The Regrets in Paradise

Ad-Du’a is the weapon or life-hack tool for believing men and women.

The Loser Does Not Make Du’a

Often, we have tasks that overburden us or we feel like we simply cannot carry this task any further. Other times we hardly have much to do and we find ourselves wanting to “kill time”. Authoobillah. Life is full of tasks on day-to-day basis whether as a child one has to do daily chores or go to school, or complete homework, or as an adult one has to cook, clean, or work to pay the bills. This list is endlessly full of tasks that never end, although very important, and we just get on with it doing the best we can. Do we do it for appreciation or do we do it all because we have to or do we simply do it because we fear the consequences?

While I leave you to ponder upon that bit of Laghu, let us reflect upon a task that is very easy to do and which results in weighty benefits. Ad- Du’a. The sheer laziness or neglectful habits which cause us to miss out on this amazing opportunity at so many countless points in time every single day of every single week of every single year of our entire lives should shock our system and our heart to the core.

And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. [Qur’an 2:186]

In this verse, there are two major lessons that I wish to reflect upon right now. Firstly, it is the need to know our Lord, our Creator. We all want to know the truth, Muslim or not. Everyone is seeking and has been seeking God since the beginning of time and in this verse, Allah introduces or describes His status with us by simply stating “I am near.” What a heart-moving statement. Subhan Allah, how the soul is humbled while very comforted by this fact because when the soul is distant from our Lord is when it becomes corrupt and dark.

Secondly, Allah presents an agreement, an arrangement, and a promise that if we do our part in this then he surely will do His. Simply put, ask Allah and Allah will always guarantee a response. While the response is defined by another reminder regarding how Allah responds to supplications, nevertheless, Allah responds. That is His promise.

So finally, Allah states to us in this verse that if we wish to be upon truth and rightly guided so that we achieve success in this life and in the next, then we must adhere to this command, obedience, and faith. May Allah grant it to all of us, ameen.

Just think how many times you sit waiting for something or someone. Think about all the moments spent cutting vegetables, cleaning a room, hoovering, writing a letter, searching through the internet, checking texts and phone calls, reading for school and work or just about any of the daily tasks which we robotically do every single day without giving it much thought. How about when we shower or clean our bedroom or how about when we spend ages on a phone call or sitting with a cup of tea to discuss this week’s issues and plans for the future? There are countless occasions on the bus or on the train or in your own car as a passenger or driver where we could simply take a moment or two to also lift our hearts above our heads to simply say, Rabbi ighfirli, my Lord forgive me.

“And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.” [Qur’an 4:103]

I will list a few of my favourite supplications below for you to learn and memorize or simply cut and paste or print and post on places to remind you to not waste such opportunities. We will miss out and have regrets. Many regrets.

Did you know that even if we are saved in the grave from its torment and discomfort, even if we do pass the questioning of the fearless and scary Angels Munkar and Nakeer, and even if we are spared the questioning on the final Day of Judgement and perhaps even saved from the fire of Hell insha’Allah, there is much to regret in all these places? And then even if we enter into Paradise, by His Mercy we wish, with our first steps into the garden we will say grateful things and dwell therein forever in bliss and joy, but, with regrets. Shocked?

Yes, that is correct, even if we are in bliss in Jannat ul Firdous and even blessed to be amongst the Ambiya of Allah azza wa jall, we will have regrets. One regret. The only regret we need to be concerned about within this life. That regret will be to spend just one hour in this life on earth and not having mentioned the name of our Lord even once. Ad-Du’a every hour, every half hour, every 10 minutes, it takes no more than 5 seconds to say, Rabbi ighfirli, My Lord forgive me, this will guarantee that we will not have these feelings of regret in the Akhirah, even if we are in Jannah.

May Allah guide our hearts, our minds and fill us with the love of making du’a and dhikr ane may we all be amongst those who Allah is most pleased with upon the highest stations of the jannaat. Ameen. Here are a few supplications for us to reflect upon, and read out loud with our hands raised, our hearts and minds humbled, and perhaps even in the state of prostration.

“The best remembrance is: ‘there is none worthy of worship except Allah (La ilaha illallah)’ and the best supplication is: ‘All praise is due to Allah (Al-ḥamdulillah). ” 

 

 

 

Best Dua for glorifying Allah 

“Allah is free from imperfection and I begin with His praise, as many times as the number of His creatures, in accordance with His Good Pleasure, equal to the weight of His Throne and equal to the ink that may be used in recording the words (for His Praise)”. (Muslim)

Transliteration
Subhana Allah wa bihamdihi adada khalqihi wa rida nafsihi wa zinata arshihi wa midada kalimatihi.

 

Duaa for forgiveness

“O Allah! You are my Lord. None has the right to be worshiped except You. You created me and I am your servant and I abide by your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in you from the evil, which I have committed. I acknowledge your favour upon me and I knowledge my sins, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sin except you.”

TransliterationAllahumma anta rabbi la ilaha illa anta khalaqtani wa an abduk wa ana ala ahdika wa wa’dika ma istata’tu, a’udhu bika min sharri ma sana’tu, abou’ laka bi ni’matika alaya, wa abou’u bi dhanbi, fa-ghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfiru dhunuba illa anta.If somebody recites this invocation during the night, and if he should die then, he will go to Paradise (or he will be from the people of Paradise). And if he recites it in the morning, and if he should die on the same day, he will have the same fate.” (Al-Bukhari)

 

Supplication when in need

“The supplication of Prophet Yunus when he supplicated, while in the belly of the whale was: ‘There is none worthy of worship except You, Glory to You, Indeed, I have been of the transgressors.

So indeed, no Muslim man supplicates with it for anything, ever, except Allah responds to him.” (At-Tirmidhi)”

Transliteration
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu mina adhalimeen.

 

Supplication for inner peace

“Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:The Messenger of Allah said to me:

“Shall I not guide you to a treasure from the treasures of Jannah?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” Thereupon he (peace be upon him) said:

(Recite) ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah‘ (There is no change of a condition nor power except by Allah). (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)”