How to Perform Salatul Hajat – The Prayer of Need
Humans are born to worship Allah Almighty as a sign of servitude by prostrating in front of Him to beseech mercy and plea for forgiveness. The fragile nature of humankind makes them susceptible to fall for the lullabies of satanic whispers making them astray from their real cause. In divine scripture of Quran, Allah the Exalted one states that:
“… and mankind was created weak.” [4:28]
Humans are in constant need to invoke Allah Almighty for which Quran and Shariah has declared ways to implore Him for their calamities and despairs. Salah is the tool of redemption from all ordeals and tribulations that invigorate the bond with Gracious Lord when invoke with sublime and humble heart. Apart from the obligatory prayers, there are certain supererogatory prayers that are means to extract extra bounties and virtues. It was the custom of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to return to Allah whenever faced any difficulty in worldly and spiritual matters as narrated:
“Whenever a matter became serious, the Prophet (PBUH) turned to Salah.” [Abu Dawood]
The aforementioned Hadith entails that one ought to turn towards Allah Almighty whenever under trial or being tested by nature because the worries and despondencies inflicted are from High order to judge the level of faith by soul and heart purification.
Prayers for the Accomplishment of Needs
Salatul Hajat (the prayers of need) is involuntary prayers to ask Allah for one’s desires and wished to grant. Allah is the most powerful and worth worshipping deity who holds the supremacy to awards a man what he wants and no one else bears such authority, indeed He is Rahman the merciful enough to accomplish tasks by chanting “Kun Fayakun.” Hadith narrated that:
“He who makes Wudu, and does it properly, then prays two Raka’ah Allah will grant him whatever he may pray for, sooner or later.” [Ahmad]
The concept of Salatul Hajat is though found in weak and denounce Hadiths yet most of the exegetes compensate it logically with the fact that invoking Allah Almighty for one’s need is the essence of Lord-servant relation which is deemed of appraisal in sight of Allah as stated in Holy Quran:
“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” [Quran, 2: 186]
Allah does not love the transgressions of ignorant ones who do not invoke Him for their needs and wishes.
“Say, “What would my Lord care for you if not for your supplication?” For you [disbelievers] have denied, so your denial is going to be adherent.” [Quran 25:77]
Ritual of Salatul Hajat to Perform
The procedure extracted from the Islamic narrations to perform this involuntary prayer includes:
1. Ablution
Prior every prayer it is obligatory to perform ablution for cleansing of body. Removal of impurities has high significance in Islam and Allah loves purity that is why it has declared “half part of faith” in religion Islam.
“Whoever stands up to perform his Wudu, intending to offer Salah, then cleans his hands, the sins of his two hands fall out with the first drop of water. Then, when he rinses his mouth, and draws water into his nose and expels it, the sins of his tongue, and two lips fallout with the first drop of water. Then, as he cleans his face the sins of his hearing and seeing fallout with the first drop (of water). Then, when he cleans his two arms including the elbows and his two feet including the ankles, he becomes free of all his offenses and sins, just as he was the day his mother gave him birth.” He (then) said: “When he stands for Salah Allah elevates his position and if he (merely) sits (without standing for Salah) even then his sitting is free of sins.” (Musnad Ahmad
2. Two Raka’h Nafal
After ablution, perform two Raka’ah Nafal with the intention of Hajah so that the grant be fulfilled by the Supreme Lord of the universe. Then make supplication at the end of the Salah to call unto Him pertaining to the high degree of reverence. In sacramental narrations, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has asked his followers to make following Dua for one’s Hajah:
“There is no god but Allah the Clement and Wise. There is no god but Allah the High and Mighty. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Tremendous Throne. All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds. I ask you (O Allah) everything that leads to your mercy, and your tremendous forgiveness, enrichment in all good and freedom from all sin. Do not leave a sin of mine (O Allah), except that you forgive it, nor any concern except that you create for it an opening, nor any need in which there is your good pleasure except that you fulfill it, O Most Merciful!” [Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]
The Hadith is Da’ef but apart from the authenticity, this supplication holds all the ingredients that are required for the accomplishment of one’s equitable wishes. The epilogue of this Dua is praising Allah and His preeminence in the most subtle manner while asking Him for clemency to be bestowed as an absolution from worldly problems and devilish traps. Satan indeed is human’s worst foe who instill the lucrative desires by distracting humans from their real purpose thereupon, Salah is the best way to return to Allah in order to seek refuge from Satan.
While performing the prayers of Hajah the supplicant must keep in mind that his heart must be humble enough with the level of Faith that there is no one but Allah who can fulfill his desires. Arrogance toward invoking Allah or showing off deeds rusts the hearts like fire engulfing wood hence refraining from the prohibited deeds and calling unto Allah is the savior for one’s success at the day of Resurrection.
“Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.” [40:60]
