A Prayer that’s sure to be accepted
In life we sometimes get that rare opportunity to make a “dua” or a prayer that is guaranteed to be accepted, but instead of praying for something good we end up cursing someone.
Allah SWT listens to a broken heart and if ever we are in an oppressed state then we must be very careful as to what we ask for. Also–Be careful of being the oppressor, for the chances of the oppressed cursing you is great.
Hazrath Nooh (AS) preached to his people for nine hundred years. They disbelieved in him, called him a liar, accused him of preaching for his own selfish gains, called him a mad man and finally they challenged him to bring about the Day of Doom that he talked about.
Although his people accused him repeatedly, Hazrath Nooh (AS) still persevered in his preaching – until his heart broke, and he finally asked Allah.
“He (Hazrath Nooh (AS) said: “O my Lord! Truly my people have rejected me. Judge Thou then between me and them openly, and deliver me and those of the believers who are with me.” 26:117
Allah accepted his prayer, and the non-believers were destroyed in the great flood while he and his followers were saved.
Sometimes in life we are inflicted by far smaller problems and we too, readily, in our heart-broken state, curse the people that are oppressing us. Sometimes these people are closely related to us and by cursing them we ultimately inflict more pain upon ourselves.
Although Hazrath Nooh (AS) was perhaps justified in his prayer – he was forever thereafter remorseful. When our spouses, our children and our associates give us a hard time then we must take the opportunity to pray for them instead of cursing them.
The best example of patience and endurance during such extreme hardships is that of the Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam.
Once Hazrath Ayesh Sidiqua (RA) asked the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam: “Has there come to you a day more terrible than the day of Uhud.” He replied: “(Yes The treatment which) I have experienced from your people and the hardest treatment I met from them was what I received from them on the day of Aqaba” ie. His mission to Tief.
Prior to this mission, the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam was already at a low point. He had been badly treated in Mecca, his uncle Abu Talib and his wife Hazrath Bibi Katija (RA) had passed away and his mission was almost at a standstill.
He decided to go out to the next biggest city in Arabia, ie Taif. When he went on this mission to preach to the people of Taif, he was ridiculed, stoned and made an outcast.
He bled so much that his shoes, were clogged with blood. He did not go to Taif for his own personal gain, but he went with the mission of serving Allah SWT.
Reflect – If we had to be in his shoes, imagine what our emotional state would be at this stage.
And yet, instead of blaming the people of Taif, the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam thought that perhaps he did not present himself well and He prayed to Allah to give him more strength. Allah’s Mercy came into power and He sent His angles to the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam asking him if he wanted them to crush the people of Tief between two mountains.
But the Messenger of Allah Sallal lahu Alayhe Wasallam said: “I rather hope that Allah will produce from their descendants such persons as will worship Allah, the One, and will not prescribe partners to him.” Muslim – Chpt. on the Persecution.
It is this kind of attitude that gave the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe wasallam his ultimate success.
We can be like the people of Hazrath Nooh (AS) – oppress everyone around us and finally end up dammed and cursed.
We can be like Hazrath Nooh (AS)-curse someone and live to regret it all our lives or we can have patience like the Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam and use the opportunity when we are oppressed to pray for the oppressor and live to see the fruits of our patience.
Note: We are simple human beings full of faults and we are not to judge or think lowly of Hazrath Nooh (AS). He is a great, dear and worthy messenger of Allah. In the book “The Lore of the Light” there is a beautiful “wakia” about how Allah made him realize his mistake. It was not by a few words but a lesson he learnt over months of hard work. If you cannot find the story contact us for it.
Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor (WhatsApp +27849101486)