Dua When You Are Desperate For Allah’s Help

Introduction

This is a powerful dua during times of desperation.

It is the supplication that Prophet Musa عليه السلام made when he was in a desperate situation, being both hungry and exhausted. The effect of this dua was that Allah put Musa عليه السلام into a comfortable situation immediately after he made it.

Background

Prophet Musa عليه السلام was a young man in Egypt, when one day he ended up getting involved in a fight and accidentally killing a man. News spread quickly, and very soon an order was issued that he be arrested and put to death. A man then came and warned Musa عليه السلام, O Moses, the authorities are considering killing you, so leave; I am giving you good advice. [Qur’an 28:20]

Hearing this, Musa عليه السلام immediately fled Egypt, thus becoming a fugitive, and soon thereafter reached the land of Madyan. There, he came across a crowded well of shepherds watering their sheep, and he saw two young women struggling with their flock. He noticed that the women kept pulling their animals back, trying to prevent them from reaching the well.

Musa عليه السلام found this strange and inquired with them about the reason for this. The women replied that their father’s old age prevented him from tending to their sheep (and thus that responsibility fell upon them), and they did not like to go into the crowd of other shepherds (owing to their modesty), so they would wait until the others were done watering their animals and had left. Hearing this, Musa عليه السلام, who was both tired and hungry from his ordeal, took the sheep from the women and watered their flock, after which he found a shade under which he rested, and it was at this moment that he recited this dua, in a state of sheer exhaustion.

So what happened next?

Allah responded to this dua of Musa عليه السلام and sent His help. The story continues with the two women going back home, and their father, seeing that they have returned earlier than usual, asks them the reason for this, being told by his daughters about the young man who helped them water their flock. The father immediately sends back one of his daughters to the well to fetch the young man, and when Musa عليه السلام comes to him, he offers him a job, which he عليه السلام promptly accepts. Not just that, the father of the girls also offers him the hand of one of his daughters in marriage.

Thus, in one single stroke, Allah helped Musa عليه السلام not just with a means of livelihood, but also with a wife and a home. This is the power of this dua if one invokes Allah sincerely.

Lessons

One other thing that we learn from this incident, is the extreme haya and sense of decency of Musa عليه السلام, who had not yet been conferred with Prophethood. Most young men would seize the opportunity to strike a conversation with a helpless young woman after having helped her. But Musa عليه السلام turned away (“summa tawalla”) from both the women to rest in the shade. He had genuinely done this act of good with absolutely no expectation of any return from the young women, instead turning to Allah and beseeching Him for His Divine Help. This was a testament to his high character (a trait that all Prophets of Allah possess, peace be upon them all).

Another aspect of the high character of Prophet Musa عليه السلام that is demonstrated in this story is that, in spite of being on the run from the Pharoah’s police, struggling for days in the desert’s heat with little to nothing to eat, he عليه السلام did not get angry with Allah or blame Him for his situation. Instead, he immediately turned to Allah and did dua. This is yet another characteristic of the Prophets of Allah, peace be upon them all, which should be the hallmark of character that every Muslim man and woman should strive for.

Yet another lesson is that Allah’s blessings can come in a variety of ways that we may not be fully aware of. We must therefore be receptive to His blessings in whatever form they may come to us.

This is a short narration of the story behind this beautiful and powerful dua, and which also offers many lessons that we can learn and profit from.

References

Qur’an Reference(s)

رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

Hadith Reference(s)

None found by this author so far.

Historical Interpretation & Understanding

Many of the righteous have recommended this supplication for the one seeking a means of livelihood, a spouse, or starting a family. Consequently, this dua can also be called the “dua of desperation,” i.e., it can be recited by a Muslim if he (or she) finds himself in a desperate situation, if he has fallen upon hard times; or if he is in a state of sheer helplessness… in all such cases, it is highly recommended that he recite this dua as much as he can.