Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

AsSalamWalekum,

May Allah blessed you all for the wonderful work.

I have two question.

1. After Namaz when I do Dua, can I ask for wealth in Dua. In Dua I always thanks Allah whatever he has given to me especially that He made me born in a Muslim family. However I feel a little hesistant in asking for wealth. I have been born in a lower-middle class family and working as a Software Developer in a Software Company. I think that it will be very selfish to ask for wealth when I see someone who is more poorer (in terms of wealth) than me.

2. Also could you please tell me what does Islam says about joining the army. For eg if some muslims joins the Indian army and if there is a war with the neighbouring country Pakistan (May Allah forbid). And if they killed some Pakistani soldeirs than is it a sin to kill a muslim brother even though they are protecting their country.

Jazakalla

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Can one ask for wealth in dua

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: After Namaz when I do Dua, can I ask for wealth in Dua.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 186:

And if My servants ask you, O Prophet, concerning Me, tell them that I am quite near to them. I hear and answer the prayer of the suppliant, when he calls on Me. So let them respond to My call and believe in Me. (Convey this to them), perhaps they may be guided aright!

The All Knowing, All Wise Allah knows what is good and what is bad for us; therefore, if one asks for something good, Allah will give him/her one of three things:

• Allah will give the believer what he/she has supplicated for.
• If what the believer is asking is not good or harmful for the believer in this world, Allah will store it for him for the world of the Hereafter.
• If what the believer is asking is not good or harmful for the believer in this world, Allah will turn away from the believer an equivalent amount of evil.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2257 Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri

The Prophet (saws) said, "Any Muslim who makes a supplication containing nothing which is sinful, or which involves breaking ties of relationship, will be given for it by Allah one of three things: He will give him swift answer, or store it up for him in the next world, or turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil." Those who heard it said they would then make many supplications and he (saws) replied that Allah was more ready to answer than they were to ask.

Nu'man b. Bashir reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "Verily supplication is worship."

Narrated by Ahmad and Sunan.

Salman reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "Your Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted One, is Modest and Generous, and He loathes to turn away His servant empty-handed when he raises his hands to Him in supplication."

Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "Your supplication will be answered if you are not impatient, and if you do not say, 'I supplicated but my supplication was not heard'."

Narrated by Malik.

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, "Nothing is more dear to Allah than one's supplication to Him.''

Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

In light of the above aayah and the various narrations from the Messenger of Allah (saws), it is evident that no supplication to Allah of a believer, is ever left unanswered.

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, not only is it permissible in Islam, but it is absolutely encouraged in Islam that a slave of the Lord ask and beseech His Creator and Master for whatever his heart desires. When asking for wealth or anything of the world, one should make sure they beseech their Lord to provide them with the ‘halaal’ and bestow upon them the ‘tawfeeq’ and ability to spend of what He has provided them in His Cause. One should also be careful that one does always and only ask for wealth or things that are useful in this world….but balance their supplications for the good of the world with imploring their Lord to also give them the good of the Hereafter….that would be closer to piety and righteousness in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verses 18-21:

18 If any do wish for the transitory things (of this life) We readily grant them--such things as We Will to such persons as We Will: in the end have We provided Hell for them: they will burn therein disgraced and rejected.

19 Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter and strive therefore with all due striving and have Faith, they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to Allah).

20 Of the bounties of thy Lord We bestow freely on all these as well as those: the bounties of thy Lord are not closed (to anyone).

21 See how We have bestowed more on some than on others; but verily the Hereafter is more in rank and gradation and more in excellence.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 2 Surah Baqarah verses 200-202:

200 ….. There are men who say: "O Our Lord! Give us (thy Bounties) in this world!", but they will have no portion in the hereafter.

201 And there are men who say: "O Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment on the fire!"

202 To these will be allotted what they have earned and Allah is quick in account.

Thus my beloved brother, although one may ask their Lord Most Gracious for whatever good one’s hearts desire, it does not behove and befit one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to always ask the Lord only for what is beneficial to them in the life of this world….but beseech and supplicate their Lord constantly to give them the good in both, in this life and in the Hereafter.

Your Question: Also could you please tell me what does Islam says about joining the army. For eg if some muslims joins the Indian army and if there is a war with the neighbouring country Pakistan (May Allah forbid). And if they killed some Pakistani soldeirs than is it a sin to kill a muslim brother even though they are protecting their country.

My dear and beloved brother, the prime loyalty and allegiance of a believer should always, and we reiterate, always be with Allah, His Messenger (saws), and the deen of Islam. Although there is nothing wrong in joining the army of a pagan-nation one lives in, as a job or as a means of livelihood; but when the situation arises where that pagan nation declares war or attacks a nation of believers, the believer in the pagan army would in effect have to fight against brothers from his own faith, and thus put himself and his faith in a very big trial.

If the believer enlisted in the pagan army is ever faced with a choice to fight against a muslim nation and thus kill his own brothers-in-faith or resign from the army….his only choice then would be to de-list himself from the pagan army.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan