Palestine is close to the heart of every Muslim. For decades, its people have faced extreme hardships, living in constant fear and uncertainty. As peace remains out of reach, Muslims around the globe find solace and strength in one of their most potent spiritual practices—prayer (dua). The Prophet Muhammad SAW highlighted the significance of prayer, stating, “Dua is the essence of worship” (Tirmidhi).
In this blog post, we will look into the importance of offering prayers for Palestine, explore specific supplications that can be recited, and understand how these prayers can serve as a source of strength and hope for both the oppressed and those who support them.
The Power of Prayer
Prayer is a cornerstone of Islamic worship, representing a direct line of communication between a believer and Allah SWT. It goes beyond ritual; it is a profound expression of a Muslim’s trust in Allah’s wisdom and mercy.
When faced with the suffering and injustice in Palestine, prayer becomes a powerful tool, providing comfort and a means of seeking divine assistance. During times of crisis, Muslims are encouraged to turn to Allah SWT with sincerity, asking for relief, protection, and justice for those who are oppressed.
Offering prayers for Palestine is more than an act of empathy; it is a religious duty to stand against oppression and injustice. The Prophet Muhammad SAW taught us that the Ummah is like one body; if one part is in pain, the entire body feels it. This metaphor emphasizes the collective responsibility to feel and respond to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
By offering prayers for Palestine, we are not only seeking Allah’s intervention in a difficult situation but also reaffirming our faith in the power of supplication. It is a spiritual connection with our brothers and sisters in Palestine, showing them our support even if we cannot help them physically or politically.
Specific Prayer for Palestine
Here are some specific duas that can be recited for the people of Palestine. These prayers call upon Allah for protection, forgiveness, and peace.
1. Prayer for Protection from Oppression
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ ظُلْمِ الْمُلْكِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ الْقَهَّارِ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min dhulmil-mulk, wa min sharri al-qahhar.
Translation: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the injustice of rulers and from the evil of the One who exercises power.”
2. Prayer for Forgiveness
اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لِحَيِّـنا وَمَيِّتِـنا وَشـاهِدِنا، وَغائِبِـنا، وَصَغيـرِن وَكَبيـرِنا، وَذَكَـرِنا وَأُنْثـانا. اللهُـمِّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْـتَهُ مِنّا فَأَحْيِـهِ عَلى الإِسْلام، وَمَن تَوَفَّـيْتََهُ مِنّا فَتَوَفَّـهُ عَلى الإِيـمان، اللهُـمِّ لا تَحْـرِمْنـا أَجْـرَه، وَلا تُضِـلَّنا بَعْـدَه
Transliteration: Allahum-maghfir lihayyinaa, wa mayyitinaa, wa shaahidinaa, wa ghaa’ibinaa, wa sagheerinaa wa kabeerinaa, wa thakarinaa wa ‘unthaanaa. Allahumma man ‘ahyaytahu minnaa fa’ahyihi ‘alal-‘Islaami, wa man tawaffaytahu minnaa fatawaffahu ‘alal-‘eemaani, Allahumma laa tahrimnaa ‘ajrahu wa laa tudhillanaa ba’dahu. [Sahih Abu Dawud: 3201 and Tirmidhi: 1024]
Translation: “Oh Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whom among us You keep alive, then let such a life be upon Islam, and whom among us You take unto Yourself, then let such a death be upon faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us stray after him.”
3. Prayer for the Martyred
اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْـه ، وَعافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْـه ، وَأَكْـرِمْ نُزُلَـه ، وَوَسِّـعْ مُدْخَـلَه ، وَاغْسِلْـهُ بِالْمـاءِ وَالثَّـلْجِ وَالْبَـرَدْ ، وَنَقِّـهِ مِنَ الْخطـايا كَما نَـقّيْتَ الـثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَـضَ مِنَ الدَّنَـسْ ، وَأَبْـدِلْهُ داراً خَـيْراً مِنْ دارِه ، وَأَهْلاً خَـيْراً مِنْ أَهْلِـه ، وَزَوْجَـاً خَـيْراً مِنْ زَوْجِه ، وَأَدْخِـلْهُ الْجَـنَّة ، وَأَعِـذْهُ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر وَعَذابِ النّـار
Transliteration: Allaahum-maghfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘aafihi, wa’fu ‘anhu, wa ‘akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi’ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bilmaa’i waththalji walbaradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataayaa kamaa naqqaytath-thawbal-‘abyadha minad-danasi, wa ‘abdilhu daaran khayran min daarihi, wa ‘ahlan khayran min ‘ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa ‘adkhilhul-jannata, wa ‘a’udhu min ‘adhabil-qabri wa ‘athaabin-naar. [Sahih Muslim]
Translation: “O Allah, forgive them and have mercy on them and give them strength and pardon them. Be generous to them and cause their entrance to be wide and wash them with water and snow and hail. Cleanse them of their transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains. Give them an abode better than their home, and a family better than their family and a spouse better than their spouse. Take them into Paradise and protect them from the punishment of the grave, and from the punishment of Hell-fire.”
4. Prayer Against Enemies
اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَاب
سَرِيعَ الْحِسَاب
اهْزِم الأَحْزَاب
اللَّهُمَّ اهْزِمْهُمْ وَ زَلْزِلْهُم
Transliteration: Allāhumma munzila ‘l-kitāb, sarī`a ‘l-ḥisāb, ihzimi ‘l-aḥzāb, Allāhumma-hzimhum wa zalzilhum.
Translation: “O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Swift to account, defeat the groups (of disbelievers). O Allah, defeat them and shake them.”
5. Prayer for Anxiety
حسبى الله لا إله إلا هو عليه توكلت وهو رب العرش العظيم
Transliteration: Hasbiya Allahu la ilaha illa huwa ‘aalayhi tawakkaltu wahuwa rabbu al’aarshi al’atheem.
Translation: “Allah is sufficient for me. There is no God except Him. I place my trust in Him, and He is the Rabb of the great throne.”
The Need for Prayer and Action
Offering prayers for Palestine does not diminish the need for practical efforts to support the Palestinian cause. We must do everything in our power to help those in need—through donations, advocacy, and raising awareness—we ultimately rely on Allah’s will and wisdom.
Prayer complements these efforts, imbuing them with spiritual purpose and reminding us of the larger context of our actions. Prayer ties our worldly endeavors to our faith, ensuring that principles of justice, compassion, and humility guide our activism.
Prayer offers hope in difficult and dark times. It allows us to seek divine assistance, express our solidarity, and draw strength from our faith. Offering a prayer for Palestine is not only a spiritual duty but also a powerful tool for resilience and resistance against oppression.
Despite our distance from Palestine, offering prayers allows us to connect with the pain of our brothers and sisters in need. It reminds us that no matter how dire the situation may seem, there is always hope when we place our trust in Allah SWT.
Let us continue to offer prayer for Palestine—for peace, justice, and the well-being of all those who are suffering. May our prayers be answered, and may we see a day when Palestine is free, and its people can live in peace and dignity. Ameen.