Prayers the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) Recited When Leaving a Gathering
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
One of the prayers that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited when leaving a gathering was:
“O Allah! Grant us enough fear of You to keep sin between us and ourselves. Bestow upon us as much obedience to Your commands as will lead us to Your Paradise. Give us strong faith that will lighten the hardships of this world. O Allah! As long as you keep us alive, let our ears, eyes, and strength benefit us; and make them last until our death. Take vengeance on those who oppress us. Help us against those who are hostile to us. Do not afflict us with calamity in our religion. Let the world be our greatest concern and goal, and the end of our knowledge.” (Tirmidhi, Daawat 80)
Explanations of the Prayer
Learning this important prayer that the Prophet recited when leaving a gathering is a great piece of advice. Understanding the meanings of the requests and hopes contained in this prayer is important for applying it more consciously to our lives.
Fear of Allah (Haşyet)
Fear of Allah is a deep feeling that includes respect and love for Him. The word “haşyet” in the hadith, although expressed as fear in our language, differs from words like “havf,” “haybet,” and “rehbet” which have different meanings in Arabic. “Haşyet,” in this hadith, is the conscious fear of Allah’s majestic presence. Therefore, Quranic verse, “Only those among His servants who have knowledge fear Allah with due reverence.” [Surah Fatir (35), 28] points to the deep fear of Allah felt by true scholars. The Prophet also said: “The one among you who knows and fears Allah most is me” (Bukhari, I’tisam 5; Muslim, Fazaail 127) thus indicating the superiority of his own “haşyet.” This feeling is an important factor that prevents a person from committing sin.
Paradise and Obedience
While obedience and submission are necessary to enter Paradise, they are not the only way. Obeying Allah is a means for a servant to gain His pleasure. Gaining Allah’s pleasure is being worthy of entering Paradise.
Certainty (Yakîn) and Faith
“Yakîn” expresses the strength of faith in the heart. Those who possess certainty are content with Allah’s decree and minimize any negative events that befall them in comparison to the torment of the Hereafter. In this way, they can better cope with the difficulties of worldly life.
Sensory Organs
Hearing, seeing, and other senses are great blessings for mankind. With these blessings, we understand Allah’s power and might, have a belief in the oneness of God, and perform our acts of worship. Those who are deprived of their senses are condemned and described as disbelievers in the Quran: “Allah has sealed their hearts and hearing; and there is a veil over their eyes.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (2), 7].
Oppression and Justice
Oppression is forbidden in our religion, but it has been impossible to completely eradicate it throughout history. Those who have suffered the most oppression throughout history have been believers. Allah Almighty has always been the helper of the oppressed and has taken revenge on the oppressors. Therefore, no oppression lasts forever.
Calamity in Religion
“Calamity in religion,” refers to situations such as a flawed belief, shortcomings in worship, and indulging in prohibitions. It is necessary to pray to Allah to be protected from these kinds of situations.
Worldly Attachment
The biggest weakness of those who cannot discipline their souls is excessive attachment to the world. Infatuation with wealth and property can lead a person astray. Islam advises avoiding such obsessions.
Conclusion
The importance of the prayer recited by the Prophet when leaving a gathering is great. As Muslims, we should include these prayers in our lives and understand their meanings. Let us not forget that prayer is a believer’s weapon.
Lessons Learned from the Hadith
- It is important to pray when leaving gatherings.
- In prayers, one should ask for worldly and afterlife happiness and desire fear of Allah.
- One should be grateful to Allah and pray for the health of sensory organs.
- One should ask for help against oppressors and establish justice.
- One should seek refuge in Allah from flawed beliefs and prohibitions.
- One should avoid excessive attachment to the world and strive to be enlightened with knowledge.
- One should pray that oppressors and those with bad intentions do not befall us.