AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): During a Dua Kumayl recitation ceremony held at the representative office of Al-Mustafa (p.b.u.h) International University in Bangladesh, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, spoke about the significance of Dua (supplication) in Islam.
Ayatollah Ramazani explained, “Supplication means calling upon, and in supplication, the one being called upon is God. Some individuals pray for their material needs, which is acceptable. The Infallible Imam (a.s.) said, ‘Even ask us for the salt of your food.’ The second type of Dua is to ask God for moral blessings, such as becoming good-tempered, avoiding moral vices like arrogance and malice, and being adorned with moral virtues.”
He continued, “The third type of dua is to call upon God without asking for anything, saying that we desire nothing but God Himself. God insists that we call upon Him and speak with Him. His insistence is so profound that it feels like He needs us to talk to Him. Does any ruler allow someone to say ‘I’ in their presence? Yet God has permitted us to express our sense of self and address Him as ‘You.’ Examples of this manner of addressing God can be found in the supplications of Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Dua of Arafah.”
The Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly added, “At the beginning of Dua Kumayl, we ask God by His greatness. We then reach the point where we confess our weakness, saying, ‘Have mercy on my weak body, as it cannot endure Your punishment. You are everything, it is You who are swift to accept repentance and do not impose hardship.’ “وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي أُجِيبُ دَعوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ” (When My servants ask you about Me, [tell them that] I am indeed nearmost. I answer the supplicant’s call when he calls Me) (Holy Quran, 2: 186). In the Holy Qur’an, God instructed His Prophet to convey that He is near and responds to the supplication of those who call upon Him.”
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