Most of us have the tendency to forward poems and prayers related to worshipping God because they are better understood in English (or any other language) to those who don’t understand Arabic. But none of us realize the consequences of the action of promoting paganism.

Therefore the essence of this message from Shaykhul Islaam Ibnul Qayyim’s book The Rank of Al Adab with Allah is an important reminder to note. A copy of the e-book is also available in Targheeb’s e-library collection for those who would like to read the entire book.

I asked God to take away my habit. God said No.
It is not for me to take away, for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. God said No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
It isn’t granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No. I give you happiness; Happiness is up to you

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
And brings you closer to me,

I asked God to make my spirit grow
God said, No. You must grow your own!
But I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me. God said… Ah, finally you have the idea.

This day is yours! Don’t throw it away!

To the world you might be one person, But to one person you just might be the world. There are quite a few comments that can be made about this ‘beautiful prayer’ but we will only make a few.

The Prophet Daawood (and those with him) begged Allah to send down upon them patience and to make their feet firm,” And when they advanced to meet Jaaloot (Goliath) and his forces, they invoked,

“O Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people.”

To say that Allah replies with: “No Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; It isn’t granted, it is learned” is implying that Allah does not desire this quality for His slave and does not want nearness for His servant to Him. Since Allah has indicated is His noble book that He is with those who have patience and grants aid and support those who posses it.

Therefore, why would Allah not want to grant someone who asks for this noble virtue and essential quality of the believers?

Furthermore, in verse 251 of Sooratul Baqarah the meaning of Allah’s statement, “So they routed them by Allah’s permission and Dawood (David) killed Jaloot (Goliath) let us know that He granted the patience.

As Imaam Ibn Katheer says the meaning of this verse is “they defeated and overwhelmed them by Allah’s aid and support”. Meaning, He granted them patience.

Her statement “I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No you must grow your own! But I will prune you to make you fruitful.

If we are to understand ‘Spirit’ correctly here we would have to say it has the meaning of nafs or soul.

Hence, if someone asks Allah to make their spirit or soul grow he is therefore asking Him to purify it.

This is something that is not attainable without His help and guidance. Thus, verse of Soorah Ash Shams (91) “Indeed he succeeds who purifies it. And indeed he fails who corrupts it”.

Shayykh Al Uthaymeen said about the above underlined part of the verse means “Causes his soul/spirit to grow by purifying it from polytheism and blemishing, disobedient acts until it remains pure, unpolluted and untainted.”

The Shaykh continued “This necessitates supplicating to Allah, the Perfect Free of all humanistic qualities, blemishes and faults and Exalted is He – that He makes the human being firm upon His guidance and upon an established world in his life and in the next.

So it is a duty upon you always to ask Allah for firmness and beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds”.

Shaykhul Islaam Ibnu Taymiya said, “Allah has ordered them (the believers) to request of Him all of what they are in need of regarding guidance, direction, rectification in the affairs of their worldly life and the life to come, forgiveness and mercy.”

Then he mentioned that the Prophet (saw) used to utter the following supplications, “O Allah! I ask You for guidance and piety chastity and (relative) independence.”

O Allah grant my soul piety and purify and make it grow, for You are the best to purify it and make it grow, You are its Protector and Master.”

She (Joanne Ekamdeiya Gobure) continues, “I ask God to help me love others, as much as He loves me. God said … Ah finally you have the idea.”

Here the underlying Christian theme of love everyone regardless of what they say, do or believe is highlighted. Since ‘God: said “Ah finally you have the idea.”

Meaning, love he idol worshipper, the disbeliever, the warmonger, the adulterer, the religious innovator, the consumer of interest, the pedophile, the one addicted to intoxicants, the wife abuser etc.

Why? Because God loves everyone!

You should also know - may Allah have mercy on you – that it is not proper for the Muslim to take the supplications of the disbelievers and ‘Islaamicize’ them. This is something that is common among them. If it sounds good… use it.

If it feels good… use it!

Look at what the followers of the Zulu Zulu Nation did with the same “beautiful prayer”

http://www.zulunation.com/zuluprayer.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Zulu_Nation

And last but certainly not least, the person who is petitioning God in this ‘beautiful prayer” is receiving an answer from the Almighty thus implying they are receiving some type of revelation.

How many times have we heard Christians – whether clergy or layman from among them – say “The Lord said to me today” Or “God Spoke to me last night saying!”

And we all (should) know that Prophets received revelations by one of three ways and one of those methods is that God speaks directly to them.

We ask Allah to guide us to that which is correct and pure and protect us from blaspheming Him!