Prophet's Essential Dua: Guidance, Modesty, Contentment
Analysis of the Prophet's Supplication for Guidance, Modesty, and Contentment - Sahih Muslim Hadith 71
Summary
This lecture discusses Hadith 71 from Sahih Muslim, which records the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) oft-repeated supplication. The speaker analyzes the linguistic construction of the hadith, explaining that it describes something the Prophet would say repeatedly. The main focus is on the supplication itself, where the Prophet asks Allah for guidance, tawa (modesty and moderation), and wealth of the heart (contentment and dignity). The instructor provides detailed explanations of key Arabic terms, particularly 'af' (modesty/moderation in all affairs) and emphasizes that this term encompasses multiple dimensions including shame, moderation in eating and behavior, and avoiding showing off.
The lecture includes a substantive discussion about contemporary Islamic practice, where the speaker expresses concern that supplications from the Quran and Sunnah are becoming rare in public worship and on the pulpit. He criticizes the trend of using overly elaborate, rhyming, or fancy supplications instead of the simple, humble supplications taught by the Prophet. The speaker explains that while the Prophet's own supplications naturally rhyme due to the eloquence of Arabic language, Muslims should not intentionally seek elaborate rhyming when making dua, as supplication is fundamentally an act of humility before Allah. He concludes by defining key terms from the hadith: 'al-'aff' as modesty and moderation, and 'al-'affafa' as contentment and dignity of the heart.
Note: This transcript was generated using YouTube's automatic captioning, with AI-assisted cleanup for readability. It may contain inaccuracies due to background noise, audio quality, or limitations of the transcription software — particularly during Arabic recitation. Listener discretion is advised; please refer to the original video for precise wording.
Alhamdulillah. Continuing in the chapter of tawa chapter number six verse number chapter hadith number three in the order of the narrations of the book hadith number 71 authored by.
[Silence]
Muslim. Here narrates that the prophet Sam used to say often in his dua, "Oh Allah, I ask you for guidance and tawa and and af FF is a kind of modesty but to understand it as only modesty in one aspect rather than another is incorrect is something that we will discuss inshallah in a moment in more detail and al and I ask of you wealth of the heart dignity etc. This narration has been collected by im Muslim. Here it's on the authority of Iben Masoud. What's Ib Masoud's name? Ibn Masoud's name Abdullah and his Mhm. We mentioned him many times his Abdman and he and he passed away a which year? Which year? 32. 32. 32 after hijra. 32. He narrates that the prophet sallall.aii wasallam. This word in the science of okay articulates that it's something that is recurring especially when it is paired with what is referred to as fel is present tense or future tense verb. So he's saying he used to often say this is how we understand these two words together meaning that he often would continuously do or say here this is one of his oft repeated supplications that he would make saiam and these are the best supplications. The best of all the prophets and messengers are which ones? The best of all the prophets and messengers prophets and messengers are the ones mentioned in the Quran. The best of all Arabic words are the ones mentioned in the Quran. The best stories are the ones mentioned in the Quran. The best supplications are the ones mentioned in the Quran. Right? And a close second to that are those mentioned by the prophet Muhammad Sam. It is so frustrating to hear in you know in our time it is very it's becoming more and more rare to hear the supplications of the Quran and Sunnah being made on the member and in salah and in w etc. rarely rarely it's kind of no we have to reinvent the wheel. People will students will fall into this mistake as well where they will memorize the introductions of books and scholars and fail to mention the introductions given by the messenger sallall.aii wasallam. mention supplications, you know, fancy , you know, excellent worded otherwise excellently worded supplications in books or , you know, by very prolific speakers but fail to make the supplications of the Quran and Sunnah. Those are the best supplications to the point that people expect it. If you just lead wit for instance in Ramadan and you only make the supplications of the Quran it's like come on she this guy is a novice you know this guy is a beginner he didn't make any fancy supplications those are the best supplications they are the highest level of supplications you'll hear for instance how often do we hear the dua of as it is in the sunnah without any additions to it. Very rare. Very rare. It's if it's mentioned, it's mentioned with a bunch of additions to it or it's not mentioned at all. And instead, what do we get?
[Silence]
What is this? , right. And the prophet sallall.aii alaihi wasallam discouraged dua be made with when you're standing in dua you're standing in front of Allah is this a position to push your chest out or is this a position to exhibit loneliness and humility to Allah It's a position of humility. So when I start speaking and proclamations and really fancy fancy words, how is this appropriate for the position of dua? It is not. And that's why the prophet sallallah.aii alaihi wasallam discouraged rhyming, overly rhyming supplications. Dua meaning overly rhyming where everything rhymes and everything sounds very fancy using very strange very strange words that most people don't use. This is not a position for that. This is position of dua. Dua is supposed to be exhibiting the utmost of humility to Allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala. Now you may say well the dua that you just read by the prophet Sam all rhymes right? Yes, it rhymes, but this is not by intent. This is often just comes together that way because the Arabic language is a naturally eloquent, wellfitted language. Second of all, a lot of the prophet's supplications and even his statements rhyme or match up in wording and rhyme schemes to make it easier for people to memorize. This is by intention. So is the Quran. It's that way to make it easy to memorize. Right? But that is not something that the companions would seek out. They would not seek out to make their rhyming and elaborate and you know overly complex. No, this is not a place a position of showing off. Making dua in front of Allah is a position of humility. It's a position where a person tries to embody to Allah. They try to embody absolute impoverishment to Allah and his mercy. And that is what is one of the prerequisites of dua. He says, "Oh Allah, Allah Allah, I ask you guidance and I ask you are very close in meaning is modesty, but it's not meant to just be modesty meaning the opposite of shame. It's modesty and moderateness in all things. Modesty and moderation. Right? So it is modesty the opposite of shame and it is modesty or it it is modesty the synonym of of shame that a person has shame, right? The opposite of shameless. And it is modesty in meaning mod moderation that a person is moderate that if a person eats too much is this? No. This is the opposite of af. If a person is showing off is this? No. This is the opposite of af. If a person is overly loud or obnoxious, is this no? This is all a general meaning of so is modesty and moderation in all things. And if a person consumes what is haram, this is not modesty. This is the opposite of modesty, etc. You get the idea. Alina here wealth wealth what's meant by it is dignity and contentment I ask you for what's meant by here is contentment that a person is content content meaning that a person is satisfied with what Allah has given him this is the meaning of as the prophet Phetam said true wealth is not a wealth of possessions. True wealth is wealth of the heart, dignity and contentment.
[Arabic recitation]