Remembrance 1 from Chapter 339
A person’s du‘ā’ and using his pious deeds as a means of imploring Allah
Allāhumma innā sami‘nāka taqūlu: “Mā ‘ala-l-muḥsinīn min sabīl” wa qad aqrarnā bi-l-isā’ah, fa-hal takūnu maghfiratuka illā li-mithlinā? Allāhumma-ghfir lanā wa-rḥamnā wa-sqinā.
Among the best things that have been conveyed from the first generations concerning du‘ā’ is what has been reported about al-Awzā‘ī, may Allah be merciful to him, who said: “The people went out to pray for rain. Bilāl ibn Sa‘d stood up among them. He praised Allah and extolled Him, then said, ‘You who have assembled, do you not admit to having done wrong?’ ‘Yes,’ they replied. So he said: ‘O Allah, we have heard Your words “There are no grounds for complaint against those who do good” [2]. and we have confessed to doing wrong. Is not Your forgiveness, then, for the likes of us? O Allah, forgive us, have mercy on us and grant us rain.’ He raised his hands and they raised their hands; and they were granted rain.