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:

Hello,

 

I have a friend who is very religious. He prays 5 times a day and reads the quran and trys to follow islam as much as possible.

 

He thinks that whatever he wants to achieve in life he will achieve through prayers. I tell him sometimes that you also have to make an effort along with the dua but he says no, only dua is enough and if Allah wants me to change I do not have to make any efforts, the prayers alone will change me.

 

Tell me, is this true ?

 

does a person not have to make any effort in life and only dua is enough ?

I mean is someone is sick or someone has a bad habit or something, shouldnt a person make an effort to change himself ??

or only dua is sufficient ?

 

(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 alone sufficient

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: does a person not have to make any effort in life and only dua is enough ?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21:

There is indeed the best example for you to follow in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

 

Beloved brother in Islam, it is absolutely against the guidance of Islam and the example of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to believe that dua or supplication alone is enough to do something, and absolutely no effort is required.  Islam guides that one’s sincere striving and efforts, supplemented by sincere supplications to the Lord to bless and accept their striving brings about the best of results.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 35:

35      O ye who believe!  Do your duty to Allah, seek the means of approach unto Him, and strive with might and main in His Cause: that ye may prosper.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 41:

41      Go ye forth (whether equipped) lightly or heavily and strive and struggle with your goods and your persons in the Cause of Allah.  That is best for you if ye (but) knew.

 

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (saws) intended to do anything, he would first and foremost put to use every effort to the best of his ability to bring about that change; sincerely and humbly supplicate his Lord to help him succeed in his desired endeavor; and once he had put in his best effort, he would then keep his full and absolute trust and faith in Allah Subhanah to bring about the best results.  

 

If dua alone could bring about the desired change or results, the Prophet of Allah (saws) and his noble companions (r.a.) would never have had to give so many sacrifices for the propagation and success of their Mission! 

If dua alone was enough, the Prophet (saws) would not have spent his whole life trying to convince the disbelievers to accept the Truth of Islam!

If dua alone was enough, the Prophet (saws) would not have had to go to wars to defend Islam and the believers!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verses 95-96:

95      Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt and those who strive and fight in the Cause of Allah with their goods and their persons.  Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home): unto all (in faith) hath Allah promised good: but those who strive and fight hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward.

96      Ranks specially bestowed by Him, and Forgiveness and Mercy.  For Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 19:

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).

 

Beloved brother in Islam, Allah and His Messenger (saws) have time and time again guided the believers to strive in the Cause of Allah with everything in their possession….and only after one has done absolutely everything that one is able to do or capable of doing, then one should keep their full trust and faith in Allah to bestow success on their efforts and bring about the best results.

 

Your Question: I mean is someone is sick or someone has a bad habit or something, shouldnt a person make an effort to change himself ??

or only dua is sufficient ?

If one is sick or unwell, Islam guides that one should consult an expert in the field of medicine and seek to obtain a remedy for their illness, and along with one’s effort and striving, one should simultaneously supplicate Allah Subhanah to bless their efforts in seeking a remedy; and after one has taken the remedy, one should keep their full trust in Allah Subhanah to bring forth the best result.

If one is sick or unwell, making dua and supplications alone without making any effort on his part to seek a remedy will not bring him any result except ruin!

 

If one wishes to earn one’s livelihood, Islam guides that one should take the initiative and strive and go forth in search of Allah’s Bounties, and simultaneously supplicate Allah Subhanah to accept his striving and his efforts, and bless him with His Bounties and livelihood. 

Making dua and supplication alone without any effort whatsoever to search for one’s livelihood will obviously not bring about any result!

 

If one wishes to become a better practicing muslim, dua or supplication alone will not help him unless and until the person himself takes the initiative, makes the intention to strive harder in the Cause of Allah, and himself takes the steps required towards becoming a better believer. 

 

If one wishes for success in the Hereafter, one’s constant dua or supplications for Paradise without any effort or striving on their part to fulfill the requirements of the Deen will never result in their attaining Paradise!  

 

Thus in conclusion brother, Islam guides the believers towards striving their absolute best towards their desired lawful goals, and guides the believers to supplement their striving with sincere supplications to their Lord to bless and accept their striving and bring about the best results; for to strive is the role prescribed for man, but whether or not to bestow success to the striving and bring about the desired results is in the Blessed Hands of Allah Subhanah Alone.   

 

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