By Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
By
Dr. Norlain Dindang Mababaya
Knowing the importance of acquiring Islâmic knowledge, it becomes imperative, therefore, for mankind to seek knowledge of Islâm. We must think of our everlasting life by knowing the Truth and adhering to it for our guidance and supreme success. We must sincerely pray to Allâh to bestow us knowledge of Islâm. We should bear in mind that Allâh, the All-Knowing, All-Wise (4:26), the exalted in power, full of Wisdom (31:27), is the One Who grants wisdom to whom He pleases:
“He (Allâh) grants wisdom to whom He pleases; and he to whom wisdom is granted receives indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will receive admonition but men of understanding.” (2:269)
We must pray to Allâh the All Knowing, All Wise to bestow upon us knowledge of Islâm. Both the Qur’ân and the Sunnah guide us to seek Allâh’s guidance through prayers or supplication. Let us include in our prayers the following supplications:
“Rabbi zidni ilma.” (“O my Rabb! Increase me in knowledge.” ) (20:114)
“O my Rabb! Bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous; grant me honorable mention on the tongue of truth among the latest (generations); make me one of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss.” (26:83-84)
Umm Salamah (Radhiallâhu anha) narrated that the Prophet r used to say after the dawn prayer, "Allâhumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman naafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan." (“O Allâh, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, acceptable action, and good provision.”) (Tirmidhi 2487, Ahmad and Ibn Majah)
"Allâhumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman naafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan." (Oh Allâh, I ask You for knowledge that is of benefit, a good provision, and deeds that will be accepted.) (Ibn As-Sunni, no. 54, Ibn Mâjah no. 920. Its chain of transmission is good (Hasan), Ibn Al-Qaiyim 2/375)
‘Aishah (radhiallâhu anha) narrated that when Allâh’s Messenger r awake at night, he said, “There is no god but You, glory be to You, O Allâh, I ask Your pardon for my sin and I ask You for Your mercy. O Allâh! Advance me in knowledge: do not cause my heart to deviate (from guidance) after You have guided me, and grant me mercy from Yourself; verily You are the Grantor.” (Abu Dawud 5043)
We must pray to Allâh for knowledge of Islâm and other knowledge that would benefit us not only in this temporary world, but most important is in the eternal world to come. When we pray to Allâh for other knowledge outside of Islâm, we should pray that such knowledge is beneficial for us. The knowledge that we seek outside Islâmic knowledge must strengthen our understanding and application of Islâm. It should make us better Muslims and not to be out of Islâm. We must, therefore, refrain from knowledge that does not benefit us. We should take admonition from the following Ahâdîth:
Abu Hurairah t narrated that the Prophet r said, “It is part of the excellence of a person’s Islâm that he should discard that which is of no benefit to him either in this world or the Hereafter.” (Tirmidhi 67)
Abu Darda t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said, “The worst of men in the eyes of Allâh on the Day of Resurrection will be the scholar who does not derive benefit from his knowledge.” (Tirmidhi 268)
Abu Hurairah t narrated that Allâh’s Messenger r said, “The knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure out of which nothing is spent in the cause of Allâh.” (Tirmidhi 280)
As much as possible, we must seek Allâh’s protection from the knowledge that will just destroy our faith. We must include in our prayers and supplications to Allâh the Almighty that He will protect us from such knowledge that does not benefit. This is a guidance that we must follow from the Prophet r as narrated in the following Ahâdîth:
Sa’id ibn Arkam t narrated: “I am not going to say anything but only that which Allâh’s Messenger r used to supplicate: ‘O Allâh, I seek refuge in You from incapacity, from sloth, from cowardice, from miserliness, decrepitude and from torment of the grave. O Allâh, grant to my soul the sense of righteousness and purify it, for You are the Best Purifier thereof. You are the Protecting friend thereof, and Guardian thereof. O Allâh, I seek refuge in You from the knowledge which does not benefit, from the heart that does not entertain the fear (of Allâh), from the soul that does not feel contented and the supplication that is not responded.’” (Muslim 6568)
Abu Hurairah t narrated that Messenger of Allâh r used to say: “O Allâh, I seek refuge in You from four things: knowledge which does not profit, a heart which is not submissive, a soul which has an insatiable appetite, and a supplication which is not heard.” (Abu Dawud 1543)
Aside
from the above supplications, both the Qur’an and the authentic Ahâdîth
teach us many other supplications that can bring us closer to Allah
the Almighty, gain His Love and Mercy and thus
lead us to success. We read
for instance in the Qur’an the following supplications:
“Rabana atina fey dunia hasanah wa fey al-akhairatty hasanah waqana addab annar.” [Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Hellfire] (Qur'an 2:201)
"Rabbana la tu’aakhidhna in naseenaa aw akhta’na, Rabbana wa la tahmil ‘alainaa isran kama hamal-tahu alal lahdheena min qablina, Rabbana wa la tuhammilna ma la taaqata lana bihi, wa‘fu anna, waghfir lana warhamna, Anta Maulaana fansurna ‘alal qaumil kaafreen." “Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer)! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer)! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us, our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer)! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Protector, and help us to victory against the disbelieving people. (Qur'an 2:285-286)
“Rabana eghfer lana wa lee ekhwa nina aladhina sabaqowna bill eaman walla taga al fey qoolobana ghillan lil athina amanoo, Rabana ainka ra awaf on rahaim” [Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) you are indeed full of kindness, most merciful.] (Qur'an 59:10)
“Rabana atina men ladunka rahamah wa haia lana men amrina rashada.” [Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way.] (Qur'an 18: 10)
Some of the many supplications that we can learn from the Prophet r are as follows:
The Prophet r, made the following statement: “Allahuma iniy a’udhubika minalbukhli. Wa a’udhubika min an uradda ila ardhalil umor. Wa a’udhubika min fitnatid donya wa ‘adhabil qobor.” O Allah! I seek refuge with You from miserliness; and I seek refuge with You from cowardice; and I seek refuge with You from being sent back to geriatric old age; and I seek refuge with You from fitnah (trial) of this world; and I seek refuge with You from punishment in the grave.” (Al-Bukhari)
"Ya Hayyu ya Qayyoomu
bi rahmatika astagheethu aslih li sha’ni kullahu wa la takilni ila nafsi
tarfata ‘ainin." Oh Ever Living One, Oh Eternal One, by Your mercy I call on
You to set right all my affairs, do not place me in charge of my soul even for a
moment. (Its chain of transmission is
unfailing (Sahîh), Al-Hâkim 1/545, Albâni 1/273.)
"Allâhumma qini ‘adhaabaka yauma tab’athu ‘ibaadaka." Oh Allâh, save me from Your punishment on the Day of Your slaves’ rising. (Abu Dawud 4/311. See also Al-Albâni, Sahih At-Tirmidhi 3/143)
Allâhumma Rabbas
samaa-waatis sab‘i wa Rabbal Arshil Azeem, Rabbana wa Rabba kulli shai’in,
faaliqal habbi wannawa, wa munzilat Tauraati wal Injeeli, wal Furqaani, a‘udhu
bika min sharri kulli shai’in Anta akhidhun binaa-siyatihi. Allâhumma Antal
Awwal falaisa qablaka shai’un, wa Antal Aakhiru falaisa ba‘daka shai’un,
wa Antaz Zâhiru falaisa fauqaka shai’un, wa Antal Bâtinu falaisa
doonaka shai’un, iqdi annad daina wa aghnina minal faqri. (Oh Allâh and
Sustainer of the seven heavens, Oh Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the
Magnificent Throne, our Rabb and the Rabb of every thing, Splitter of grain and
the date-stone, Revealer of the Torah and the Gospels and the Qur’ân, I seek
refuge in You from the evil of every thing that You shall seize by the forelock.
Oh Allâh You are the First and nothing has come before you, and You are the
Last, and nothing may come after You. You are the Most High, nothing may rise
above You and You are the Most Near and nothing is nearer than You. Protect us
from indebtedness and preserve us from poverty.)
( Muslim 4/2083)
Allâhummahdini fiman hadaita, wa ‘aafini fiman ‘aafaita, wa tawal-lani fiman tawallaita, wa baarik li fima a‘ataita, wa qini sharra ma qadaita, finnaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alaika, innahu la yadhillu man wâlaita, [wala ya’izzu man ‘aadaita], tabaarakta Rabbana wa ta‘aalaita. (Oh Allâh, guide me together with those You have guided, and strengthen me together with those You have given strength. Take me to Your care together with those You have taken to Your care. Bless me in what You have given me. Protect me from the evil You have ordained. Surely You command and are not commanded, and none whom You have committed to Your care shall be humiliated [and none whom You have taken as enemy shall taste glory]. You are Blessed, Our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer), and Exalted.) (Abu Dawud, Ibn Mâjah, An-Nasa'i, At-Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Ad-Darimi, Al-Hâkim, and Al-Baihaqi. See also Al-Albâni, Sahih At-Tirmidhi 1/144 and Sahih Ibn Mâjah 1/194)
All the above teachings from the Qur'an and the authentic Ahâdîth show that, indeed, Islam guides us to success. It teaches us supplications on how to increase our Islamic knowledge and attain success.
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