Is Dua the Weapon of the Believer?

Is Dua the Weapon of the Believer?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

So many times we’ve heard Muslims refer to Dua as  being the weapon of the believer more so than worship. Dua plays a major role in the life of the Muslim in regards to his relationship with Allah. When the servant makes dua it affirms that he trusts, relies and is in need of the Most High’s Assistance.  The Prophet [ﷺ] named dua worship , but did he call it the weapon of the believer and why do people often refer to it as their weapon.  After looking to see if the Prophet [ﷺ],  His companions, or did any from the Salaf name Dua the believer’s weapon I found a hadith.

     عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ، قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : الدُّعَاءُ سِلاَحُ الْمُؤْمِنِ ، وَعِمَادُ الدِّينِ ، وَنُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ.

Ali [radi Allahu anhu] narrated the Prophet [ﷺ] said : The Dua is the weapon of the believer, a pillar of the religion and a light for the Heavens and the Earth.

Imam Al-Albani in his Da’eefah mentioned the hadith was fabricated.

This hadith by Abu Ya’la [ 429], Ibn ‘Adee [2/296], Al-Hakim [1/492], Al-Qada-ee [1/2/4] all by way of Al-Hussain ibn Hammad—Muhammad ibnil Hasan ibniz Zubayr Al-Hamadani— Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibnil Hussain— on his father—his grandfather on the Prophet[ﷺ]

Al-Hakim said this hadith was authentic and Imam Ath-Thahabbi agreed with Al-Hakim’s ruling.

Imam Al-Albani said this is a gross error from two angles;

  • The chain is broken and Imam Ath-Thahabbi mentioned this in Al-Mizan. Somebody is missing between Ali ibnil Hussain and his grandfather Ali ibn Abi Talib.

 

  • Muhammad ibn Al-Hasan Al-Hamadani isn’t trustworsty as Al-Hakim mentioned. In fact he is Muhammad ibnil Hasam ibn Abi Yazid Al-Hamadani and he’s a known liar.

After mentioning the verdict of Ibn Ma’een for Muhammad ibnil Hasam ibn Abi Yazid Al-Hamadani Imam Ath-Thahabbi himself mentioned this hadith in his biography.[1]

Maybe people are calling Dua the weapon of the believer based on this fabricated narration ,and Allah knows best; however Fudayl ibn Iyyad said: Dua is the weapon of the believer.” [2]

Therefore, perhaps the Muslims refer to the Dua being their weapon based on the wise words of this noble Imam. Nevertheless, it’s important to describe things the way Allah and His Prophet did, so we mustn’t say the Prophet said Dua is a weapon. And He [ﷺ] said:

( الدُّعَاءُ هُوَ الْعِبَادَةُ ( قَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِى أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ 

Dua is worship. Your Lord said: call on Me and I’ll answer you.[3]  

Allah the Most High knows best and to Him I repent if I’ve said anything wrong.

Prepared by,

Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle

Doha, Qatar 1438H©

The Believer’s weapon in Dua and Thikr by Ibn Al-Imam 745H Ibn Al-Jazri said: ” No book has ever been written on the subject like it”

[1] Silsilahtul Ahadith Ad-Dha’eef #179, by Imam Al-Albani[ رحمه الله تعالى   ]

[2] Collect by As-Silafi in  الطيوريا  1/64

[3] Abu Dawud 1329; graded as being Sahih by Imam Al-Albani.

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