Al Haqeeqa
As an indecisive person, I often find myself pondering what to do next or wondering which route is the most beneficial one. To be honest, it takes me a good 20 minutes to order food from a menu. Like I said: super indecisive.
However, there is a silver lining to this uncertainty. It pushes one to be in constant communication with Allah, always asking for His guidance.
Whether or not you are confident in your choices, prayer is always beneficial and asking for guidance is always necessary. Allah alone knows what is best for us. Considering the human tendency to err, what better solution than to turn to the One who is Al-Khabeer (The All-Aware), Al-Mujib (The Answerer), Al-Hadi (The Guide), Al-Muqsit (The Equitable) and Al-Barr (The Most Kind)?
Du’a is such a powerful tool, it does not have to be formal or rehearsed. tweet
Anytime we are making a decision, it is best to seek Allah’s guidance and because He is Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful). He has given us many tools to seek guidance and be successful.
Du’a is such a powerful tool, it does not have to be formal or rehearsed. Simply articulating the feeling of your heart in communicating with Allah is enough. With that said, we also have been given specific du’as for specific times that help us connect with Allah and guide us on the right path.
Here are 3 du’a to remember when faced with difficult situations.
1. For when you are unsure
Reported by Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allah al-Salami (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to teach his companions to make istikhara in all things, just as he used to teach them surahs from the Qur’an. He said: ‘If anyone of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ
O Allah, I seek the counsel of Your Knowledge, and I seek the help of Your Omnipotence, and I beseech You for Your Magnificent Grace. Surely, You are Capable and I am not. You know and I know not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter [then mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, – [or say: in this life and the afterlife] – then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it. And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, – [or say: in this life and the afterlife] – then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it.
Whoever seeks the counsel of the Creator will not regret it and whoever seeks the advice of the believers will feel confident about his decisions. Allah has said in the Qur’an:
“And consult them in the affair. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.”
Reference: Al-Bukhari 7/162. and Aal-‘Imran 3:159.
Because sometimes the decisions we make are not always right or a situation is simply out of our control. tweet
2. When you find something becoming difficult for you
اللّهُـمَّ لا سَـهْلَ إِلاّ ما جَعَلـتَهُ سَهـلاً، وَأَنْتَ تَجْـعَلُ الْحَـزَنَ إِذا شِـئْتَ سَهـْلاً
O Allah, there is no ease other than what You make easy. If You please You ease sorrow.
Reference:
Ibn Hibban in his Sahih (no. 2427), and Ibn As- Sunni (no. 351).
3. For when you dislike the outcome
Because sometimes the decisions we make are not always right or a situation is simply out of our control, here is a du’a for when something happens that you dislike or when you fail to achieve what you attempted:
قَدَّرَ اللهُ وَما شـاءَ فَعَـلَ
It is the Decree of Allah and He does whatever He wills.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The strong believer is better and more dear to Allah than the weak believer, and in each of them, there is good. Be vigilant for what is to your benefit and seek the help of Allah and do not falter. But when you are stricken by some setback, do not say: ‘If only I had done such and such,’ rather say: ‘It is the Decree of Allah and He does whatever He wills.’ For verily the saying ‘if (i.e. if only I had) begins the work of the Devil.”
