How can you pray to Allah
Man is not always supposed to know what is worthwhile to ask, to pray or even to hope for. This requires a great deal of knowledge, experience and wisdom. It is remarkable that the Quran contains in some surah explicit examples of prayers which show what kind of request should matter for men. In in addition to the opening Surah, let us quote:
The Cow 2 “201- And there are some among them who say, ‘Our Lord, give us goodness in this world, and goodness in the Hereafter, and guard us from the torment of the Fire.’”
“286- God does not burden any soul beyond its capacity. To its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits. ‘Our Lord, do not condemn us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not burden us as You have burdened those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with more than we have strength to bear; and pardon us, and forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Lord and Master, so help us against the disbelieving people.’”
“286- On no soul does God Place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:) ‘Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden Like that which You did lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Lord ; Help us against those who stand against faith.’”
The Family of Imran 2:8 Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate now after You have guided us, but grant us mercy from Your Presence; for You are the Grantor of bounties without measure.
The Cave 18:10 Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said, ‘Our Lord! bestow on us Mercy from Yourself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!’ Some prayers of Prophets are mentioned for that purpose and also in order to illustrate the form as well as the content for requests in specific situations:
A Prayer of Abraham : Abraham 14: 35-31 “Remember Abraham said: ‘O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security ; and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols.’” “O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind; He then who follows my (ways) is of me, and he that disobeys me,- but You are indeed Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful.” “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Your Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer ; so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits ;so that they may be thankful.” “O our Lord! truly You know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden from God, whether on earth or in heaven.” “Praise be to God, Who has granted unto me in old age Isma’il and Isaac ; for truly my Lord is He, the Hearer of Prayer!” “O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept my Prayer.” “O our Lord! cover (us) with Your Forgiveness – me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!”
A prayer of Moses: The Heights 7:155-156 “And Moses chose seventy of his people for Our place of meeting ; when they were seized with violent quaking, he prayed: “O my Lord! if it had been Your will You could have destroyed, long before, both them and me: would You destroy us for the deeds of the foolish ones among us? this is no more than Your trial: by it You cause whom You will to stray, and You lead whom You will into the right path. You are our Protector: so forgive us and give us Your mercy; for You are the best forgiver.” “And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and in the Hereafter: for we have turned unto You.”
A prayer of Job: The Prophets 21:83-84 “And (remember) Job, when He cried to his Lord, ‘Truly distress has seized me, but You are the Most Merciful of those that are merciful.’” So We answered him: We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him, and doubled their number,- as a Grace from Ourselves, and a reminder for the worshipers.
A prayer of Jonah : The Prophets 21:87-88 “And remember Jonah, when he departed in wrath: He imagined that We had no power over him! But he cried through the depths of darkness, ‘There is no god but You: glory to You: I was indeed of the wrong doers !’ So We responded to him: and delivered him from distress: and thus do We deliver the faithful.”
