In this section I would like to share some example prayers from the Quran and talk a little about their benefits…

 

رَبَّنَا اٰتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

 

Rabbana atina feed-dunya hasanatan wa feel akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘athaban-nari^[1]

 

Our Rabb, give us bounties (the experience of the beauties of the Names) in the world, and bounties (the beauties of the Names in our essence) in the eternal life to come; protect us from the fire (of falling into separation).

 

Anas (ra) narrates that the Rasul of Allah (saw) used this verse in many of his prayers. This prayer teaches us to wish for all the good that we may or may not be aware of, and seek protection from things that lead to the suffering of fire.

 

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ

 

Rabbana la tuzigh quloobana ba`da idh hadaytana wahab lana min ladunka rahmatan innaka anta alwahhabu^[2]

 

Our Rabb, after giving us guidance (enabling us to recognize and discern the reality) do not turn our consciousness (back to the illusory identity – ego based existence), and bestow your grace upon us. Most certainly you are the Wahhab.

 

As denoted by the hadith ‘The heart of the believer is between the two fingers of Rahman’;^[3] our hearts, that is our consciousness, are ever subject to divine power. No matter how much we may have attained the truth, we are always in danger of deviating from it. This prayer is to seek divine protection against such deviation.

Continuing to make this prayer may also prepare one for a graceful death since a prayer that is done persistently is always responded to. Their recital is recommended after the salawats (provided below) before giving salam in salat.

 

رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هٰذا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ

رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ اٰمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَاٰمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ

رَبَّنَا وَاٰتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لاَ تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ

 

Rabbanaa maa khalaqta haadha baaṭilan subḥaanaka faqinaa ‘adhaaban naari, Rabbanaa innaka man tudkhili l-naara faqad akhzaytahu wa maa lil-ẓaalimeena min anṣaarin, Rabbanaa innanaa sami`naa munaadiyan yunaadee lil-eemaani an aaminoo bi rabbikum fa’aamannaa Rabbanaa fa’ighfir lanaa dhunoobanaa wa kaffir `annaa sayyi’atinaa wa tawaffanaa ma`a l-abraari, Rabbanaa wa aatinaa maa wa`adtanaa `alaa rusulika wa laa tukhzinaa yawma l-qiyaamati innaka laa tukhlifu l-mee`aada^[4]

 

Our Rabb, You have not created these things for nothing! You are Subhan (free from creating meaningless things; you are in a state of creating anew at every instant)! Protect us from burning (remorse for not being able to duly evaluate your manifestations). Our Rabb, whoever You admit into fire, You have abased. No one can help (save) those who do wrong to themselves! Our Rabb, we have indeed heard the one who said, ‘Believe in your Rabb who has formed your essence with His Names’ and we have believed him instantly. Our Rabb, forgive us our faults, erase our mistakes, let us come to You with Your servants who have united with You. Our Rabb, give us what You have pledged to Your Rasuls and do not humiliate us during the Doomsday period. Certainly, You never fail to fulfill Your oath.

 

Here Allah is teaching us the most valuable ways of praying. The verse after this is a confirmation that prayers that are done in this manner are definitely responded to.

If we aren’t even capable of making a prayer to which Allah has promised to respond, surely all is lost.

 

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

 

Rabbanaa ẓalamnaa anfusanaa wa’in lam taghfir lanaa wa tarḥmanaa lanakoonanna mina l-khasireena^[5]

 

Our Rabb! We have wronged ourselves... If You do not forgive us and grace us, we will surely be among the losers.

 

When Adam and Eve made the notorious mistake while living the life of Paradise, out of their grief and sadness, they asked for forgiveness with the above verse. Their prayer was accepted and after living the life of the world for some time, they were returned to the life of Paradise once again.

This prayer teaches us what to do in case of doing wrong to ourselves. Given we wrong ourselves by not giving the due of the infinite perfection in our essence, what better option do we have but recite this prayer.

 

حَسْبِيَ اللهُ لٓا إِلٰـهَ اِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

 

Hasbiya Llaahu laa ilaaha illaa huwa `alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa rabbu l-arshi l-`adheemi^[6]

 

Sufficient for me is Allah! There is no god, only HU! I have placed my trust in Him... HU is the Rabb of the Great Throne!