Dua of a Distressed Person

Anas Radiyallahu Anh narrates that there was a companion of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam called Abu Mu’liq. He was a trader who traded both his own goods as well as those of others. He was a person who was always engaged in Ibaadah and was extremely abstinent.

Once whilst he was out on business an armed robber confronted him .” Put down your goods,” the robber demanded, “ because I am going to kill you’ Abu Mu’liq RA told him: “ You may have all the goods.” “ It is your life that I want,” the robber barked.

“Then permit me to perform salaah,” Abu Mu’liq requested. The robber laughed, “You may perform as much Salaah as you please.”

Abu Mu’liq RA made wudhu and started performing salaah. One of the Du’aas he made was:

O The Most Loving! O Master of the Glorious Throne! O the One Who does as He please! By Your Honour that none can hope to have, by Your Kingdom that none can harm and by Your light that fills the foundation of Your throne do I implore You to protect me from the evil of this robber. O helper, do help me. O helper, do help me. O helper, do help me.

When he had made this Du’a thrice, a rider suddenly appeared with a spear held high above his head. The rider stabbed the spear at the robber and killed him.

Abu Mu’liq Radiyallahu Anhu went up to the rider and asked, “ Who are you?” He replied, “I am the one whom Allah has rescued you through me.

The rider went on to explain: “I am an angel of the fourth heaven. When you first made the du’aa for the first time, I heard the doors of the heaven rattle. When you made the du’aa the second time, I heard the inhabitants of the heavens cry out. When you made the du’a for the third time it was announced that this was the du’aa of a person in distress. I then sought permission from Allah to grant me the ability to kill the robber.“

You ought to know the good news that whoever makes wudhu, performs four Rakaats Salaah and then makes this Du’a, his Du’a will be answered whether he is in distress or not.[ibn Abi Dunya in his Majaabad Da’wah, as quoted in Isaabah(Vol 4/Pg 182]

Via "Daily Islamic Stories"

Bodyguard of your Grave: Surah Al Mulk

Ibne-’Abbas Radiyallahu ‘anhuma narrates that someone, amongst the companions of Nabi Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam, set up his tent over a grave, without realizing that it was a grave. Suddenly he heard the person of the grave reciting Surah Mulk, upto to end of the Surah. He came to Nabi Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam and said: O Rasulallah I set up my tent unknowingly over a grave, and suddenly I heard someone reciting Surah Mulk up to its end. Nabi Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: It is the defender; it is the protector which safeguards him from the Punishment in the grave.
(Tirmidhi)


Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that Nabi Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: Indeed, there is a Surah in the Qur’an having thirty verses, which intercedes for its reciter until he is forgiven. And that Surah is: Tabarakalladhl biyadihil mulk (Surah 67).

(Tirmidhi) 

If we were to learn a verse a day from Surah Al Mulk, it wouldn't take you more than even a month to have it all memorized.

Imam Nawawi says, “One should be especially observant in reciting Surat Ya Sin (36), Surat al Waqia (56) and Surat al Mulk.(67)”

Happiness is in the Service of Others

A young man, was one day taking a walk with his teacher, who was commonly called the student's friend, from his kindness to those who waited on his instructions.

As they went along,they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by,and who had nearly finished his day's work.

The student turned to the  teacher, saying: "Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them."

"My young friend," answered the  teacher, "we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of this poor man. Put a coin in each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how this affects him."

The student did so and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by. The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes.

While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes, but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin. Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin, turned it around, and looked at it again and again.

He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.

His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to the heavens and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving in which he spoke of his wife who was sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom this timely bounty, from some unknown hand,would save from perishing.

The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. "Now," said the  teacher, are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?"

The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of these words, which I never understood before: 

"It's more blessed to give than to receive."

Abdullah bin Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallAllahu alaiyhi wassallam) said that encouraging good, prohibiting evil, lifting the burden of the weak person and removing an offensive thing from a path are all acceptable prayers to Allah.

[ibn Majah]

(Via http://islamcan.com/islamic-stories/better-to-give.shtml)