thalamtnafsee:

..guide us away from that which will harm us, rip apart the bonds that have us form delusional and fake attachments, purify our nafs from the devil that resides there, and remove us from the people who live in vain and without purpose.

And most importantly, mold us to Your liking; for if we exist as what we initially want to be, we will indeed fall in error. And oh Allah, forgive us; for who forgives the soul but the One who created it?

ameen thuma ameen.

..so guide me towards your liking and make of me what you wish.

ali ibn abi talib (may Allah be extremely pleased with him). 

serenityandlife:

It is easy to get distracted when you are praying salah and reciting a surah, especially if you do not speak Arabic and understand the language. What are some ways that help you to stay focused when you are praying?

One thing that I noticed that helps me to stay focused during my salah is knowing what I am reciting. If you usually recite certain surahs when you are praying, find out what they mean, find out their translation and meaning, and try to remember this. Next time when you pray, try and remember the meaning behind the surah you are reciting. I find that this helps me to stay more focused and not have my mind wandering into other thoughts. I hope I can become better at it iA! What are some other ways that help you focus on your prayers?

ya allah, you have placed much patience and perserverence in the hearts of your rasuls, i am much less than them in faith and can only bear so little.

ya allah, you indeed have placed messengers on this earth to guide us to morality and mindfulness, but i have wronged my own soul despite this fact.

ya allah, your rasuls have been through what my skin understands as tribulations, but for them it has been simply a means to become closer to you.

ya allah, you have created me from dust and i shall return to dust, so help me during these times of difficulties.

i have much faith in your mercy, justice, and grace. so bless me with much mercy, even when you know the evil that resides in my heart. bless me with your justice, even though i have not been fully just to your creation. and bless me with your grace, for what other reason am i living in this world but for you?

nabsisfabs:

Helpful Duas For Students Dua Before Studying:

 “Allahumma infa`anii bimaa `allamtanii wa`allimnii maa yanfa`uunii. Allahumma innii as’aluka fahma-n-nabiyyeen wa hifz-al-mursaleen wa-al-muqarrabeen. Allahumma-j`al leesanee `aiman bi dhikrika wa qalbi bi khashyatika. Innaka `ala maa-tashaa’u qadeer wa anta hasbun-Allahu wa n`imal wakeel.”

Oh Allah! Make useful for me what you have taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me. Oh Allah! I ask you for the understanding of the prophets and the memory of the messengers, and those nearest to you. Oh Allah! Make my tongue full of your remembrance and my heart with consciousness of you. Oh Allah! You do whatever you wish, and you are my availer and protector and best of aid.

Dua After Studying:

“Allahumma inni astaodeeka ma qara’tu wamaa hafaz-tu. Farudduhu `allayya `indamaa haajatii ilayh. Innaka `ala maa-tashaa’u qadeer wa anta hasbeeya wa n`imal wakeel”

Oh Allah! I entrust you with what I have read and what I have memorized. So bring it back to me when I am in need of it. Certainly You do whatever You wish and You are my availer and protector, and the best of aid.

Dua While Studying Something Difficult:

“Allahumma laa sahla illa ma ja`altahu sahla. anta taj `alu al-hazana ithaa maa sh’ita sahl.” Oh Allah! Nothing is easy except what you have made easy. If you wish, you can make the difficult easy.

Dua For Concentration:

“’Sallallaahu `alaa Muhammad wa aalii Muhammad. Allahumma inni as’aluka yaa muthakkir-al-khayr wa faa`ilahu wa ammira bihi, thakirnii maa ansaanii-he-shaytan.” Blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his progeny. Oh Allah, I ask you, Oh! The One who mentions goodness and actualizes it and commands it, remind me of that which the shaytan makes me forget.

Recite This Dua Everyday For Victory And Prosperity:

“Ya sayyida-s-saadaat, ya mujeebu-d-da`awaat, ya raafi`ad-darajaat, ya waliyy-al-hasanaat, ya ghafir-al-khaTi’aat, ya m’uti-al-mas’alaat, ya qaabil-at-tawbaat, ya sam`i-al-aswaat, ya aalim-al-khafiyaat, ya daafi`al baliyaat.”

Oh! the chief of all chiefs! Oh! the acceptor of prayers! Oh! the elevator of ranks! Oh! the master of virtues! Oh! the forgiver of sins! Oh! the granter of requests! Oh! the acceptor of penance! Oh! the hearer of all sounds! Oh! the one who knows all mysteries! Oh! the remover of calamities!

forthesakeofallah:

There are certain times dua (supplication) is more likely to be accepted by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) as mentioned by Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam). These times are as follows:

1. The Last Third Of The Night

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)) descends to the lowermost heaven and says; “Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?.”‘ [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi]

Amr ibn Absah narrated that the Prophet said: ‘The closest any worshipper can be to His Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.’ [at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa’i, al-Hakim - Sahih]

2. Late at night

When people are sleeping and busy with worldly pleasures Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) gives the believers an opportunity, or an answer hour if they can fight sleep and invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) for whatever they need.

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘There is at night an hour, no Muslim happens to be asking Allah any matter of this world or the Hereafter, except that he will be given it, and this (occurs) every night.’ [Muslim #757]

3. Between Adhan and Iqamah

Anas (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected.’ [Ahmad, abu Dawud #521, at-Tirmidhi #212, Sahih al-Jami #3408, an-Nasai and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (sound)]

4. An Hour o­n Friday

Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu): Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) talked about Friday and said: ‘There is an hour o­n Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), then Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will definitely meet his demand.’ And he (the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands. [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Some have said that this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer’s leader) enters the mosque o­n Friday’s prayer until the prayer is over (ie between the two khutbahs), whereas others have said that it is the last hour of the day (ie after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer).
(Note: when we say an hour here we do not mean the hour everyone knows (60 minutes) but an unspecified period of time because the time counters which we use today came after the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) had died.

5. While Drinking Zamzam Water

Jaber (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘Zamzam water is for what it is drunk for.’ [Ahmad 3: 357 and Ibn Majah #3062]

This means that when you drink Zamzam water you may ask Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) for anything you like to gain or benefit from this water such as healing from illness…. etc.

6. While Prostrating

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), said: ‘The nearest a slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) much in it. [Muslim, abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i and others, Sahih al-Jami #1175]

When a Muslim is in his Salat (prayer) he is facing Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and when he prostrates he is the nearest he can be to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) so it is best to invoke Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) at this time. It is said that while in prostration, o­ne should not ask for worldy needs (ie a nice car, a new job, etc), but for the Hereafter.

7. When Waking Up at Night

Narrated Ubada Bin As-Samit that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘Whomever wakes up at night and says La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shrika lahu lahulmulku, wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shai’in qadir. Alhamdu lillahi, wa subhanallahi wa la ilaha illallahu, wallah akbir, wa la hawla wala quwata illa billah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) He is the o­nly o­ne who has no partners. His is the kingdom and all the praises are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) All the glories are for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is the most Great and there is neither might nor power except with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and then says, Allahumma ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me) or invokes Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), he will be responded to and if he makes ablution and performs Salat (prayer), his Salat (prayer) will be accepted. [Sahih al-Bukhari]

8. At The End Of The Obligatory Salat:

Narrated Abu Omamah (radiAllahu anhu): that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was asked, O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) [at-Tirmidhi]

This time is after saying ‘At-tahyat’ , and before making Tasleem (finishing prayer)

9. The Night Of ‘Qadr’ (Decree)

This night is the greatest night of the year. This is the night which the almighty Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) said about it, “The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months.” [Surah al-Qadr, 97: 3]

The Night of Decree is o­ne of the odd nights of the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. The angels descend down to the earth, and the earth is overwhelmed with peace and serenity until the break of dawn and when he doors of Paradise are opened, the worshipper is encouraged to turn to Allah to ask for his needs for this world and the Hereafter.

10. During The Rain

Narrated Sahel Ibn Sa’ad (radiAllahu anhu): that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: ‘Two will not be rejected, Supplication when the Adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of the rain’. [Al-Hakim 2: 114, and Abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah]

‘Seek the response to your du’as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls’ [reported by Imam al-Shafi’ in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469]

The time of the rain is a time of mercy from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) so, o­ne should take advantage of this time when Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is having mercy o­n His slaves.

11. At the Adhan

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forthesakeofallah:

[From “The Book of Dua” By Shaikh Hussain Al- Awaaishah]

1. Ask with absolute resolve, and believe with certainty that your dua will be answered.

The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said: “ When o­ne of you makes dua he should not say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if you wish, have mercy o­n me if you wish, give me provision if you wish’, but he should ask with resolve because he oes what He likes; no o­ne can force Him.” (Bukhari)

The Prophet sallallahu alahi wa salaam also said: “Ask Allah when you are sure of His response, and remember that Allah does not accept the dua of the unmindful and negletful heart.”
(Declared hasan by our Sheikh Al-Albani in “Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah” #594)

2. Perseverance in making dua.

The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said: “The servant’s dua will be answered provided he does not ask for what is sinful or for the breaking off of relations, and also if he does not show impatience.” He was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is impatience?’ And he replied, “That the servant says: I invoked, but I do not think it (my invocation) was answered, and he becomes disappointed and abandons dua.” (Muslim from Abu Hurairah)

3. Make dua in every condition

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said: “The o­ne who likes Allah to answer him at the time of adversity and hardship, then let him increase in making dua in time of ease.”
(Reported by al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim who authenticated it. Agreed by al-Dhahabi. It is in “Sahih al-Jami” #6166)

4. Dua should not be made against family and property.

Muslim reported in his sahih from Jabir radi Allahu anhu that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said: “Do not make dua against yourself, nor make dua against your children, nor your property, for your dua may coincide with the time when Allah grants all supplication, and your dua might be granted (and cause you harm)

5. Dua should not be directed to other than Allah alone.

The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said to Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu : ‘O young man, I am going to teach you some words: Be mindful of Allah, and He will be mindful of you. Be mindful of Allah, and yo will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah. When you wish to seek help, seek help from Allah. Remember that if all the people come together to bring you benefit they can not benefit you except that Allah has written. o­n the other hand, if they come together to cause (you) any harm, they will not be able to do it except for what Allah has written. The pens have been laid aside, and the scrolls have dried. (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi who declared it Hasan Sahih)

6. The suppliant should keep his voice between a whisper and speaking aloud.

Allah Almighty says:
Call o­n your Lord in humility and in secret. For He loves not those who trespass beyond bound.(7:55)The prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said: “Be kind to yourselves for you are not calling upon o­ne who is deaf or absent. You are calling upon o­ne who is All Hearing and All Seeing.” (Bukhari & Muslim reported it from Abu Musa)

7. Ask Allah with His beautiful names.

Allah The Exalted says:
The most beautiful names belong to Allah, so call upon Him by them. (7:180)It is reported in an authentic tradition that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam heard a man saying in his prayer: ‘O Allah, I am asking you. O Allah The Eternal Absolute, The o­ne Who begets not nor is He begotten, and there is none like unto Him; forgive my sins for You are The Most Forgiving and The Most Merciful.” The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said, “He has been forgiven, he has been forgiven.”
(Abu Dawud, al-Nisa’I, Ahmad & Ibn Khuzaimah. Authenticated by al-Hakim and agreed by al-Dhahabi. Our Sheikh al-Albani brings it in “Sifatus Salatun Nabi” and comments o­n it.)In another incident the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam also heard someone in his prayer saying: ‘O Allah I ask You, for praise is due to You. There is none worthy of worship but You alone (without any partner), The Originator of the heavens and the earth, full of Might and Glory, The Living and Self Subsisting Eternal. I am asking for Paradise, and seeking Your refuge from Hell.” The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said to his companions, “Do you know by what he asked?” They answered, “Allah and His messenger know better.” He said, “{By the o­ne in Whose hand is my soul}, he has invoked Allah by His supreme name by which if He is invoked He grants, by which if He is asked He gives,”
(Reported by Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’I, Ahmad, al-Bukhari in “al-Adab al-Mufrad”, Al-Tabarani & Ibn Mundah in “al-Tawhid” by sahih chains of transmission.)

The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam also said, “That the dua of Dhu Al-Nun (The man of the fish i.e. Yunus/Jonas) by which he invoked Allah from inside the belly of the whale is: There is none worthy of worship but You, Glory be to You, verily I am amongst the wrong doers. No muslim ever makes dua by it but Allah will grant it.”
(Reported by al-Tirmidhi in his sunnan [4/260], Ahmad [1/170] & al-Hakim [2/383] who authenticated it. Al-Dhahabi agreed to it. Also our Sheikh al-Albani in “Al-Kalim al-Tayyib” no.122)

8. Confession of sin.

haddad bin Aws radi Allahu anhu narrated that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said, “The supreme way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is to say: ‘O Allah, You are my Lord, There is none worthy of worship but You, You have created me, and I am Your servant. I am commited to my covenant and my promise to You as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the bleesings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to you all my sins. So grant me forgiveness for no o­ne can forgive sins except You.” The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam added, “If somebody says it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies o­n the same day before the evening he will be among the people of Paradise. And if someone says it at night with firm faith in it and dies before the morning, he will be among the people of Paradise.”(Bukhari reported it)

9. Rhymed prose should be avoided in dua.

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a-restless-being:

120. Allaahumma ‘innee ‘abduka, ibnu ‘abdika, ibnu ‘amatika, naasiyatee biyadika, maadhin fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadhaa’uka, ‘as’aluka bikulli ismin huwa laka, sammayta bihi nafsaka, ‘aw ‘anzaltahu fee kitaabika, ‘aw ‘allamtahu ‘ahadan min khalqika, ‘awista’tharta bihi fee ‘ilmil-ghaybi ‘indaka, ‘an taj’alal-Qur’aana rabee’a qalbee, wa noora sadree, wa jalaa’a huznee, wa thahaaba hammee .

O Allah, I am Your slave and the son of Your male slave and the son of your female slave . My forehead is in Your Hand (i.e. you have control over me) . Your Judgment upon me is assured and Your Decree concerning me is just . I ask You by every Name that You have named Yourself with , revealed in Your Book , taught any one of Your creation or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You , to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness and the reliever of my distress.

Reference: Ahmad 1/391, and Al-Albani graded it authentic.

121. Allaahumma ‘innee ‘a’oothu bika minal-hammi walhazani, wal’ajzi walkasali, walbukhli waljubni, wa dhala’id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijaal .

O Allah , I seek refuge in you from grief and sadness, from weakness and from laziness, from miserliness and from cowardice, from being overcome by debt and overpowered by men (i .e . others) .

Reference: Al-Bukhari 7/158. See also Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 11/173.

(via forthesakeofallah)