Keeping the oppressed in our du’as
This Ramadan, it’s important to not only keep the Palestinians in our du’as - who are currently undergoing genocidal violence - but the many other peoples around the world who are also facing oppression as we speak. This includes the Uyghurs, the people of Kashmir, the people of Democratic Republic of the Congo, the people of Sudan, the Rohingya, and so on.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to make the du’a of Qunut al-Nawazil, a supplication recited during times of calamities. Some examples include:
اللهم إنا نستعينك ونستهديك، ونستغفرك ونتوب إليك، ونؤمن بك ونتوكل عليك، ونثني عليك الخير كله، نشكرك ولا نكفرك، ونخلع ونترك من يفجرك
O Allah, we seek Your assistance and guidance. We ask for Your forgiveness and sincerely repent to You. We firmly believe in You and place our trust entirely in You. We praise You for all the goodness that is inherent to You. We express our gratitude and strive not to be ungrateful for Your blessings. We forsake and distance ourselves from those who reject You.
اللهم إياكَ نعبد، ولك نصلي ونسجد، وإليك نسعى ونحفد، نرجو رحمتك ونخشى عذابك، إن عذابك الجد بالكفار ملحق
O Allah, You alone do we worship, and to You we pray and prostrate. We dedicate our efforts to You, striving in Your worship. We earnestly hope for Your mercy while being fearful of Your punishment, Certainly Your punishment befalls the disbelievers.
اللهم احفظنا، وارحمنا، وانصرنا، وفرج كربنا وكرب المسلمين، اللهم اكفنا والمسلمين شر مصائب الدنيا والدين، أصلحنا وأصلح من في صلاحه صلاح المسلمين، لا تهلكنا، وأهلك من في هلاكه صلاح المسلمين. اللهم اسقنا الرحمة واللطف والعافية والبركة ولا تجعلنا من المحرومين
O Allah, protect us, show us mercy, grant us victory, alleviate our distress, and the distress of all Muslims. Shield us and all Muslims from the evils of the calamities in this worldly and religious affairs. Guide us to rectitude, and guide those whose rectification brings goodness to Muslims. Spare us from destruction, and let those whose removal brings benefit to the Muslims face it. O Allah, shower us with Your mercy, gentleness, well-being, and blessings, and do not deprive us of Your favors.
Read more at “Qunut Nazilah: A Guide to Making Dua for the Oppressed in Times of War," by Yaqeen Institute.