Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen, Allah amrehemu, aliulizwa:

Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, may Allaah have mercy on him, was asked:

Swali: Je, inaruhusiwa kuongeza maneno ya ziada kwenye Du'aa hii, ambayo Nabii ﷺ alimfundisha al-Hasan Ibn 'Alee?

Q: Is it permissible to add additional words to this Du’aa, which the Prophet (
) taught al-Hasan Ibn ‘Alee ( )?

A: Hakuna tatizo iwapo mtu atataka kuongeza maneno ya ziada katika Du'aa hii ya Qunoot wakati wa swalah ya Witr. Iwapo angekuwa peke yake (katika swalah), basi anaweza pia kuomba du'aa kwa chochote anachopenda. Hata hivyo, ni bora kwa mtu kuchagua du'aa zilizo jumuishi na za jumla, kwani Nabii ﷺ alikuwa akiomba du'aa za jumla zilizo jumuishi, na wakati mwingine alikuwa akiomba du'aa zilizo mahususi zaidi. Pia ni wajibu kwa Imamu kutolirefusha jambo hili juu ya watu, ili lisiwe mzigo au taabu kwao.16

A: There is no problem should a person wish to increase this Du’aa of Qunoot during the Witr prayer with additional words. If he were alone (in prayer), then he may also make Du’aa with whatever he likes. However, it is preferable for a person to choose comprehensive and general supplications as the Prophet (
) used to supplicate with comprehensive, general supplications and other times would supplicate with ones that are more specific. It is also incumbent upon the Imaam not to prolong it upon the people so not as to put a burden or hardship upon them.16

Q: Shekhe, Mwenyezi Mungu amrehemu, aliulizwa pia kuhusu mtu anayeomba dua lakini dua yake haijibiwi mara moja. Anaweza kusema, "Naomba dua lakini haijibiwi." A: Sifa zote njema anastahili Mwenyezi Mungu, na namswalia na kumtakia amani Mtume wetu, Muhammad ﷺ, pamoja na ahali zake na masahaba zake. Namwomba Mwenyezi Mungu (SWT) anijaalie mimi na ndugu zangu kufuata yale yaliyo sahihi katika Itikadi (misingi ya imani), kauli na vitendo.

Q: The Shaykh, may Allaah have mercy on him, was also asked about a person who makes Du’aa yet is not immediately answered. He may say, “I make Du’aa but it is not answered.” A: All praise and thanks are due to Allaah, and I send peace and prayers upon our Prophet, Muhammad, upon his family, and upon his companions. I ask Allaah () to bestow upon my brothers and myself success in following that, which is correct in ‘Aqeedah (principles of faith), statement, and action.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) anasema:

Allaah () says:

“Na Mola wenu amesema: ‘Niombeni, nitawaitikia.’ Hakika wale wanaokataa kuniabudu wataingia Jahannamu wakiwa wamedhalilika, wametwezwa.” [Suratu Ghaafir, 40:60] Muulizaji anasema kwamba yeye humwomba Du’aa Allaah (SWT), lakini Allaah (SWT) hamjibu. Hali hii inamletea tatizo na mkanganyiko anapolinganisha na aya hii tukufu ambamo Allaah (SWT) anaahidi kumjibu yule anayemwomba Du’aa, na Allaah kamwe hakivunji ahadi Yake. Jibu la hili ni kwamba kuna masharti ya Du’aa ya mtu kujibiwa ambayo yanapaswa kutimizwa.

“And your Lord said, ‘Call upon Me; I will answer you.’ Indeed, those who reject My worship will enter Hell humiliated, disgraced.” [Soorah Ghaafir, 40:60] The questioner says he makes Du’aa to Allaah () yet Allaah does not respond to him. So this reality presents a problem and confusion for him when contrasted with this noble verse in which Allaah () promises to answer the one who makes Du’aa to Him, and Allaah never breaks a promise. The answer to this is that there are conditions for one’s Du’aa being answered that need fulfillment.

Sharti ya Kwanza: Ikhlasi kwa Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) Ni kwamba mtu amwombe Allaah peke yake kwa dhati, akimwelekea Yeye kwa moyo makini na wa kweli. Ni lazima awe mwenye bidii anapomwomba, akijua kwa yakini kwamba Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) ana uwezo kamili wa kujibu wito wake, na akimtumaini na kutarajia Yeye atamjibu.

The First Condition: Sincerity to Allaah () in that one sincerely calls upon Allaah alone, turning to Him with an attentive and truthful heart. He must be earnest while asking Him, knowing with certainty that Allaah () is completely capable of responding to his call, and hoping and expecting Him to answer.

Sharti ya Pili: Mtu lazima ajisikie kwamba wakati anapofanya Du'aa, ana haja kubwa sana kwa Allah (SWT), na kwamba Allah peke yake ndiye Mwenye kusikia na kujibu Du'aa ya yule aliyelazimika kumwomba Yeye.

The Second Condition: The person must feel that while making Du’aa, he is in dire need of Allaah (), and that Allaah alone is the only One Who hears and answers the Du’aa of the one compelled to call upon Him.

Kwa upande wa mtu anayemwomba Allah huku akijiona kuwa hana haja na Allah na hahitaji sana Kwake, bali anaomba kwa mazoea tu au kujaribu matokeo yake, basi mtu wa namna hii hastahili kujibiwa.

As for someone calling upon Allaah while feeling himself self-sufficient without Allaah and not in dire need of Him, yet he merely makes Du’aa out of habit or to test the effect, then such a person is not worthy of a response.

Sharti ya Tatu: Mtu lazima achukue tahadhari zote ili kuepuka kula chochote kilichoharamishwa, kwa sababu kula kitu kilichoharamishwa huzuia dua zake zisijibiwe, kama ilivyothibitishwa katika Hadithi sahihi ambapo Mtume ﷺ alisema:

The Third Condition: The person must take all precautions to avoid eating anything forbidden because eating that which is impermissible prevents one’s supplications from being answered as has been established in an authentic Hadeeth that the Prophet (
) said:

Hakika, Allah ni mwema na hukubali tu kilicho chema. Na Allah huwaamuru waumini kwa yale yale aliyowaamuru Mitume, kwani Yeye (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) amesema: "Enyi mlioamini, kuleni katika vitu vizuri tulivyokuruzukuni, na mshukuru Allah ikiwa ni Yeye mnayemwabudu." [Suratul-Baqarah, 2:172] Na Yeye (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) amesema:

Indeed, Allaah is good and only accepts that which is good. And Allaah commands the believers with the likes of which He commands the messengers; He () said, “O you who believe, eat of the good things We have provided you and be grateful to Allaah if it is Him that you worship.” [Soorah al-Baqarah, 2:172] And He () said:

"Enyi Mitume, kuleni vyakula vilivyo vizuri na fanyeni matendo mema. Hakika mimi najua mnayoyatenda." [Suratul Muminuun, 23:51] Kisha Mtume ﷺ alimtaja mtu mmoja ambaye, baada ya kusafiri mbali, ana nywele zilizochafuka na vumbi juu yake. Ananyoosha mikono yake mbinguni akisema, "Ee Mola, Ee Mola," lakini chakula chake ni haramu na mavazi yake ni haramu. Anajilisha kwa kitu kilicho haramu,17 basi atajibiwa vipi?18

“O Messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed, I know what you do.” [Soorah al-Muminoon, 23:51] Then the Prophet (
) mentioned a man who - having traveled far - is disheveled and dusty. He stretches his hands to the sky saying, “O Lord, O Lord”, yet his food if Haraam and his clothes are Haraam. He is taking nourishment from that which is Haraam,17 so how could he be answered?18

Nabii () alimtenga mtu wa namna hii kwa kutojibiwa dua yake, ingawa kwa kweli alitimiza baadhi ya sababu za kimwili ambazo dua hujibiwa kwazo, nazo ni:

The Prophet (
) excluded such a man from being answered even though he actually fulfilled some of the physical means by which Du’aa is answered, and they are:

1. Mtu huyo aliinua mikono yake kuelekea mbinguni, akimaanisha kwa Allaah (SWT), kwa kuwa Yeye yuko juu ya mbingu, juu ya Arshi. Kunyoosha mikono kwa Allaah ni miongoni mwa sababu za dua kujibiwa, kama ilivyokuja katika Hadith:

1. The man raised his hands towards the sky, meaning to Allaah (), because He is above the heavens, above the throne. Stretching out the hands to Allaah is from the means of having one’s supplication answered as has come in the Hadeeth:

Hakika, Allah ni mwenye haya na mkarimu. Anaona haya mtu anapomwinulia mikono yake, kuirudisha tupu na kukataliwa.19

“Indeed, Allaah is shy and generous. He is shy, when a man raises his hands to Him, to return them empty and rejected.”19

2. Mtu huyu alimwomba Allaah (SWT) akitumia jina "Bwana" kwa kusema, "Ee Bwana, Ee Bwana." Kujikurubisha kwa Allaah kwa jina hili pia ni miongoni mwa njia ambazo mja hupata dua yake kujibiwa. Bwana ndiye Muumbaji, Mmiliki, na Mpangaji wa mambo yote. Mikononi mwake kuna udhibiti wa mbingu na ardhi. Kwa sababu hii, utakuta dua nyingi katika Qur'ani Tukufu zina jina hili.

2. This man supplicated to Allaah () using the name “Lord” by saying, “O Lord, O Lord”. Seeking nearness to Allaah by this name is also from the means of a servant having his Du’aa answered. The Lord is the creator, the owner, and the arranger of all affairs. In His hand is the control of the heavens and earth. For this reason, you find most of the supplications in the noble Qur’aan contain this name:

"Ee Mola wetu, hakika tumemsikia mwitaji (Mtume Muhammad ﷺ) akiwaita kwenye Imani, akisema: 'Muaminini Mola wenu,' basi tukaamini. Ee Mola wetu, tusamehe madhambi yetu, tuondolee maovu yetu, na utufishe pamoja na watu wema. Ee Mola wetu, tupe yale uliyotuahidi kupitia Mitume Wako, wala usitutweze siku ya Kiyama. Hakika Wewe hukhalifu ahadi yako." "Basi Mola wao akawajibu: 'Sitapoteza kamwe kazi ya mtendaji yeyote miongoni mwenu, awe mwanamume au mwanamke; nyote mmetokana na wengine.

“Our Lord, indeed, we have heard a caller (Prophet Muhammad) calling to Faith, saying, ‘Believe in your Lord,’ so we have believed. Our Lord, forgive us of our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous people. Our Lord, grant us what You promised us through Your Messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You do not fail in Your Promise.” “So their Lord responded to them, ‘Never will I allow to be lost the work of any worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another.

Kwa hiyo, wale waliohama, waliofukuzwa kutoka majumbani mwao, waliodhulumiwa katika Njia Yangu, waliopigana, au waliouawa, hakika nitawafutia makosa yao, na hakika nitawaingiza katika mabustani yanayopita mito chini yake, kama malipo kutoka kwa Allaah. Na Allaah ana malipo mazuri zaidi kwake.’” [Suratu Aali-‘Imraan, 3:193-195] Basi kujikurubisha kwa Allaah kwa kutumia jina hili ni miongoni mwa sababu za kujibiwa du'aa ya mtu.

So those who immigrated, driven out from their homes, harmed in My Cause, fought, or were killed – I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them into gardens beneath which rivers flow as a reward from Allaah. And Allaah has with Him the best reward.’” [Soorah Aali-‘Imraan, 3:193-195] So seeking nearness to Allaah by using this name is from the means of one’s Du’aa being responded to.

3. Mtu huyu (katika Hadeeth iliyoko ukurasa wa 23) alikuwa anasafiri, na mara nyingi, wakati wa safari ni wakati ambao dua hujibiwa. Hii ni kwa sababu mtu anapokuwa safarini, huhisi zaidi hitaji lake na kumtegemea Allah kuliko anapokuwa nyumbani, salama pamoja na familia yake. Hali hii ilikuwa kubwa zaidi, hasa kwa kusafiri katika nyakati zile za zamani.

3. This man (in the Hadeeth on pg. 23) was traveling and most of the time, traveling on a journey is a time in which supplications are answered. This is because when one is journeying, he usually feels a sense need and reliance upon Allaah more than when he is at home, secure with his family. This was even more so, especially traveling during those past times.

Nabii () alitaja katika Hadithi kwamba mtu huyu alikuwa "ameshikwa na nywele zilizochafuka na vumbi," yaani hakuwa katika hali yake ya kawaida aliyoizoea. Ilikuwa kama kwamba jambo muhimu zaidi kwake wakati huo lilikuwa kumrejea Allaah na kumwomba, bila kujali hali yake, iwe ameshikwa na vumbi na uchafu au amestarehe katika anasa. Na hali hii ya kuwa na nywele zilizochafuka na vumbi huenda ikawa na athari fulani katika kukubaliwa kwa Du'aa ya mtu, kutokana na Hadithi ambayo Nabii ﷺ alisema kwamba Allaah hushuka hadi mbingu ya chini siku ya 'Arafah, akiwajivunia Malaika kuhusu wale wanaosimama na kumwomba, akisema:

The Prophet (
) mentioned in the Hadeeth that this man was, “disheveled and dusty” meaning that he was not in the normal state he usually is. It was as if the most important thing to him at that time was turning to Allaah and supplicating to Him no matter what state he was in, whether untidy and dusty or comfortable in luxury. And this state of being disheveled and dusty may have some affect on one’s Du’aa being responded to due to the Hadeeth in which the Prophet (
) said that Allaah descends to the lowest heaven on the day of ‘Arafah, boasting to the angels of those who stand and supplicate to Him, saying:

"Tazama waja wangu. Wamekuja kwangu wakiwa na nywele zilizochafuka na wenye vumbi."20

“Look at My servants. They have come to Me disheveled and dusty.”20

Hata baada ya kutimiza yote haya ya kufanya du'aa yake ijibiwe, hayakumnufaisha kabisa kwa sababu chakula chake ni Haramu, nguo yake ni Haramu, na amelishwa kikamilifu kwa njia za Haramu. Kwa hiyo Mtume ﷺ akasema: "Basi itajibiwaje?" Hizi ni baadhi ya masharti ambayo, yasipotimizwa, huenda yakafanya du'aa ya mtu ionekane haijajibiwa. Hata hivyo, yakitimizwa na bado Allah (SWT) asimjibu mwombaji mara moja, basi hiyo ni kwa sababu fulani na hekima ya Allah (SWT) ambayo Yeye ...

Even while fulfilling all of these means of having his Du’aa answered, they did not benefit him at all because his food was Haraam, his clothing Haraam, and he was completely nourished by Haraam means. So the Prophet (
) said, “So how could he be answered?” So these are some conditions that, when not fulfilled, may make ones’ supplication seem unanswered. However, if they are fulfilled and still Allaah () does not immediately respond to the caller, then that is due to a certain reason and Allaah’s wisdom that He ()

...na pia kuna wakati tunapenda kitu na kukitaka, lakini kwa kweli ni mbaya kwetu. Kwa hiyo mtu akijitahidi kadiri awezavyo kutimiza masharti ya Du'aa, kisha akahisi kuwa hajajibiwa mara moja, basi huenda Allaah akamzuia kupata uovu ulio mkubwa kuliko huo, au akaiweka thawabu na jibu hadi Siku ya Kiyama, siku ambayo Yeye atalipa kwa thawabu zilizozidi. Hivyo, mtu akitimiza masharti (lakini hakujibiwa kutokana na hekima ya Allaah, wala hakuzuiwa uovu mkubwa zaidi ule aliouombea Du'aa), basi atapewa thawabu mara mbili: mara moja kwa ibada yake ya kumwomba Allaah peke yake, na mara nyingine kwa taabu na huzuni yake ya kutojibiwa Du'aa yake mara moja. Hivyo Allaah atamwekea kile ambacho ni kikubwa zaidi na kamili zaidi.

knows yet the caller is unaware of. And it is possible that we love and want something but it is really bad for us. So if one tries his best to fulfill the conditions of Du’aa, yet he feels he is not immediately responded to, then it may be that Allaah will instead prevent an evil greater than that from befalling him, or He may save the reward and response until the Day of Resurrection on which He will repay with increased rewards. So if he fulfills the conditions (yet is not answered due to Allaah’s wisdom nor is an evil prevented from afflicting him greater than that for which he made Du’aa about) then he will be given a reward twice – once for his act of worship of supplicating to Allaah alone, and once for his trouble and grief of not having his Du’aa immediately answered. So Allaah will save for him that which is greater and more complete.

Pia, mtu asichukulie kuwa jibu la dua yake ni la polepole, kwani hilo kwa kweli ni mojawapo ya njia za kuzuia dua isikubaliwe na kujibiwa. Hii inatokana na Hadithi ambayo Mtume ﷺ alisema:

Also, one must not consider the response to his supplication to be slow for this is actually one of the ways of preventing Du’aa from being accepted and answered. This is based on a Hadeeth in which the Prophet (
) said:

"Kila mmoja wenu atajibiwa mradi tu asiwe na haraka, akisema: 'Nilimwomba Du'aa lakini haikujibiwa kwangu.'"21

“Each of you will be answered as long as he is not hasty, saying, ‘I made Du’aa but it was not answered for me.’”21

Kwa hiyo mtu asijaribu kuharakisha jibu, wala kukata tamaa na kuacha kufanya Du'aa.

So a person should not try to rush the response or despair and leave making Du’aa.

Badala yake, anapaswa kuendelea kumwomba Allah kila mara anapomwomba Yeye, kwani hiyo ni aina ya ibada ambayo kwayo unamkaribia Yeye na unapata thawabu.

Rather, he should persist in calling upon Allaah for each time you supplicate to Him, that is a form of worship by which you draw nearer to Him and are rewarded.

Kwa hiyo, ndugu yangu, lazima udumu kumwomba Du'aa Allah () peke yake kwa dhati katika mambo yako yote, ya jumla na ya mahsusi, madogo na makubwa. Hata kama hakukuwa na jambo lingine isipokuwa kwamba kumwomba Du'aa Allah () peke yake ni ibada, basi bila shaka ingestahili mtu kuendelea kwa uthabiti juu ya kitendo hiki. Na mafanikio yote yako kwa Allah.

So, my brother, you must stay constant upon making Du’aa sincerely to Allaah () alone in all of your affairs, the general and specific, the minor and critical matters. And even if there was nothing other than the fact that making Du’aa to only Allaah () is worship, then it would definitely be worthwhile for a person to constantly remain steadfast on this action. And with Allaah lies all success.