What should we pay attention to when making supplications? What should we ask of Allah in which circumstances, and what expressions should we avoid? Why did the Prophet (peace be upon him) particularly emphasize the importance of seeking ‘well-being’ (afiyet)?
A person would constantly say: “O Lord! Grant me well-being with Your generosity and mercy, and do not separate me from it.”
Someone hearing his words asked him out of curiosity:
“–What is the meaning of this supplication you are performing? Why do you repeat it so often?” He summarized what had happened to him to satisfy the curiosity of the person asking the question:
“–I was a porter carrying loads on my back and earning a living in that way. Once, I carried a very heavy sack of flour, carried it for a long time, and became quite tired. I put the sack down for a while to rest. At that moment, I blurted out:
“–O Lord! It would be better if You gave me two loaves of bread every day instead of making me so tired with this!..”
Just at that moment, I saw two men arguing about something I didn’t know. When I went to mediate between them, one accidentally hit me in the face with what he intended to strike the other man. At that time, my face was covered in blood. During this time, they were caught by people coming from the neighborhood police station. Seeing me in a state of being stained with blood on my face and eyes, they mistook me for an agitator and arrested me along with them and took me to prison. I stayed in jail for a while in a dark, cold place filled with the smell of dampness. However, two loaves of bread were given to me as food every day. One night, I heard someone say to me in a dream:
“–You asked for two loaves of bread without fatigue, but you forgot to ask for well-being! Here is what you wanted.”
At that time, I woke up from sleep and, realizing my mistake, sought refuge with Allah Almighty saying:
“Forgive me, my Lord! I take refuge in Your endless mercy and compassion. Now I only ask for well-being, well-being!” Then I heard the prison door open and someone shouting:
“–Where is the porter Omar?” A little later, they released me and let me out. Since then, I have been repeating this supplication.” (See Kuşeyri, er-Risâle, s: 514)
Supplication is a constant bond between Allah and the servant. Supplication is the essence of servitude, the name for turning to the Lord. It is asking for divine mercy, compassion, and help. Therefore, it is impossible not to mention supplication in a place where servitude is mentioned. However, when making supplications, we must pay great attention to our closeness to Him, our piety, and what we want from Allah Almighty; We should always ask Him for goodness, kindness, and well-being.
PRAYERS FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Indeed, the Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem, who said, “Supplication is the essence of worship.” (Tirmizi, Daavat 1), used to teach those who became Muslim first how to pray and then advise them to recite the following supplication:
“Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, enable me to do deeds that will gain Your pleasure, give me well-being and a good provision.” (Muslim, Zikr, 35)
In another hadith sharifs, the Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem said:
“Of the things requested from Allah, what Allah loves most is well-being.” (Tirmizi, Daavat, 112/3542)
In order to express how carefully a servant should seek refuge in Allah Almighty, Mevlana Hz. narrates the following event that took place in the blessed era with an artistic style:
A companion was sick. He had become weak and thin due to this illness. The Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem also went to see him and inquire about his health. He saw the companion in a state of death. Then he said to him:
“–Did you make an inappropriate and unfounded supplication? Did you unknowingly eat something poisonous? Think carefully; what kind of supplication did you make? How did you get carried away and foam by following the trickery of your nafs? What did you ask of Allah?”
The sick man said:
“‒I don’t remember, but please give me a hint so that I can recall it.”
With the blessed presence of the Prophet’s sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem illuminating nur to his heart, the supplication he had made came to his mind. The Prophet’s himmah, which illuminated everything, reminded him of what he could not remember. A light that distinguishes truth from falsehood shone in the hearts’ windows.
“–O Rasûlullah! I remembered the inappropriate supplication I made to Allah Almighty. I had entered many sins; I was swimming among waves of sin. I heard that severe punishment would be inflicted on those who commit sins and are misguided.
O Rasûlullah! You were frightening us so much, you were scaring us so much. How could I endure it, how could I find a way to escape and save myself? There was no hope of repentance left in me, nor the power to struggle with my nafs…
“O Lord!” I would say. “Make the torment you will inflict in the hereafter come upon me immediately in this world! Let it come so that I may be happy in the hereafter!” Thus, I kept knocking on the door of divine mercy. Then such an illness afflicted me. I lost my well-being from the suffering caused by the disease. I fell behind from my remembrance and my supererogatory prayers. Indeed, I reached a state where I could not even know myself, my goodness or my badness.
O Prophet with a luminous face! If I had not seen your blessed countenance, I would have completely cut off from this bond of life, that is, I would have died. Please grace me and give me solace worthy of your noble self.”
The Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem said:
“–Do not repeat this supplication again; do not uproot the tree of your own life!”
The sick companion said:
“‒I repent, O my Sultan! I will never again say such a big word as to see myself strong and powerful. O Emir of colors! Prophet of people in every color and hue! Grant us mercy and compassion just as You have shown grace and power in you. Grant us himmah. O greatest of the great, O our Master! Have mercy on what remains for us, protect it. Protect it so that Satan does not rejoice altogether. For the sake of Your ancient grace, which seeks out and favors those who are sinful and misguided, not for our sake, not for our memory! O Allah, who bestows mercy on a body made of flesh and fat, who gives feelings of compassion! Just as You manifest Your art, creative power, and strength in the beings You have created, so manifest Your grace and mercy too! O Allah, the greatest of the great! If the supplication we make attracts Your wrath, then inspire us to pray again!”
Finally, seeing his writhing in agony, the Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem said to the sick man:
“–Add these words to your supplications. Say: “O Allah who makes difficulties easy! O our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the hereafter. Protect us from the torment of hell!” (Al-Baqarah, 201)
“Allah, beautify our path like a garden, may You be where we will reach, may You be our abode, may the path we walk lead us to Paradise, not just Paradise. Honor us with Your paradise and Your beauty!”[1]
It is narrated that the following narration has been passed down regarding seeking well-being from Allah Almighty:
“–O Rasûlullah! Teach me something to ask of Allah Almighty,” I said. The Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem again said:
“Ask for well-being!” (Tirmizi, Daavat, 84/3514; Ahmed, I, 209)
In order to express how carefully one should seek refuge in Allah Almighty, the following event that took place in the blessed era is narrated by Mevlana Hz. with an artistic style:
A companion was sick. He had become weak and thin due to this illness. The Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem also went to see him and inquire about his health. He saw the companion in a state of death. Then he said to him:
“–Did you make an inappropriate and unfounded supplication? Did you unknowingly eat something poisonous? Think carefully; what kind of supplication did you make? How did you get carried away and foam by following the trickery of your nafs? What did you ask of Allah?”
The sick man said:
“‒I don’t remember, but please give me a hint so that I can recall it.”
With the blessed presence of the Prophet’s sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem illuminating nur to his heart, the supplication he had made came to his mind. The Prophet’s himmah, which illuminated everything, reminded him of what he could not remember. A light that distinguishes truth from falsehood shone in the hearts’ windows.
“–O Rasûlullah! I remembered the inappropriate supplication I made to Allah Almighty. I had entered many sins; I was swimming among waves of sin. I heard that severe punishment would be inflicted on those who commit sins and are misguided.
O Rasûlullah! You were frightening us so much, you were scaring us so much. How could I endure it, how could I find a way to escape and save myself? There was no hope of repentance left in me, nor the power to struggle with my nafs…
“O Lord!” I would say. “Make the torment you will inflict in the hereafter come upon me immediately in this world! Let it come so that I may be happy in the hereafter!” Thus, I kept knocking on the door of divine mercy. Then such an illness afflicted me. I lost my well-being from the suffering caused by the disease. I fell behind from my remembrance and my supererogatory prayers. Indeed, I reached a state where I could not even know myself, my goodness or my badness.
O Prophet with a luminous face! If I had not seen your blessed countenance, I would have completely cut off from this bond of life, that is, I would have died. Please grace me and give me solace worthy of your noble self.”
The Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem said:
“–Do not repeat this supplication again; do not uproot the tree of your own life!”
The sick companion said:
“‒I repent, O my Sultan! I will never again say such a big word as to see myself strong and powerful. O Emir of colors! Prophet of people in every color and hue! Grant us mercy and compassion just as You have shown grace and power in you. Grant us himmah. O greatest of the great, O our Master! Have mercy on what remains for us, protect it. Protect it so that Satan does not rejoice altogether. For the sake of Your ancient grace, which seeks out and favors those who are sinful and misguided, not for our sake, not for our memory! O Allah, who bestows mercy on a body made of flesh and fat, who gives feelings of compassion! Just as You manifest Your art, creative power, and strength in the beings You have created, so manifest Your grace and mercy too! O Allah, the greatest of the great! If the supplication we make attracts Your wrath, then inspire us to pray again!”
Finally, seeing his writhing in agony, the Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem said to the sick man:
“–Add these words to your supplications. Say: “O Allah who makes difficulties easy! O our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the hereafter. Protect us from the torment of hell!” (Al-Baqarah, 201)
“Allah, beautify our path like a garden, may You be where we will reach, may You be our abode, may the path we walk lead us to Paradise, not just Paradise. Honor us with Your paradise and Your beauty!”[1]
It is narrated that the following narration has been passed down regarding seeking well-being from Allah Almighty:
“–O Rasûlullah! Teach me something to ask of Allah Almighty,” I said. The Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem again said:
“Ask for well-being!” (Tirmizi, Daavat, 84/3514; Ahmed, I, 209)
It is important to pay attention to another issue when making supplications: not wanting another calamity to escape from a disaster. As stated in verse, Hazrat Yūsuf (peace be upon him) made the following supplication to avoid the evil of heedless women who were trying to lure him:
“My Lord! Make the prison better for me than they want from me…” (Yusuf, 33)
That is, Yūsuf (peace be upon him) did not ask to be rescued from the difficult situation he was in in his supplication, but rather, as if to be imprisoned and saved. As a result of the acceptance of his supplication, he fell into prison.
Therefore, whatever circumstances the servant is in, he should always ask for goodness, mercy, and compassion from the Lord who is an ocean of mercy and compassion. As stated in a hadith sharif:
“Supplication turns back the decreed and prevents what has not yet occurred. So it behooves you to supplicate.” (Tirmizi, Daavat, 112/3542)
The Prophet sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem also used to make supplications with his companions from time to time so that they could learn how to make supplications. Because Allah Almighty has declared that He does not want a servant who does not supplicate, saying:
“(O Messenger!) Say: What would my Lord benefit from if you were not grateful?…” (Al-Furqan, 77)
Therefore, just as the prophets and all Allah’s friends have always turned to Him and made supplications in times of hardship and ease, distress and joy; In fact, every being in the universe except for the heedless among jinn and humans is in a state of turning their hands only to Him.
May the believer act accordingly with the command “Ask for well-being and safety from Allah.” (Bukhari, Jihad, 112). As Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Ask for well-being from Allah! No one has been given anything more virtuous than well-being after firm belief.” (Tirmizi, Daavat, 105/3558)
May Allah grant us well-being. May He enable us to remember Him in a way that pleases Him, to be grateful for His blessings, and to serve Him worthily! … Amen…
Notes:
[1] Supplication is a constant bond between Allah and the servant. Supplication is the essence of servitude, the name for turning to the Lord. It is asking for divine mercy, compassion, and help. Therefore, it is impossible not to mention supplication in a place where servitude is mentioned. However, when making supplications, we must pay great attention to our closeness to Him, our piety, and what we want from Allah Almighty; We should always ask Him for goodness, kindness, and well-being. (See Muslim, Zikr, 23; Tirmizi, Daavat, 71/3487.) [2] “(O Messenger!) Say: What would my Lord benefit from if you were not grateful?…” (Al-Furqan, 77)