Series: Conversing with God | Qur’anic Du’as

We’ve all heard the saying, “know thy enemy.” But Satan, our greatest enemy, is invisible. This makes it easy to forget the threat that he and all the devils pose to us. How do we keep this constant threat in mind and remain vigilant? We can start by remaining aware of our own temptations and seeking refuge in the words of God.

وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِين

وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُون

waqul rabbi aʿūdhu bika min hamazāti l-shayāṭīn. wa-aʿūdhu bika rabbi an yaḥḍurūn

“My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the strokes of the devils, and I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they come close to us.” [23:97-98]

Reflecting upon our relationship with this world is important to ensure our ultimate destination in the afterlife is where we want to be. God reminds us to be aware of ourselves in this world and conscious of the possibilities of the next, teaching us the words to protect us from demise: “Our Lord! Avert from us the punishment of Hell. Verily, its punishment is continuous. Verily, it is the worst abode to be in.” [25: 65-66]

وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامً

إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامً

wa-alladhīna yaqūlūna rabbanā iṣ’rif ʿannā ʿadhāba jahannama inna ʿadhābahā kāna gharāma. innahā sāat mus’taqarran wamuqāma

Deep reflection generates gratitude and a better understanding of the world and our place in it. The Qur’an gave us a du’a to help us meditate on creation and, through it, grow closer to our Creator:

“Our Lord, You did not create this in vain; praise be to You; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” [3:191]

الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار

alladhīna yadhkurūna l-laha qiyāman waquʿūdan waʿalā junūbihim wayatafakkarūna fī khalqi l-samāwāti wal-arḍi rabbanā mā khalaqta hādhā bāṭilan sub’ḥānaka faqinā ʿadhāba l-nār.

Once we find the Straight Path, staying upon it becomes a priority. And so we ask, “Oh Allah, do not let our hearts swerve [off the Straight Path] after you have guided us.” If we are continuously in a state of mercy towards others and vigilance towards ourselves, we may stay firmly upon the path and find God’s mercy everywhere. 

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّاب

rabbanā lā tuzigh qulūbanā baʿda idh hadaytanā wahab lanā min ladunka raḥmatan innaka anta l-wahāb

“Oh Allah, do not let our hearts swerve [off the Straight Path] after you have guided us. And gift us Your mercy; verily, You are the One who gives the most gifts.” [3:8]

What does it mean to be patient? Sh. Omar Husain recalls the du’a of David when he went up against Goliath and how we can tackle the challenges in our life with patience and grace.

Our Lord, pour upon us patience, and plant firmly our feet, and give us victory over the disbelieving people.

رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna ‘ala al-qawmi alkafireen

The last thing we want is for our prayer to become mechanical. So how can we rejuvenate sincerity in our daily worship? Sh. Omar Husain explains through the Duaa “Oh, Allah guide us to the straight path.”

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيم
ih’dinā al-ṣirāṭa al-mus’taqīm