Pray to Worship, Not to Request Things from Allah | Khaled Abou El Fadl | Usuli Excerpts

In this clip from a session on The Book of Illuminations, Kitab al Hikam, Wisdoms No. 6 - 7, Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl explains how to approach prayer as a form of worship rather than a "transaction" with Allah, a concept that is key to developing a closer relationship with our Maker.
For more, visit the full recording of the Halaqa where this excerpt was taken from:
The Book of Illuminations, Kitab al Hikam, Wisdoms No. 6 - 7
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[@RevertofAllah]

Thank you.

[@bestrafung2754]

I understand, some people will definitely make dua just for their own greed and not even be grateful or thank Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala). However, I do have 1 question: does this mean I shouldn't ask Him for anything at all or is it more about just asking Him for random things out of greed, arrogance, and later on being ungrateful about His blessings? I constantly worship Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) though the 5 daily prayers, sunnah prayers, and sometimes nafl prayers too, but I always make dua to him and that usually involves this 1 thing I really want in my life. Basically, I always ask Him to help me find a partner (in a halal way obviously) but I promise to abstain from zina and worship Him only. I make other duas every time too but usually about protection, completing university assignments successfully, guiding my mother towards Islam, and forgiveness. Basically, is this bad or okay? I'm very grateful to Him and recognise His blessings.

[@islamicgems6390]

How is asking anything from Allah bad my beloved brother? Even the smallest things brother ask allah. If you lost your shoe lace you wont be able to find it unless allah willed. Ask Allah anything bro❤❤

[@ghadamohamad-lk2pd]

This is not what Prof Khaled meant. He is talking about building a close relationship with Allah (swt) that is not based on asking for things related to this world only. It is also the special discipline in which we should approach the duaa. Look at how Musa (as) asked Allah (swt) in chapter 28, Al-Qassas for support and He granted him not only refuge but a partner as well: 24. So he watered (their flocks) for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestowed on me!" Musa (as) is showing gratitude for the generosity of God (swt) by admitting that it is already being "bestowed" while showing his need for it! And another example is Zakariyya (as) when he asked Allah (swt) for a child in chapter 21, Al-Anbiyaa: 89. And (remember) Zakariyya (Zachariah), when he cried to his Lord: "O My Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the Best of the inheritors." He asked for a child so that he may not be left childless while acknowledging that regardless of whether he will have a child or not, everybody will eventually perish and God (swt) is the One who will never die and everything will come back to Him eventually. And, on building a close relationship with God (swt) there is a beautiful hadith qudsi: Through Abu Hurairah who said: the Prophet (sAaws) said: Allah (swt) said: whoever shows enmity towards a devout believer of Mine, then I will declare war against him. And nothing draws my servant nearer to Me than the obligatory practices [prayers, fasting, charity], and my servant keeps drawing closer to me through nawafel [extra good deeds such as prayers, charity] until I love him, and if I love him, I would be the hearing with which he hears, and the eyes with which he sees, and the hand with which he strikes, and the leg with which he walks, and if asks me I will give him, and I will grant him refuge if he ever needs it. This hadith qudsi shows what living a life with purpose actually means: to live life with Allah (swt) in mind and see Him everywhere and in everything. May Allah (swt) guide us to live a life that draws us close to Him and grant us His love; and I hope Allah (swt) will give you a good partner soon and grant you happiness, ameen.

[@user-k229]

A great appraisal. Our payers without action are lame. Allah states in the Quran that He does not change a person/ people/ nation, until, they themselves change. In addition: Quran: Man gets nothing except that for which he strives for. It is our striving that is important, it is the striving that Allah counts and not the result.