The second component of seeking the help of Allah (SWT) that is mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah is salah. Salah is one of the greatest means of seeking assistance from Allah (SWT), and this is why the Prophet (SAW) has taught us to pray salah at the time of any need. If a person is confused about a matter or needs clarity, he has taught us the salah of istikhara and the du’a of istikhara. When the sun or moon is eclipsed, he taught us the salah of the eclipse. When rain is scarce and there is a drought, he taught us the salah of istisqa. In this manner, salah has been used as a primary mode of seeking the help of Allah (SWT). One person came to the Prophet (SAW) informing him that he was about to travel, and the Prophet (SAW) said, “Pray two rakats first.” This was to gain the help of Allah (SWT) for the journey. It is one of the signs of the believers that they turn to salah in their time of need, and during salah, the Prophet (SAW) taught us du’as to recite. Using salah as a means of getting close to Allah (SWT) and then raising one’s hands in front of Him and begging Him – like this, the Prophet (SAW) has also taught us du’a.
Du’a is a very vast chapter in our deen – whether it is in salah or outside of salah, du’a is a very powerful act, and in fact, it is the core of ibadah. A person’s strength of ibadah can be measured by their strength in du’a. If a person is very strong in their du’a and connected to Allah (SWT), it is a sign that their ibadah has strength and power in it. The Prophet (SAW) has taught us many du’as, and of course, the best du’as are the ones in the Qur’an and those taught to us by the Prophet (SAW).
Du’a comes with certain prerequisites; for example, a person should not approach Allah (SWT) with a sense of doubt. If whatever they are asking for is, in itself, permissible, they should go to Allah (SWT) with a sense of belief. This is why the Prophet (SAW) said, “Never ask Allah (SWT) to forgive you or grant you bounties ‘if He wills’. No one can force Allah (SWT). Ultimately, He will do whatever He wants. Go and beg Allah (SWT)” (Sahih Muslim 2679a). Du’a should be made with focus and concentration. If a person is begging in front of Allah (SWT) and their heart is somewhere else, it is very inappropriate.
There are times which the Prophet (SAW) has told us there is a likelihood of acceptance of du’a, and there are occasions as well. For example, the last third of the night – one sahabi asked the Prophet (SAW), “Which du’a is listened to the most by Allah (SWT)?” The Prophet (SAW) replied, “After your fardh salah and in the last portion of the night” (Sahih Tirmidhi 3499). Similarly, after doing a good deed, there is a likelihood of du’a being accepted. All of these occasions and circumstances, such as the du’a of the fasting person, the traveller, the parent, and even the du’a when it is raining – the Prophet (SAW) has taught us to make du’a at these times, and there is a greater likelihood of the du’a being accepted quickly.
Because a believer knows that only Allah (SWT) will grant what they need, they are constantly looking for opportunities to take from Allah (SWT).
“إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ” – “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help” – falls under the pattern and framework that Allah (SWT) and His Prophet (SAW) have laid out for us. If we stay within this framework, we will see that seeking the assistance of Allah (SWT) is not difficult. The Qur’an contains many stories about how the sahaba begged for forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and their du’a was accepted. Ayyub (AS) begged Allah (SWT) for a cure and was cured. Yunus (AS) made a misjudgement, and when he ended up in the stomach of the fish, he realised that he had erred and asked Allah (SWT) for assistance. Zakariyya (AS) could not have children, but he knew there was a power that supersedes all the means and physical aspects we are familiar with, so he turned to that power. May Allah (SWT) make us among the people who know how to take from Allah (SWT).
When a person says, “إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ” in their salah, Allah (SWT) says, “This is between Me and My slave. He will get what he seeks assistance for” (Sahih Muslim 395a). May Allah (SWT) enable us to truly worship Him, to obey and submit to Him, and may Allah (SWT) enable us to seek His assistance.
