of this quick passing worldly life (i.e. due to the pleasure derived from obedience to Allah, love of Allah, fear of Allah, hope in Allah etc), and it will be in paradise in the life of the grave (i.e. bliss of the grave) and in paradise in the Hereafter. This heart cannot completely obtain safety until it is safe from five affairs: Safe from shirk which is a nullifier of Tawheed, safe from bidah which is a nullifier of the authentic Sunnah, safe from evil desire which is a nullifier of obedience to Allah’s command, safe from heedlessness which is a nullifier of remembrance of Allah and safe from vain desires which is a nullifier of obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and sincerity. These five affairs (i.e. shirk, bidah, evil desires, heedlessness and vain desires) veils a person from Allah and under each of them there are many other affairs that cannot be enumerated. [12]
Yusuf – peace be upon him
Allah, The Most High, stated that Yusuf said:
رَبِّ قَدۡ ءَاتَيۡتَنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُلۡكِ وَعَلَّمۡتَنِى مِن تَأۡوِيلِ ٱلۡأَحَادِيثِۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّۦ فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأَخِرَةِۖ تَوَفَّنِى مُسۡلِمً۬ا وَأَلۡحِقۡنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams; The (only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous. [Yusuf 101]
أَنتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ
You (Allah) are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim, and join me with the righteous]. [13]
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “This supplication gathers within it a firm acknowledgement of Allah’s Oneness [i.e Tawheed], submission to the Lord, a manifestation of one’s need of Allah, a declaration of one’s innocence from having a protector besides Allah, and that being enabled to die upon Islam is the loftiest goal of the slave, and that it is [an affair] only in the hands of Allah and not in the hands of the slave; an acknowledgement of the afterlife and seeking [to be included in the] company of those granted happiness and success. [14]
Lut – peace be upon him
Allah said that Lut supplicated:
رَبِّ نَجِّنِى وَأَهۡلِى مِمَّا يَعۡمَلُونَ
My Lord! Save me and my family from what they do. [Ash-Shu’ara. 169]
This supplication teaches and guides the servants of Allah to hold on firmly to Allah and to seek Allah’s rescue from evil deeds and statements; seek safety from its disgusting consequences, its evil and corruption, especially when evil becomes rife and the people openly commit it.
Punishment was sent upon the people. Allah said:
إِنَّا مُنزِلُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِ رِجۡزً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡسُقُونَ
وَلَقَد تَّرَڪۡنَا مِنۡهَآ ءَايَةَۢ بَيِّنَةً۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَعۡقِلُونَ
Verily, we are about to bring down on the people of this town a great torment from the sky, because they have been rebellious (against Allah’s Command). And indeed We have left thereof an evident Ayah (a lesson and a warning and a sign the place where the Dead Sea is now in Palestine) for a folk who understand. [Al-Ankabut.34-35]
Allah said:
قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّآ أُرۡسِلۡنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوۡمٍ۬ مُّجۡرِمِينَ
لِنُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ حِجَارَةً۬ مِّن طِينٍ۬
مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ
فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا مَن كَانَ فِيہَا مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
فَمَا وَجَدۡنَا فِيہَا غَيۡرَ بَيۡتٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ
وَتَرَكۡنَا فِيہَآ ءَايَةً۬ لِّلَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ
They [i.e. the angels] said: “We have been sent to a people who are Mujrimun (polytheists, sinners, criminals, disbelievers in Allah); to send down upon them stones of baked clay. Marked by your Lord for the Musrifun (polytheists, criminals, sinners those who trespass Allah’s set limits in evil-doings by committing great sins). So We brought out from therein the believers. But We found not there any household of the Muslims except one [i.e. Lout (Lot) and his two daughters]. And We have left there a sign (i.e. the place of the Dead Sea , well-known in Palestine) for those who fear the painful torment. [Adh-Dhariyat.32-37]
Allah said:
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمۡرُنَا جَعَلۡنَا عَـٰلِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمۡطَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهَا حِجَارَةً۬ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ۬ مَّنضُودٍ۬
مُّسَوَّمَةً عِندَ رَبِّكَۖ وَمَا هِىَ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ۬So when Our Commandment came, We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down, and rained on them stones of baked clay, piled up; marked from your Lord, and they are not ever far from the Zalimun (polytheists, evil-doers, etc.). [Hud. 82-83] [a] [15]
Shu’aib, peace be upon him
Allah stated that Shu’aib supplicated, saying:
رَبَّنَا ٱفۡتَحۡ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَ قَوۡمِنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡفَـٰتِحِينَ
Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the Best of those who give judgment. [Al-A’raf. 89]
Meaning: “Judge between us because Your Judgement contains no wrong, inequity and oppression. Aid the truth and its people, and humiliate falsehood and its people. You are the best of those who judge”. Indeed, Allah accepted Shu’aib’s supplication, aided him and the believers and destroyed the unbelievers. Allah [The Exalted] said:
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمۡرُنَا نَجَّيۡنَا شُعَيۡبً۬ا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ ۥ بِرَحۡمَةٍ۬ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ٱلصَّيۡحَةُ فَأَصۡبَحُواْ فِى دِيَـٰرِهِمۡ جَـٰثِمِينَ
And when Our Commandment came, We saved Shu’aib and those who believed with him by a Mercy from Us. And As-Saihah (torment – awful cry, etc.) seized the wrong-doers, and they lay (dead) prostrate in their homes]. [Hud. 94] [16]
Musa and Harun- peace be upon them
After Allāh, The Most High, appointed Musa, peace be upon him, and showed him magnificent signs, he was sent to Fir’awn – the king of Misr. Allāh, The Most High, said to Musa: [ٱذۡهَبۡ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُ ۥ طَغَىٰ- Go to Fir’aun (Pharaoh)! Verily, he has transgressed all bounds] – Meaning: Fir’awn has rebelled and transgressed all the limits in disbelief and corruption. He has become haughty in the earth, overpowered the weak, claimed Ar-Rububiyyah [Lordship for himself] and al-Uluhiyyah [that he deserves to be worshipped]. This transgression of his was the cause of his destruction, but due to Allah’s Perfect Mercy, Wisdom and Justice, He does not punish anyone until after establishing the proof by sending Messengers. Musa, peace be upon him, knew that he was going to shoulder a great responsibility because he was going to be sent to an obstinate and arrogant dictator, who had no opponent in Misr -amongst the people- to oppose him.
He was by himself after he killing someone [i.e. when he unintentionally killed one of Fir’awn’s people, whilst defending a man from Bani Israeel, thus, Fir’awn and his chiefs were determined to kill him]; but after Allah commanded him to go to Fir’awn, he obeyed Allah’s command, accepted it wholeheartedly, asked Allah for assistance and to facilitate him with the ability to (fulfil the task). Allah says that Musa said: [رَبِّ ٱشۡرَحۡ لِى صَدۡرِى – O my Lord! My expand my heart]- Meaning: Grant me self-confidence and courage so that I can bear both verbal and physical harm, and so that I neither grieve nor become fed up due such harm, for indeed a person with an aggrieved heart is not fit to guide and invite the people to (Allah’s guidance).
[وَيَسِّرۡ لِىٓ أَمۡرِى – And ease my task for me]- Meaning: Grant me ease in every affair I pursue and every path I intend to follow, whilst calling to your guidance; and lighten the difficulties in front of me. The caller is granted ease when he approaches all affairs in the appropriate manner; addresses every person based on what they should be addressed with, and calls them through a path that is easier for them to understand, which will enable them to accept his speech.
[وَٱحۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَةً۬ مِّن لِّسَانِى – And make loose the knot (the defect) from my tongue, (i.e. remove the incorrectness from my speech) [That occurred as a result of a brand of fire which Musa (Moses) put in his mouth when he was an infant]; [يَفۡقَهُواْ قَوۡلِى – That they understand my speech]. Musa used to suffer from a speech impediment and it was difficult to understand his speech as the Mufassiroon have stated, just as Allah says in another verse that Musa said:
[وَأَخِى هَـٰرُونُ هُوَ أَفۡصَحُ مِنِّى لِسَانً۬ا– And my brother Haaroon (Aaron) he is more eloquent in speech than me]. Thus, he asked Allah to remove the speech impediment so that what he says can be understood and the people he speaks to can clearly grasp what is intended by his speech.
[وَٱجۡعَل لِّى وَزِيرً۬ا مِّنۡ أَهۡلِى – And appoint for me a helper from my family];[ هَـٰرُونَ أَخِى- Harun (Aaron), my brother]; [ٱشۡدُدۡ بِهِۦۤ أَزۡرِى Increase my strength with him]- Meaning: to be my helper and my assistant in delivering the message to those whom you have sent me to deliver your message, as Allah says in another verse: [سَنَشُدُّ عَضُدَكَ بِأَخِيكَ وَنَجۡعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا – We will strengthen your arm through your brother, and give you both power]. [وَأَشۡرِكۡهُ فِىٓ أَمۡرِى – And let him share my task]- Meaning: Grant him prophet-hood and make him a Messenger, just as you have made me a Prophet and a Messenger.
Then Allah informs us of the benefit Musa was seeking by asking for such favours, which is: [كَىۡ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرً۬ا – That we may glorify You much]; [وَنَذۡكُرَكَ كَثِيرًا – And remember You much]. Musa knew that acts of worship and the religion revolves around remembrance of Allah, thus he asked Allah to make his brother a partner in that – aiding and helping one another in righteousness and piety; to remember Allah profusely by way of Tasbeeh [i.e. Subhanallah], Tahleel [i.e. laa ilaaha illal laah] and other types of worship.
[إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيرً۬ا- Verily! You are of us Ever a Well-Seer] – Meaning: You know our situation and weaknesses; what we can and cannot do, and our complete need of You in every affair. You see our affair more than us [i.e. you see everything and nothing escapes your sight] and you are more Merciful to us than we have for ourselves; therefore bestow upon us what we have asked You and respond to our supplication.
After he made these supplications and requests, Allah said to him: [قَدۡ أُوتِيتَ سُؤۡلَكَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ -You are granted your request, O Musa (Moses)]- Meaning: I will grant you everything you’ve asked. I will grant you courage, make your task easy and remove the speech impediment from your tongue, so that your speech is understood; and I will make your brother -Hurun – your helper. Allah says in another verse:
وَنَجۡعَلُ لَكُمَا سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا فَلَا يَصِلُونَ إِلَيۡكُمَاۚ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنتُمَا وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكُمَا ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ
And give you both power, so they shall not be able to harm you, with Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), you two as well as those who follow you will be the victors.
These requests made by Musa show his perfect knowledge and awareness of Allāh, his perfect discernment, perfect knowledge about affairs and perfect sincerity. This is because the caller to the path of Allah- the one who guides the people, especially if the one being invited to the path of Allah is from the obstinate and haughty ones, and transgressors- is need of a courageous heart and complete forbearance, in order to bear the harm he might come across. He is in need of clear speech, in order to be able to express himself to the one he intends and wishes to address. Rather, a person in such a situation needs clear eloquent speech in order to present the truth in a proficient manner, beautify it as much as he is able and make it appealing to the people. On the other hand, he shows the ugliness of falsehood, so as to repel people from it. Besides this, the caller is in need of being granted ease in his task by approaching affairs in the proper manner – calling to the path of Allah with wisdom, fine admonition and arguing in the best way. He should deal with every person whilst taking into consideration the situation of each person he addresses.
This affair becomes more accomplished when the caller has helpers and assistants, who will help him to reach this goal because when many people speak, it will have an effect and that is why Musa made those requests. If you examine the situation of the prophets – those sent to the people- you will discover this affair, especially the seal and most virtuous amongst them, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him because he was at the highest peak in every perfect and good human characteristic. He had a courageous heart and was facilitated with the means of calling to Allah. His speech was eloquent – with fine expression and explanation- and he had companions who aided him to convey the truth, and (besides the Prophets and Messengers) none can ever excel those companions of Muhammad after their departure from this world. [An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam al-Mannaan’. explanation of Ayat 24-36 Surah Ta Ha]
Sulayman – peace be upon him
Allah said:
وَحُشِرَ لِسُلَيۡمَـٰنَ جُنُودُهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ وَٱلطَّيۡرِ فَهُمۡ يُوزَعُونَ
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوۡاْ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمۡلِ قَالَتۡ نَمۡلَةٌ۬ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمۡلُ ٱدۡخُلُواْ مَسَـٰكِنَڪُمۡ لَا يَحۡطِمَنَّكُمۡ سُلَيۡمَـٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُ ۥ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكً۬ا مِّن قَوۡلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِىٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٲلِدَىَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا تَرۡضَٮٰهُ وَأَدۡخِلۡنِى بِرَحۡمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And there were gathered before Sulaiman (Solomon) his hosts of jinns and men, and birds, and they all were set in battle order (marching forwards). Till, when they came to the valley of the ants, one of the ants said: “O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Sulaiman (Solomon) and his hosts crush you, while they perceive not.” So he [Sulaiman (Solomon)] smiled, amused at her speech and said: “My Lord! Inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favours which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves. [Al-Naml. 17-19]
رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِىٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٲلِدَىَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا تَرۡضَٮٰهُ وَأَدۡخِلۡنِى بِرَحۡمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِين
My Lord! Inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favours which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves.
This is one of the most comprehensive supplications, the most suitable for Sulayman’s circumstances and that which Allah bestowed on him of mighty kingship and manifest bounty. [رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِىٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَىَّ – My Lord! Inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favours which You have bestowed on me] – Meaning: Seeking from Allah to bestow on him in particular the ability to be thankful due to that which Allah bestowed upon him- the specific blessings given to him, such as enabling him to understand the speech of birds and being able to hear the speech of the ant.
[وَعَلَىٰ وَٲلِدَىَّ – and on my parents]- Meaning: This shows that the blessings bestowed upon the two parents is a blessing for the child, thus this is why Sulayman asked his Lord to grant him the power and ability to be thankful for both the religious and worldly blessings that has been bestowed upon him and his parents – his father Dawud and his mother because she was one of the righteous and devoted worshipers of Allah.
[وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا تَرۡضَٮٰهُ – and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You]- Meaning: Grant me the guidance and ability to perform righteous deeds that are pleasing to You, due to the fact that those deeds are in conformity with Your command- sincerely for your sake, free from corruption and deficiencies. It is obligatory that one contemplates on this statement [صَـٰلِحً۬ا تَرۡضَٮٰهُ- righteous good deeds that will please You]- Meaning: This statement shows that a deed might be considered as one performed sincerely, but Allah is not pleased because it is [either] not in conformity with His command or not performed sincerely for His Sake. Allah is not pleased with deeds except that which is in conformity with His Shariah and carried out sincerely for His sake.
[وَأَدۡخِلۡنِى بِرَحۡمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِين- and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves]- Meaning: When You [Allah] take my life, put me together with the righteous amongst your slaves- the people of the highest company amongst your allies. Include me amongst them, place my name with theirs and raise me in their group. [17]
Leader and Seal of The Prophets, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him
Allah [The Most High] said:
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ عَـٰلِمَ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَةِ أَنتَ تَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَ عِبَادِكَ فِى مَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ
Say (O Muhammad): “O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! All-Knower of the Ghaib (unseen) and the seen. You will judge between your slaves about that wherein they used to differ.” [Al-Zumar. 46]
Indeed, Allah commanded His Prophet Muhammad to make this supplication after rebuking the Mushrikoon due to their love of Shirk and turning away from Tawheed. The Meaning of this supplication is: O Prophet! Invoke Allah alone and ascribe no partner with Him – the creator of the heavens and the earth, who created them when there was nothing similar to them before that. [عَـٰلِمَ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّہَـٰدَ – (Allah), The All-Knower of the Ghaib (unseen) and the seen]- Meaning: Knower of both the secrets and what is made known.
[أَنتَ تَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَ عِبَادِكَ فِى مَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُون – You will judge between your slaves about that wherein they used to differ]- Meaning in their worldly affairs and you will judge between them on the day they are returned to the hereafter and raised from their graves.
In this supplication, there is a lesson for the servants that they turn to Allah and supplicate to Him through His perfect Names, seek His aid and assistance whilst being in a state of humility and invoking Him to repel the plots of the enemy and grant you safety against their evil. It has been reported in Sahih Muslim from Aaisha who said that when the Messenger of Allah used to stand up in Salah at night, he used to begin [i.e. after the Takbeer and before recitation of Al-Fatiha] with:
اللهُمَّ! رَبَّ جَبْرَائِيلَ، وَمِيكَائِيلَ، وَإِسْرَافِيلَ، فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ، عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ، اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ، إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
O Allah, Lord of Jibraa’eel, Meekaa’eel and Israafeel; Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen; You judge between Your slaves concerning wherein they differ. Guide me to the truth in that which they differ by permission, for indeed You are the One Who guides whom You will to the Straight Path.[Sahih Muslim]
[وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدۡنِى عِلۡمً۬ا – And say: “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge]. [Ta Ha. 114]
Imam At-Tabari said that this means, “Say O Muhammad! My Lord, increase me in knowledge in addition to what You have taught me”. So Allah commanded the Messenger to ask Him for those benefits of knowledge which he does not know.
Imam As-Sadi said: Allah command the Prophet to ask for an increase in knowledge, for indeed knowledge is something good and abundant good is something to be sought after. It is bestowed by Allah and the path leading to it are: earnest striving, desire for knowledge, asking Allah, seeking Allah’s Aid and Assistance, and declaring one’s need and poverty in Allah’s presence in every instance. Indeed, the fact that the Prophet gave importance to this supplication is something well established in the Sunnah. In a hadith reported by Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah, Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger used to say:
للَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي، وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي، وَزِدْنِي عِلْمًا
O Allah! Benefit me through that which You have taught me; teach me what benefits me and increase me in knowledge.
Sufyaan Bin Uyaynah said, “The Prophet did not cease increasing in knowledge till the time death”. Also the pious predecessors constantly gave importance to this supplication due to that which Sa’eed Bin Mansoor and Abd Bin Humaid reported that Ibn Mas’ud used to supplicate, saying: [اللهم زِدْنِي إيمَانًا وَفِقْهًا وَيَقِينًا وَعِلْمًا – O Allah! Increase me in Imaan, understanding, certainty and knowledge].
It has been reported from Imam Malik Bin Anas that he said, “The situation of the son of Adam is that he does not know everything; the situation of the son of Adam is that he knows and then forgets; the situation of the son of Adam is that he should ask Allah for knowledge to add to the knowledge he already has”. [18]
Ayyub- peace be upon him
Allah said:
وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
And (remember) Ayyub (Job), when he cried to his Lord: “Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy.” [Al-Anbiyah 83]
Ayyub remained in his state of affliction (i.e. illness) for eighteen years, and he was shunned by both those close to him and those who were not close to him, except two among his brothers who used to come to him in the morning and evening. One day, one of them said to his companion, “By Allah! Do you know that Ayyub must have committed a sin which none amongst the creation has ever committed?” His companion said to him, “Why is that?” He said, “It has been eighteen years, Allah has not shown him mercy and granted him relief”. When they went to Ayyub in the evening, the man could not restrain himself and thus transmitted – to Ayyub – the statement that was made by his companion. So, Ayyub said, “I don’t know what you two are talking about, other than the fact that Allaah knows that I used to go pass two men who were arguing, and they mentioned Allaah, because in one’s dispute one swears by Allaah saying ‘By Allaah! By Allaah!’ So, I would return to my house and offer expiation on their behalf, because I hated that Allaah is mentioned, except in that which is true”.
Whenever he went out to answer the call of nature, and after finishing, his wife would hold his hand until he returns to his house. One day, he took a long time, and Allah had revealed to him to strike the ground with his foot:
[ٱرۡكُضۡ بِرِجۡلِكَۖ هَـٰذَا مُغۡتَسَلُۢ بَارِدٌ۬ وَشَرَابٌ۬ – (Allah said to him): “Strike the ground with your foot: This is a spring of water to wash in, cool and a (refreshing) drink]. [Sad 42]
She thought that he took a long time [to return] and turned to look for him, and thus Allaah had taken away the afflictions he was suffering from, and he was more good looking than he was in the past. So, when she saw him, she said, “May Allah bless you, have you seen that Prophet of Allah who is put to trial and test [by Allah]? By Allah! I have not seen anyone who resembles him more than you if he were healthy [or in a state of wellbeing]”. So, he [Ayyoub] said, “It is me indeed”. And he had two threshing floors – one for wheat and one for barley. Allah sent two clouds, and when one of them reached the threshing floor of the wheat, it rained gold until it was full, and the other reached the threshing floor of barley until it was full with silver. [Silsilah As-Sahihah. 19]
Yunus – peace be upon him
Sad Bin Abee Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: The invocation of my brother Dhun-Noon: [لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ – none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) are You (above all that evil) they associate with You. Truly, I have been of the wrong doers]; there is no one who faces hardship and supplicates with it, except that Allah will relief him of his hardship.’’ [Sahih Al-Jami 3383]
Look at the great distress that befell Yunus?! The whale swallowed him and went to the bottom of the sea. He was in the belly of the whale and at the bottom of the sea – a great distress indeed. Therefore, there was nothing else for him to do at the time except to keep on repeating that supplication, whilst he was engulfed in darkness – the darkness in the whale’s belly, the darkness in the sea and the darkness of the night, and trapped at the bottom of the sea. He repeated this supplication, so Allah commanded the whale to take him out. Yunus made this supplication whilst having a strong reliance upon Allaah and knew that deliverance from such a distress is in Allah’s Hand. This supplication comprises of four affairs:
[Tawhid: (لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنتَ)-None has the right to be worshipped except You (O Allah)]. This is singling out Allah in worship.
[ سُبْحَانَكَ – Glorified (and Exalted) are You (above all that evil) they associate with You]; meaning: I declare that You (O Allah) are free from everything that does not befit Your Majesty. I declare that You (O Allaah) are free from all deficiencies and defects, and I declare that You (O Allaah) are free from all that which the enemies of the Messengers attribute to You. Allaah [The Most High] said:
[سُبۡحَـٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ ٱلۡعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ – Glorified be your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him! (37:180)] [إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ – Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers]. This is an acknowledgement of one’s wrongdoing and shortcomings.
[Servitude to Allah]: An acknowledgement that you are a slave of Allah and that you cannot do without Allah in the twinkling of an eye.
Therefore, a person should turn to Allah in all circumstances – when faced with pain, hardship, calamity etc. [19]
(1)https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/search/46_15
(2) An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi
(3) An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi
(4) Ar-Ruh 488 By Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim
(5) Tafseer Al-Baghawi
(6) Tafseer As-Sadi
(7) Tafseer As-Sadi
(8) Tafseer at-Tabari
(9) Tafseer As-Sadi
[10, 11, 12, 13]: An Excerpt from “Fiqh Al-Ad’iyah Wal Ad’kar 4/348” onwards]
[14] An Excerpt from ‘Al-Fawaa’d. page 286]
[15, 16, 17, 18]: An Excerpt from “Fiqh Al-Ad’iyah Wal Ad’kar 4/348” onwards]
[19] Excerpt from Athar Al-Adkar Ash-Shar’iyyah Fee Tard Al-Ham Wal-Gham. page 21
