Ramadan 1447AH Asking Ar-Rahman Series Day 9: Duʿā’ in Sujūd: The Closest Place — Ibraheem Habeebah Adedoyinsola

All praise is for Allaah, Ar-Raḥmān, the Most Merciful, Ar-Raḥīm, the Especially Merciful; and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah, and upon his family and all his companions. 

There is a position in prayer that appears to be the lowest a person can physically descend. The forehead touches the ground. The nose rests upon the earth. The body folds inward in complete humility. 

Yet it is in that position that a servant is nearest to Allaah. 

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: 

“The closest a servant is to his Lord is while he is in sujūd, so increase in supplication.” 
(Sahih Muslim 482) 

The closest — to whom? 

To Al-Malik, the King. 
To Al-ʿAẓīm, the Most Great. 
To Ar-Raḥmān, whose mercy encompasses all things. 

Nearness is not achieved by elevation of the body, but by humility of the heart. 

Allah commanded: 

كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِب 
“No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near.” 
[Al-‘Alaq: 19] 

Prostrate — and draw near. 

Draw near to Al-Qarīb, the Ever-Near. 
Draw near to As-Samīʿ, the All-Hearing. 
Draw near to Al-Baṣīr, the All-Seeing. 

In sujūd, a person acknowledges their origin. From the earth we were created, and upon the earth we place our faces in worship. It is a silent admission of need: 

O Ar-Raḥmān, I am dependent upon You. 
O Al-Ghanī, You are free of need and I am in need. 

And Allaah responds to that humility with nearness. 

He says: 

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ 
“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near.” 
[Al-Baqarah: 186] 

He is near when you call. 

Sujūd is the place of calling. 

The Prophet ﷺ instructed: 

“As for sujūd, strive in supplication therein, for it is more likely that you will be responded to.” 
(Sahih Muslim 479) 

More likely to be answered — by Al-Karīm, the Most Generous. 
More likely to be forgiven — by Al-Ghafūr, the Oft-Forgiving. 
More likely to be comforted — by Ar-Raḥmān. 

You may say after glorifying Him: 

O Ar-Raḥmān, forgive what I conceal and what I reveal. 
O Al-Latīf, be gentle with my heart. 
O Al-Hādī, guide me where I am confused. 
O Al-Jabbār, mend what is broken within me. 

Now pause. 

Now imagine duʿā’ in sujūd — during Tahajjud. 

The house is asleep. 
The lights are dim. 
The world is silent. 

You have already stood before Al-ʿAẓīm. 
You have recited His words. 
You have bowed. 

And then you fall into sujūd in the last third of the night. 

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ informed us: 

“Our Lord descends every night to the nearest Heaven when the last third of the night remains and says: Is there anyone calling upon Me so that I may respond to him? Is there anyone asking Me so that I may give him? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?” 
(Sahih al-Bukhari 1145; Sahih Muslim 758) 

Now imagine placing your forehead on the ground while that call is being made. 

Imagine whispering your need while Ar-Raḥmān invites you to ask. 

That sujūd is different. 

It is softer. 
It is heavier. 
It is more honest. 

Fear and hope meet there. 

Allaah described the righteous as: 

تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا 
“Their sides forsake their beds; they call upon their Lord in fear and hope.” 
[As-Sajdah: 16] 

Fear — before Al-Ḥasīb, the Reckoner. 
Hope — in Ar-Raḥmān, the Most Merciful. 

In that quiet sujūd, you are not performing. You are not impressing. You are not explaining yourself to anyone. 

You are simply a servant before his Lord. 

The Prophet ﷺ said: 

“Whoever humbles himself for Allaah, Allaah will raise him.” 
(Sahih Muslim 2588) 

When you lower yourself before Al-ʿAliyy, the Most High, He raises you in rank in ways unseen. 

Perhaps your circumstances remain the same when you rise. 

But your heart is steadier. 
Your hope is firmer. 
Your trust in Ar-Raḥmān is deeper. 

We ask Ar-Raḥmān to grant us sujūd that transforms us, duʿā’ that is sincere, and hearts that find sweetness in nearness to Him. We ask Al-Qadīr to change our condition for the better, Al-Latīf to be gentle with our affairs, and Al-Karīm to give us more than we dare to ask. 

May He draw us close to Him in this life and raise us among those nearest to Him in the next. 

And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who taught us that the closest place is found not by standing tall before creation, but by lowering ourselves before the Creator. 

Aamin 

#AskingArRahman