Du’a and the names of Allah
And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” (Al Ghafir 40:60)
Rasulullah (SAW) mentioned that there is nothing more beloved to Allah than du’a:
An-Nu’man bin Bashir (RA) reported: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Du’a (supplication) is worship.” (Abu Dawud)
‘Ubadah bin As-Samit (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Whenever a Muslim supplicates Allah, He accepts his supplication or averts any similar kind of trouble from him until he prays for something sinful or something that may break the ties of kinship.” Upon this someone of the Companions said: “Then we shall supplicate plenty.” The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Allah is more plentiful (in responding).”(At- Tirmidhi)
The lives of Messengers began with du’a for Allah to guide them and ended with du’a for Allah to accept them and grant them a good ending. Du’a is the beginning and end of the journey of iman, when we believe that Allah is the owner of everything.
Why do we hurry too much, become moody or wake up angry? This is because we forget who is in control. Allah says that He has 99 names and to call Him with it, and nothing you can do in this life is more effective or powerful. Allah is bashful to leave a du’a by His slave unanswered. If we perform du’a with complete conviction and belief that Allah will hear and deliver, Allah loves it and will respond, whether in this life or in the hereafter.
Jabir (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “There is none who utters a supplication, except that Allah gives him what he asked, or prevents evil from him that is equal to it – as long as he does not supplicate for something evil, or the cutting of ties of the womb.” (Tirmidhi)
Whether individually or collectively, rich or poor, do we call on other than Allah and think that others can support us? We should be calling to Allah, who is the creator and controller of everything. Believing that someone other than Allah can remedy our problems only means that we harbour hidden shirk and disbelief in our hearts.
If we believe the Creator is the owner of everything, anything we can imagine we need lies within one of the names of Allah and we should call Him with it. He wants us to remember His names, comprehend it and have faith in it. In any given situation, we need Allah. If we are weak, we should ask Him to support us. If we are poor, we should ask Him to give us. If we are rich, we should ask Him to bestow us the quality to do more for Him. If we are given the ability to do more, we should ask Him for the opportunity to do even more goodness and to increase the blessing in what we are doing. We need Allah in all conditions and in every moment. We need Allah to be pleased with us, so that He will allow us to see His most beautiful face, which is the ultimate honour.
And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record. (Surat Al An’am 6:59)
Even just talking and thinking of Allah, can empower us tremendously. Allah does not just tell us to remember Him with His names, but to call Him with those names. This concept contains the start to end of worship. Allah keeps changing our circumstances and gives us the ability to call out to Him at every stage of life, and through every change. Whatever our condition, we will find that we need Allah.
The various descriptions of Allah’s attributes cover different aspects. Some describe the existence of Allah, such as the eternal (As Samad), the ever living (Al Hayy) and the omnipotent (Al Qadir). Some describe characteristics that we can identify with and call upon, such as the exceedingly compassionate (Ar Rahman), the responsive (Al Mujib), the utterly just (Al ‘Adl), and the pardoner (Al ‘Afuw). Some describe characteristics that are unique to Allah and which we, as His creation, do not possess, such as never dying, never sleeping and never getting tired.
Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. (Al Baqarah 2:155)
And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die, and exalt [Allah] with His praise. (Al Furqan 25:58)
Nor is there to Him any equivalent. (Al Ikhlas 112:4)
Allah’s attributes are incomprehensible and without parallel. He doesn’t die or get ill. He is not poor. He is not deficient in any way. He does not need support but He supports all mankind. So in knowing His names, we also know our limits with Him through our own limitations.
If Allah allows anyone to seek the knowledge of Allah, this is the highest knowledge and relationship of slavery and love to Him. Now you will realize that it is futile to place your utmost and unconditional love on the ones who are going to die, leave you or deny you. Every quality of Allah will strengthen your belief in Him more and make you worship Him more.
Knowing that everything that happens in life originates from the One who created you and loves you, will make you remain calm in all conditions. Whatever He ordained for you is for your goodness, whether you love or hate it. If you are a believer, you will love whatever happens to you because it comes from Allah. Whether a situation of surplus or deficit, it has a wisdom, only if you surrender and comprehend. The deeper your understanding of the attributes of Allah, the more you can live the journey of iman in a state of tranquility. You will be filled with inner happiness whatever the external situation.
A hadith states that whoever does not thank the people, does not thank Allah. This is profound because if you thank people, you are not just thanking them for their sake, but at a deeper level, you are also thanking Allah for allowing them to have done whatever action it is that you are thanking them for.
The ultimate bounty is to know the Creator and to live in every aspect with the qualities of the One who created you. Every one of His attributes has a beautiful wisdom. Every moment we fail to remember Allah, we should feel sad, and everytime we remember Him, we should feel happy and secure even during our ultimate tragedies.
This awareness is crucial, because if we forget these dynamics, we will become like a child who busies himself with a borrowed toy, and when the owner wants to take that toy back, the child gets upset, and he forgets that the owner, as the lender of the toy, is entitled to take it away at any time. Instead of showing gratitude, a spoilt child will become nasty and forgets who the giver and the taker is. This is similar to our behaviour with Allah when we forget that He is the Owner of everything, even our lives, and has the right to take back whatever He wishes.
The scholars unanimously agree that you will never be a believer unless you are steadfast with the names of Allah, knowledge, comprehension, believing, calling Him with them and living it as a role model.
May Allah allow us to get to know Him, live with His names, and comprehend and respect His qualities. May we try to honour His bounty to us by obeying Him to the best of our abilities. This is the journey of the most beautiful names of Allah, the journey of belonging, happiness and success. It is a journey that will make you free, happy, secure and elevated with the quality belonging to Allah which makes Allah love you and leaves a legacy on this earth which make you belong to Him Insha Allah.
Join us in a life changing series on getting to know Allah’s attributes. Click here for the first article in the series
