Asking for help from Allah
Dear brothers, it is natural for mankind to want to get what benefits him or her.
Whether it is in worldly matters or matters relating to the hereafter, we are all striving to attain more from our existence.
We also find that people struggle to accept the situation when their desires are not met. Some blame other people when they aren’t successful – a sense of paranoia begins to set in with these people.
Others end up blaming things like ‘the evil eye’ and claiming black magic, jinn involvement and the likes.
Although as Muslims, we believe in the existence of these concepts, often it is not the cause of their problems and the danger here is that the individual can end up becoming delusional and believing that every bad outcome is supernatural.
This in effect causes further stress as the individual is then exposed to those people who benefit from taking money to cure the individual of this magic etc.
The individual is misguided and is in need of the correct guidance and this comes from only one source.
The following hadith demonstrates this well as narrated by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet SAWS said:
O young man, I will teach you some words. Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. If you ask, ask from Allah. If you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the nations gathered together to benefit you, they cannot benefit you unless Allah has written it for you, and if the nations gathered together to harm you, they cannot harm you unless Allah has written it for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages dried.
Dear brothers, if we ponder over this hadith we see that our beloved Prophet SAWS has clearly freed us from the worries of misguidance. It is clear for those who analyse that Allah SWT is telling us that He is there for us.
However, it is not easy in an existence where Shaytaan has made it his ultimate goal to distract us from the truth mentioned.
So as muslims, we need to be aware of this plot and set ourselves clear objectives to help us stick to the only guidance and help we need in this life. Achieving these objectives will enable us to achieve greater productivity, confidence in our actions and satisfaction and joy from what we do.
What follows are 3 objectives that we can aim for in order to seek guidance from the correct source and to not feel misguided in our lives.
1. Dua’a (Supplication)
This is the key. We need to ask Him for help. And there is an etiquette to this also. But the most important point to note here is that we need to have our prayers in order as well so that we can benefit from this point.
Allah SWT says in Sura Al-Baqarah:
Maintain with care the (obligatory) prayers and (in particular) the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.
On top of this, get to know the 99 names of Allah SWT and ask of Him in relation to those.
2. Patience.
Dear brothers, patience is so important to note. It is a defining characteristic of a muslim and so we have no excuses if we don’t demonstrate this. Also, it is worthy to note that Allah SWT will accept your supplication but you may not see it as He will only do what is good for you even if you do not know it.
3. Consistency.
And lastly, the realisation that we are His slaves and He is our master. To make a dua’a to Him is not like ordering something from Amazon. Just because we ask once from Him does not entitle us to be demanding from Him. Ask from Him often and in a consistent manner and recognize the blessing that is the ability we have to make the supplication of Him.
Dear brothers, guidance comes from knowing and loving Allah SWT. The more you get closer to Him, the more He will get closer to you. Let’s all aim to revert back to the only guidance we need in this life.
May Allah SWT guide us to the path that takes us closer to Him. May Allah SWT enable us to seek help only from Him. And may Allah SWT reward us for the efforts we make to seek guidance from Him.
Ameen wal hamdullilahi rabilalameen.
