Certain things we do in life are guided by ethical principles. Besides personal efforts, most individuals resort to prayers in the pursuit of their dreams. Unfortunately, many do not see prayers as an exercise that requires or involves any ethics. In our socio-cultural life, specific circumstances determine the kind of expressions we make, the kind of dress we wear, and even the way we conduct ourselves. The way we approach Allah for our needs is also guided by specific virtuous tenets. This approach is, more of less, a shortcut to fulfilment.
If we conduct ourselves when we are in a military barrack or when we are sitting before a judge in a court of law or at the palace of an Emir, Etsu, Chief or Oba in awe of their respective status or rank; all to differentiate between them and those we regard as friends, colleagues, or relations; then why not Allah upon who we rely for all our needs. This is even as those whom we relate with in awe of their positions are fellow human beings who can not grant us anything except that which the Creator of the heavens and the earth has destined to be ours.
Now, how come many of us think that Allah who has no need of everything He created in the heavens and on the earth should not be revered when we want to ask Him for anything? Scholars have fashioned out some basic spiritual rules that seek to guide supplicants toward self-actualization by means of prayers and supplications. These guidelines have become necessary reminders because some people do not even know how to address Allah, their Creator, from whom an intervention is being sought. While some worshippers lack knowledge of the appropriate words and expressions to be used when supplicating, others are ignorant of the most suitable time for advancing their requests.
We are encouraged to be selective of time when we desire to offer special supplications for special needs. Specific periods of the day have been identified to be “holy hours”. Allah states in Qur’an 17:79 “And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee…” Scholars interpret the “small watches of the morning” in the above verse of the Qur’an to be the last one-third part of the night. It is a “holy hour” during which special spiritual influences act on the soul of the individual waking up from the night’s rest. Special testimony is borne to the prayers and supplications of this hour by the angelic host. If we assume, for example, that the hours of the night (dusk to dawn) fall between 7pm and 7am, the last one-third part of the night shall thus begin at 3am.
The whole of Friday is considered holy, given the special spiritual position it occupies among other days of the week. Imam Muslim reports on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “The best of days in which the sun rises is Friday, it was on Friday that Prophet Adam (AS) was created, entered paradise and was taken out of it”. Abu Hurayrah (RA) also relates from the Prophet (SAW) that there is a (holy) hour on Friday during which every request tendered by a believing servant of Allah is granted.
Imam Muslim reports that Abdullahi bn Umar (RA) asked Abu Burdah if he heard anything from his father (Abu Musa al-Ash’ari) about the (holy) hour of Friday. He replied, “Yes, I heard from him that the Prophet (SAW) said it is the period between the sitting of the Imam (on the pulpit during Friday congregational prayer) and the termination of the prayer”. However, it must be remembered that all days of the week and all hours of the day belong to Allah. Therefore, other days and hours can be utilized if selecting a special hour is not practicable.
A supplicant must ensure that his body, clothes and place of worship are clean from impurities. It is required that he/she performs ablution as a requirement for the purification of his body. When a supplicant sits to commence supplication, scholars recommend that he/she begins, as characteristic of every religious exercise, with prayers of peace and blessing upon the Prophet (SAW). He/she is exhorted to sincerely repent from sins and pray to Allah (SWT) for the forgiveness of his past mistakes and sins. The supplicant should sincerely be remorseful from the bottom of his/her heart as if he were a run-away slave who voluntarily returned to his/her master. It was with such a remorseful sense that Prophet Adam (AS) and his wife Hawwa’u prayed to Allah after they were deceived by the Shaytan to eat from the forbidden fruit.
The next step in the recommended preliminaries of supplication is giving gratitude to Allah. A supplicant is expected to thank Allah for all the favours done to him by Allah. There is no harm mentioning some of the favours such as health, wealth, wife/wives, husband, children, knowledge, power, authority, physical strength, house, job, car, etc, as may be applicable. No one indeed can ever know let alone speak about all the blessings and mercies he/she enjoys from Allah.
The Creator of the heavens and earth states in Qur’an 14:34 “He gives you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favours of Allah, never will ye be able to number them…” Nonetheless, the more gratitude we give to Allah (SWT) for His favours, the more favours He grants us. A worshipper is required to appreciate Allah in the light of His attributes. Allah (SWT), for instance, gives and takes; raises and debases; honours and disgraces; the Lord of Majesty and Bounty.
After extolling Allah’s beautiful names and attributes, a supplicant may thereafter wish to ask Allah for all his needs. Nothing is too big or too small to be asked for from Allah. Sometimes, Allah grants the request(s) immediately or defer it to a more appropriate time or grant it immediately but in a different form. Prayers certainly require constancy and patience. The one in need should therefore continue to pray until the favour(s) he/she is asking for is granted. Sometimes, prayers for specific favours could be a lifetime affair. Allah reminds us in Qur’an 2:45 Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer: it is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit”. May Allah guide us to be perseveringly patient and full of prayers whenever we ask Him for our needs, amin.
