Episode 10: We have reached the evening (2/2)

When the Muslim, who invokes Allah, testifies to His Oneness, he is really testifying to His ownership and dominion of the universe, Him alone being worthy of praise, and is the only One with capability upon all things. Thus he said: "to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things omnipotent" the kingdom of the universe all belongs to Allah. He possesses the dominion of all that exists. And all praise belongs to Him, both by His ownership and merit. Glorified He is, the one capable of everything. Nothing escapes His power. “Nor is Allah to be frustrated by anything whatever in the heavens or on earth: for He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.”

Beginning this supplication with this sentence has tremendous benefits. It ensures the supplication is far more reaching, and makes a response more likely. Then, he started mentioning what he seeks and needs, thus he said: "My Lord, I ask for the good of this night and the good of what follows it". Meaning: I ask You for the goodness that You willed to happen in this night for Your righteous servants of outer and inner fulfillment. Also, I ask you for the things that will benefit me in the religion and life"…and the good of what follows it". Meaning: of nights to come.

"…I take refuge in You from the evil of this night and the evil of what follows it." Meaning:  I seek protection with You and asylum from the evil You willed to take place during it of both outer and inner evils.

His statement: "My Lord, I take refuge in You from laziness and senility". What is intended by laziness in this statement is the absence of self-enthusiasm to do good deeds, despite having the ability to do so. No doubt there is no excuse for a person like that. The opposite goes for the incapable ones; they are excused due to their lack of capability. What is meant by senility is, the problems affecting the mind and associated with the deterioration caused by old age.

His statement: "My Lord, I take refuge in You from torment in the Fire and punishment in the grave.’ Meaning: I seek refuge with You (Oh Allah!) from being including in the punishment of the Fire and punishment in the grave. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) specifically mentioned these two types of punishment, from the punishments of the Day of Resurrection, because of their severity and the difficulty associated with them. For the grave is the first passage in the hereafter. The person who survives its tribulations will be safe from what comes after that. And the torment of the Fire and its punishment is stern. May Allah protect and save us from it.

It is recommended for a Muslim, when he reaches morning, to say the same invocation, but starting with the morning instead of evening, as mentioned in the Statement earlier: ‘We have reached the morning and at this very time unto Allah belongs all sovereignty…'

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