"I make dua because in the end that's all that I can do. And because it's the strongest thing I know of. " -A.A.

This has been my motto for the past couple of months.

Muslims pray five times a day. This is basically the five times of the day where we are required, and it is incumbent upon us, to worship our Lord. And this is known as salat.

This five- times- a- day prayer is not to be confused with making a prayer to God. The kind of prayer where you verbally send a letter to God saying "Hey God, can you help a sister (brother) out!" or "Hey God, I need you right now. Are you listening?" That form of prayer is also a form of worship, however it is known as dua.

And obviously that's in laymen terms, cause I would hope no one would go around saying "Hey, God!" Cause that's just rude.

These past couple of months, weeks, and days I've just spent making as much dua as I possibly can. It is said that there are certain times when a dua is accepted. And those particular times and moments include when it's raining and while a person is traveling, etc. And every time I see rain, the first thing I try to do is make dua. And I dont travel, but this past weekend we went out of town, and I was so excited to be considered a "traveler" and instead of reading the book I took along with me, I spent the trip, making dua.

It's funny because a couple of years ago, if memory serves me right, I wasn't so keen on making dua. For anything. It wasn't my thing. And it wasn't what I did in times of distress, helplessness, or even gratitude. And I didnt quite understand it, which can be attributed easily to just plain old ignorance.

And I dont know when my thoughts changed and how they changed over the past couple of months. It could be because a person constantly reminds me never to forget the immense power of dua. It could be because during a very weak moment in my life, a friend and I made salat together, made dua together and I felt a peace inside of me that I hadnt thought was possible. It could be because during a lecture I heard a Hadith Qudsi* where God says "I am as My servant expects Me to be". And to paraphrase, God is saying I am whatever you think I am. If you think I am merciful, then I am merciful. If you think I am forgiving, then I am forgiving, and so on a so forth. I really loved that Hadith because I never thought of it that way until I heard the lecturer explaining it, and I never realized we, humans, could have that type of relationship with God. (Does that make sense?)

It could have been a combination of so many things.

Whatever it was, I'm glad it happened.

I just know that making dua is something that I have truly embraced and have been fortunate enough to do so. It's reassuring to know that when I think all hope is gone, I can just make a dua to God, and he is listening. I can ask for something, I can beg for something, I can cry for something, and my distress, anger, or hurt may not go away immediately, but the simple fact that God is listening, knows what's in my head, knows what's in my heart, and will eventually respond in some way, sooner or later, gives me immense comfort.

And when I'm feeling extremely helpless, and I dont know what to do for those around me and for those that I love who are going through difficult times, such as losing a loved one, school, or anything really, all I'm left with is making dua for them. Keeping them in my prayers.

Because in the end, that's all a person can do for another. And that's all there is to do.


*Hadith Qudsi are the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) as revealed to him by the Almighty Allah. Hadith Qudsi (or Sacred Hadith) are so named because, unlike the majority of Hadith which are Prophetic Hadith, their authority is traced back not to the Prophet but to the Almighty.