Alhamdulillah, Allah Ta’ala grants us the Taufeeq of carrying
out different Ibaadaat. Really, it is His Kindness and Grace if we are able to
do any good. We should keep in mind the words of
Hadhrat Shu`aib عَليْهِ
السَّلام:
“…And my ability to do things comes from none except
Allah…”
[Surah Hud 11 : 88]
When a Nabi of Allah Ta’ala is acknowledging that the ability
to do is from Allah Ta’ala, then we too should acknowledge and recognise Allah
Ta’ala’s favours upon us. In another
Aayah, Allah Ta’ala informs us:
“And whatever blessing you have is from Allah...”
[Surah an-Nahl 16 : 53]
If a person has established Salaah in his life, and he also
makes Dua, recites the Qur’aan Sharief, keeps occupied in Zikrullah, fasts in
the month of Ramadaan, sits in I’tikaaf; pays Zakaat and even gives over and
above in Sadaqah; fulfils his Qurbaani; goes for ‘Umrah and Hajj and gets the
opportunity to render some Khidmat of Dien, or serves the creation in some way,
or does some other good deeds, then this is Taufeeq from Allah Ta’ala, for
which a person should be grateful and humble.
For the culmination and fruition of our efforts, we should try
to see our actions through, with the following recommended Duas. Of course, we should formulate noble intentions; the most
important being that we are seeking the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. We should commence any work or good deed with the name of Allah Ta’ala (Bismillah /
Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem). This invites the wonderful blessings of Allah
Ta’ala and facilitates great goodness. We should also establish our deeds upon the Sunnah.
At the completion of our work or of any good deed, we should
try to read the following five Duas:
1.)
‘Our Lord, accept (this) from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the
Knowing.’”
[Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 127]
This is the Dua of Hadhrat Ibraheem (Alaihis Salaam) when he
built the Ka’bah Shareef. …Who can bring more Ikhlaas (sincerity) than a Nabi of Allah
Ta’ala? Who can bring a more pure intention? What a great undertaking, yet look at his humility in asking Allah Ta’ala to
accept from him. We should take lesson, do likewise and adopt the same humility. Often, our
intentions are tainted by nafs and shaytaan … and we find that Riyaa (ostentation) or Ujub (conceit) or Takabbur (pride) steals into our hearts. So
together with repeatedly correcting our intentions – before the Amal, during
the Amal and at the end of the Amal – we should read this Dua as well.
“Taqabbal” actually means and signifies that whatever we did
is not worthy of acceptance. We ask Allah Ta’ala, that He, out of His Kindness,
accepts it, despite our failings and shortcomings.
2.)
The Dua which is mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf:
“Maa-Sha’Allah
Laa Quwwata illah Billah”
(That which Allah wills! There is no power
but with Allah)
Hadhrat
Anas (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had related that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)
said: “When Allah blesses someone with a
bounty, be it with regard to his family, wealth or children and he says
‘Masha-Allahu la Quwwata illa Billah‘, no harm (including the evil eye) will come
to it except death.”[1]
Hadhrat
Moulana Idris Kāndhlawī (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had explained that on whatever
Ni’mat this is read (that is, Masha-Allahu la Quwwata illa Billah), that Ni’mat
will, Insha-Allah, not be taken away.
Hafez Ibn Katheer (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had said: “Some of our
Aslaaf (pious predecessors) had taught: When one is amazed at his condition,
wealth or children, he should recite: Masha-Allah la Quwwata illa Billah.” …And
thereafter said that this is derived from the verse in Surah Al-Kahf (verse: 39).
Allah Ta’ala has given us so many gifts: spiritual, physical
and material. Our Imaan and Ibaadaat are priceless gifts and bounties; our health, wealth; our
families, children, business and so forth are all bounties from Allah Ta’ala –
all of which pleases us. So we should read this Dua. Allah Ta’ala will preserve
them, Insha-Allah. Of course, for safety and preservation of Allah Ta’ala’s
bounties, we have to also stay away from sins. Sins deprive us of Barakah and invites tremendous loss.
In saying: “La Quwwata illa Billah” which means: “There is no power and strength but with
the help of Allah,” there is admission and affirmation that on our own, we
are unable to do or achieve anything. We are 100% fully dependent on Allah Ta’ala. This is
Abdiyyah (servitude), which Allah Ta’ala loves from His servant.
3.)
We should also
read:
Alhamdulillahil-lazee bi ni’matihi tatimmus Sawlihaat
(Translation: All praise and thanks are only for
Allah, the One who, by His blessing and favour, perfected goodness/good works
are accomplished.)
By reading this Dua, we are acknowledging that whatever is accomplished is
from Allah Ta’ala. It includes the Shukr and Praise of Allah Ta’ala, which will earn us the pleasure to Allah Ta’ala. These noble qualities signify one’s
Abdiyyah before Allah Ta’ala - that we recognise the Giver; praise Him and
increase in submission to Him. ...A person can achieve great things and the world can praise
him, but with the Barakah of this Dua, pride will not enter his heart. He will
be protected from pride and conceit because there is the understanding that whatever good has been done is
from Allah Ta’ala, on His Taufeeq.
Hadhrat Ayesha (Radiyallahu anha) had said: “When Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam) saw
something that pleased him, he would say: ‘Alhamdulillahil- lazee bi ni’matihi tatimmus Sawlihaat’, and when he saw something that
displeased him, he would say: ‘Alhamdulillah
‘alaa kulli haal’ (All praise and thanks are only for Allah in all
circumstances).”[2]
4.)
(Translation: “O Allah, You are pure; all praise is for You
and I testify that there is none worthy of worship besides You. I seek
forgiveness and pardon from You.”)
Towards the end of his life, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) would supplicate before leaving a
gathering: “SubhaanakAllahumma wa
bihamdika, ash-hadu allaa ilaaha illaa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayka.”
A man once said to him: “O Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)! You have spoken such words as you have
never uttered before.” He (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “It
is an expiation of that which goes on in the assembly.”[3]
This was to teach
us how to seek forgiveness for our lapses, which are unintentionally committed
during a gathering or conversation. There was no scope for Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam)
engaging in
anything futile, useless or vain. By contrast, we find constant mistakes and
shortcomings in our speech and actions. So if we read this after our good deeds as well, Insha-Allah,
Allah Ta’ala will forgive us our mistakes and wrongs in that good deed or
during that gathering.
Hadhrat Ayesha (Radiyallahu anha) had said that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) did not sit in any gathering, did not recite the Qur’aan
Shareef and did not perform Salaah without concluding by saying:
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam) explained that if the gathering
was of good, this Dua seals it and if the gathering was other than good it is a
means of atonement and expiation; this Dua will recompense for it.
Allah Ta’ala takes the good deed
or gathering as a pure Amal and places a seal on it… a Khatam (seal)
on
it; and the reward is for the individual. To understand: Take the example of a
person who writes a Kitaab or an article. He then hands it to his Ustaadh, for
him to check and correct for any mistakes. Similarly, by reading this Dua, whatever errors
were in there, are corrected.
...It is mentioned that the person who sincerely
recites the Qur’aan Shareef and struggles in its recitation, Allah Ta’ala
appoints an angel to make his recitation correct and then bring it to Him. Of
course, we must try and improve in our recitation of the Qur’aan Shareef and
not be complacent. However, this is Allah Ta’ala’s kindness that He mends our broken efforts;
corrects our errors and instead of our defective and spoiled deeds, Allah
Ta’ala converts it to something complete and whole so that we can secure the
rewards. Allahu Akbar!
5.)
Another Dua to end our work or Amal is:
[Surah As-Saffaat 37 : 180/ 181/ 182]
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to recite these
Aayaat after the completion of Salaah. It has been mentioned that the person
who reads this, three times after Salaah, will obtain the full reward of his
Salaah.[4] In the Tafseer, Ma’ariful
Qur’aan, Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) related that
Hadhrat Ali (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had said: “Whoever
wishes to have the best of return, filled to the brim, on the Day of Judgment,
should recite this at the end of every sitting attended.”
The reward of the Amal will be magnified and increased
immensely. Insha-Allah, we will, through
the blessings of these Aayaat, secure a greater measure of rewards. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq of good deeds with
Ikhlaas, accept from us and forgive us our shortcomings.
By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhu)
[1]
Al Mu’jamus Saghir, Al Mu’jamul Awsat, Majma’uz Zawaid
[2] Sunan Ibn Maajah
[3] Abu Daawod
[4] Tirmidhi
