Criteria for Performing Ibadah
Ibadah, or worship, is a fundamental aspect of a Muslim’s faith and practice. It encompasses various acts of devotion and service to Allah, which are crucial for spiritual growth and connection with the Creator. This page explores the essential criteria for performing Ibadah, ensuring that it is accepted and fulfills its intended purpose.
A Guide to Drawing Closer to Allah swt
You will discover the essential criteria for making dua (supplication). Understanding these principles can enhance the sincerity and effectiveness of your prayers. Key criteria include the intention, ensuring that your heart is fully present and focused on the supplication. Additionally, one should begin with praise for Allah and send blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is also recommended to be humble and persistent in your requests, demonstrating trust in Allah’s wisdom and timing. Lastly, seeking forgiveness and recognizing the importance of patience are vital components in the art of making dua.
The foremost criterion for performing Ibadah is sincerity. Acts of worship must be performed solely for the sake of Allah, without any ulterior motives or desires for recognition from others. This intention, or niyyah, must be clear and focused, reflecting a genuine desire to please Allah.
Key Points:
- Intention: Always begin with a clear intention to worship Allah.
- Avoiding Riya: Steer clear of acts performed for show or to gain praise.
To ensure that Ibadah is accepted, it must be in accordance with the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This involves adhering to the methods established in the Sunnah, which serves as a practical guide for worship.
Key Points:
- Authenticity: Follow authentic Hadith and practices.
- Consistency: Incorporate the Sunnah into daily life and worship.
Each act of worship has specific pillars that must be fulfilled for it to be valid. For example, the five pillars of Islam—Shahadah (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage)—each come with their own requirements.
Key Points:
- Completeness: Ensure all obligatory elements of each Ibadah are met.
- Knowledge: Educate oneself about the requirements of different forms of worship.
Certain acts of worship have specific times and places in which they must be performed. For example, the five daily prayers must be performed within their designated times, and Hajj has specific days in the Islamic calendar.
Key Points:
- Timeliness: Be punctual and aware of the correct timing for each Ibadah.
- Appropriate Environment: Choose a suitable and clean place for worship.
Physical and spiritual purity is essential for performing many acts of worship. This includes being in a state of wudu (ablution) before prayers and ensuring cleanliness in both body and clothing.
Key Points:
- Wudu: Perform ablution correctly before prayers.
- Cleanliness: Maintain personal hygiene and purity.
Consistency in worship is crucial for spiritual growth. Muslims are encouraged to develop a regular routine of Ibadah, ensuring that worship becomes a central part of their lives.
Key Points:
- Routine: Create a daily schedule that incorporates prayer and other acts of worship.
- Sustainability: Focus on regular, manageable practices rather than sporadic intense efforts.
Acknowledging one’s shortcomings and turning to Allah in repentance is vital for the acceptance of Ibadah. Humility before Allah fosters a sincere connection and enhances the quality of worship.
Key Points:
- Repentance: Regularly seek forgiveness for past mistakes.
- Humility: Approach worship with a humble heart, recognizing one’s dependence on Allah.
Ayatul Qursi
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۞ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۞ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۞ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۞ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۞ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۞ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۞ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۞ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ
Durood-e-Ibrahim
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Istighfar
اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِيْ وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِيْ، فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّاأَنْتَ
Translation:
Allah! There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Translation:
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
Translation:
O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon”.
Isme Azam
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِأَنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ الأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ الَّذِي لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Dua of Musa
رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَقِيرٌۭ
Dua of Yunus
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Translation:
O Allah, indeed, I ask you by my testifying that You are Allah, there is none worthy of worship except You, the One, As-Samad, the one who does not beget, nor was begotten, and there is none who is like Him
Translation:
O Allah! I am in desperate need of any goodness you send in my direction!
Translation:
There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.
10 verses of Surah Kahaf
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَاۜ ۞ قَيِّمًۭا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًۭا شَدِيدًۭا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًۭا ۞ مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًۭا۞وَيُنذِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَدًۭا۞ مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍۢ وَلَا لِـَٔابَآئِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةًۭ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًۭا۞ فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌۭ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا۞ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ زِينَةًۭ لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا ۞ وَإِنَّا لَجَـٰعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًۭا جُرُزًا ۞ أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْكَهْفِ وَٱلرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا۟ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا عَجَبًا ۞ إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةًۭ وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًۭا ۞
Last 2 verses of Surah Bakarah
ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦ ۚ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
Dua
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ وَحُبَّ مَن يُحِبُّكَ
9 verses of Yaseen
يَسٓ ۞ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْحَكِيمِ ۞ إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ۞ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ۞ تَنزِيلَ الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ ۞ وَجَعَلْنَا مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّۭا وَمِن خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّۭا ۞ فَأَغْشَيْنَاهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ ۞ إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ ۞ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تَنبتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ۞
Translation:
All praise is due to Allah, who has revealed the Book to His Servant and has not made any deviation therein. He has made it straight to warn of a severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward, and they will abide therein forever. Additionally, the Quran warns those who say, “Allah has taken a son.” They have no knowledge of this, nor do their forefathers; grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak not except a lie. So perhaps you would kill yourself with grief over their footsteps if they do not believe in this message. Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth an adornment for it, that We may test them as to which of them is best in deed. And indeed, We will make that which is upon it into a barren ground. Or do you think that the companions of the Cave and the Inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder? When the youths sought refuge in the cave and said, “Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.
Translation:
The Messenger believes in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so do] the believers. All of them believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His messengers, [saying], “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and we obey. [Grant us] Your forgiveness, our Lord. To You is the final destination.”
Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or made a mistake. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.
Translation:
O Allah, I ask You for Your love and the love of those who love You.
Translation:
Ya-Seen. By the Wise Qur’an. Indeed, you are among the messengers. On a straight path. [It is] a revelation of the Exalted in Might, the Merciful. And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier, and We have covered them, so they do not see. Indeed, We give life to the dead and We record what they have sent before and their traces. Exalted is He who created all pairs from that which the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know.
Ya Allah! Please grant me a death with the shahadah on my tongue.
Grant me Husn al Dhan
Expand my grave for me and illuminate it with light. Lighten for me the questioning of the grave.
Grant me death in a state of Ibadah, that is most pleasing to you and resurrect me in the same state.
Keep me free from fear, anxiety and terror from the Day of Judgement.
Keep me away from Zina of my eyes, ears, heart and private parts
Grant my Book in my right hand.
Make me among those who show their books to others with happiness.
Make me successful in the Meezan.
Help me cross the Siraat like lightning.
Ya Allah, please do not give away my good deeds to others.
Ya Allah do not expose my faults in front of others on the day of judgement.
Ya Afu, Forgive the sins that I don’t remember and the sins that I didn’t even consider as sins.
Grant me a heart filled with tranquility and peace. Cleanse my heart from malice, jealousy, hatred, self- admiration, show off, envy, arrogance and pride.
Grant me the ability to forgive others.
Grant me the best of moral character.
Grant me soft speech, protect my tongue from lying, backbiting and hurting others.
Grant me beautiful patience.
Grant me the correct Aqeedah, excellent memory and understanding of the deen with daleel. Aameen!