Today When You Pray…

Our country. Our Ummah. Our world.

What will we say of your condition?

Battered,

Bruised.

Bleeding.

Come, sit down. Take rest. Let us talk of your condition. Tell me about your bruises. Tell me about all the memories you want erased. How many kicks you took to the face. Tell me about the terror you wish you could wash off. The stain of bloodshed, the burning tears, the smell of fear.

Your hands are trembling.

Tell me how you got these scars. Tell me about the heaviness of your heart. The wounds that are still raw. And how every breath hurts. How the pain that you’re carrying seems to eat you from inside. How you still hear the screams of horror. How you never recover from the torment. From the betrayal. From the injustice. How the nightmares are on an endless loop. How you’re tired of holding your hands up in defence. How peace seems to be a forgotten wish.

You have been strong for too long.

But your suffering cannot be ignored anymore. Your cries will be heard. We will not abandon your aching heart. We will not turn the other way. Surely your relief is coming. Today when we pray, we raise our hands for you – those whose tears have replaced their words. We are here. Waiting. Praying. Allah knows and your relief is coming.

اَلَاۤ اِنَّ نَصۡرَ اللّٰهِ قَرِيۡبٌ‏

“Behold, the help of Allah is near.”

Bismillahir-rahmanir-raheem

O Allah grant hope and ease to the people who are suffering in adversity. Those who are crying silently, trying to be strong but feel alone and helpless. Remove their difficulties, accept their du’as and grant them contentment and happiness.

O Allah grant a way out, a solution to the people who are stuck in hopeless situations. The people who feel they are backed into a corner, with little to no options. Those numbed by fear, unaware of which path to take next. Those who have shown years of patience, hopeful even after disappointments, only to knock at Your door once again. O Allah accept their du’as.

O Allah grant justice and empowerment to the people who are being oppressed, abused and tortured. The men, women and children whose rights have been violated. Those who have suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Give them the strength to power through, to take brave steps in the right direction and to find peace.

O Allah grant victory to the people who have no land to call their own. Those who are scattered around the world waiting for a safe place. Those who are suffering the results of bomb blasts and inhumane acts of torture. O Allah grant them a safe haven.

O Allah grant relief and contentment to the people whose hearts are grieving, aching from the loss of their loved ones. O Allah reward them for their patience.

O Allah increase the sustenance of those who are suffering from poverty, those who are in difficult conditions, those who are cold and hungry. Those who are dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters. O Allah help them.

O Allah help the people who are drowning in debt and financial burdens, make it easy for them to come through and make ends meet.

O Allah cure those weakened by illness. Those who feel sorrow, frustration and exhaustion from enduring their illness. O Allah grant them good health and healing.

O Allah guide all those who are lost. All those who have left the straight path or struggling to find their way, bring them back to Islam. Fill their hearts with Your light and give them the opportunity to feel the radiance of Your unconditional love.

O Allah help those stuck in the cycle of addiction. Those struggling to get out of drugs, gambling, pornography, or other behavioural addictions. O Allah help them out of it, forgive them and clean their slates.

O Allah fix the hearts of criminals/ abusers/ oppressors, those who have wronged others in any way, whether big or small. O Allah you are the controller of hearts, guide them and remove their hatred. Fill their hearts with remorse and fear to never return to their heinous acts.

O Allah every single person raising their hands in du’a, every person reading this, every person waiting in anticipation for an answer to their prayers, grant it to them with ease, grant them forgiveness, protect them from harm, shower them in your mercy and blessings, fill their hearts with your light & love and grant them Jannah.

O Allah forgive those who have passed on, settle their affairs in this world, fill their graves with light and grant them Jannatul Firdous.

AMEEN

So today when you pray, place your hand over your heart and feel the pain of one and all. The Ummah is such that when one hurts, we all hurt. Today when you pray, don’t forget all those who could use a share of your sincere du’as. In doing so you will get the same, Insha’Allah.

Remember the words of our beloved Prophet (saw), “The supplication of a Muslim for his brother in his absence will certainly be answered. Every time he makes a supplication for good for his brother, the angel appointed for this particular task says: `Ameen! May it be for you, too’.” [Muslim].