The above is where I'm writing this post; inside my rather luxurious room in Putrajaya.
Just yesterday my friends and I were talking about Neelofa's beautiful du'a that she shared in a program called Naura Shares. I don't know anything about that program until they mentioned it yesterday. We were discussing about how specific her du'a was on asking for guidance and rizq (sustenance). Well, we knew about the du'a on jodoh (soulmate) and actually Neelofa requested for that part not to be recorded but today that made the headlines and it's widely shared across social media.
Your Lord has said, "Pray to Me for I shall answer your prayers. Those who are too proud to worship me will soon go to hell in disgrace" (Verse 40:60)
I think it's good to share du'a. Some people don't know that besides the du'a in the Al Quran and those that are taught by the scholars, you can actually design your own du'a, some people don't know that you can recite it in your own language other than Arabic, don't know when are the best times to make du'a etc. I find that sharing du'a can give others some ideas of what else to ask from Allah because I do have friends who told me that they already have everything that they want in life and don't feel like asking anything else. Honestly, I can't relate to that at all because I think du'a is my private 'conversation' with Allah. To me it's not only about asking for something that you want, it's a way to seek for forgiveness, a mean of expressing your gratitude and supplication should be a continuous process.
In this post, I will share mine. Not the exact words, but basically what I ask from Allah in my prayers. And honestly, most of them are inspired by others who shared with me their dua's and I was like "Oh! Why didn't I think of that?". And yes, I was told many many years ago, be specific in your du's and here goes...
My du'a starts with asking forgiveness for myself, my parents, my family, my friends and the ummah.
I read somewhere that you should start with yourself but I don't know why I can't follow that and will start with my parents...
I know I can never repay them for what they've done to me, ever. I owe them so much that I only have my du'a as my biggest gift for them in this world and for the hereafter. I ask Allah to have mercy on them, to give them good health, excellence in deeds and ibadah, the status of husnul mukminin and mukminah and may they be steadfast in the path of Allah until their last breath. As we grow, we realize our parents are humans too, who are also imperfect like the rest of us thus I ask for these.
And then for the whole family.. I ask for love and unity, for patience during hard times and may we continue to be grateful servants during good times. I ask for knowledge that will bring us closer to Allah. I ask for sufficient sustenance that are full of barakah (blessings) and to ease us from worldly debt. I also ask for continuous guidance in His path and not let any of us go astray.
Although for myself is later, but actually I ask A LOT!
I ask for good akhlaq (manners/attitude) and strong aqidah (conviction). I ask for ikhlas (sincerity) in my deeds and ask for Allah to prevent me from riya' (ostentation). Other than asking for guidance, I ask Allah to make me find lessons in my daily encounters that will remind me of Him and I ask to be protected from anything that will drift me further from His path. I ask for good grasp of knowledge, good memory to retain knowledge and for me to use my knowledge to enjoin good and not for something that does harm.
Like Neelofa, I admit that I also pray for 'jodoh' but it's nothing like asking to meet 'The One' pronto~ I started praying for my 'jodoh' many many years ago when I was still studying when an Ustazah point out that this is important because you're going to share your life with this person. In my du'a I specifically mention the traits and the qualities that I want (not to be mentioned here) and actually I always ask may I meet this person when we are truly ready for this amanah (obligation).
Just to share my experience.. When I was once faced with a complicated relationship situation, I prayed every single day asking for a good ending (pengakhiran yang baik). I was very specific when I asked for that; I want an ending that makes everybody happy, and that leads to more blessings and rewards for everybody. And mashaAlah, it was granted...Alhamdulillah...
And not so recently, maybe since last year or maybe since I turned 30, besides asking how I want him to be like, I also ask Allah to make me a good spouse to that person, to his family and I ask for me to be someone who is also good for his religion as he would be to me.
I also will ask for forgiveness for loved ones that are no longer here in this world. I hope it reaches them where ever they are.
And finally du'a for the ummah. I encounter many social issues among the Muslims that are against the teachings of Islam in my day to day job. You know they said, the weakest of Iman is to detest a wrong doing with one's heart. I always tried my best not to judge and focused on my role whenever I'm faced with such situation. Not being able to preach then and there when I was sitting with them used to give me a lot of guilt for not being a good sister who reminds them to be closer to Allah. But then, it was also imperative to gain their trust, keep them coming back to me, make them feel I'm someone that they can openly confide to and eventually help improve their treatment outcome. So I guess du'a for the ummah is my next powerful tool.
I ask for Allah to always give us guidance.. For those who are still on His path to remain firm and undeterred. And those who have gone astray, may they one day find their way back to Allah. I ask for peace and harmony. For protection of those who are tested with war and famine. I ask for Allah to grant them patience and strength and may those give them an even bigger reward in the Hereafter.
You see, one of people's misconception about unmarried women like me is that we devote our lengthy prayer asking for a soulmate. People speculate that unmarried women go for umrah to cry in front of Kaabah asking for soulmate hahaha I do have friends who think that life hasn't begun for them if they have yet to find their soulmate. They see that as an ultimate goal in life and would feel less like a person until they find him. It's their knight in shining armor that will make them live happily ever after....
But some unmarried women actually realize that marital status does not decide whether you are going to heaven or hell. Some women are ordained to not play the role as a wife or a mother in this world but yet they actually have the equal rights to enter Jannah with the roles that they are meant to play. One woman may enter Jannah for being a good wife and a loving mother, and a single woman who during her life have channeled her energy for her family and the betterment of the ummah will attain the same. Allah is the Most Just...
We ask things that are important to us from Allah so every person's dua is unique..
It all depends on what legacy we want to leave behind and who we want to present ourselves to the Creator when it's our time to return...
As long as we are breathing, live and never stop communicating with Allah...
And finally du'a for the ummah. I encounter many social issues among the Muslims that are against the teachings of Islam in my day to day job. You know they said, the weakest of Iman is to detest a wrong doing with one's heart. I always tried my best not to judge and focused on my role whenever I'm faced with such situation. Not being able to preach then and there when I was sitting with them used to give me a lot of guilt for not being a good sister who reminds them to be closer to Allah. But then, it was also imperative to gain their trust, keep them coming back to me, make them feel I'm someone that they can openly confide to and eventually help improve their treatment outcome. So I guess du'a for the ummah is my next powerful tool.
I ask for Allah to always give us guidance.. For those who are still on His path to remain firm and undeterred. And those who have gone astray, may they one day find their way back to Allah. I ask for peace and harmony. For protection of those who are tested with war and famine. I ask for Allah to grant them patience and strength and may those give them an even bigger reward in the Hereafter.
You see, one of people's misconception about unmarried women like me is that we devote our lengthy prayer asking for a soulmate. People speculate that unmarried women go for umrah to cry in front of Kaabah asking for soulmate hahaha I do have friends who think that life hasn't begun for them if they have yet to find their soulmate. They see that as an ultimate goal in life and would feel less like a person until they find him. It's their knight in shining armor that will make them live happily ever after....
But some unmarried women actually realize that marital status does not decide whether you are going to heaven or hell. Some women are ordained to not play the role as a wife or a mother in this world but yet they actually have the equal rights to enter Jannah with the roles that they are meant to play. One woman may enter Jannah for being a good wife and a loving mother, and a single woman who during her life have channeled her energy for her family and the betterment of the ummah will attain the same. Allah is the Most Just...
We ask things that are important to us from Allah so every person's dua is unique..
It all depends on what legacy we want to leave behind and who we want to present ourselves to the Creator when it's our time to return...
As long as we are breathing, live and never stop communicating with Allah...
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