20.25-28 Prophet Musa's supplication for ease in his affairs
Every supplication mentioned in the Book of Allah is unique in its own way and has its own story. And this supplication is no exception. One of His greatest prophets, Musa (peace be upon him), once turned to the Lord with it. He called upon the Almighty with these words on the eve of carrying out a very important mission that the Lord had placed on him. Musa (peace be upon him) was to bring the call to monotheism to one of the greatest tyrants of that time, who not only refused to acknowledge God’s authority over him, but dared to declare himself a god.
This story, the story of Musa and Pharaoh, is widely known and is mentioned in the Quran more than once.
The task Musa was to carry out was difficult to say the least, and it was quite natural for any person, and all the more for a God-fearing and sincere prophet of God, to turn to the Lord in supplication. For it is in Him that a believer should trust, of Him that he should ask help and support, and to Him that he should turn for protection and assistance in a difficult hour.
Supplication is the weapon of the believer, with which he can overcome obstacles, remove hindrances from his path, prevail over those who wish him ill and his enemies, gain benefit, ward off evil and dangers, succeed in the important tasks before him, accomplish great things and reach the most difficult goals. For when a servant of Allah turns to Him with full sincerity and places his hopes in Him, the Lord grants him what he asks for. And the prophet of God undoubtedly knew this.
First of all, Musa (peace be upon him) mentioned the Lordship of the Almighty, thereby emphasising that he was addressing Him as Lord, acknowledging His power, believing in Him and humbling himself before Him. This is a beautiful expression of modesty and courtesy, which perfectly befits the position of a believer and which none of us should neglect. For courtesy towards the Lord is so important.
“Uplift my heart for me.” This was the first thing Musa asked for before setting about his important and very responsible mission. Make my heart wide, fill it with light, faith and wisdom, so that I may bear all the insults that will be inflicted on me. He did not ask for this by chance, since he knew the temperament of the one he was going to address, as he knew his arrogant and cruel entourage. The people he was going to might well not only abuse him and try to humiliate him with offensive, wounding words, but also intend to do him bodily harm. So he needed to stock up on patience in order to carry out this command of the Lord in the best way.
“And make my task easy.” Make easy for me what I am going to do. Make easy for me every path I set out on for Your sake. Make easy for me the difficulties I shall have to face in my call to Your religion.
“And remove the impediment from my tongue so people may understand my speech.” For a person’s words are the most important means of calling others, and how and what he says largely determines his listeners’ reaction to what he has said and their attitude to his call. So it is quite natural that the prophet of God asked the Almighty to put the best words into his mouth and to help him explain what he was calling to in the most effective way.
This supplication teaches us, first of all, to trust completely in Allah, especially when an important task lies before us, and to ask Him for help in that task. For the Lord can do all things, all that exists is in His power, and nothing can oppose His will.
We see also that Musa (peace be upon him) asked the Almighty for what was to contribute to the successful fulfilment of his mission, and in this he set a beautiful example for every believer. Each of us should ask Him for what, as we suppose, can help us to accomplish the important tasks of life, whether related to religion or to worldly matters.
At the same time it is important to remember that no means will yield a result unless the Almighty wills it. And this is one more reason to trust in Him in the most perfect way and to turn to Him constantly in supplication, in the hope of attaining success in both worlds.