By Humna Abdulmateen

(EXCERPTS OF NOUMAN ALI KHAN’S BOOK “REVIVE YOUR HEART” CHAPTER: A PRAYER FOR DESPERATE TIMES)

This article is about Hazrat Musa (A.S) and the dua he made during a difficult time. His conduct in the face of calamity and the power of a sincere heart, making dua, offer a profound lesson for all of us.

This story appears in Surah Al-Qasas when Hazrat Musa (A.S) accidentally struck a man, resulting in the man’s death. Although it was unintentional, the state issued a ‘shoot to kill’ order against him. He fled Egypt and sought refuge in Madyan to save his life.

Upon reaching a water well in the desert, he rested for a while. There, he saw two women with their cattle, waiting for others to finish watering their sheep. When he inquired, they explained that they were avoiding the crowd for fear of harassment, as they were alone.

Moved by their situation, Hazrat Musa (A.S) got up, watered their sheep, and returned the flock to them. He then retreated to the shade of a tree and made a heartfelt dua, which is mentioned
in the Quran, Surah Al-Qasas, Ayah 24:

رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

My Lord, I am truly in great need of any good that You might send down to me.

The significance of this prayer is such that Allah (S.W.T) included it in the Quran.
The key lessons we can draw from this story are many, as listed below.

1) No Expectations from Others
When Hazrat Musa (A.S) helped the women, he himself had no food, shelter, or resources. Yet, he did not ask for anything in return. He could have requested compensation for his efforts, but he chose not to even wait for their gratitude before leaving.
Often, when we do well for others, we develop expectations from them. If our intentions are pure, we should seek our reward solely from Allah rather than from people.

2) Gratefulness
The dua uses the phrase “God-sent” in the past tense, indicating that whatever Allah had already provided was desperately needed by him. Even as a fugitive without a home, clothing, or food, he expressed gratitude for what Allah had already given him.
Instead of asking for more, he focused on thanking Allah for what he already had—a profound gesture of sincerity. In contrast, we often become fixated on what we lack during times of difficulty. Hazrat Musa (A.S) showed his gratitude by calling himself a Faqeer. According to Ibn-e-Manzur in Lisan Al-Arab, a ‘Faqeer’ is one who has absolutely nothing, unlike a ‘Miskeen’, who may have a few possessions.

3) Haste in Doing Good
Another remarkable aspect of this story is the importance of seizing opportunities to do good. Such moments are blessings from Allah that should be embraced without hesitation. Hazrat Musa (A.S), though fleeing from Pharaoh’s army and burdened by his mistake, still helped others without seeking anything in return. Often, we dwell on our past mistakes, letting them haunt us for days. The lesson here is that if we slip up, we should keep looking for opportunities to do
good rather than getting stuck in our past.

Conclusion
In summary, this dua teaches us to acknowledge our mistakes, thank Allah (S.W.T) for the opportunities to improve and appreciate the honour of helping others. We should strive to be grateful for every chance to assist others without expecting anything in return.
This shift in mindset helps us realize that every person we help in this life becomes a source of forgiveness for our sins and a testimony in our favour on the Day of Judgment. It is a blessing sent upon us by Allah. We need to remain thankful for what we have, as well as for what we don’t have in this world because that too is a blessing in itself.