Moon over a beach at night

You are trying to sleep but you are restless. You wake up, and turn onto the other side. You can’t get comfortable. You wake up because you are too hot or too cold. There is some vague worry or uneasiness keeping you awake… Did you know there is a dua for those moments when you wake up in the dark, stirring restlessly?

Laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahul-Waahidul-Qahhaaru, Rabbus-samaawaati wal’ardhi wa maa baynahumal-’Azeezul-Ghaffaaru.

There is none worthy of worship but Allah, the One, the Victorious, Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

See the Arabic version here. (Reference: This is to be said if you turn over in bed during the night. Al-Hakim graded it authentic and Ath-Thahabi agreed 1/540. Also see An-Nasa’i, ‘Amalul-Yawm wal-Laylah, and Ibn As-Sunni. See also Al-Albani, Sahihul-Jami’ As-Saghir 4/ 213).

Isn’t that beautiful? Islam has a dua for every occasion and for anyone who sees that as a burden, you are missing the point. These duas are not a requirement or a burden, they are gifts. They are little gems, powerful invocations to bring your mind closer to Allah, ease your heart, and bring peace to your spirit.

A dua like this is a mercy from Allah, as if He is saying, here is a way to contact me when you are in need, here are beautiful words to comfort your soul.

SubhanAllah.

Over the years I’ve collected these photos of Muslims praying in amazing and interesting places. And one or two that are simply cute When the salat time comes, no matter where they are, they bow their heads in adoration to Allah. Some of them are in places of hardship or discomfort, and some in surroundings that are beautiful, stark or strange. Regardless, they give Allah His due, not minding their circumstances. They inspire us all. May Allah reward them.

By Wael Abdelgawad for IslamicSunrays.com

Dua for relief from debt, in Arabic

Are you burdened by debt? Try this dua from Fortress of the Muslim. Repeat it many times every day:

Allaahummak-finee bihalaalika ‘an haraamika wa ‘aghninee bifadhlika ‘amman siwaaka.

“O Allah, suffice me with what You have allowed instead of what You have forbidden , and make me independent of all others besides You.”

(Reference: At-Tirmithi 5/560. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmithi 3/180.)

This dua against debt is really brilliant, because the dua contains within itself the solution to the problem. “Suffice me with what you have allowed.” In other words, let the halal be enough for me. Don’t let me get myself into debt because of haram mortgage loans or excessive material desire, or out-of-control consumer spending. Let me be satisfied with a simple, halal life, so that I don’t get into debt.

If you repeat this often enough it becomes a part of your thinking and awareness, and you modify your own behavior, which leads to: “make me independent of all others besides You.” You become your own man or woman, not owing money to anyone, independent, relying only on Allah.

I’m not saying the dua is just an affirmation, I’m saying it works on both levels, as an affirmation and as a prayer to Allah to help you achieve that affirmation. It’s a subtle and amazing dua.