The Etiquette of Supplication and Steadfastness in Faith
Discourse of Hazrat Pir Sahib (RA)
Dated: 9 August 1985
Speech No. 23
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فَنِعۡمَ الۡمَوۡلٰی وَ نِعۡمَ النَّصِیۡرُ
رَبِِّ اشۡرَحۡ لِیۡ صَدۡرِیۡ وَیَسِّرۡ لِیۡۤ اَمۡرِیۡ وَ احۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَۃً مِّنۡ لِّسَانِیۡ یَفۡقَہُوۡاقَوۡلِیۡ
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِ عَلٰی سَیّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍوَّعَلٰی اٰلِ سَیِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍوَّعَلٰی اَصْحَابِہٖ وَعَلٰی اَذْوَاجِہٖ اَجْمَعِیْنَ وَبَارِکْ وَسَلِمْ وَصَلِ عَلَیْہٖ
All praise is for Allah.
Countless thanks to Allah Almighty, the Sovereign and Master of all, Who has once again granted us the opportunity and blessing to gather here for His pleasure, in His remembrance, and in His love. Millions upon millions of blessings and salutations be upon the Leader of all Prophets, the Beloved of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH), through whose grace these favors have been bestowed upon us.
As is customary, we shall recite the sacred Awrad Pak. However, before doing so, there are one or two important matters that deserve Attention.
Whenever one supplicates in the Court of Allah, two things must always be kept in mind. First, one must firmly believe that Allah is the Creator and Master, while we are His humble and needy servants. Second, one must seek Allah through the mediation (wasilah) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Otherwise, a supplication may, instead of bringing benefit, become a cause of harm.
Many people are heard saying, “If Allah fulfills this wish of ours, then we shall become true Muslims.” Placing such conditions can lead to severe difficulties and may become a cause of both worldly and spiritual ruin.
In the times of previous prophets, many people made similar demands. Allah fulfilled their conditions, yet due to the deception of their lower selves and Satan, they failed to fulfill their own commitments. Consequently, they were disgraced and destroyed in this world.
For example, the people of Prophet Salih (AS) demanded that a she-camel emerge from a mountain. Allah granted their request but warned them that this was a sign from Allah and that any disrespect toward it would result in their destruction. Thus, exactly as warned, they were destroyed.
Likewise, the followers of Prophet Isa (AS) requested that a table spread with food descend from heaven, saying that only then would their faith become firm. Allah sent down the heavenly table, yet their doubts still did not disappear. As a consequence of their disbelief and disobedience, some of them were transformed into swine and monkeys and died in humiliation.
The polytheists and disbelievers of Makkah also made such demands from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). However, the devoted servants of the Prophet (PBUH) never did so. Instead, they would always humbly request: “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), pray that we may remain blessed with your servitude, remain steadfast, and sacrifice everything for you.”
This alone was their desire, their Paradise, and their highest spiritual ascent.
Allah loved this humility. Therefore, He not only accepted the supplications of these sincere servants but also made the movements of the universe subject to their commands and placed the treasures of both religion and worldly life at their feet. The honor, wealth, joy, spiritual ecstasy, grandeur, majesty, and awe that they attained are unparalleled in history. No nation or community in any age has ever achieved such greatness.
Respected listeners!
While reciting these sacred Awrad, and especially while invoking the Beautiful Names of Allah, we should keep in mind that we are humble servants standing before our Creator and Master through the mediation of His Beloved Prophet (PBUH) and through the blessing of His Holy Names. We should supplicate as follows:
“O Allah! By Your grace, we have come to believe that servitude to You and servitude to Your Beloved Messenger (PBUH) are the true honor and happiness of both worlds. This alone is what we seek. Bestow this treasure upon us through Your favor. Keep us alive upon it and grant us death upon it. Everything else we leave to You. We have no support besides You. You know best what is good or harmful for us. We are content with Your will and decree.”
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Thereafter, Awrad-e-Naziriyah Sharif was recited and supplication was made.
