Duas

Dua Video: When facing hardship

When facing any hardship, please recite this dua.

Another dua which you can read when facing hardship is contained in the following hadith:

Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet (s) said, “When you leave your house and are afflicted with hardship, why don’t you pray, ‘In the name of Allah respecting myself, my property, and my din. O Allah, cause me to be satisfied and pleased with Your decree, and bless me in whatis decreed for me, so that I will not want to hasten what You have delayed, nor to delay
what You have hastened’.” (Ibn As-Sinni)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, #131a.
When suffering from an ailment

The Prophet (s) used to treat some of his wives by passing his right hand over the place of ailment and used to say, “O Lord of the people! Remove the difficulty and bring about healing as You are the Healer. There is no healing but Your Healing, a healing that will leave no ailment.”
Source: Narrated by Aisha (ra) in Sahih Bukhari, volume 7, #646
Seeking Allah’s Protection:

(Source: Fiqh-Us-Sunnah, volume 4, #115)

It is reported that Talq b. Habib said, “A man came to Abu Darda and said to him, ‘O Abu Darda, your house has burned.’ He said: ‘No, it cannot be burned. Allah will never allow this to happen because of the words that I heard from the Prophet, peace be upon him. Whoever says these words in the beginning of a day, the Prophet, peace be upon him, told us, will not be afflicted by a misfortune until the end of the day, and whoever says these words in the evening will not be afflicted until morning. These words are, “O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god but You, I put my trust in You, You are the Lord of the Mighty Throne. Whatever Allah wills will happen and what He does not will, cannot happen. There is no power or strength except with Allah, the Exalted, the Mighty. I know that Allah has power over all things, and Allah comprehends all things in knowledge. O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the evil of myself and from the evil of all creatures under Your control. Surely the straight way is my Sustainer’s way“.”‘
In some versions of this hadith we further find that he said, “Come, let us go. So he went with them to his house. They found all the area surrounding the house burned but his house was not damaged.”

Best Ten Days Of The Year

Watch the video below: A Short talk by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi explaining the merit of these days and what acts to perform:

How can we try to make the most of these days that are beloved to Allah SWT:

1. FAST!
Try to fast from the 1st to 9th of Dhul Hijjah if you can, but if you cannot, then at least try to fast the Day of Arafat (the 9th day, day before Eid). It depends on the moonsighting, but tentatively the 1st should be on Wednesday Nov 18th, 2009. This will make Arafat Day on Nov 26th

2. Do lots of TAKBEER
Spend your time doing lots of dhikr, saying Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah), Tahleel (La ilaa ha ill-Allah) and Tasbeeh (SubhanAllah). Also recite the takbeerat on the first ten days, as well as the three days of Eid. The takbeer is "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allah, Allahu Akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god worthy of worship except Allah; Allah is Most Great and to Allah be praise).

3. Read as much QURAN as you can
Whatever you normally read, try to increase it and read a bit more each day. Read the translation as well if you dont understand the Arabic and take time to reflect on its meaning and see how you can apply the words of Allah SWT in your daily life

4. Make lots of DUA
Remember that Allah SWT always near and He always hears the suplication of everyone who calls on Him

5. Makes lots of ISTAGHFAR
Make sincere repentence to Allah SWT for your mistakes and give up all things that Allah SWT doesnt like

6. Increase in all general GOOD DEEDS
Give sadaqa, be good to parents and family members, help the needy, visit the sick..

7. Make a SACRIFICE
Make arrangements for the sacrifice of a cow, sheep whatever. Read the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his sacrifice and ponder on the lessons on this story

8. HAJJ AND UMRAH
Well....if you havent already made plans for this, its a little to late now

9. QIYAM AL LAYL
Try to pray at least 2 rakat in the last 3rd of the night. This is the time when Allah SWT descends down each night and says "Who is saying a prayer to Me that I may answer it? Who is asking something of Me that I may give it him? Who is asking forgiveness of Me that I may forgive him?" (hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim). If you are fasting, an easy way to do it is just wake up 15 minutes earlier than usual for suhoor!

10. Encourage others to do good deeds in these days as well...

Insha Allah you will share in their reward, when you call them to goodness! If these points were of any benefit for you, please make dua for me as well!!