The Power of Dua (Part 1)

Here, Hazrat Shaykh Rahmatallahialay explains the dangers of making certain duas especially in those times when all duas are excepted.

I generally spent the whole of Ramadan in I'tikaaf in Nizamuddin, but half of the Ramadan of 1364 was spent in Saharanpur. At that time, the League followers had a slogan which they were shouting at every procession: "We shall take Pakistan for sure. We shall take it even if we die. We shall take it even if we have to kill. we shall take it with blood." Even in Ramadan after Taraweeh till Sehri these cries were heard.

I tried to advise the people against this, and sent messages repeatedly: " In these blessed nights of Ramadan it is time for making dua. If you have to, then do indeed make dua for your Pakistan. Ask for Pakistan, but do not ask for it through killing and blood-shed."

But no, there was such excitement and enthusiasm that their minds became clouded. in the Hadith there is an instruction not to curse your children and your wealth. For Allah Ta'ala some moments are such that whatever dua is made in it is accepted.

"Fa inna lillaahi saa'aatan laa yuraddo fihin ne saa'ilan"

"For verily Allah has certain times wherein no person who asks is rejected

This hadith has been quoted in many ways.

In Mishkat it is reported by Hazrat Jabir Radhiallahu Anhu: "Do not curse yourselves and do not curse your possessions or your children. Let it not be such, that your dua is made at such a time when Allah accepts your dua.

Strange Love

Here Sheikhul Hadeeth (رحمة الله عليه) discusses one of his 'bad habits', that is, to ask his guests the duration for which they intended to stay with him and to enforce that upon them. This was the case even with his elders, as we shall see. In fact, in this case, his guest was not allowed to even stay for the time that he had requested. The following extract is with regard to Hazrat Raipuri (رحمة الله عليه):

He arrived with the mail train and as soon as I had shaken hands, I asked him: "Hazrat, what is the programme?"

He replied: "I have decided to stay in Saharanpur tomorrow and the day after tomorrow - two days. The third day will be according to what your instruction is."

I replied: "There will not be permission even to stay tomorrow. As soon as the fajr azaan is heard perform your own jamaat and leave. You will find some tea ready to drink. Please leave before the madrassa jamaat commences fajr."

Hazrat replied: "I am very tired. At least give me permission for one day."

I said: "There is no permission to stay longer than half an hour after the azaan for fajr."

You can just imagine the anger which the Tableeghi brothers must have felt. I will always remember the anger on the face of Bhai Altaf. The whole world Hazrat to stay with them. Here Hazrat himself offers and in fact asks to stay and I refuse permission. In spite of everything I saw him off early in the morning. At that time I told him: "Hazrat this is June, the heat is extreme. If you stay here you will not experience any comfort. Furthermore, these Tableeghi brothers will come to me to ask of you to attend the jalsa - even for a while. The day after tomorrow the jalsa will end in the morning. At the time of Dhuhr, Maulana Yusuf and myself will come to Raipur for two days."

After Hazrat had sat down in the car, Shah Masood Saheb begged him to come and stay at Bahut, but he replied, "When Sheikh has not given permission to stay in Saharanpur, I will not stay anywhere else."

He arrived at Raipur at the time of sunrise. After his arrival there, I heard from everyone coming from there that Hazrat had made a lot of dua for me. I also heard from many townspeople as well as villagers that he had said:

"I had asked to stay for two days. Sheikh did not even allow me to stay for a day. That is what is called love. Love should be learnt from such people. Can anyone possibly accept that Sheikh did not want me to stay? But he considered my comfort above his desire. May Allah grant him high rank. May Allah also grant him comfort and ease... ."

For two days he continued to make dua for me and even now when I think of how I practically forced him away, I feel great joy for the duas I received. Anyway, two days later Maulana Yusuf and myself arrived in Raipur on Monday afternoon after the jalsa.

The Crying of Hazrat Madani (رحمه الله)

During my life I have heard no one else weeping so much in dua before Allah in the latter part of the night as I have heard Maulana Madani and my father. Very often in spite of my deep sleep I used to be woken up by this crying. Hazrat Madani would recite Hindi lamentations with so much pain and sorrow. I was unacquainted with Hindi and could not understand, but the wailing and crying still echoes in my ears. It was almost like a child who was recieving a hiding and is crying. As much courage as Hazrat had, as brave as he was and as much as he encountered ordeals, I have not seen this type of crying in any of my Elders.

(Part IV pg 376)

The Power of Dua: A Warning

The partition of India was a mass of chaos that we in the West can little appreciate. Sheikhul Hadeeth رحمة الله عليه gives a grave warning about the slogans that were thrown around at the time.

At that time the League followers had a slogan which they were shouting in every procession: "We shall take Pakistan for sure. We shall take it even if we die. We shall take it even if we have to kill. We shall take it with blood." Even in Ramadan from after Taraweeh till Sehri these cries were heard.

I tried to advise the people against this, and sent them messages repeatedly: "In these blessed nights of Ramadan it is time for making dua. If you have to, then do indeed make dua for your Pakistan. Ask for Pakistan, but do not ask for it through killing and blood-shed."

But no, there was such excitement and enthusiasm that their minds became clouded. In the Hadith there is an instruction not to curse your children and your wealth. For Allah Ta'ala, some moments are such that whatever dua is made in it is accepted.

"Fa innaa lillaahi saa'aatan laa yuraddo fihin ne saa'ilan"

"For verily Allah has certain times wherein no person who asks is rejected."

This hadith is quoted in many ways.

In Mishkat, it is reported by Hazrat Jaabir Radhiallahu Anhu:

"Do not curse yourselves and do not curse your possessions or your children. Let it not be such, that your dua is made at such a time when Allah accepts your dua."

This disease is very prevalent amongst women. When they are angered by their children displeasing them, they curse them: "Mar jaa" (Go and perish) or "Go and become mad!" When this curse is accepted and becomes a reality they sit and cry.

In my classes I have always stressed that when you make dua, then make those duas which are from the texts of Qur'an and Hadith, because there is nothing regarding one's needs in this world and the hereafter left out. As well as how to ask for it. I would like to write down a little story which is a bit off the point but it quite illustrative. I have heard it on more than one occasion from the Elders and have told it in class quite often, that one should not make dua in your words. Rather make dua in the words of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, because first of all it is the word of the 'Beloved of Allah' and such words have greater value in the sight of Allah. Secondly, these words (found in the Ahaadith) are so comprehensive that whatever one wishes to ask for, is included therein.

There was certain 'dom' (folk dancer) in a village, who used to go around on foot. While going somewhere, he became very tired and said: "Ya Allah, I need a horse." He made dua for a horse while he was in an extremely agitated state of mind, greatly in need for help and extremely earnest in his plea. In the end, he became angry and said: "Ya Allah if not a horse, then at least give me a pony."

In Allah's sight a dua made while in a state of extreme agitation and need is soon answered (as I have expereienced time and time again in my life).

At that time, the 'jajman' of the village came riding along on a mare. On the way, the mare gave birth to a pony and the owner found difficulty in carrying the new born foal home. He called out to the 'dom': "O Dom, pick this pony up and carry it on your shoulders!". The poor dom was too exhausted to even walk, let alone carry a pony. Greatly distressed he said, "Ya Allah, I asked for a horse under me, and now I have received a pony on top of me."

For this reason I tell my friends and through them I tell the women folk: "If you have to beat your children, beat them as much as you wish, but never curse them or make dua against them. And always try to make dua with the Sunnat duas from the Hadith or Quran.

In any case, the dua of the League supporters was answered and India was partitioned. But whatever they prayed for in Ramadan, that happened. Through killings, being killed and bloodshed, Pakistan was formed.