moment; اَللّٰہُمَّ اَسْاَلُکَ الْعَفْوَ وَ الْعَافِیَۃَ وَ الْمُعَافَاۃَ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَالْآخِرَۃِ – “O Allah! I ask you for pardon and well-being in this world and the hereafter!”

I said to the person accompanying me, “This is a time when duꜤā is accepted, so ask Allah for whatever you wish.” He exclaimed, “O Allah! Grant me a dīnār (gold coin).”

I left and went to my murshid, Abu al-Ḥasan Shādhili رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه. The man who followed me was still with me. No discussion had taken place yet when Shaykh Abū al-Ḥasan Shādhili رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه addressed the man: “O person of low aspiration! It was a time duꜤā was accepted, and you only requested one dīnār. Why did you not ask for pardon and well-being in this world and the hereafter, like Abū al-ꜤAbbās did?”

Etiquette of duꜤā

O devotees of Allah’s Messenger! We learn that when we are in the presence of the pious servants of Allah, when we visit the resting places of the saints or whenever we make duꜤā, we should do so with open hearts. There is no limit to the treasures of Allah. He is رحمٰن and رحیم. He is وَھَّاب (He who bestows abundantly). So why should a servant be shy when he asks? Why should he ask for just a few coins or a few meals?

He should make duꜤā to Allah for everything, be it small or large. This should not be restricted to worldly blessings, such that a person only asks for material wealth but not the bounties of the hereafter. The correct way is to make duꜤā for the betterment and goodness of the hereafter, and then the betterment and goodness of this world, as well as fulfilment of one’s needs. It is not good to just seek worldly benefits and have no concern for the hereafter.