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= written by Amr Khaled =

12 * Prophets' innvocation

Prophets’ Invocation

Here are some examples of the responses to invocation and supplication from the Holy Qur’an. Supplication made by the prophets of Allah (AS) and Allah responded to them and granted them their requests.

An article written by Mr. Amr Khaled for Al-mara’a Al-yawm Magazine (The Woman Today), on 13/1/2004

The text of the article is as follows:

The invocation of Nooh (Noah) (PBUH)

Here are some patterns of invocation response in the Holy Qur’an. Notice how Allah (SWT) responded to Nooh (PBUH), having been hurt and treated as an enemy in his own homeland but, before reading I recommend that you correspond with the verses. How beautiful it is to feel the verses of invocation in the Holy Qur’an, and to sense their meaning. Come on dear brother/sister, for the reading which neither affects hearts or moves them, nor affects minds and enlightens them, will not be a useful reading.

With what did Nooh (PBUH) invoke?

“Then he invoked his Lord (saying): ‘I have been overcome, so help (me)’” (TMQ, 54:10)[1]. Simple words, but they imply the secret of existence, "cognition of Allah." He Who is the supporter of the powerless, the relief of worries, the resort for everyone. Do you feels that your heart has become happy with this invocation and you still reiterate it? Yet to make happiness complete; listen to the response, that can be translated as, “So We opened the gates of the heaven with water pouring forth and we caused springs to gush forth from the earth. So the waters of the heaven and the earth met for a matter predestined”. (TMQ, 54:11-12)

Nooh (PBUH) and the believers were rescued. Do you feel joy and happiness in your heart now?

Nooh’s (PBUH) invocation (I have been overcome, so help (me)) implies two opposite feelings:

The first: Feeling of severe weakness and need for Allah.

The second: Feeling of power, confidence, peacefulness and tranquility.

So be informed dear reader that whenever you invoke Allah with the first feeling, you will achieve the second feeling automatically. Don't you agree with me?

Zakariya’s (Zachariah) (PBUH) invocation

Consider Prophet Zakariya (PBUH) who was deprived of having children for his wife was sterile, and he was growing older, so what was his invocation? It can be translated as, “O My Lord! Leave me not single (childless) though you are the best of inheritors.” (TMQ, 21:89).

Dear reader, did you notice the two feelings now? The response was what we can translate as, “so we answered his call, and we bestowed upon him Yahia (John) and cured his wife (to bear a child from him)” (TMQ, 21:90).

Dear reader, the logical response to invocation is concurrence. Many people wish to be blessed with good progeny especially if they were deprived for a long period. Yet the nature of mankind causes you to find people adopting all ways, going to doctors, and knocking on all the doors except one. The way which has written on it sign (“Be”- and it is). Dear reader, do not forget invocation.

Solaiman’s (Solomon) (PBUH) invocation

Consider Prophet Solaiman’s invocation, being in ancient ages, long before all of the amazing scientific progress, and technology. He said what can be translated as, “My Lord! Forgive me and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me: Verily, you are the bestower” (TMQ, 38:35).

Whenever there is an invocation, there will ultimately be a response. Have you ever heard of a king who was given a quarter of what had been given to Solaiman until our contemporary age?

Despite of everything, there will not be a man having what Solaiman had, and that is invocation, for it has been granted and it will continue until the day of judgment, because he said (shall not belong to any other after me). You will find two feelings here also, a strange feeling, yet through invocation you feel weakness and strength, humbleness and glory, poverty and prosperity. Feelings make the believer’s heart alive, modest and pure, feelings which are in harmony with the atoms of the believing universe.

Ibrahim’s (Abraham) (PBUH) invocation

Consider Prophet Ibrahim’s invocation and imagine him standing in the middle of the desert, no plants, no water, no drink, and no life, as if he were in a universe that did not bear the meaning of the universe and in a life that did not bear the meaning of life. He could do nothing but invoke Allah saying what can be translated as, “My Lord, make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits” (TMQ, 2:126).

Thus Allah gave that Earth life after death, Makkah, and provided its inhabitants with good living from an unknown source, as a response to Ibrahim’s invocation.

I advise everyone who likes his homeland, everyone who loves his country, I advise you to call Allah using Prophet Ibrahim’s invocation, because today we are extremely in need for this invocation. Come on what are you waiting for?

Ayyoub’s (Job) (PBUH) invocation

Consider Prophet Ayyub who was tested by Allah with a hard disease that made him crippled and disabled. So he called Allah with an invocation on which you should ponder and meditate, he said what can be translated as, “My Lord: Verily distress has seized me, and you are the most merciful of all those who show mercy” (TMQ, 21:83).

I think the feeling which you’ve experienced is indescribable. The believer who is connected to Allah has achieved His accompaniment. For this, his words and calls are just a feeling of salvation, therefore the response was what we can translate as, “so we answered his call and we removed the distress that was on him” (TMQ, 21:84).

Now we need this invocation after we have been conquered by disease armies from everywhere, those who have left neither young nor old men without conquest, except those who are protected by Allah. We all ask Allah to give us good health.

Here is good news for all patients: You will be cured, Allah’s willing, and Allah will remove the distress that is on you, but through two things:

First: Invocation , since Allah says what can be translated as, “I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls on me” (TMQ, 2:186).

Second: Certainty of response, Allah Also says in the Hadith Qudsi what can be translated as, “I measure up to my slave’s expectations in me”.

Believer’s invocation anytime and anywhere

I sense that you are all getting ready to know the invocation of believers in order to make it your lasting call. The invocation can be translated as, “Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one calling to Faith: Believe in your Lord; and we have believed. Our Lord, forgive us our sins and expiate from us our evil deeds, and make us die along with Al-Abrar. Our Lord! Grant us what you promised unto us through your messengers and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection for you never break your promise.” (TMQ, 3:193-194)

Really, Rafe’ey (a righteous man) was right when he said, “the street lamp should not say that the street is dark, it should say, ‘here I am illuminating the place’”. I say this to the ones who always see only black in everything.

Dear reader, be a lamp and call with the believer’s invocation.

This speech will be continued next week, Allah’s willing.

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