The Essence of Supplication: Quranic Supplications Epilog
During Ramadan 2023, Sheikh Faraz Rabbani gave a series of daily video talks on supplications in the Quran. This series of articles are drawn from those talks and the related eBook. This article is about the essence of supplication. The video series can be viewed here.
What is dua? What is supplication?
Thankfully most of us don’t think too much. We find out there’s something we’re supposed to do, and most of us either start doing it, or at least commit to doing it, or consider doing it.
Some people pause and think. And those who think, wonder “What is supplication about?” Because if God is eternal, then why does He need us to make dua for Him? He doesn’t need us to make dua. If He knows all things, why does He need us to ask Him for what He already knows? If He’s All-Merciful, do we need to remind Him of His mercy? The answer is no we don’t.
Ask or Demand?
When we ask Allah, we’re expressing a need. We have our specific list of needs. The best way to ask Allah is to know that dua is not a demand. We are servants of God and the servant does not demand. Dua is also not a reminder, because the All-knowing does not need a reminder.
Rather we find ourselves needy, dependent, weak creatures. As needy, dependent, weak servants of God, dua is a raising of our neediness before the One and Mighty.
In whatever we ask for, the insightful believer knows that our greatest need is not for the chipped tooth, for the painful back, for our laundry list of wants, worldly or even religious.
Our Ultimate Need
Our ultimate need is one. It is Allah Himself. All other needs are means of expressing our neediness, and fulfilling our need for God. Some just look at the needs in front of them, some consider that it is Allah who is a fulfiller of needs. The highest form of dua is to make dua in a state of presence with Allah, the One who answers.
These are levels at which we can make our dua. Either to express our need, or to know that Allah is the fulfiller of needs. The highest is to be present when you ask with the Lord who answers.
May Allah grant us the highest of faithful supplication, when we make the supplications of the Quran, and when we make our personal supplications.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
