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. They too would
proceed to Mina, Arafaat and Muzdalifa. 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 :
“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 and Hajre Aswad during
Tawaaf. 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 “َFid
Dunyah Hasanah" 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 ً"Fid Dunyah
Hasanah" ?
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 Saalih’ - A pious, righteous, compatible marriage partner.
3) ‘Al-Aulaadul
Abraar’ - Pious children
4) 'Al Maal-us-Saalih'
- 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
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 is 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).
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