ভূমিকা

Sometimes Isti’adha demands that man should be in a state of lamentation because otherwise Isti’adha remains ineffective. Tadharru means expressing ones helplessness and weakness through lamentation and expressing the predicament that the person is in. We have already said during our earlier discussions that man is confronted with a very formidable enemy that he has to escape from his clutches and the enemy perpetually keeps chasing him.

Man is absolutely incapable of confronting the enemy nor can he guard against his onslaught. Therefore he has to look elsewhere for help to ward off the evil adversary. In this situation he is like a small child who is chased by a venomous snake. The child runs scared and falls in the lap of his mother for help and protection from the reptile. This state is called the Isti’adha or the act of seeking help and protection to ward off the enemy!

Therefore when man understands that the accursed Satan, who is his mortal enemy, is about to attack him and he is all alone, helpless and utterly incapable of protecting himself, then he cries and laments for help from the Almighty Allah (S.w.T.). He says, “O Beneficent Allah (S.w.T.)!

I plead that the accursed enemy is barking like a wild dog and attacking me!” Tadharru Through Ma’thura or Transmitted Prayers Whenever a situation presents itself that a person has to seek Allah (S.w.T.)'s Protection against the evil advances of Satan, then the importance of Tadharru is highlighted through the transmitted supplications. One of these supplications is Du’a Hifdh min Sharri Iblis (Dua for Protection from the Evil of Satan) that runs like this: “O Allah!

Iblis is one of your creatures who is focusing his sights on me from such a place that I cannot see him. But You see him very well, while he is not empowered to see you! You have control over all his faculties. While he cannot interfere with what Your Wish and Will! O Allah (S.w.T.)! I, therefore, plead with You and seek Your help against him. O Sustainer!