In every difficulty our first action is
dua, as is our last. We ask Allah
to show us the way to handle that
difficulty; we seek His help in
following the path He shows to us;
we seek His aid in making our
efforts successful. When we fall
sick, we know that we cannot find
the right doctor without His Will;
that the best doctor may not be
able to diagnose our condition
without His Command; that the
best treatment plan will not
succeed without His Permission.
We make dua for all of these. We
make dua before we seek medical
help, while we are receiving it and
after it has been delivered. The
same is true of all other difficulties
we may encounter.
Dua is the essence of ibadah. A
person engaged in dua affirms his
belief in Tawheed (monotheism)
and shuns belief in all false gods.
With each dua his belief in Allah
grows. He beseeches Him,
affirming his own powerlessness.
A person seriously and sincerely
engaged in dua understands
exactly the relationship between
himself and the Creator and
affirms it through his actions. That
is the essence of worship!
Additionally, such a person can
never become arrogant or proud, a
logical result of true worship.
Dua is our most potent weapon in
all struggles of life as well as in
jihad in the battlefield. During the
battle of Badr, the Prophet
Muhammad stood up all
night in prayer seeking Allah's help
in the battle between unequal
armies that would follow the next
day. In the decisive battles against
the crusaders, Sultan Salatuddin
Ayyubi was busy day and night.
His days were devoted to Jihad.
His nights were spent making dua,
crying, seeking Allah's help. This
has been the practice of all true
mujahideen.
We should make it a point to make
dua for all things big and small. It
is the beginning of wisdom to
realize that big and small are
arbitrary labels that are totally
irrelevant in this context. Nothing
is too big for Whom we are asking
from; nothing is too small for the
one who is asking. That is why we
have been taught to ask Allah
when we need something as small
as shoelaces. We should ask as a
beggar, as a destitute person, for
that is what we in reality are in
relationship to Allah. At the same
time we should ask with great
hope and conviction that we shall
be granted our prayers. We should
remember the Hadith: "There is
nothing more dear to Allah than a
servant making dua to Him." On
the other hand, a prayer lacking
concentration and conviction is no
prayer at all.
We should make dua at all times,
not only during times of distress.
The Prophet Muhammad
said: "Whosoever desires that
Allah answers his duas in
unfavorable and difficult
conditions, he should make
plentiful dua in days of ease and
comfort." Also he said: "The
person who does not ask from
Allah, Allah becomes angry with
him."
We should ask for all of our needs:
those related to this world as well
as those related to the Hereafter.
Those who only concentrate on the
former are, in effect, announcing
that they don't care for their life in
the permanent abode. They should
blame no body but themselves for
the total ruin in that world that
Qur'an assures us awaits them.
Those who only concentrate on the
later are also showing lack of
balance, for we need Allah's help
to lead a good life here as well.
We should make dua not only for
ourselves but also for our parents,
brothers and sisters, spouses and
children, relatives and friends,
teachers and other benefactors,
and destitute and struggling
Muslims everywhere. We should
pray for them for the good in this
world as well as in the Hereafter.
The Prophet said: "The dua
of a Muslim for his brother (in
Islam) in his absence is readily
accepted. An angel is appointed to
his side. Whenever he makes a
beneficial dua for his brother the
appointed angel says, 'Aameen.
And may you also be blessed with
the same.'" [Sahih Muslim]
In the dark ages that we are living
in today, everyday brings fresh
news about atrocities committed
against our brothers in Palestine,
Kashmir, India, Afghanistan, Iraq,
Chechnya, and the list goes on.
And what do we do? We can
continue to just feel frustrated and
depressed. We can petition the
determined perpetrators or a
fictional "International
Community". We can just forget all
this and move on to some other
subject. Or we can stand up before
Allah and pray for His help, who
alone can help. The dua can
change our life, our outlook, and
our fate. It is the most potent
weapon. But it works only for
those who try sincerely and
seriously to use it.

May Almighty Allah bless you for this. Pls, what special prayer can I observe to overcome my enemies or to be free from enemy's bondage, i'm really in enemy's bondage and I know it's only Allah that can free me. Thanks once again