25:74 - Beautiful Du'aa for the family.

Nice du'aa which we hear all the time, and we should make very often :

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

"Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes,

and make us leaders for the Muttaqun (people of taqwa / righteousness /piety, etc)” (25:74)

There are 2 parts to this du'aa -

Part 1. Bestow our wives and offspring the coolness of our eyes

The phrase "qurratu a'yun" (literally translated "the coolness of the eyes") is an Arabic phrase that encompasses all forms of happiness.

So here we ask Allah to gift to us spouses and our offspring, to be the source of happiness in dunia and hereafter.

Also, realise that perhaps our family members - our parents, spouse, sibling, etc -  could be making this du'aa, so the next question to us is, are WE a coolness of our eyes to our family members? Or a burden? Or a headache and source of stress? What is the first expression on our faces to our family after a long day at work? Do we feel proud of them if Allah were to question us about them?

So many of us are so nice to other such as friends and colleagues, but fierce when it comes to the family. This isn't the trait of a believer.

The Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said -  "the best of you are those who are best to his family;

And I am the best of you"  (Tirmidzi)

So we should all take initiative to be the best to his family, regardless of whether it is reciprocated or not,  or if other family members "aren't used to it". Change has to start somewhere, why not let it be from you? We want our family to be a coolness of our eyes, let's first be a coolness to their eyes.

There's a subtle hint on the reality of family halpiness here -  when we make this dua, we say "hab"  lana. "hab" in Arabic means to request to gift/bestow. This is a subtle adab and manners when we ask Allah, to "gift" it, not demand to "grant" us.

Because the reality is, a happy family that is the coolness of our eyes is a gift from Allah. Many righteous prophets of the past were tested with severe difficulties and opposition from their own family members - the wife of Prophet Lut,  the son of Noah, Abu Lahab the uncle of Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam).

So if your family does grant you happiness in dunya and hereafter, you owe it to yourself to be grateful to Allah. And if your family is difficult, well, realize that the best of mankind were also tested like this – be patient, and aspire to achieve the 2nd part of this du’aa..

Ease and difficulty are both tests and a trust from Allah, so use that trust wisely, and let not your love for tour families divert you from the remembrance of Allah (63:9)

Part 2. And make us leaders of the muttaqun (people of taqwa -  righteousness)

Firstly, we can learn from this that when we ask Allah, ask for the best things. Don't be mediocre in your du'aa.. Allah is All-Rich, all Generous and owns all in the heavens and the earth. Ask for the best!

Allah says the most honourable people on earth are the people of taqwa (righteosuness) (49:13). Allah didn't tell us here to make du'aa to be the people of taqwa: He tell us to aspire to be the LEADERS of the people of taqwa -  the ones who guide other people to be muttaqun. So we’re not just asking Allah to make us the best – but to be people who groom others to be the best!

And in this context, it refers to our family. Our primary role in our family - is to be of those who aid each other to achieve taqwa. As imam Ibn Al-Qayyim commented on this du'aa, "Obviously, if you want to be a leader of the people of taqwa, you yourself need to be a person of taqwa".

And by making this du'aa, we are in fact making a statement of commitment that we aspire towards this - to lead by example, and to guide others toward righteousness.

If we want Allah to grant this du'aa to us, we need to fulfill OUR end of the bargain.

Then insha Allah, we’ll have the coolness of the eyes we all seek, and be amongst the imam of the muttaqun =).

May Allah bestow upon our spouses and our offspring - the coolness of our eyes, and make us the leaders of the muttaqun (righteous).. ameen!