Nadhr (Vows)

A nadhr is a religious promise that is allowed to make with Allah. It is not recommended in and of itself, but if done, it must be in Allah’s Name. To do it in someone else’s name is to deify them.

They (are those who) fulfill (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading. (Insaan 76:7)

This is the only act of worship that is not praiseworthy when done to Allah. It is makrooh (disliked). It is makrooh because it is like a transaction with Allah, but Allah is not in need of your good deeds.

“The Messenger (saw) forbade an-nadhr. He said, ‘An-Nadhr does not make anything happen nor push anything away. Rather it is taken out from the miserly person.” (‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar – Related by Al-Bukhari)

“And whatsoever you spend or whatsoever you vow, Allah surely knows it.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:270)
Allah has never praised a nadhr, but if it is done it becomes an obligation.

Istiadhah, Isti’anah, Istighathah

Isti’adhah means to say audhu (I seek refuge). It means to seek spiritual refuge, and to seek refuge in other than Allah is shirk.


“So when you recite the Qur’aan, seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaitaan.” (An-Nahl, 16:98)


“When the shaytaan whispers an idea to you, then seek refuge in Allah. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” (Fusillat, 41:36)


“And, indeed, some men from among the common folk used to seek the protection of some men from among the jinn, and thus they increased the jinn in arrogance/the men in fear.” (Al-Jinn, 72:6)



Rahaqah can be fear, or it can be arrogance. If fear, then it means the jinn increased the men in their fear of the jinn. If arrogance, then the men increased the jinn in their arrogance.


In Bukhari it is mentioned that when jahiliyyah Arabs went to camp, the leader of the caravan would stand up and announce loudly that he seeks refuge in the leader in the jinn of this valley.


Isti’anah and Istighaathah


This means seeking help. Seeking help in a natural way is allowed (like calling 911 in an emergency). Seeking help in a supernatural way is unique to Allah (swt).

“You alone we ask for help.” (1:4)


“And if Allah touches you with hurt, there is none who can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His Favour which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He will. And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (10:107)

Both isti’aanah and istighaathah are sub-categories of du’a.

Du’a

Du’a is the greatest act of worship.

The Prophet (saw) said, “It is the essence of worship.” (Abu Dawud and others)



“So pray unto Him, devoting your worship wholly and sincerely to Him.” (Ghaafir 40:65)


“And the places of worship are only for Allah, so pray not unto anyone along with Allah.” (Al-Jinn, 72:18)

“Say: I only call upon my Lord, and I do not associate any one with Him.” (Al-Jinn, 72:20)

“O men. A similitude is set forth, so listen to it. Surely those whom you call upon instead of Allah cannot create even a fly, though they should all combine together for the purpose. And if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they cannot recover it there from. Weak, indeed, are both the seeker and the sought.” (Al-Hajj, 22:73)



The most common prohibition in the Quran is making dua to other than Allah, it is mentioned more than the word shirk in the Quran.

Du’a is the greatest manifestation of worship. It is common to all religions. If it is the most common act of worship, it therefore follows it would be the most common form of shirk, and it is therefore prohibited most in the Quran.

“If you call on them they shall not hear your call, and even if they could hear they shall not answer you; and on the resurrection day they will deny your associating them (with Allah); and none can inform you like the One Who is Aware.” (Faatir, 35:14)

When du’a is made at the time of need and distress, all three pillars of ibaadah are combined.

When you make dua to other than Allah it implies,
That this deity loves you more than Allah.
That object can hear your du’a
That object can respond to your du’a

To make du’a to other than Allah is the greatest act of shirk. The entire message of the Quran is to make du’a to Allah alone.

“Surely, those whom you call on beside Allah are creatures like you. Call on them now, and let them answer you, if you are truthful. Have they feet with which they walk, or have they hands with which they hold, or have they eyes with which they see, or have they ears with which they hear? Say: Call your associates, then make a struggle (to prevail) against me and give me no respite. Surely my guardian is Allah, Who revealed the Book, and He protects the righteous. And they whom you call besides Him have no power to help you, nor can they even help themselves.” (Al-A’raaf, 7:194-197)
There is no act that better illustrates the relationship between the worshipper and the object he worships.

Sabr

Sabr

Patience for the sake of Allah is an integral part of emaan.

“Oh, you who believe! Be patient and excel in patience and remain steadfast, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, that you may be successful.” (Aali ‘Imraan, 3:200)

“And those who patiently persevere in seeking the favor of their Lord, and establish Prayer, and spend out of that with which We have provided them, secretly and openly, and repel evil with good; it is these who shall have the best reward of the final abode.” (Ar-Ra’d 13:22)

“And be patient and your patience is only by (the assistance of) Allah.” (An-Nahl, 16:128)

“And for the sake of your Lord, be patient.” (Al-Muddaththir, 74:7)

Patience is of 3 types,

1) Patience in response to a situation that Allah has decreed. For example, loved one dying.

“And bear patiently that which befalls you.” (Luqmaan, 31:17)


2) Patience in restraining yourself from committing sins.

“Peace be upon you, because you patiently persevered. What a joyous destiny.” (13:24)

3) Patience in constantly worshipping Allah – this is the highest form.

“So worship Him and be patient in His service.” (Maryam, 19:65)

“And enjoin prayer on your family and patiently persevere in doing so.” (TaaHaa,20:132)

Patience is manifested in the heart, tongue, and limbs. It is to restrain yourself from things that will cause your harms. It does not mean you must be happy.

When the Prophet(saw)’s son died, the sahabah asked him, ‘Do you cry?’ He replied, ‘Crying is a sign of mercy. We only say that which will please Allah.’

“The eye sheds tears, and the heart feels sadness, and we do not say except that which pleases the Lord. Indeed, we feel much sadness at your departure, Ibraaheem.” (Reported in Saheeh Al-Jaami’ 2931)

“Truly! Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient ones).” (2:153)

The opposite of sabr is anger, and resentment. This shows discontentment with the decree of Allah.

Manifestations of Ibaadah (Worship)

Tawakkul

This is an action of the heart. It means to put one’s trust in Allah, to cut off hope of any good from any created object, and to hope the best and reply completely on Allah.

To rely on physical and tangible means is a type of minor shirk, and to invent means and rely upon them is major shirk.

An example of minor shirk in this regards is to have your tawakkul in medicine to cure you. It is a tangible means, but to put one’s reliance in it is a form of minor shirk. The proper belief is to have tawakkul in Allah, to know that He has blessed us by providing us a means of a cure by the medicine. We take the medicine as the action (like tying your camel), and put our trust and reliance in Allah to heal us.

Tawakkul is a part of emaan.

“So put your trust in Allah if you are indeed believers.” (Al-Maa’idah, 5:23)

“Moosaa said, ‘O my people, if you have really believed in Allah, then put your trust in Him, if you are really submitters (Muslims).” (Younus, 10:84)

“And from You alone do we seek help.” (Al-Faatihah, 1:4)
True tawakkul necessitates actions.

“Oh, you who believe! Take your precaution, then go forth in detachments or go forth in a body.” (An-Nisaa’, 4:71)

“Take medicine, oh servants of Allah.” (Ibn Maajah)

You do what you are able, and your heart is attached to Allah.

The Prophet (saw) said to the Bedouin who had left his camel untied putting his trust in Allah, “Tie your camel, and put your trust in Allah.” (Saheeh ul-Jaami’ 1068)

“And furnish yourselves with necessary provisions for your journey and surely, the best provision is righteousness.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:197)

“If you put your tawakkul in Allah the way He deserves, He would provide for you the way he provides for the birds. They leave in the morning with an empty stomach and return at night with a full one.” (Tirmidhi)

This shows you have to work for your rizq.