How does Islam view supplication and its role in the attainment of self-perfection?

Wednesday, 23 June 2010 00:00

Sayyed Roohullah Musavi

09373582540

40

ويرايش متن، تغيير سؤال و تکميل کليدواژه

Intermediate

Supplication, hymn, self-perfection, Dua
al-Sahifah al-Sajjadiyyah, Mafatih al-Jinan, asking God, worship, sincerity, needs, God's generosity

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\viewkind4\uc1\pard\ltrpar\fi720\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1\lang1033\f0\fs28 Supplication (\i dua\i0 ) is one of the best worships through which one may attain self-perfection and Nearness to God. It is because of this that God-Almighty has invited his servants to offer supplications.
\par God-Almighty has said in the Holy Quran:\i
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 "\i0 And your Lord hath said: Pray unto Me and I will hear your prayer. Lo! Those who scorn My service, they will enter Hell disgraced". (1)
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 And he has also said:\i
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1\i0 "(O mankind!) Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo! He loveth not aggressors". (2)
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 And he has said:
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 "And when My Servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he crieth unto Me". (3)
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 The Holy Prophet (S) has said:
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1\i "\i0 Supplication (Dua) is the soul of worship." (4)
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 Imam al-Sadiq (as) has said:
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 "Supplication is worship because God-Almighty says: "[Pray to Me for I shall answer your prayers.] Those who are too proud to worship Me will soon go to hell in disgrace." [So] You must continue to seek God-Almighty and should never say: "It is all done". (5)
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 And he (A) also said:\i
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1\i0 "You should never quit supplication in any circumstance because you will never find any other substitute like supplication in attaining God's nearness. Even for insignificant and minor affairs one must supplicate and because of their being insignificant, supplication should not be abandoned because the Master of small affairs is the same Master of large affairs.' (6)
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 God's servant must supplicate to Him because his entire existence needs Him. A human being in essence is absolutely poor, needy and dependent; in case he becomes deprived of God's blessings, even for an instant, he will be destroyed as though he never existed. Whatever reaches a servant is bestowed from God-Almighty, therefore a servant should admit this primordial dependency by his tongue and should confirm his poverty, servitude and needs through his practical actions, which is the real meaning of worship.
\par At the time of supplication a human being remembers God-Almighty, establish secret communications with him, and like a humble servant with tearful eyes, presents his needs before God-Almighty, the Owner of Absolute Riches. By abandoning his hopes in the world of poverty and desires, he establishes a link with the Most Supreme Source of all Blessings and Perfection.
\par Flying upward from the world of poverty, he succeeds in witnessing the Beauty of God's Essence, through his esoteric eyes. The state of supplication and private communications with God-Almighty is one of the most pleasurable and beautiful conditions of a servant which will never be exchanged for any price by the saints of God.
\par Refer to \i al-Sahifah al-Sajjadiyyah\i0 and other supplication books and study the details of the private communications of the Infallible Imams (A) of the Holy Progeny of the Prophet (S). Establishing communications with God-Almighty and hoping that He will accept one's supplications brings tranquility and assurance to the supplicant's heart. If a human being faces hardships, and searches for the solution to all his problems and difficulties, yet does not seek refuge in God-Almighty, how could he persevere in times of adversity and be assured that his life would continue?
\par Supplication is a believer's arsenal through which he struggles against disappointments and despairs, and seeks help from a hidden supernatural power for the solution of his difficulties and problems. The Divine-Prophets and Infallible Imams (A) always utilized this arsenal and have strongly recommended it for believers. Imam al-Rida (A) said to his companions:\i
\par "\i0 Use the arsenal of the Prophets." What is the arsenal of Prophets?, he was asked. "Supplication," replied the Imam. (7)
\par Imam al-Baqir (A) said:\i
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1\i0 "God Almighty loves the one among the believers who supplicates a lot, and I recommend you to supplicate especially at the time of dawn until sunrise because at this time the gates of Heaven are opened, people's sustenance is distributed and their great desires are granted." (8)
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 The Holy Prophet (S) said:
\par \pard\ltrpar\li1440\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 "Supplication is the believer's arsenal. It is the pillar of religion and the light of the earth and sky." (9)
\par \pard\ltrpar\fi720\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 Supplication is a worship; indeed, it is the soul of all worships and brings eternal rewards. It is a believer's ascension to the Heavenly Kingdom, makes the supplicant's spirit perfected and nourished and helps the supplicant attain God's Nearness.
\par The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (A) said:\i
\par \pard\ltrpar\i0 "Supplication is the key to prosperity. The best supplication is the supplication which comes from pure chests and pious hearts. Supplications, or hymns to God-Almighty, results in salvation, and through means of sincerity one is saved from adversities and wickedness. Therefore, when hardships become intense, one should seek refuge in God-Almighty." (10) \f1\fs24
\par
\par ------------
\par \fs40 References:\fs24
\par
\par \pard\ltrpar\sa200\sl276\slmult1\f0\fs28 (1)- Holy Qur'an (40:60)
\par (2)- Holy Qur'an (7:55)
\par (3)- Holy Qur'an (2:186)
\par (4)- Sahih Tirmidhi, vol. 2, p. 266.
\par (5)- al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 407.
\par (6)- al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 467.
\par (7)-\i al-Kafi\i0 , vol. 2, p. 468.
\par (8)- \i al-Kafi\i0 , vol. 2, p. 478.
\par (9)- \i al-Kafi\i0 , vol. 2, p. 468.
\par \pard\ltrpar\sb100\sa100\sl276\slmult1 (10)- \i al-Kafi\i0 , vol. 2, p. 468.
\par \pard\ltrpar\sa200\sl276\slmult1\f2\fs22
\par \pard\ltrpar\f1\fs24
\par }

Self Building-Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini- chapter 27

Self Building

111

111-09373582540-146

Kawther Rahmani

Practical Irfan
The effects of preferring the Hereafter
The state of a real repentant
The avoidance of drawn out expectations
Righteousness and serenity in every condition
The way to worldly and otherworldly prosperity
Sincere working for the sake of the Hereafter and its practical and epistemological effects
Real spirituality and social ties
Gnosis is not a religion
Imam Zayn al-Abidin's Life and Behavior
Bad wealth, Good wealth

Practical Irfan 50%
The effects of preferring the Hereafter 50%
The state of a real repentant 50%
The avoidance of drawn out expectations 50%
Righteousness and serenity in every condition 50%
The way to worldly and otherworldly prosperity 50%
Sincere working for the sake of the Hereafter and its practical and epistemological effects 50%
Real spirituality and social ties 50%
Gnosis is not a religion 30%
Imam Zayn al-Abidin's Life and Behavior 30%
Bad wealth, Good wealth 0%