Last week we referred to a Hadith in which Jabir, a close companion of the Prophet who reported a large number of Hadiths, mentions that he identified a time when the Prophet repeated a supplication at the same time on three consecutive days. That was in between the two prayers of Dhuhr and Asr on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Jabir notes that he saw the Prophet’s face beaming with pleasure on the third after his supplication, which he took to mean that the Prophet was certain that his prayer was answered. Jabir mentions that whenever he was faced with a serious matter, he made sure of praying for its resolution at that particular time on Wednesday and he recognized that it was answered.
What we need to remember here is that Jabir’s action indicates his unshakable belief in the Prophet’s message. When he realized that the Prophet’s prayer was answered at a particular time, he copied his action so that he could have his own prayer answered. Obviously, only a believer would follow the Prophet’s example. Had he had any doubt about the truth of the Prophet’s message, he would not have done so. Hence, it serves everyone of us well to do likewise and address our prayer at the time when the Prophet’s own prayer was answered.
But answering prayers requires also the proper attitude. That is one of recognition of one’s own weakness and God’s power over all things. When we pray God, we should realize that only through God’s help can we achieve our purpose. If one says his prayer feeling that he has a right to have it answered by God, then he is adopting an arrogant attitude which God dislikes. Such arrogance is unacceptable when one person asks something of even his subordinate. How can it be accepted when we address God?
Indeed the best attitude to adopt at the time of supplication is one of humility, and recognition of God’s oneness and greatness. The more praise of God we include in our prayer, indicating our firm belief in his Almightiness, the better are our chances of having our prayer answered. Anas ibn Malik reports: “I was with the Prophet one day when a man was saying this supplication: “You are certainly the Creator of heavens, the Ever-living, the Master of all. I address my prayer to You.” The Prophet turned to us and said: “Do you realize how he has addressed his supplication? By Him who holds my soul in His hand, he has prayed God, using His name which ensures answering prayers.” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad).
Another version of this Hadith related by Ahmad mentions that the Prophet passed by Zaid ibn Al-Samit as he was saying in his prayers: “My Lord, I request You by the fact that all praise is due to You. There is no deity other than You. You are the One who bestows all grace, the Creator of the heavens and earth, and to You all majesty belongs and by You all favors are granted.” The Prophet commented: “You have asked God by His greatest attribute which ensures answering prayers.”
An important situation in which a person thinks an appeal to God for protection as his only resort is when one is afraid of ruling authorities. With dictatorial rulers treating their subjects as insignificant creatures, and when they do not fear to be held accountable for what they do, people may suffer a great deal of injustice. Should one fear to be wrongly punished for something one has not done, or to be subject to persecution by ruling authorities, one can always appeal for God’s help. The Prophet teaches us a supplication or two which we may say in such situations.
Abdullah ibn Massoud, a learned companion of the Prophet, says: “If any of you fears the arrogance, injustice or fury of a ruler, let him say: ‘My Lord, the Lord of the seven heavens and the Mighty Throne, protect me against this man (he should name that ruler) and his henchmen among Your creatures. Spare me that any one of them should harm me or deal with me unjustly. The one You protect is safe and secure. Gratitude to You is great indeed. There is no deity other than You.’” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad).
Another Hadith which also specifies such a situation is the one reported by Abdullah ibn Abbas, the Prophet’s cousin and learned companion: “If you come into the presence of a ruler who is held by people in awe and you fear that he may ill-treat you, then say: ‘God is Supreme. God is more powerful than all His creatures. God is mightier than what I fear and what I try to guard against. I seek shelter with God, other than whom there is no deity, the One who holds the seven heavens from falling over the earth except by His will. I seek shelter with You against any harm or evil that may be done by Your servant (and the supplicant should name here the ruler he fears), or by his soldiers, followers or henchmen, whether human or jinn. My Lord, protect me from their evil. Your glory is great indeed, and the one You protect is safe and secure. Your name is glorified and there is no deity other than You.” He should repeat these words three times.
In both Hadiths we note that the emphasis is on glorifying God, remembering His power and that He is the Almighty who subjects everything to His power. This is only natural since one is only afraid of a ruler or a person in authority because of the power that person wields and the feeling that he can use such power against us with impunity. Hence, it is important to remember that he, and all his might, soldiers, henchmen, police and security apparatus, are subject to God’s power and cannot escape anything God may wish to inflict on them.
Moreover, by glorifying God and remembering His power we initiate a feeling of security because we entrust our safety to Him. Moreover, we are able to put the whole situation in proper perspective. This means that we remember that nothing takes place unless God wills it to happen. Therefore, whatever the unjust ruler might wish to do will only happen if God allows it to happen.
If He does, then that must be for a definite purpose of his. If He allows the injustice to take place, He will reward us handsomely for suffering it patiently, and He will bring about some other good results by it. Therefore, we will gain a handsome reward and the tyrant will reap the evil consequences of his injustice.
It should be remembered that this applies not only in the case of unjust rulers, but also in the case of anyone who could deal unjustly with people. In modern times, it could be a low ranking official who exploits his position to harm people or deny them their rights unless they give him a bribe, or someone who could use some other authority. Whatever the situation, a supplication in the terms indicated by the Prophet will bring certain results, if God so wills.
