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We worship God ALONE. We obey His commandments, do our best to steadfastly persevere in times of adversity, keep up our religious practices, follow His guidance and path, be appreciative and thank Him always for His numerous blessings and bounties. We are always calling upon Him, imploring Him for our needs, whenever we need His help, big or small.
Right in the beginning of the Quran in 2:186, God informs us: [2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided. These few words in this verse are from God—He uses the first person—“respond to ME,” “believe in ME.” This means, I feel, that we must put our complete faith, confidence and total trust in God. In the same verse, God says: I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. A feeling of peace and contentment overtakes our being, knowing God is always near. He alone will answer our prayers. We keep in mind: “God is running everything.”
Therefore, it is important that we commemorate and glorify Him in advance, prepare ourselves in times of contentment or adversity, to accept His blessings and help.
When I sat down to write this, I began with the Fatehah, and requested Him to increase my knowledge. By praying to God, through the Fatehah, we are totally putting ourselves into His hands, glorifying Him, praising Him, acknowledging His supremacy, asking for His help and guidance.
The prayers and glorifications preceding our requests, or before we begin something new, are important. And we must seek refuge in God from Satan the rejected. We must begin things in the name of our Lord, and end with a prayer after He has responded to us.
[30:17-8] Therefore, you shall glorify GOD when you retire at night, and when you rise in the morning. All praise is due to Him in the heavens and the earth, throughout the evening, as well as in the middle of your day.
Prophets and messengers set the example, praying, glorifying
and commemorating God, and then trusting in Him.
[3:146-7] Many a prophet had godly people fight along with him, without ever wavering under pressure in the cause of GOD, nor did they hesitate or become discouraged. GOD loves the steadfast. Their only utterance was, “Our Lord, forgive us our sins, and our transgressions, strengthen our foothold, and grant us victory over the disbelievers.”
After God put Abraham to the test, through certain commands and appointed him an imam for the people, with instructions to purify the Kaaba, what did Abraham do? He didn’t begin his duties without remembering God first; he asked for help. [2:126] Abraham prayed: “My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and provide its people with fruits. Provide for those who believe in GOD and the Last Day.” (God) said, “I will also provide for those who disbelieve. I will let them enjoy, temporarily, then commit them to the retribution of Hell, and a miserable destiny.”
[14:35] Recall that Abraham said, “My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and protect me and my children from worshiping idols.
Before the birth of Mary, her mother implored God: [3:35] The wife of Amram said, “My Lord, I have dedicated (the baby) in my belly to You, totally, so accept from me. You are Hearer, Omniscient.”
And she continued to pray after the birth: [3:36] When she gave birth to her, she said, “My Lord, I have given birth to a girl”―GOD was fully aware of what she bore―“The male is not the same as the female. I have named her Mary and I invoke Your protection for her and her descendants from the rejected devil.”
She must have been in pain, but she remembered to remember God, that she was dedicating the baby to Him totally, and she invoked His protection for the girl child and her descendants from Satan, trusting that God would take care of Mary.
Zachariah implored his Lord. [3:38] That is when Zachariah implored his Lord: “My Lord, grant me such a good child; You are the Hearer of the prayers.” He acknowledged God before asking for something.
Noah faced all kinds of ridicule and hardship, but he trusted God and implored:
[23:26] He said, “My Lord, grant me victory, for they have disbelieved me.”
Moses was faced with the wrath of the world’s worst tyrant, but Moses sought God’s help and trusted that He would save them. [40:26-7] Pharaoh said, “Let me kill Moses, and let him implore his Lord. I worry lest he corrupts your religion, or spreads evil throughout the land.” Moses said, “I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord, from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning.”
[26:52] We inspired Moses: “Travel with My servants; you will be pursued.”
[26:61] When both parties saw each other, Moses’ people said, “We will be caught.” [26:62] He said, “No way. My Lord is with me; He will guide me.”
Saul knew to pray to God when they went to meet Goliath. [2:250] When they faced Goliath and his troops, they prayed, “Our Lord, grant us steadfastness, strengthen our foothold, and support us against the disbelieving people.” [2:251] They defeated them by GOD's leave, and David killed Goliath. GOD gave him kingship and wisdom, and taught him as He willed. If it were not for GOD's support of some people against others, there would be chaos on earth. But GOD showers His grace upon the people. And Saul and the believing people trusted God. [2:249]…. Those who were conscious of meeting GOD said, “Many a small army defeated a large army by GOD's leave. GOD is with those who steadfastly persevere.”
The Quran is full of beautiful ways to commemorate and glorify and thank God, before, during, after, whenever, always. Also we are human; we make mistakes. God gave to Noah, and by example to us all, how we can ask for mercy: [11:47] He said, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You, lest I implore You again for something I do not know. Unless You forgive me, and have mercy on me, I will be with the losers.”
Have faith and trust in God.
[3:160] If GOD supports you, none can defeat you. And if He abandons you, who else can support you? In GOD the believers shall trust.
[64:13] GOD: there is no other god besides Him. In GOD the believers shall trust.