Invocation

Dua (invocation) is the most efficacious weapon, allaying source and a reliable companion of a believer in the hours of distress and tumult. Dua arouses a sense of protection in the hearts. Only Dua shows a beam of light in the dark tunnel of misfortunes and brings a hope of salvation.


Dua is, as told by the Messenger of Allah, be peace and blessings on him, the essence of Ibadah, but a bit more itself is an act of Ibadah. Dua is a nice way of keeping Allah, the Exalted, in remembrance. Through Dua a believer is definite to gain generous considerations of his lord.


Allah, the Most Merciful, Himself assured the believers: "Therefore remember Me, I will remember you. Be grateful to Me and never show me ingratitude." (Al-Baqarah: 152)


In the Quran we find many of the Messengers of Allah most earnestly calling their Lord for His help and blessings in the difficult moments of their dawa mission and fulfilling the duties of their Prophethood. Our Holy Prophet, be peace and blessings upon him, has taught us invocations, from getting up early in the morning to going to the bed in the evening, for almost every stage and step of our daily life.


In the Quran most of the invocations are in the first person plural form (O our Lord!) while in the Ahadith most of them are in singular form (O my Lord!), apparently it seems the Holy Prophet, SAW, is calling on Allah for His help, benevolence and bounties, but actually it was a way to teach his Ummah to do so for building a strong relation between the believers and their Lord.


This month of Ramadhan is not only meant to attain the quality of Taqwa but also it provides us a golden chance of reinforcing interconnections with our Creator. In the set of the verses about Ramadhan and fasting we come across a verse: 


"And when my servants ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me- I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls Me. So, let them respond to Me (by obedience) and believe in Me that they may be (rightly) guided." (Al-Baqarah: 186)


To what extent the relation between the Lord and His humble slave gets stronger, can be conceived from a wise saying of the Holy Prophets, be peace and blessings upon him.


Narrated by Abu Hurairah, May Allah be pleased with him: Allah's Messenger, be Allah's blessings upon him, said: Allah said: "I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshiper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps coming closer to Me through performing extra deeds (in addition to the obligatory acts) till I love him. Then I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his legs with which he walks; and if he asks Me I will give him, and if he asks My protection (refuge) I will protect him, and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hesitate to disappoint him." (Sahee Bukhari)