Supplications of the Oppressed During Ramadan
Quranic Supplications for the Oppressed
The verses of the Qur’an serve as an inexhaustible source of guidance, teaching individuals how to respond to injustice when faced with it. It is essential for the believer to turn to Allah – the Exalted – in all matters and to seek His assistance in times of need. Some notable supplications for the oppressed found in the Holy Qur’an include:
- (فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِرْ) – “And he called upon his Lord, ‘Indeed, I am oppressed, so help me.'”
- (وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ) – “And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.'”
- (أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ) – “Is He not the One who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him?”
- (الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَتَطمَئِنُّ قُلوبُهُم بِذِكرِ اللَّـهِ) – “Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah.”
- (فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ) – “I said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord, indeed, He is the Forgiving.'”
- (وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي) – “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near.”
- (بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّـهِ) – “But yes, whoever submits his face in Islam to Allah while being a doer of good…”
- (وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّـهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ) – “And they said, ‘Suffices for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.'”
Prophetic Supplications for the Oppressed During Ramadan
Numerous supplications are attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for those who are oppressed. Although there isn’t a supplication explicitly designated for Ramadan, the blessed nature of this month presents an ideal opportunity for believers to invoke both traditional and personal prayers. Below are a few examples of supplications from the Sunnah for the oppressed:
- (اللَّهمَّ ربَّ السَّمواتِ السَّبعِ، وربَّ العرشِ العظيمِ) – “O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the mighty throne, You are the Most High and there is nothing above You…”
- (اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أعُوذُ بكَ مِنَ الهَمِّ والحَزَنِ) – “O Allah, I seek refuge with You from anxiety and sorrow…”
- (دَعَواتُ المَكروبِ) – “O Allah, I seek Your mercy; do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye…”
Diverse Supplications for the Oppressed
There is an abundance of supplications that an oppressed person can recite to seek Allah’s support. Here are several examples of such prayers:
- “O You who responds to the desperate when he calls, I am oppressed and vulnerable; alleviate my suffering and grant me victory.”
- “O Guardian of the oppressed and the weak, grant me Your support.”
- “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from harm, distress, and helplessness.”
- “O Allah, I turn to You with my limitations and vulnerabilities; assist me.”
- “O Allah, establish the truth and support its people; defeat falsehood and its followers.”
- “O Allah, I seek Your aid in my desperate situation; I am weak and oppressed; grant me strength and support.”
The Reward of Patience Amidst Injustice
Patience is a significant virtue that carries great rewards, particularly in times of severe distress and oppression. In such moments, the believer turns to Allah – the Exalted – seeks fulfillment of their needs, and endures the trials they face. Below are some rewards associated with patience during challenges:
- (ما يُصِيبُ المُؤْمِنَ مِن وصَبٍ…) – “No hardship afflicts a believer, not even a thorn that pricks him, except that Allah expiates some of his sins.”
- (حتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا) – “Even a thorn that pricks him is recorded as a deed in his favor by Allah.”