Don’t squander the most powerful weapon of the believer”.

This past week, I’ve received many messages and emails from sisters who are struggling with different challenges, and are seeking advice on how to move forward. I love connecting with my sisters in Islam, and while it is absolutely beneficial to seek naseehah (advice), we should also couple that with the most powerful weapon of the Believer – duah.

As Muslims, we are well aware of the amazing power of duah and how it can completely change your situation. However, in some cases we may be squandering this powerful weapon, because of what we’re doing – or NOT doing, in our lives. 

Allah – Mighty and Sublime, says about this in Suratul Baqarah:
إِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. (2:186)

Alhamdulillah, this is one of my favorite ayaat, and so comforting – especially when we’re dealing with any type of hardship, challenge, or uncertainty.

Allah knows everything that we’re struggling with. He knows how  others have oppressed us, what we need to survive, and our desire to improve ourselves. And it is only by HIS decree, that we are granted what we need.

However, with this, I want to point out two very important points.

In the ayah above, Allah places two conditions on receiving His aid – Obedience (Tau’ah) and Faith (Iman), “… so that they may be led aright.”

Something that we can often get backwards is thinking that once we receive the aid and blessing of Allah, THEN we’ll increase in our faith and become stronger Muslims – able to be more obedient to Him in our daily lives. However, quite the opposite is true.

You will see from the stories of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), the Companions and those who followed them in righteousness – they all had a similar disposition and character when dealing with trial, or seeking the aid and mercy of Allah – and this is reinforced by the ayah above.

Allah is always near to us (by His knowledge) – but it is our Iman and Obedience to Him, that makes Him eager to help us and relieve us of our burdens.
–> It is us consciously choosing to go the extra mile in our acts of worship (Ibaadah), even through we’re tired and stressed.

–> It is us giving sadaqah, even though we do not know how we will eat next week.

–> It is us leaving off the haram, purely for His sake – even though it may “take our minds off our troubles”.

–> It is standing and crying in the last third of the night, even though you have to leave for work at 6am.

Faith and Obedience. The recipe for success.
And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. (2:186)

– In health and Iman