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:

Dear Burhan,

I have some question which I want you to answer in the light of Quran. It has got nothing to do with Bohra community or somebody's belivance.

Q1 It is said that "Dua'a afzalo min Ibadah" (Dua'a is better than Ibadah) Is it true?

Q2 Can the destiny be changed by Dua'a

(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:

Is dua’a better than Ibaa’dah

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 comment: It is said that "Dua'a afzalo min Ibadah" (Dua'a is better than Ibadah) Is it true?

The above statement is false, and the correct words of the tradition of the Messenger of Allah (saws), is as follows: “Ad-Dua’a, howal Ibaadah” (Dua or supplication, is itself ibaadah or worship).

When a slave of Allah makes Dua, he humbles himself in front of his Creator, declares his helplessness, accepts that he is indeed a believing slave of Allah, accepts that he has no power whatsoever and desperately needs the help of The All-Mighty, and believes that whatever comes to him, comes only from his All Merciful Lord. Thus, the dua is a testification and confirmation of his invocation and worship to his All Powerful and All Merciful Creator! That is why the Messenger of Allah (saws) said in his explanation that the ‘dua’ is itself indeed ‘ibaadah’!

Thus, if one prays his ‘salaah’ (a form of ibaadah) with understanding, he will realize that the salaat itself is a combination of Allah’s Praise and dua or supplications, that the humble slave makes to His All Mighty Lord.

Your comment: Can the destiny be changed by Dua'a?

Destiny is something which Allah, in His Perfect Knowledge and Wisdom has pre-written. Similarly, Allah also knows and has pre-written in the Book of Destiny, that when so and so trial befalls His slave, that slave will make dua or supplication to Him, and He will remove the trial of that slave.

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!

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan