The Etiquette of Supplication with Esmaul Husna and Salawat

Two Great Means for the Acceptance of Prayers: Names and Blessings

Supplication (Dua) is the admission of human inadequacy before the Possessor of infinite power; it is saying 'I cannot do it, but You can.' However, just as every door has a key, the opening of the gates of heaven has its own etiquette. Islamic figures recommend following a specific method and order for prayers to be answered. At the forefront of this etiquette is starting the prayer by praising Allah and immediately followed by sending blessings upon the Prophet (PBUH). As the wisdom of the scholars states: 'A prayer made between two accepted prayers (Salawat) is not rejected.' For Allah the Almighty undoubtedly accepts the salawat at the beginning and the end of the prayer; and due to His generosity, He considers it unworthy of His honor to reject the personal wishes of the servant between these two accepted prayers. Salawat are the spiritual wings that lift the prayer to the heavens; just as a bird without wings cannot fly, a prayer without salawat remains suspended between earth and sky.

Refuge through Esmaul Husna and the Secret of Ism-i Azam

Including the Beautiful Names of Allah (Esmaul Husna) in supplication is a necessity of the divine command: 'To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call Him by them' (Araf 180). For every suffering, there is a healing, and for every name, there is a manifestation in the cosmos. Those who seek provision cling to 'ar-Razzaq', those who expect healing to 'ash-Shafi', and those who wish for the opening of closed doors to the name 'al-Fattah'. However, the most effective method is to merge the names with the salawat. To say: 'O Allah, ease my affairs for the sake of the name al-Latif and through the blessing of this salawat I send to the Prophet,' lifts the prayer to a divine frequency. When one considers that the secret of Ism-i Azam (the Greatest Name) is also hidden within the Esmaul Husna, the union of the light of the names with the love for the Prophet represents the highest spiritual degree a believer can reach.

Spiritual Discipline: Living with Dhikr and the Tranquility of the Heart

The etiquette of prayer does not only consist of what the tongue says; the alertness of the heart (Huzur-u Qalb) at that moment is crucial. A prayer performed with a heedless heart does not benefit the owner. Therefore, the discipline of dhikr is a preparation to put the heart into the state of prayer. The names and blessings recited daily in a certain number wipe the rust off the heart over time and lead the person to the consciousness that 'My Lord hears me.' In this article, you will find in detail how you should time the moments of prayer acceptance, the secret of the remembrance minutes at dawn, and how the spiritual effect multiplies when a certain name is combined with a certain salawat. Do not forget that prayer is not just asking for things, but the renewal of your bond with Allah. The strongest links of this bond are the Esmaul Husna and the Salawat-i Sharifa.