In verse 200
/ 201 of Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah Ta’ala states :
“…From amongst people are those who say : “O
our Rabb, grant us (Your bounties) in
this world.” But they will have no portion in the Hereafter.
And from them are
also those who say :
“O our Rabb, grant us good in
this world, and good in the hereafter and save us
from the punishment of the
fire.”
In the
pre-Islamic days, known as the days of Ignorance or Jahiliyyah, people would
also perform the Hajj[1]. They too would proceed to
Mina, Arafaat and Muzdalifa[2]. However, there were many
customary actions which were rife, which Allah Ta’ala makes mention of, guiding
the Muslims to abandon such ignorant and vain pursuits, more especially during
the sacred days of Hajj.
Allah Ta’ala
continues the same discussion, by mentioning that some of those Arabs from the
period of Jahiliyyah, would, during the days of Hajj, only make dua for worldly
needs and wants. They would ask for wealth, property, honour - anything and
everything worldly, which they were desirous of. Their duas thus comprised of only requests for material acquisition
or worldly success, and such supplications were and are insignificant in
comparison to the greater needs of man in respect to the life to come.
Moreover,
they asked without care and concern, wanting just satisfaction of their worldly
desires – whether it be good and beneficial, or bad and harmful. Their
supplication did not include the word ‘hasanah’,
which would be the means of goodness in what they ask.
With regards
to these people, Allah Ta’ala says : But they will have no portion in the
Hereafter, because they only asked for this world. Moreover, they will only
get that which was apportioned for them in this world; they will receive only
what Allah Ta’ala decreed for them – nothing more, nothing less.
This verse is
also a warning to the Muslims who pray for only worldly achievements, whose
main objective is success in this worldly life, with no concern for their
spiritual needs.
Immediately
thereafter, Allah Ta’ala makes mention of another kind of people and the dua
that they make:
رَبَّنَاۤ اٰتِنَا
فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِى الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“O Our Sustainer, give us in this world hasanah,
and in the hereafter, hasanah, and save us from the punishment of the fire.”
This second
group of people would ask for the things of this world, but they asked for it
with “hasanah”.
This Dua is a
Masnoon dua which Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) recited in abundance. We
are also taught to recite this dua between the Ruknul Yamaani[3] and Hajre Aswad[4] during Tawaaf[5]. However, it can be recited
after Salaah and on any other occasion.
The question
arises as to why must this Dua be recited in abundance?
The reason
is, that despite this Dua being concise in words, it is most comprehensive and
all-encompassing. It includes every
bounty and blessing, of both worlds. The person is not just asking for
wealth, honour, etc. per say; rather he is seeking “hasanah” (goodness) with
these bounties.
The
Mufassireen (Commentators) explain that “فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً” encompasses
every need of a person in this world.
It is
unfortunate that we do not understand nor value the dua. Our condition is such, that when we request someone for dua, and he
says : “May Allah Ta’ala grant you the best of both worlds,” we feel
dissatisfied. We desire a lengthy dua wherein various bounties and
blessings should be mentioned – yet this dua includes every blessing, every
bounty and every kind of good and favourable condition.
We also learn from this dua that Allah Ta’ala
does not prevent us from seeking the material things of this world. We are
living in a world of means and there are many requirements for our existence.
Allah Ta’ala encourages and approves dua wherein a person is seeking his
worldly needs. It is as if Allah Ta’ala is telling us, “Make this dua, in which
you seek the good of this world also.”
Now what is
meant by “فِى الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً” ?
Allaamah
Sayyid Mahmood Aaloosi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had explained in his Tafseer, ‘Ruhul
Ma`aani’, the best of this world as:
1.) ‘Al Aafiyatu wal Kafa’ : Well-being
and Protection from all forms of trials (fitan) and Sufficiency in Rizq
(Sustenance).
2.) ‘Az Zawj us Sawlih’ - A pious,
righteous, compatible marriage partner.
3.) ‘Al-Aulaadul Abraar’ - Pious children
4.) 'Al Maal-us-Sawlih' - Wealth which is
obtained through Halaal sources, full of Barakah (blessings) and free of
contamination and impurity.
5.) ‘Thana-ul-Khalq’ – The praise and good opinion
of people.
6.) ‘Al-Ilm wal Ibaadah’ - Beneficial
knowledge and practice upon it.
7.) ‘Fahm’ - Understanding of Deen.
8.) ‘Suhbat-us-Sawliheen’ – The company
of the pious.
9.) ‘An nusratu alal ’adaa’ – Help
against all enemies, including the greatest ones – nafs and shaytaan.
Also included
is the seeking of the ability to perform righteous deeds. Every action that is
done according to the Qur`aan Shareef and Sunnah will fall under righteous
deeds. Whether it is Salaah, Zakaah, Fasting, caring for the poor, the needy
and the destitute, fulfillment of the rights of one’s spouse, fulfillment of
the rights of the children, neighbours, the poor and everybody. All this falls
under righteous deeds and it is these actions that will become the protection
from the punishment of the fire, as has been brought out in the dua: “… and save us from the punishment of the
fire.”
‘Hasanah fil Aakhirah’ includes
every need of ours in the Hereafter, whether it be protection from the
punishment of the grave, easy reckoning on the Day of Qiyaamah, entry into
Jannah and enjoyment of all those bounties which no eye has seen, no ear has
heard of and the thought also, has not crossed anyone’s mind, including the
greatest bounty of seeing the Countenance of Allah Ta’ala.
So it is a
very beautiful, comprehensive dua which has been given to us by Allah Ta’ala
and we should include it in our duas after Salaah and on other occasions.
However, it must be made with deep hearted meditation, sincerity and
conviction.
Extracted and condensed
from the 1431 Ramadaan Fajr talks of Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (RA).
For a detailed explanation,
download from the website: YunusPatel.co.za
[1] Hajj :
Pilgrimage to Makkah Mukarramah. This is the 5th pillar of Islam.
[2] Mina,
Arafaat, Muzdalifa : Specific places visited during the
Pilgrimage
[3] Ruknul
Yamaani : One of the blessed corners of the Ka`bah Shareef
[4] Hajre-Aswad
: The Black Stone
[5] Tawaaf
: Circumambulation of the Ka`bah Shareef
