by Sh Abdul-Muhsin Al-Qaasim – Imam of Haram

All praise is due to Allaah, may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Brothers in faith! Fear Allaah as he should be feared; for whosoever fears him is elevated in ranks and will have a blissful life after death.

Fellow Muslims! Mankind are in need of their Lord’s mercy for the betterment of their worldly and religious affairs. Their perfection lies in directing all acts of worship to Allaah alone and the more man worships Allaah, the more he increases in perfection.

Allaah tests his slaves with trials that drive them to supplicate to him and this is in itself a blessing. Total reliance on Allaah is the actual wealth, the essence of worship and the utmost goal. Supplication is the sign of worship and Allaah loves that his slaves should supplicate to him. He says in a divinely revealed Hadeeth, “O My slaves! You are all astray except he that I guide so seek for my guidance, I will guide you. O My slaves! You are all hungry except he whom I feed, so seek for provision from Me, I will feed you.” Allaah pays no attention to his slaves unless they beseech Him. He says, “Say (O Muhammad): My Lord pays attention to you only because of your invocation to him.” (Al-Furqaan: 77).

Supplication is also a characteristic of the prophets and the chosen ones. He says, “Verily, they used to hasten to do good deeds and they used to call on Us with hope and fear and used to humble themselves before Us.” (Al-Anbiyaa’: 90).

Supplication removes calamities and trials and prevents torment and destruction. It is the weapon of the believer. Nothing brings about the desired goals like it. It is enough a glory that Allaah is closer to his slave when he supplicates. It is not restricted to a time or place or a situation and every supplicant will have his supplication accepted sooner or later. Ibn Hajar said, ‘Every supplicant will have his prayer accepted and it is only the forms of acceptance that will vary; sometimes it is accepted in the form of what one really wants or it is accepted in the form of a substitute to it.’

Brothers in faith! It is through supplication that one becomes high-minded, contented and respected. The more one increases in sincerity the more his prayers are answered. Yahyaa bin Mu’aath said, ‘Whoever Allaah softens his heart for supplication will not have his supplications rejected. Therefore, eat and drink from clean sources and abstain from ambiguous things. Do righteous deeds before you supplicate and call unto your Lord with an attentive mind and low voice. Choose best words for the praise of your Lord and your supplications. Look for the best times to supplicate and ask a lot of good from your Lord. The Prophet said, ‘When one of you supplicates to his Lord he should ask for great things, for nothing is too great for Allaah.’

Brothers in Islaam, supplicate to Allaah while you are in prostration for man is closest to his Lord when he prostrates.

Also never curse yourself, nor your family, or your source of income lest the curse coincides with the time that prayers are answered.

Do not be in haste as to the acceptance of your supplication, rather continue supplicating, for your Lord would not allow anybody to raise his hands to Him in supplication and then returned them unanswered. Surrender yourself to Him and be resolute in your supplication. Whoever gets an affliction and goes to a human being for its removal will not have it removed but if he calls to Allaah, He will remove it. Lodge your complaints with Allaah alone, for He is the Lord of the destitute and the weak. He hears all complaints and removes all difficulties. His Hands are full of bounties. He is generous day and night. His are the keys of treasure and His door is open wide for all those who invoke Him.

Have a good opinion of your Lord, for whoever does that, Allaah showers His favours upon him.

Invoke your Lord in the middle of the night and between Athaan and Iqaamah.

O fathers! Supplicate for your children, for your invocations for them are accepted.

The effects of supplication can never be over-emphasised. Prophets Nouh, Yoonus, Ibraahiem, Moosaa, Sulaimaan and Daawood have all invoked their Lord and He answered their invocations. He is the One Who cured Prophet Ayyoob of his ailment when he supplicated to Him. He gave Muhammad victory over the infidels in the Battle of Badr in spite of the numerical inferiority of the Muslim army.

O you oppressed person! When all doors are closed against you, go to Allaah whose door is never closed against the weak and the oppressed. Somebody did wrong to Sa’d bin Abee Waqqaas and he supplicated to Allaah to avenge for him and He answered that supplication.

Dear brother, be patient with whatever happens to you for with every difficulty is relief, and do not stop supplicating. Always praise your Lord and thank Him for all His mercies.

And your Lord says, “Invoke Me, I will respond to your invocation. Verily, those who scorn My worship, they will surely enter Hell in humiliation.” (Ghaafir: 60).

Brothers in faith! Abstain from invoking other deities beside Allaah, for they are incapable of bringing any benefit not preventing any harm. Allaah says, “And invoke not beside Allaah any such that will neither profit you not hurt you, but if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the wrongdoers.” (Yoonus: 106).