Discovering God

Ch 5 — Attributes of God / An Example of Super Prayer

Discovering God — Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

Badges mark quoted or attributed material (Qur'an, hadith, another author, an opposing view). Unbadged passages are Maulana Wahiduddin Khan's own words.

Contents (229 chapters)

An Example of Super Prayer p. 328

This example relates to a child who lived in Rampur, a city in U.P. (India). The child said to his father, “Please buy me a bicycle.” The father’s income was not sufficient for him to be able to afford to buy a bicycle, so he ignored the request. The child used to ask for a bicycle repeatedly, and the father repeatedly rejected his request. Finally, one day he scolded his son: “I have told you I cannot buy a bicycle. Don’t talk to me about it again, otherwise I’ll beat you.” At this, the child’s eyes filled with tears. He remained silent for some time. Then, in tears, he said: “You are my father. If I don’t ask of you, then whom should I ask?” These words really touched his father. All of a sudden he was moved and said: “All right, son, I’ll buy you a bicycle. I’ll do it tomorrow.” As he spoke his eyes also filled with tears. The next day he arranged for the loan of some money and got a bicycle for his son. p. 328

The son had apparently just uttered some words, but as he did so, his whole being had become one with his words. These words meant that, he had totally surrendered himself to his guardian. These words brought him to the point where his son’s request became as great an issue for the guardian as it was for the son. The words of the son brought the father face to face with the idea that if he did not give his son a bicycle, his fatherhood would be in question. p. 329

This incident leads us to understand what kind of prayer (dua) it is which attracts God’s mercy to the caller. These are not words learned by rote. This prayer is one into which the caller has poured his whole being. When the caller weeps with helplessness, this cannot be borne either by the heavens or the earth. When a person becomes so close to his Lord that “the taker” and “the Giver” come on to the same plane, this is the moment when his prayer is not just a word out of the dictionary, but it is expressive of the caller’s whole personality. At that time, God’s blessings are showered upon the servant. Both the servant and the Lord become well content with one another. The All-Powerful embraces the all helpless. p. 329

The above incident illustrates both kinds of prayer. On the first occasion, when the child asked his father just to buy him a bicycle it was an ordinary prayer but, later, he cried and said, “You are my father. If I don’t ask you, then whom should I ask?” When these words were spontaneously uttered by the child, it was like a super prayer. The words of the first kind of prayer did not influence his father, but the second kind of prayer just melted him. He was moved. He became so influenced that he was ready to buy the bicycle, even if he did not have enough money. p. 330

From this example we can understand the difference between a general kind of prayer and a prayer taking the great name of God. The general kind of prayer is just the uttering of some words, but prayer taking the great name of God is super prayer. Such prayer moves God Himself. According to a hadith the prayer of the oppressed one goes straight to heaven. The gates of heaven are opened for it. God Almighty says about the prayer of such a person, “By My honour, I will certainly fulfil his prayer, in due course. (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 8043) p. 330original + quote

The difference between prayer and super prayer is not that of wording. It is rather the difference in the inner spirit of the suppliant. In actual fact, it depends on the inner or internal condition of the caller, whether the prayer which he utters will become a super prayer or only a general prayer. p. 330