Class 6
WIDESPREAD BIDAHS IN DUA & ADHKAAR
Dua’a
No doubt adhkaar and du’aa’s are among the best forms of worship. But it is also worth noting that among all acts of worship, du‘ā’ is the area where people fall into bid‘ah the most — and sadly, many even fall into shirk without realising it.
Why?
Because du‘ā’ is connected to:
Pain
Fear
Desperation
Loss
Urgent need
When a person is broken, anxious, or desperate for relief, logic weakens and emotions take over. At that moment, shaitaan attacks, he knows people are often willing to:
Try anything that promises results
Follow any method that claims effectiveness
Call upon anyone who is said to have “special access” to Allah
In that state, boundaries blur. Shaitaan attacks harder, shows ways, short cuts gives hope, makes one fear things other than Allah
What begins as sincere desperation can quietly turn into:
Invented rituals
Fixed formulas with no evidence
Collective practices treated like obligations
And in a lot of cases, calling upon others besides Allah
This is why:
The Qur’an strictly commands who we call upon
The Sunnah teaches how we ask
The Salaf were extremely cautious about du‘ā’
A Mercy From Allah
Allah did not leave us confused. He sent us His Messenger to guide us. He ﷺ:
Taught us beautiful Duas
Gave us clear limits
Explained us that we can call Allah directly, He listens!
Allah says,
“And your Lord said: ‘Invoke Me [i.e. believe in My Oneness and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your invocation’ (Ghaafir 40:60)
“And who is more astray than one who calls on (invokes) besides Allah, such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them” (al-Ahqaaf 46:5)
“Truly, nothing is hidden from Allah, in the earth or in the heaven” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:5)
“To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein, and He is Able to do all things” (al-Maa'idah 5:17)
Read more about Dua : https://islamqa.info/en/103099/
BID‘AHS RELATED TO THE MANNER OF DU‘Ā’ / ADHKAAR
Fixing Numbers for Du‘ā’ or Dhikr Without Evidence
Bid‘ah
Assigning specific numbers (e.g. 100, 1000)
Without Qur’ān or authentic Sunnah evidence
Even if the words themselves are good
Sunnah: Two Categories of Adhkār
1. Legislated Adhkār, Examples, Adhkaar after Adhaan or after breaking fast etc. for these
Fixed wording
Fixed time/place/number
Must be followed exactly as prescribed
2. General Du‘ā’ and Dhikr
Example, anytime you feel like, any time you feel the need, these are allowed only if all conditions are met:
Clear and respectful wording without exaggeration
Free from shirk or exaggeration
Not tied to a specific time/place
Not made a regular ritual
Wazeefa
These are made up specific formulas of dhikr and dua, they are prescribed by individuals (like a peer or spiritual leader) as a fixed religious routine.
Examples
Wazeefah for Rizq, Reciting Yā Wāsi‘u 1,111 times daily or Reciting Sūrah al-Wāqi‘ah every night or reading a specific verse 313 or 786 times believing these guarantees wealth
Wazeefah for Marriage, Reciting Yā Fattāḥ 1,000 times or Reading Sūrah Yūsuf repeatedly to attract marriage proposals
Why This Is Bid‘ah
Fixing numbers without evidence
Assigning guaranteed outcomes without proof
Turning general dhikr into ritualised formulas
Qur’anic stories are not charms
No ṣaḥīḥ hadith fixes these numbers or promises such results.
Sunnah Alternative
Make du‘ā’ using Allah’s Names without fixed numbers
Du‘ā’ in the last third of the night
Consultation (shūrā)
Lawful effort alongside du‘ā’
Recite Qur’an as much as possible and make duas as much as possible.
Use authentic du‘ās.
Duas for rizq
Allaahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman naafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan (O Allaah, I ask you for beneficial knowledge, good (halaal) provision and accepted good deeds).” (Ibn Majah, classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)
Allāhumma innī as’alukal-hudā wat-tuqā, wal-`afāfa wal-ghinā. O Allah, indeed, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and sufficiency. (Sahih Muslim)
And:
Seek forgiveness frequently (istighfār)
Uphold honesty and trust in earning
Uphold kinship ties etc
Means of increase in Provisions as per the Sunnah : http://learn-islam.org/class-6-means-of-increase-in-provisions
Making Dua/Wishes when an eyelashes falls (before blowing it) or when one sees a shooting star.
Bidah
These have nothing to do with Islam, sadly people adapted them from movies etc. It is said, that the tradition of eyelashes originates from ancient British and Irish folklore and even links to warding off the devil or witchcraft, certaintly not Islamic teachings.
And about Shooting stars its wellknown that stars or shooting stars have been worshipped and revered for centuries amongst the pagans, so how can we follow make that act a Sunnah?
Sunnah
Remind yourself of the Ayahs and ahadeeth about the stars, the heavens and the earth.
Remind yourself of the greatness of this universe that Allah has created and that we will have to stand in front of Him on the day of judgement.
Remind yourself that Allah has made them as missiles against the shayateen.
Allah says,
“…and We have made them (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin (devils)” (al-Mulk 67:5)
“Verily! We have adorned the near heaven with the stars [al-kawaakib] (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness” (as-Saaffaat 37:6-10)
Read the times Duas are accepted as per the Sunnah : https://learn-islam.org/class-5-sunnah-times-for-dua
BIDAHS RELATED TO DUROOD
(Sending Peace & Blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ)
Sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ is one of the greatest acts of worship encouraged in Islam, and it is one of the most beneficial supplications for a person in this world and the hereafter, and it is one of the requirements of loving, venerating and respecting the Prophet ﷺ and giving him his rights. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allah sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet and also His angels (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allah to bless him), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As¬Salâmu 'Alaikum)”
[al-Ahzaab 33:56].
The Prophet ﷺ also urged us to do that and explained that it brings a multiple reward and that it is a means of attaining forgiveness of sins and having one’s needs met. He ﷺ said: “Whoever sends blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him tenfold and will erase from him ten misdeeds and raise him ten degrees in status.” (an-Nasaa’i; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)
And so people went overboard and exaggerated against the command of the Prophet ﷺ who said, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle." (Sahih Bukhari), but we did just that. Some innovated in Durood, some asked him directly for help.
So people innovated some Duroods That Seek Help From the Prophet ﷺ
Bid‘ah (and Shirk)
Asking the Prophet ﷺ for help
Complaining to him
Believing he hears calls everywhere
This contradicts Tawḥīd
The Prophet ﷺ:
Did not know the unseen.
Said he ﷺ had no independent power to benefit or harm.
Commanded to ask Allah directly and shows us ways to do so.
Warned us against exaggerating like the Christians did with Isa A.S.
Sunnah
Allah says: “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” & “I respond to the supplicant when he calls upon Me.”
Prophet ﷺ said, “When any one of you prays, let him begin by praising Allaah, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, then let him ask for whatever he wants.” (Tirmidhi, classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
He ﷺ also asked us to recite Durood as much as possible and Allah, “Then your worries will be taken care of and your sin will be forgiven.” (Tirmidhi, classed as hasan by al-Albaani).
‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “Du’aa’ is suspended between heaven and earth and none of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Katheer said: Its isnaad is jayyid. Classed as hasan by al-Albaani).
Read sunnahs of Durood : https://learn-islam.org/class-9-durood
Innovated Duroods (Durood-e-Tāj, Durood-e-Lākhi, etc.)
Bid‘ah
No authentic hadith
Exaggerated wording
Attributes divine qualities to the Prophet ﷺ
This contradicts the balance Islam maintains regarding the status of the Messenger ﷺ.
Sunnah
Best durood: Ṣalāt Ibrāhīmiyyah
Permissible additional wording only if:
No exaggeration
No shirk
No invoking the Prophet ﷺ
No fixed numbers or times
TAWASSUL
Tawassul is (use of a Means). It is one of the most important etiquettes of dua and one of the greatest factors that increase the chances of a dua being accepted.
Since many people have an incorrect understanding of this concept, and because of it fall into shirk or Bidah, it is important that this topic be given greater attention.
Remember Tawassul itself is not rejected, what is rejected is tawassul without evidence. Islam permits specific, clearly defined types of tawassul, all of which were practiced by the Prophet ﷺ and the Salaf.
Types of Permissible Tawassul
I. All kinds of worshipping to Allah.
II. A way to have the call responded. This is divided in into 6 ways: -
By the Best Names of Allah. Example : “O Allah, forgive me, you are Ghafoor & Ar-Raheem.
By the Attributes of Allah. Example: “O Allah, grant me relief by Your Power”
By your Belief in Allah.
By presenting the state of the slave.
By call of a person (alive & present). It is allowed to make Tawassul by asking a living person to make dua on your behalf, if you feel that such a person is a true and righteous person. So, it is permissible to go to a scholar, and say, for example: "O so-and-so! I ask that you make a dua to Allah that he cure my son from such-and-such an illness".
By the pious deeds. The famous hadith of the three men trapped in the cave, where each man made tawassul by a righteous deed he had sincerely done, and Allah relieved them. Conditions are The deed must be sincere& not mentioned for self-praise also we should be asking humbly, not demandingly.
Types of Prohibited Tawassul
1. Invoking the Dead or Absent
Shirk
Calling upon dead righteous people
Asking them for help or relief
This is clear shirk, unanimously prohibited.
2. Asking the Dead to Intercede Through Du‘ā’
Bid‘ah (or Shirk)
Visiting graves to ask the dead to “ask Allah for us”
No precedent from the Prophet ﷺ, His companions or the early generations.
The dead: Do not hear our calls & are separated from us by Barzakh
3. Tawassul by Status or Rank (Jāh)
Innovated Tawassul
Asking Allah by the “status” of the Prophet ﷺ or saints
Evidence against this was ‘Umar R.A. did not do this during drought instead, he asked a living person to make du‘ā’. If tawassul by status were allowed, the Companions would have done it first.
Read details about Tawassul : https://learn-islam.org/class-9-tawassul
AUTHENTIC PRINCIPLES OF DU‘Ā’
What Makes Du‘ā’ Correct and Accepted
Sincerity
Humility
Directness to Allah
Following prophetic wording where available
Avoiding ritualisation
Please join our free online certificate course DUA’A, to learn to learn more about the virtues, conditions, Sunnahs of Dua along with times that they are answered, the duas from Quran & Sunnah and more.
“DUA - CONNECT BETTER” : https://learn-islam.org/dua
Note these are not part of the ongoing course, it is an independent course that can be done at your own pace and at your own convenience.
TIPS OF TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Memorise the Duas
There will be no questions from the extra links provided, they are for those who want more details.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
Implement any 3 of the sunnahs taught in the last 5 classes. 5 Marks
Talk about any 3 topics/Sunnahs/deeds and their great rewards covered in this week’s classes with atleast 3 people. 5 Marks.
Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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