Doa or supplication plays an important role in our lives because it is a means according to the Prophet (s.a.w.) of diverting the divine decree of Allah against one. A supplication also takes on the form of an aspiration, a desire and a hope. From a spiritual point of view it enables us to look towards Allah’s forgiveness, mercy, kindness and assistance.
Equally important is performance because without it no dream can become a reality. If one merely supplicates and hopes for a miracle to take place, it will probably not take place because Allah only helps those who help themselves. However, miracles do take place, but they are based on different principles. They do exist. We have proof of them taking place during the recent tsunami. They have been undertaken by Allah towards the righteous who truly deserve such help from Him.
One can ask for the moon and the sun but whether you will get it or not is something else, so one has to be realistic and practical. One needs to be sincere and committed; otherwise it becomes an act of ‘day-dreaming’.
The problem with most Muslims worldwide is that they are good at praying, fasting and going for Hajj, but when it comes to behaviour, acting justly, and fulfilling one’s responsibilities, regrettably it does not reflect a balance.
We have been supplicating Allah ever since the first war broke out over the formation of Israel with the Palestinians. We did it during the Gulf War, and we continue today over the recent Israeli brutality, but has anything really changed with us?
Apparently it has not which is a clear sign that something is wrong and the problem here lies in our inability to face the truth; to accept reality as it stands and to adopt new strategies in accordance with existing realities to be successful.
Unfortunately we don’t. Muslims habitually blame others for their failures. Even when they are wrong they claim to be right. For example, how can the leader of Hamas claim to have achieved a victory against Israel when he lives in Syria and has witnessed his people being slaughtered just to uphold some political ideology that does not enjoy total Arab support financially, economically or politically?
Muslims overlook the fact that even with the Prophet’s presence at Uhud, the Muslim lost the battle. What is evident is that as Muslims we need to direct our attention sincerely to Allah, obey Him and act wisely, and unless this is done supplications will remain supplications because it takes far more than a curse and doa to bring about change.
From the inception of Israel till today, we are still supplicating Allah and cursing the Jews without any change in our own attitude. Most probably we will continue like this until Imam Mahdi arrives, which is a defeatist approach. We need to rise to the occasion. We need to become ‘leaders of mankind’, and to achieve this we need take a good look at ourselves and our conduct. We need to draw closer to Allah so that our prayers and supplications are heard. Only when we attain a degree of this as Muslim nations, only then will Allah’s help arrive. |
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