Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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Du'a (Supplication)

Author(s): Maulana Sayyid Zafar Hasan Amrohi

Publisher(s): Ansariyan Publications - Qum

An elaborate text describing the reality of du`a (supplication), as well as its constituents, categories and effects, and elaborating on the language which is used therein.

www.alhassanain.org/english

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

Contents

Publisher's Word 7

Introduction 8

Note 8

Supplication (Du'a) 9

Defining Supplication 9

Definition Based on Meaning 9

Qualitative Definition 9

Note 9

The Definition Based on Qualitative Characteristics 10

The Definition of Supplication Based on the How of Existence 10

The Definition of supplication based on the content 11

The Necessity of Supplication 11

The Rationale behind Supplication 12

The History of Supplication 14

The Most Natural Secret of Existence 14

Kinds of Supplication 15

Verbal Supplication 15

Content Supplication 15

Content Supplication and the supplicant’s limited knowledge 16

Malhun Supplication 17

Supplication by the heart 18

The Mood in asking Allah’s Assistance 18

Evolutional Supplication 19

Supplication should not be in words only 19

Research on one verse of the Qur’an 20

Notes 21

The Constituents of Supplication 22

First Constituent: The Spiritual Attraction 24

Supplication is a Kind of Acceptance 26

Asking Allah to be given a chance of Supplication 26

The Permanent Attraction 28

The Second Constituent: the Supplicant 29

1) Submission 29

2) Believing in God’s Power 30

3) Regarding God’s Closeness to Man 31

4) Sincerity 32

5) Real Invoking 32

6) Good Manners in Supplication 32

Examples of the Prophets’ Manners towards Allah as mentioned in The Holy Qur’an 33

Jesus (s) 33

Adam (s) 33

Abraham (s) 34

Manners of Supplication in Imam as-Sadiq’s Statements 34

Notes 35

The Categories of Supplicants 36

The First Stage 36

The Second Stage 37

The Third Stage 38

The Fourth Stage 39

The Fifth Stage 40

The Sixth Stage 41

A Point To Be Noticed 42

The Third Constituent: God, Whom we ask for a favor 42

Knowledge 42

Sincerity of Supplication 45

Notes 49

Closeness: The Nigh Relationship 50

The First Stage 50

The Second Stage 50

The Third Stage 51

The Fourth Stage 51

The Fifth Stage 52

The Sixth Stage 53

The Seventh Stage 53

Conclusion 53

Notes 54

The Truth Behind Supplication And Its Effects 55

The First Effect of Supplication 55

The Second Effect of Supplication 56

The Third Effect of Supplication 57

The Fourth Effect of Supplication 58

The Fifth Effect of Supplication 61

The Sixth Effect of Supplication 61

The Seventh Effect of Supplication 63

Hindrances on the way to Supplication 64

Notes 65

The Language of Supplication 66

The First Objective 66

The Second Objective 70

The Third Objective 73

The Fourth Objective 76

The Fifth Objective 77

The Sixth Objective 78

Praying for Parents and Respecting Them 79

Recognizing Satan and How to Keep Away from Him 80

Treating the Others and The Rights of The Neighbors 80

Explanation of Ethical Virtues and Vices 81

In Relation to The Government 82

Note 84

Publisher's Word

Too many are the Qur'anic verses and traditions that emphasize on the necessity of referring to Almighty God, the Creator, on all occasions and under all circumstances so that the relation between the All-merciful God and His servants will be firmer. One of such relations, if not the most important, is the supplication, which is familiarly known as Du'a.

In the Holy Qur'an, Almighty God has guaranteed responding to the pure, well-intended prayers of His servants and, moreover, has encouraged on making Du'a a daily activity that connects the needy servant to the Perfect Lord toWhom everything is returned. Hence, a believer must never dispense with Du'a and must always direct all his feelings towards the Creator asking for help and guidance.

In point of fact, Du'a, like any other item of connection with the All-beneficent God, is conditional upon a set of matters and spiritual and material preparations so that it will achieve its aims and purposes as completely as expected.

In this book, Du'a is presented with thorough details so that its conditions, circumstances and effects will be exposed for the gentle readers hoping they will act upon such affairs so as to achieve the best connection with God.

The book is in fact a translation of the preface of the famous Persian-origin book entitled 'Shuhoud wa Shenakht' (Witnesses and Knowledge), which is of several volumes explaining in details the innumerable points contained by the famous al-Sahifah al-Sajjadiyyah of Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin. This famous epistle is called 'the Psalms of Islam' for it comprises the most subtle points of the worldly and hereafter lives that each mortal will pass by.

The Ansariyan Publications is pleased to present this book to the dear readers for it believes in the necessity of shedding more light on the reality and significance of Du'a.

Introduction

The school of supplication (du'a) is a huge divine door open to the believers. It has absorbed divine attention towards this world and has awakened the ignorant and busy man from getting involved in the wrong entertainments, pastimes and diversion. It has, as well, informed him of his genuine needs.

The most significant Islamic scientific resources are reserved in this sublime treasure and have been handed down to us. Thus centuries should pass before a genius is found to open up this valuable reserve and to reveal the mysteries hidden there.

Of course, during the long history of man, this untold secret has always been hidden in the hearts of the men of piety and knowledge and the present wits have not been well-equipped to solve them. Thus, that precious jewel has always remained intact in the hearts of men of God.

We hope we shall never be deprived of this great asset in the years to come. We also hope that the elite and scholars could take advantage of this immense divine knowledge in their lectures and discussions. We hope as well that this group of thinkers could reveal to people the brightness of this divine revelation in such a way so as to release this nation from the false holders of this sea of knowledge, those who unlawfully connect themselves with divine knowledge.

At the end, during the present century, a salvaged man who has more than the others been involved in the publication of these divine facts and in the education of this government, is Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i, the head of all masters in the field of research, a well-educated son in the school of Ahlul Bayt1 (s) and the translator of the Holy Qur'an. The present article is a humble acknowledgement of this endless ocean of knowledge. I hope that His mercy will include this humble servant of His.

Note

1. Ahlul Bayt: the Prophet’s progeny (s).

Supplication (Du'a)

Defining Supplication

The scholars are well aware of the fact that there are different and numerous ways to describe and explain an ambiguous issue. Each way is used in certain conditions to cause man to reach his aims. These ways are briefly the following:

• Verbatim definition: This is when we use a clearer concept in order to solve an ambiguity;

• Real definition: When the essence of an object is in question, we describe the category to which it belongs.

• “Sharhol Esmi” definition: This is when we are asked about the appearance and effects of some thing, and we provide a person with some features of that object.

• Definition based on the existence of an item: This time a question is asked concerning the forms of the object. In this case, we must endeavor to delve into the forms and quality of the object.

• Definition based on samplers: This time, in order to define an item we can provide the questions with samplers or examples of the event or object.

Since old times, the provision of defining supplication has always been available. Here we offer several definitions for supplication.

Definition Based on Meaning

Ibn Faris in his Mo'jam Maqaiis al-Logha, under the title of supplication, says: “supplication means attracting one's attention by using words”.1

Raghib has written in the section Mofradat: “Supplication is the same as vocative speech except that in vocative speech we use vocative articles (Ya or Aya)”.

Qualitative Definition

If we take the absolute supplication as a genus and if we consider the kinds of supplication such as “genesis” supplication, “tongue” supplication, “heart” supplication, creature's supplication, the Creator's supplication, people's supplication as Fasl or a chapter, we may adjoin the absolute supplication with one of the above features and call it supplication.

Note

1. Mo’jam Maqaiis Al-Logha, vol. 2, p 274