Project "Revive a Sunnah" Week 6

Week 6: November 10th-17th 2006
(19th-26th of Shawwaal 1427 AH)

We are not angels. We are human beings who make mistakes and commit sins. And yet, Allah has given the human beings the potential of being the best of creation. Likewise the human beings have the potential to be the worst of creation. May Allah make us of the first type. Ameen.

We are social beings, as created by the All-Mighty. When we get together with our friends and talk, the topic of the discussion is not always related to Islam or the Afterlife. It so happens that a lot of the times it is worldly-related. What did the Prophet (sal Allahu alahyhi wa sallam) teach us to do in such gatherings? The answer lies in his (sal Allahu alahyhi wa sallam) sunnah, as we shall see.

From the Ahadith:

1.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Whoever sits in a gathering and indulges in useless talk and before getting up supplicates: `Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaika (O Allah, You are free from every imperfection; praise be to You. I testify that there is no true god except You; I ask Your Pardon and turn to You in repentance),' he will be forgiven for (the sins he may have intentionally or unintentionally committed) in that assembly.''
[At-Tirmidhi].

2.
Abu Barzah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Towards the end of his life, Messenger of Allah (PBUH) would supplicate before leaving an assembly thus: "Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaika (O Allah, You are free from every imperfection; all praise is for You. I testify that there is no true god except You, I ask Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance).'' A man once said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! You have spoken such words as you have never uttered before.'' He said, "It is an expiation of that which goes on in the assembly.''
[Abu Dawud].

OK, you might be thinking: "Yes, but the Imam or the Shaykh recites this du'a all the time after he gives a lecture." That's exactly the issue we are trying to address. The problem is that this beautiful du'a taught by the Prophet (sal Allahu alahyhi wa sallam) only gets recited in "Islamic" gatherings. Think about it. When was the last time you got together with your friends to hang out, and before leaving you made this du'a? Now, wouldn't it be better if we were to incorporate this du'a into our every-day lives? Wouldn't it be better if we were to recite this du'a after an hour of talking about sports, for example?

May Allah help us revive this "forgotten" sunnah and incorporate into our daily lives. Ameen.

You are most welcome to direct any Feedback/Comments/Suggestions

/Nominations to albosnawi@gmail.com

May Allah reward you all.
Praise be to Allah and may the blessings be upon the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

Wa Salaamu Alaykoum,

Kemal Smajlovic