The Great Prayer

Prayer literally means to call upon, that is, the servant with the full sense of his servitude to his Lord, calls upon his Lord. This prayer is of two kinds. The general kind of prayer is to repeat the set words of prayers and call upon God in terms of those words.

Another kind of dua is what is called the great prayer. This prayer expresses those deep feelings of servitude in a person that he starts calling upon God in such words as invoke God’s mercy.

For instance, there is a prayer which is set forth thus in the Quran: “Our Lord, grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to come, and protect us from the torment of the fire.” (2:201) When you recite this prayer a deep sense of servitude will be awakened in you. Then you will remember all those blessings of God which He has given you in the present world. Then with a trembling heart, you will say, “O God, You have not deprived me of the good things of this world, then give me the good things of the Hereafter as well, or do not deprive me of the good things of the Hereafter as well.”

Similarly, when you study the sacred hadith in which God says: “I am with My servant’s expectations, so the servant ought to have good expectations with Me.” (Dhakhirah al-Huffaz, Ibn al-Qaisrani, Hadith No. 6541)

On reading this hadith, you will remember those blessings which God has given you in this world. You will be moved and these words will come to your lips, “O God, in this world, You have given me the best in every respect, so in the Hereafter also give me the best in every respect”—this is an example of great prayer. Blessed are those who are granted this great prayer.