Introduction of prayer:
This prayer is from Sunan Ibn Majah, Chapter of Supplication, Hadith: 3830. It is reported from the Companion Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas (RA) that the Prophet (pbuh) was used to recite this Du’a;
It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that :
the Prophet (saas) used to say in his supplication: “Rabbi! A’inni wa la tu’in ‘alayya, wansurni wa la tansur ‘alayya, wamkurli wa la tamkur ‘alayya, wahdini wa yassiril-huda li, wansurni ‘ala man bagha ‘alayya. Rabbij’alni laka shakkaran laka dhakkaran, laka rahhaban, laka muti’an, ‘ilayka mukhbitan, ‘ilayka awwahan muniba. Rabbi! Taqabbal tawbati, waghsil hawbati wa ajib da’wati, wahdi qalbi, wa saddid lisani, wa thabbit hujjati, waslul sakhimata qalbi (O Lord! Help me and do not help others against me, support me and do not support others against me, plan for me and do not plan against me, guide me and make guidance easy for me, and help me against those who wrong me. O Lord! Make me grateful to You, make me remember You much, make me fearful of You, obedient to You, humble before You and turning to You. O Lord! Accept my repentance and wash away my sins, answer my supplication, guide my heart, make my tongue speak the truth, make my proof firm and remove resentment from my heard).” (Ibn Majah: 3830)
Explanation & virtues of prayer:
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) has supplicated a comprehensive prayer. He (pbuh) asked for blessings and goodness. We briefly mention and explain here;
1- رَبِّ أَعِنِّي وَلاَ تُعِنْ عَلَىَّ (O Lord! Help me and do not help others against me)
Allah Kareem is the Greatest Helper and the Protecter of His Believers. The first thing for which the Prophet (pbuh) called upon Allah is to ask for His help and not let his enemies be helped by the Lord. A true believer, certainly believe in Divine Help. Allah Kareem says in Surah Ali ‘Imran, verse: 150;
بَلِ ٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلنَّـٰصِرِينَ ١٥٠ (But no! Allah is your Guardian, and He is the best Helper)
Allah Kareem consoles the Prophet (pbuh) and all the believers in Surah An-Nisa: verse: 45;
وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَعْدَآئِكُمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّۭا وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ نَصِيرًۭا ٤٥
Allah knows best who your enemies are! And Allah is sufficient as a Guardian, and He is sufficient as a Helper.
2- وَانْصُرْنِي وَلاَ تَنْصُرْ عَلَىَّ (support me and do not support others against me)
The second supplication of the Prophet (pbuh) was about the support of Allah Kareem and a humble request to not support against Him. The Muslim has an affirm faith in the support of Allah as He Almighty is the Best of the Helpers and Best of the Supporters. Allah Kareem replied the call of His Prophet (pbuh) in Surah Al-Furqan, verse: 31:
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ هَادِيًۭا وَنَصِيرًۭا
Similarly, We made enemies for every prophet from among the wicked, but sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper.
Allah Kareem says that we have made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals, but sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper. Allah Kareem commands the believers to put trust in Him and He Almighty will surely support and help them;
وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ ٱلنَّصِيرُ
And hold fast to Allah. He ˹alone˺ is your Guardian. What an excellent Guardian, and what an excellent Helper! (Surah Hajj: 78.
3- وَامْكُرْ لِي وَلاَ تَمْكُرْ عَلَىَّ (plan for me and do not plan against me):
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had to face the crucial behaviour of the pagans of Makkah. They tried their best to astray the Prophet from his noble mission. They offered him (pbuh) to make him their king or give him sufficient wealth or marry him with the most pretty girl of Arab. They even tried to make a deal to worship Allah for one year and in response the Prophet (pbuh) will also have to worship their idols for one year. But their all plans failed. At last they held a meeting to remove Islam and the Prophet (pbuh). In this meeting Iblees (Shaytan) in disguise of an old man. Abu Jahal suggested that choose a strong, socially elevated young man from each tribe, and give each one of them a sharp sword. Then they would all strike Muhammad at the same time with their swords and kill him. Hence, his blood would be shed by all tribes. This way, his tribe, Banu Hashim, would realize that they cannot wage war against all of the Quraysh tribes and would be forced to agree to accept the blood money; we would have brought comfort to ourselves and stopped him from bothering us. Iblees supported this opinion strongly and they all agreed upon it.
Jibrail (as) cames to him (pbuh) and told about their plan and advised not to sleep in his bed that night. Allah Kareem gave permission to the Prophet (pbuh) to migrate to Madinah. The Prophet did the same was told to him and Allah escaped him from their plan. They could not see the Prophet (pbuh) and he reached safely Madinah with his Companion Sayyidna Abu Bakr (Ra). Allah Kareem mentions this in Surah Al-Anfal, verse: 30;
وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ
And ˹remember, O Prophet,˺ when the disbelievers conspired to capture, kill, or exile you. They planned, but Allah also planned. And Allah is the best of planners.
3- وَاهْدِنِي وَيَسِّرِ الْهُدَى لِي (Guide me and make guidance easy for me):
The third supplication was taught by the Prophet (pbuh) seek guidance and easiness in this way. Islam is the religion of Divine Guidance as Allah Kareem declares in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse: 120;
قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ هُوَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۗ(Say, “Allah’s guidance is the only ˹true˺ guidance.” )
Allah Kareem commanded the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to announce that the the guidance of Allah that He sent me with is the true guidance.
The first prayer mentioned in Qur’an, in Surah Al-Fatiha;
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ(Guide us along the Straight Path)
Qur’an states about the prayer of the People of Paradise, in Surah Al-A’raf: 43;
وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى هَدَىٰنَا لِهَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِىَ لَوْلَآ أَنْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ ۖ
And they will say, “Praise be to Allah for guiding us to this. We would have never been guided if Allah had not guided us.
The Prophet (pbuh) taught the believers in this prayer to call upon Allah not only for guidance but to make the ways and means towards guidance easy, smooth and effortless.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught Du’a for guidance in many other prayers;
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي وَسَدِّدْنِي وَاذْكُرْ بِالْهُدَى هِدَايَتَكَ الطَّرِيقَ وَالسَّدَادِ سَدَادَ السَّهْمِ ” .”
‘Ali reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to him:
Say,” O Allah, direct me to the right path and make me adhere to the straight path,” and when you make a mention of right guidance, keep in mind the right path and when you consider of the straight (path), keep in mind the straightness of the arrow. (Sahih Muslim: 2725a)
4- وَانْصُرْنِي عَلَى مَنْ بَغَى عَلَىَّ ( and help me against those who wrong me):
Here, the Prophet (pbuh) called upon Allah Against those who did wrong and treated him unjustly. A believer has to face many problems when he tries to hold the truth and the right path. In this prayer, the Prophet (pbuh) taught the believers when they are facing the disbelievers and the wrongdoers, should ask for Divine help. Allah Kareem helps the true believers against the wrongdoers. Allah Kareem declares punishment for them in this world and Hereafter;
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ وَسَعَىٰ فِى خَرَابِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَآ إِلَّا خَآئِفِينَ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌۭ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌۭ
Who does more wrong than those who prevent Allah’s Name from being mentioned in His places of worship and strive to destroy them? Such people have no right to enter these places except with fear.1 For them is disgrace in this world, and they will suffer a tremendous punishment in the Hereafter. (Al-Baqarah: 114)
5- رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي لَكَ شَكَّارًا لَكَ ذَكَّارًا لَكَ رَهَّابًا لَكَ مُطِيعًا إِلَيْكَ مُخْبِتًا إِلَيْكَ أَوَّاهًا مُنِيبًا ( O Lord! Make me grateful to You, make me remember You much, make me fearful of You, obedient to You, humble before You and turning to You):
A very humble and beautiful prayer of a servant to his Lord. He (pbuh) taught that a real believer should have these attributes. A believer should be thankful to the Lord for favours and gratitude. Qur’an mentions the prayer of righteous people in Surah Al-Ahqaf, verse: 15;
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِى فِى ذُرِّيَّتِىٓ ۖ إِنِّى تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
“My Lord! Inspire me to ˹always˺ be thankful for Your favours which You blessed me and my parents with, and to do good deeds that please You. And instil righteousness in my offspring. I truly repent to You, and I truly submit ˹to Your Will˺.”
Many prayers are also reported from the Prophet (pbuh) for gratefulness of Allah Kareem and remembrance of Allah Almighty. Once the Prophet (pbuh) advised Sayyidna Mu’dh bin Jabal to recite the following Du’a after every obligatory prayer;
رَبِّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ ””
It was narrated that Mu’adhbin Jabal said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took my hand and said: ‘I love you, O Mu’adh!’ I said: ‘And I love you, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Never forget to say in every prayer: Rabbi a’inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibadatik (My Lord, help me to remember You, give thanks to You and worship You well.)”(An-Nasai: 1303)
He (pbuh) also prayed for help to maintain the remembrance of Allah Kareem, as he stated in his another advice to a Companion when he asked about the essence of Islam;
“ لاَ يَزَالُ لِسَانُكَ رَطْبًا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ”
“Let not your tongue cease to be moist with the remembrance of Allah.”(Tirmidhi: 3375)
The Prophet (pbuh) called upon Allah to bestow him with His fear and ‘Taqwa’. Fear of Allah is one of the main attributes of Allah Kareem. Allah Kareem commands the believers in Surah Al-Hadeed, verse: 28:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَءَامِنُوا۟ بِرَسُولِهِۦ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًۭا تَمْشُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
O people of faith! Fear Allah and believe in His Messenger. ˹And˺ He will grant you a double share of His mercy, provide you with a light to walk in ˹on Judgment Day˺, and forgive you. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) supplicated Allah Kareem for humbleness to the Lord Almighty. Humbleness is the root of all virtues. Allah loves those who are humble. Qur’an states the attributes of the servants of the Most Compassionate in Surah Al-Furqan:
وَعِبَادُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ هَوْنًۭا
The ˹true˺ servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly.
Allah advises the believers to call upon Him humbly;
ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًۭا وَخُفْيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ ٥٥
Call upon your Lord humbly and secretly. Surely He does not like the transgressors. (Surah Al-A’raf: 55)
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) supplicated Allah Kareem for ‘Tawbah’. This is an important attribute of the believers that they always turn to Allah every time and condition. Allah Kareem commands the believers to turn to the lord;
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوْبَةًۭ نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَـٰنِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ
O believers! Turn to Allah in sincere repentance, so your Lord may absolve you of your sins and admit you into Gardens, under which rivers flow, on the Day Allah will not disgrace the Prophet or the believers with him. Their light will shine ahead of them and on their right. They will say, “Our Lord! Perfect our light for us, and forgive us. ˹For˺ You are truly Most Capable of everything.”(Surah At-Tahreem: verse: 8)
7- رَبِّ تَقَبَّلْ تَوْبَتِي وَاغْسِلْ حَوْبَتِي : (O Lord! Accept my repentance and wash away my sins)
O Lord! Accept my repentance and wash away my sins. It was the blessed Sunnah of the Prophet that he was used to repent abundantly. He also taught the believers the pryers for repentance.
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَأْوِي إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىَّ الْقَيُّومَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ . ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ ذُنُوبَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ عَدَدَ وَرَقِ الشَّجَرِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ عَدَدَ رَمْلِ عَالِجٍ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ عَدَدَ أَيَّامِ الدُّنْيَا ”
Abu Sa`eed (ra) narrated that :
the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever says, when he goes to his bed: ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah, [the Magnificent] the One whom there is none worthy of worship except for Him, the Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him (Astaghfirullāha [al-`Aẓim] alladhi lā ilāha illā huw, al-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm, wa atūbu ilaihi)’ three times, Allah shall forgive him his sins if they were like the foam of the sea, even if they were the number of leaves of the trees, even if they were the number of sand particles of `Alij, even if they were the number of the days of the world.”(Tirmidhi: 3397)
Qur’an says about the Most Forgiver, Allah Almighty that He forgives all sins when a man repent before Him;
۞ قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٥٣
Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.(Az-Zumar: 53)
8- وَأَجِبْ دَعْوَتِي (answer my supplication):
The Prophet (pbuh) asked Allah Kareem for the acceptance of his supplication. He (pbuh) was used to seek refuge from the supplication which is not responded.
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَتَعَوَّذُ مِنْ أَرْبَعٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَدُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ وَنَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ .
It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin Amr that:
The Prophet [SAW] used to seek refuge (with Allah) from four things: From knowledge that is of no benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a supplication that is not heard, and a soul that is never satisfied. (Sunan An-Nasai: 5442)
Allah encourages His servants to call upon Him, and He guarantees to respond.
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدْعُونِىٓ أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
Your Lord has proclaimed, “Call upon Me, I will respond to you. Surely those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell, fully humbled.”(Surah Ghafir: 60)
9- وَاهْدِ قَلْبِي (guide my heart):
Heart is considered the main centre of all actions. A number of prayers have been reported from the prophet for the guidance of heart. Imam Nasai’ has narrated a Hadith from the Prophet (pbuh) that he (pbuh) was used to seek refuge with Allah from the trials and evils of heart;
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ سَمْعِي وَشَرِّ بَصَرِي وَشَرِّ لِسَانِي وَشَرِّ قَلْبِي وَشَرِّ مَنِيِّي ”
(I seek refuge with You from the evil of my hearing, the evil of my seeing, the evil of my tongue, the evil of my heart, and the evil of my sperm) (Sunan Nasai’: 5444)
It is reported from Umm ul Mu’minin Sayyida Umm e Salamah (RA) that the most recited prayer of the Prophet was as uder;
” يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ ”
Shahr bin Hawshab said:
“I said to Umm Salamah: ‘O Mother of the Believers! What was the supplication that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said most frequently when he was with you?” She said: ‘The supplication he said most frequently was: “O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion. (Tirmidhi: 3522)
Qur’an commands the believers to pray for the guidance of hearts and steadfastness on religion;
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ
“Our Lord! Do not let our hearts deviate after you have guided us. Grant us Your mercy. You are indeed the Giver ˹of all bounties˺. (Surah Ali ‘Imran: 8)
10- وَسَدِّدْ لِسَانِي (make my tongue speak the truth):
The Prophet Kareem (pbuh) was used to pray to seek refuge from the evils of senses. In this prayer he (pbuh) specially supplicated for his tongue to make him to speak only truth. He called upon Allah for the protection of tongue because it is the reason of many social evils, like to tell a lie, fraud, to abuse someone, backbiting and so on. Allah Kareem warns us to be fair in our all dealing because all the organs will be questioned;
يَوْمَ تَشْهَدُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ وَأَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
on the Day their tongues, hands, and feet will testify against them for what they used to do. (Surah An-Noor: 24)
So, when we guard our tongue we keep our deeds safe from the punishment of Akhirah. Once a Companion Uqbah bin ‘Amir (RA) asked the Prophet (pbuh) what is salvation? he (pbuh) replied him as below;
أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ لِسَانَكَ وَلْيَسَعْكَ بَيْتُكَ وَابْكِ عَلَى خَطِيئَتِكَ ””
‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir narrated:
“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! What is the means to salvation?’ He said: ‘That you control your tongue, suffice yourself your house, and cry over your sins.'(Tirmidhi:2406)
11- وَثَبِّتْ حُجَّتِي (make my proof firm):
Hujjah means; Proof, incontestable evidence. In theology, the term is applied to a conclusive argument distinguishing truth from falsehood. It also means the “Completion of Proof”. It is an Islamic concept denoting that religious truth has been completely clarified by a Messenger of Allah and made available to a people, who are considered to have no excuse to deny it.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was commanded by Allah Kareem to deliver the message of Allah to the humanity which he did. When the verse of Surah Al-Maidah: 67 revealed;
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ
O Messenger! Convey everything revealed to you from your Lord. (Surah Al-Maidah: 67)
In this verse Allah Kareem commanded the Messenger of Allah to covey clearly what Allah has been said to him, which he did perfectly. In his ‘Last Sermon’ In “Hajja tul Wada'” before a huge gathering of his noble Companions, after he had given important instructions to them, he asked the audience: اَلَا بَلَّغتُ (Listen: Have I conveyed your religion to you?). The Companions confirmed that he certainly had. Thereupon, he said: You be a witness on this. And along with it, he also said:فَلیُبَلِّغِ الشَّاھِد الغایبَ (that is, those present in this gathering should convey my message to those who are not here). Imam Muslim reported this in his Sahih, in Kitab ul Hajj;
وَأَنْتُمْ تُسْأَلُونَ عَنِّي فَمَا أَنْتُمْ قَائِلُونَ ” . قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتَ وَأَدَّيْتَ وَنَصَحْتَ . فَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ السَّبَّابَةِ يَرْفَعُهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَيَنْكُتُهَا إِلَى النَّاسِ ” اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ ”
And you would be asked about me (on the Day of Resurrection), (now tell me) what would you say? They (the audience) said: We will bear witness that you have conveyed (the message), discharged (the ministry of Prophethood) and given wise (sincere) counsel. He (the narrator) said: He (the Holy Prophet) then raised his forefinger towards the sky and pointing it at the people (said):” O Allah, be witness. 0 Allah, be witness,” saying it thrice. (Sahih Muslim: 1218a)
12- وَاسْلُلْ سَخِيمَةَ قَلْبِي ””( and remove resentment from my heart):
سَخِيمَةَ is derived from the root; س خ م which means resentment, ill will, grudge, malevolence and bitterness. The word qalb (قَلْب) literally means to ‘turn about.’ As humans, our hearts are always turning, we experience a range of emotions, states and thoughts throughout the day.
The Prophet (pbuh) supplicated two times for heart. First he called upon Allah Kareem for the guidance of heart and now in this phrase he prayed to remove ill will and bitterness from his heart. He (pbuh) taught his Ummah the importance of heart in their thinking, desires and actions. Because heart is the centre of all our thoughts, wishes and intentions. The Holy Prophet (pbuh) truely said about heart;
أَلاَ وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ. أَلاَ وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ ”.”
Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart. (Sahih Bukhari: 52)
The Prophet (pbuh) also stated about the health and its illness;
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ : ” إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا أَذْنَبَ كَانَتْ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فِي قَلْبِهِ فَإِنْ تَابَ وَنَزَعَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ صُقِلَ قَلْبُهُ فَإِنْ زَادَ زَادَتْ فَذَلِكَ الرَّانُ الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ {كَلاَّ بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ} ” .
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“When the believer commits sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents and gives up that sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. But if (the sin) increases, (the black spot) increases. That is the Ran that Allah mentions in His Book: “Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.” [83:14] (Ibn Majah: 4244)
According to Islamic teachings the health of spirit is as much needed as the health of body.
Spiritual health is as important as physical and mental health, if not more so. On the physical and mental health depend our meaningful life and success in this world, but on the spiritual health depends our success and salvation both in this world and in the hereafter. The prophet (pbuh) guided for the purification of heart, he (pbuh) said, when he was asked about the best of the people;
قِيلَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ ” كُلُّ مَخْمُومِ الْقَلْبِ صَدُوقِ اللِّسَانِ ” . قَالُوا صَدُوقُ اللِّسَانِ نَعْرِفُهُ فَمَا مَخْمُومُ الْقَلْبِ قَالَ ” هُوَ التَّقِيُّ النَّقِيُّ لاَ إِثْمَ فِيهِ وَلاَ بَغْىَ وَلاَ غِلَّ وَلاَ حَسَدَ ” .
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said:
“It was said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): ‘Which of the people is best?’ He said: ‘Everyone who is pure of heart and sincere in speech.’ They said: ‘Sincere in speech, we know what this is, but what is pure of heart?’ He said: ‘It is (the heart) that is pious and pure, with no sin, injustice, rancor or envy in it.’(Ibn Majah: 4216)
Qur’an Kareem also mentioned the prayer for a pure and rust free heart;
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ
˹They say,˺ “Our Lord! Do not let our hearts deviate after you have guided us. Grant us Your mercy. You are indeed the Giver ˹of all bounties˺. (Surah Ali ‘Imran: 8)
