Toourparents,whosesupportand guidancehavebeenasourceofstrength throughourstruggles,Whoseloveand mercyhavebeenasourceofcomfortto ourhearts,Andwhosesincerityand devotioninraisingthefuturesleaders havebroughtusclosertoourCreator.

Thisbookletcontainsacollectionofduas ofwhichareintendedtoguideand supporttheMuslimstudent.Someof theseduasarenotfromthehadith,and assuchshouldnotbeviewedasa practiceoftheProphet(s.a.w)butrather asbeneficialsupplicationstohelp encouragetheMuslimstudenttoturnto Allahinanytimeofneed.

FortressoftheMuslimStudent 2

Contents
Introduction......................................................................4 EtiquetteofMakingDua..6 DuaBeforeStudying10 DuaAfterStudying...11 DuaForConcentration...12 DuaForAnxiety..13 DuaforStudyingSomethingDifficult...14 DuaforIstikhara(GuidancePrayer).14 SalaatAlHajaah(DuaattheTimeofNeed).17 PowerofTahajjud(NightPrayers)19 StudyTips..22

FortressoftheMuslimStudent 3

Introduction
Countlessexams,assignmentsandlatenights spentstudyinghavebecomeariteofpassagefor manyMuslimstudentsgoingthroughhighschool st anduniversityinthe21 century.Thesuccesswe aimforinthisworldlylifeandinthehereafter requiresadequatepreparation,dedicationand hardwork.However,achoiceliesbeforeyou,the Muslimstudent.Youcanmakealltheeffortand travelthejourneyalone,withtheaimof benefittingyourself,oryoucanfacethe challengesoflifewithAllah(s.w.t)byyoursideand turneverymomentofhardwork,sacrificeand effortintoanactofworshipandsourceof blessinginboththislifeandthehereafter.Itall beginswithanintention.

Itisessentialtohavetherightintentionduring thecourseofyourstudiesfortheintentionisthe foundationofallyouractions.Rasulullah(s.a.w) highlightedthesignificanceofthiswhenhesaid Verilyactionsare(judged)bytheirintentions, andoneshallonlyhavethatwhichoneintended. [Bukhari,Muslim]Eventhesmallestofactionsbecomes

FortressoftheMuslimStudent 4

 token,thegreatestofactionsbecomessmallwith
thewrongintention.TheMuslimstudent,by meansofseekingknowledge,shouldintendto earnthepleasureofAllah(s.w.t),obtainthe hereafter,bringbenefittohumanityandrevive andmaintainthehonourofIslam.Thestudent shouldalsoremembertobegratefultoAllah(s.w.t) forthebountiesofintelligenceandgoodhealth grantedtothem.

greatbytheintentionbehinditand,bythesame

Sobeginyourday,yourassignmentandyour academicyearwithanintention.AskAlmighty Allah(s.w.t)togiveyousincerityinpursuingthis educationpurelyforHispleasure.AskHimtogive youtheabilitytoremainfocused,studyhardand achievethebestresults.AskHimtokeepyou steadfastonthepathofIslamandmakeyour characterasourceofguidancetoothers.AskHim tomakeyouofbenefittoyourMuslimcommunity andhumanityatlarge.AskHimtohavemercyon yourparents&teachers.AskHimforguidance andsupportforanyfear,problemordreamyou mayencounter,forAllah(s.w.t)istheAllHearing, theEverGenerousandtheUltimateGuide.

FortressoftheMuslimStudent

EtiquetteofMakingDua
Duaistheessenceofworship.[Tirmithi,Ahmad] Itisthemostspecialandnearestformofworship inthesightofAllah(s.w.t).Throughdua,aMuslim seeksvictoryfromAllah(s.w.t),asitservesasalink betweenhissoulandhisCreator.Duaimbuesa Muslimsheartwithhopeandconvictionin Allahs(s.w.t)powerandmightandisanintegral partofaMuslimstudentslife,particularlywhen facedwithsituationsthatmayseemchallenging, stressfuloroverwhelming.

Tomakeourduameaningful,successfuland inshaAllahworthyofacceptance,therearefew simpleguidelinesandetiquettesoneshould follow:

1) Makewudubeforemakingduaandbeina stateofTaharah(purity) 2) FacetheQiblah 3) Raisethehandswhenmakingdua 4) BeginmakingduabyPraisingAllah(s.w.t)and SendingPeaceandBlessingsuponRasulullah (s.a.w) 5) Havesinceritywhenmakingduahavethe

FortressoftheMuslimStudent 6

firmbeliefthatAllah(s.w.t)aloneisabletofulfil yourneeds 6) Repentandseekforgivenessfromsinswhilst makingdua 7) MakecertainyourpresenceofHeartand TrustinAllah(s.w.t)whilstmakingDua.

Rasulullah(s.a.w)said:InvokeAllahwhileyouare

certaintobeansweredandknowthatAllahdoes notanswerduafromaheartwhichisinattentive andunmindful[Tirmithi]

8) Makeduawithfirmconviction.
Rasulullah(s.a.w)said:NoneofyoushouldsayOh

Allahforgivemeifyouwish,OhAllahbemerciful tomeifYouwish,butmustappealtoAllahwith determination,fornobodycanforceAllahtodo somethingagainstHiswill.[Tirmithi]

9) MakeduabymentioningtheBeautifulNames ofAllah(s.w.t). 10) Makeduaforyourselfpriortomakingduafor others,followedbyonesparentsandthen includeMuslimsallovertheworld. 11) Observehumbleness,humilityandhopefor Allahs(s.w.t)rewardwhilstmakingdua. 12) HumbleyourvoicebyinvokingAllah(s.w.t)ina lowtone. 13) Repeatyourduathreetimes
FortressoftheMuslimStudent 7

EtiquetteofMakingDua
14) Bepatientforyourduatobeaccepted,as hastinessisoneofthecausesofrejectionor disapproval. 15) RememberAllah(s.w.t)andmakeduaduring bothtimesoftroubleandease. 16) Abstainfromsins,haraamfood,clothingand earnings.
Specialtimeswhenduaismorelikelytobeaccepted:

1) BetweenAthaanandIqaamah 2) Duringprostration 3) InprayerafterAttashahudpriortogiving Salam[totheangels] 4) Inthelastthirdofthenight[Tahajjud] 5) Aftereverycompulsoryprayer 6) OnthedayofJumuah 7) OnLaylatulQadr(NightofPower) 8) Whenrainisfalling,whiletravellingand whenbreakingfast 9) AttheKabaduringtawaf(circumbulation),at theBlackStone,whendrinkingZamzam waterandontheDayofArafah. 10) WhenaMuslimsupplicatesforanother
FortressoftheMuslimStudent 8

Musliminhisabsence.

TheduaofaMuslimforhisbrother(inIslam)inhis absenceisreadilyaccepted,anangelisappointed tohisside,wheneverhemakesabeneficialduafor hisbrothertheappointedangelsays"aameenand mayyoualsobeblessedwiththesame".[Muslim]

Duaisthekeytoourspiritualhappiness.Itisan aweinspiringgiftthatAllah(s.w.t)hasgrantedus,a meansbywhichbelieversmaycommunicatewith Himdirectlytoexpresstheireverynotion,dream andfear.Thenexttimewemakedua,letus ensurewedoitrightandbethankfulforthe blessingofbeingabletoreachoutandspeakto theOnewhocreatedus. AnyMuslimwhosupplicatestoAllahinadua whichcontainsnosinorbreakingofkinship,Allah willgivehimoneofthreethings:eitherhisduawill beimmediatelyansweredor,itwillbesavedfor himinthehereafter,oritwillturnawayan equivalentamountofevil(fromhim)"The companionssaid"sowewillaskformore"he replied,"Allahismore[generous]."[atTirmidhi,Ahmad] FortressoftheMuslimStudent 9

DuaBeforeStudying

) 0 # % '% ( 8<);: 876 54 -4 ( %' %# 31 /' %# - , ) .#% '> ?% < / #% '/ 13 ) 0

AllahummaTufiltufbifitaysirikulli'asirin,fainna taysirrakuuli'asirin'alaikayassirun OAllah!Makeeasyformeeverydifficultthing, withYourspecialfavourandKindness,foritis easyforYoutomakeeverydifficultthingeasy

4ABCA > ,D 4AE0</4 AG E)</ ,E5 4ABCH8<);: ) I%<J# E8 KCL I%0 M)A8,8? -;: JO 4 H8<);: ) ) 3#S5 ,D,/ 4H,'8 1BT. 8<);: I%5#QE8 ) UH># VW ,Y( ,D Z< / ?)H? G% Y [5 4M<W .1%3\ 8: BH, 8<)] AM 'L
10

FortressoftheMuslimStudent

 Allahummainfa'niibimaa'allamtaniiwa'allimnii

maayanfa'uunii.Allahummainiias'alukafahmal nabiyyenwahifzalmursaleenalmuqarrabeen. Allahummaijalleesanee'aimanbidhikrikawa qalbibikhashyatika.Innaka'alamatasha'u qadeerwaantahasbunallahuwana'malwakeel OhAllah!Makeusefulformewhatyouhave taughtmeandteachmeknowledgethatwillbe usefultome.OhAllah!Iaskyouforthe understandingoftheprophetsandthememory ofthemessengers,andthosenearesttoyou.Oh Allah!Makemytonguefullofyourremembrance andmyheartwithconsciousnessofyou.Oh Allah!Youdowhateveryouwish,andyouaremy availerandprotectorandbestofaid.

DuaAfterStudying

- # UaCL ,D # W ,D ?/ \G JO 40H8<);: ) ) ># VW ,Y( ,D Z< / ?)H4 8 %] .GT,L VA / Z< / ) .1%3\ 8: BH ZM'L UHO

11

FortressoftheMuslimStudent

 Allahummainniastaodeekamaqara'tuwama

hafaztu.Farudduhu'allayaindahajatielahi. Innaka'alamatasha'uqadeerwaantahasbeeya wana'malwakeel OhAllah!IentrustyouwithwhatIhaveread andIhavestudied.OhAllah!Bringitbacktome whenIaminneedofit.OhAllah!Youdo whateveryouwish,youaremyavailerand protectorandthebestofaid.

DuaForConcentration

SallallaahualaaMuhammadwaaale Muhammad.Allahummainniasalukayaa mudhakkiralkhayrwafaailahuwalaamimira bihidhakirnimaaansaanihishaytan

FortressoftheMuslimStudent

) 4 H 8<;: VEbD VEbD Z< / ] <8 Z<e ) ) ,D 4H# 03 # 5 ] D hi # 8[ %# -,/ < ] f)VD ,> ?8,J .) %7,Y8 %] H,'HO

12

 BlessingsofAllahbeuponMuhammadandhis
progeny.OAllah,Iaskyou,theonewhomentions goodnessandactualizesitandcommandsit, remindmeofthatwhichtheshaytanmakesme forget.

DuaForAnxiety

jkB8 j b8 8;: ID ?5 /\O 4 H8<;: 0 ) ) UM < l I> V8 m<n IM k8[ 1 M 8'1 o8 .,T#0 8
Allahummainniaoodhoobikaminalhammi walhuzni,walajziwalkasaliwalbukhliwal jubni,wadaliddayniwaghalabatirrajaal OAllah!IseekrefugeinYoufromanxietyand sorrow,weaknessandlaziness,miserlinessand cowardice,theburdenofdebtsandfrombeing oppressedbymen.

FortressoftheMuslimStudent

13

DuaforStudyingSomethingDifficult

Allahummalasahlaillamajaaltahusahlaanta tajalualhazanaezamashitasahal. OhAllah!Nothingiseasyexceptwhatyouhave madeeasy.Ifyouwish,youcanmakethedifficult easy.

1Bk( UHO qr;J ] G < BT ,D ) hi;1 J hi :;)<8 ) .qr;J Ust j b8

DuaforIstikhara(GuidancePrayer)

JaabirbinAbdullah,mayAllahbepleasedwith him,said:TheProphet(s.a.w)usedtoteachusto seekAllahscounselinallmatters,asheusedto teachusasurahfromtheQuran.Hewouldsay: Whenanyoneofyouhasanimportantmatterto decide,lethimpraytworakahsotherthanthe obligatoryprayer,andthensay:

14

FortressoftheMuslimStudent

Allaahumma'innee'astakheerukabi'ilmika,wa 'astaqdirukabiqudratika,wa'as'alukamin fadhtikal'Adheemi,fa'innakataqdiruwalaa 'aqdiru,wata'lamu,walaa'a'lamu,wa'Anta 'AllaamulGhuyoobi,Allaahumma'inkunta

FortressoftheMuslimStudent 15

VQG JO? E< B5 [% #G JO04 H8<);: ) ?)H, - :%aB8 <? w- ID ?8O,JO(? VQ5 q)r/ UHO/ <: O hi <: B( VW O hi VQ( ) ) #% f -# DO hi Sy O <: B( UA 3 8{ %\ 8<);: ]<T,/ -#DO~ M W,/4 t,BD4 A>84 -4 ) ]%- 48 84 >' # 84 : 5,VW ,- -]<T 0 ) 4A> # 84 -4 t # DO hi Sy O <: B( UA 3 ] - #e,- -]<T<] T,/ -#DO~ M W,/4 t,BD : % 3,L # % [8 84 VW ] A / 4A- #e4 A0 / ) .] 5 4AnO

 ta'lamu'annahaathal'amra[thenmentionthe

thingtobedecided]Khayrunleefeedeeneewa ma'aasheewa'aaqibati'amree[orsay]'Aajilihi wa'aajilihiFaqdurhuleewayassirhulee thummabaarikleefeehi,wa'inkuntata'lamu 'annahaathal'amrasharrunleefeedeeneewa ma'aasheewa'aaqibati'amree[orsay]'Aajilihi wa'aajilihiFasrifhu'anneewasrifnee'anhu waqdurliyalkhayrahaythukaanathumma 'ardhineebihi.

OAllah,IseekthecounselofYourKnowledge, andIseekthehelpofYourOmnipotence,andI beseechYouforYourMagnificentGrace.Surely, YouareCapableandIamnot.YouknowandI knownot,andYouaretheKnowerofthe unseen.OAllah,ifYouknowthatthismatter [thenmentionthethingtobedecided]isgood formeinmyreligionandinmylifeandformy welfareinthelifetocome,[orsay:inthislife andtheafterlife]thenordainitformeand makeiteasyforme,thenblessmeinit.Andif Youknowthatthismatterisbadformeinmy religionandinmylifeandformywelfareinthe lifetocome,[orsay:inthislifeandthe
FortressoftheMuslimStudent 16

 distancemefromit,andordainformewhatis
goodwhereveritmaybe,andhelpmetobe contentwithit.

afterlife]thendistanceitfromme,and

SalaatAlHaajahDuaattheTimeofNeed

AbullahibnAbiAwfa,mayAllahbepleasedwith him,relatesthattheMessengerofAllah(s.w.t)said, WhoeverhasaneedwithAllah,orwithany humanbeing,thenletthemperformritual ablutionswellandthenpraytworakats.After that,letthempraiseAllah(s.w.t)andsendblessings ontheProphet(s.a.w).Afterthis,letthemsay:

, 8< )] bM J :>#o8<%: b8 8<) ] hi 8 ] hi 0 ?8O,JO I%E8,B8 8< )] VEb8%: aB8 # B8 0 ID ~E%A{8 #(? C{D :j /? GEL, M T\D hi, M H 84 V( hi : 31 ID ~Dqr'831 5 # 0 ) 0 ,n4 8? y ~T,L hi ] G T#- hi, Ey hi # ( ] Cl ) .I%EL: 8#LO ;, >, G % wW hi )
FortressoftheMuslimStudent 17

 LailahaillallahulHalimulkarim,Subhanallahi

RabbilArshilAzim,AlhamdulillahiRabbil Alamin,AsalukaMujibaatiRahmatikaWa Azaa'imamaghfiratikaWalGhanimataMinKulli Birrin,WassalamataMinKulliIthmin,LaTada' LiZanmbanIllaGhafartahu,WalaHammanIlla Farrajtahu,WalahajatanhiyaLakaRidhanIlla Qadhaitaha,YaArhamarRahimeen.

ThereisnodeityexceptAllah(s.w.t),theMost ForbearingandKind,Whoisunblemishedand theLordoftheGreatThrone,sopraisebeto Allah(s.w.t),theCherisheroftheworlds.Iseekall causesofthegrantofYourmercyand forgiveness,afullshareofvirtuousdeedsand completesafetyfrominequity.(OAllah,)Let notasinglesinofminebeleftasidefrombeing forgiven,norworryandpainfrombeing relieved,norneedwhichisagreeabletoYou frombeingfulfilled,OYou,MostMercifuland Compassionate.[TirmidhiandIbnMaja]

FortressoftheMuslimStudent

18

ThePowerofTahajjud(NightPrayers)
AbuHurayrahnarratedthattheProphet(s.a.w)said: OurLorddescendseverynight,duringthelast thirdofit,totheskiesofthisworld,andasks: Whoismakingduaatome,sothatIcanrespond tohim?WhoisaskingMe,sothatIcangive him?WhoisaskingforMyforgiveness,sothatI canforgivehim? Rasulullah(s.a.w)said,"Atnightthereissucha momentinwhichaMuslimsupplicatesAllah Ta'alaforthegoodofthisworldortheHereafter, AllahTa'alawillgranthimhisrequest,andthis momentappearseverynight."[Muslim]

IbnAbbas(r.a)narratedthatwhenthe Prophet(s.a.w)gotupatnighttooffertheTahajjud prayer,heusedtosay:

) ,D hi \ E'8 0%: W UHO VEb88<);: 8? ) ) hi \ E'8 <? D ?8 VEb8 8? I;% ) ) \E'8 \ H UHO VEb8 8? I;%- ID )
FortressoftheMuslimStudent 19

b8 UHO VEb8 8? I;%- ID hi ) ~)Ak8 L ?8\ W L , Q8 b8 V/ ])<8 Z)<e VEbD L % \M)A8 L ),A8 L ) UE< JO 8<);: 8? L ~/,'8 L :)<J/ < %] ) ) ?5 UM HO 8 %? U< )3\ ( ?% < / UA D5? ,D UDVW ,D 48# Cl,- UE3,L ?% 8 UEe, f ) ] 5 :< /O UHO, D UA < /O, D # JO, D) # fO UHO h)i 8 ] hi # 0f E8 UHO VQE8 UHO4 A0 D 0 .]) <8,5 h)i\ W hi \ L hi )

Allahommalakalhamd.Antaqayyumus samawatiwalardiwamafihinn.Walakalhamdu lakamulkussamawatiwalardiwamanfihinn. Walakalhamd.Antanoorossamawatiwalardi wamanfihinn.Walakalhamdu.Antalhaqq. Wawadokalhaqq.Waliqaokahaqq.Waqaoloka haqq.Waljannatuhaqq.Wannaruhaqq.

FortressoftheMuslimStudent 20

 Wannabiyyoonahaqq.Wamuhammadunsallal
lahoalayhiwassallamahaq.Wassaatohaqq. Allahommalakaaslamto.Wabikaamant. Waalaykatawakkalto.Wailaykaanabt.Wabika khasamt.Wailaykahakamt.Faghfirlima qaddamtowamaakhkhart.Wamaasrarto wamaalant.Wamaantaalamobihiminni. Antalmoqaddimuwaantalmuakhir.Lailaha illaant.Walahaolawalaqowwatailabillah. Allpraiseisduetoyou.OAllah!Youarethe Sustaineroftheheavensandtheearthand whateverisinthem.PraisebetoYou;Yoursis thedomainoftheheavensandtheearthand whateverisinthem.PraisebetoYou;Youare thelightoftheheavensandtheearthand whateverisinthem.PraisebetoYou.Youare thetruth.Yourpromiseistrue,meetingwith Youistrue,Yourwordistrue,paradiseistrue, hellistrue,theprophetsaretrue,Muhammad istrue,thehour(ofjudgement)istrue.O Allah!UntoYoudoIsubmit,inYoudoIbelieve, uponYoudoIdepend,untoYoudoIturn.For YoudoIcontend;untoYoudoIseek judgement.SoforgivemeforwhatIdidandwill
FortressoftheMuslimStudent 21

 do,forwhatIconcealedandwhatIdeclared,

andforthatofwhichYouaremore knowledgeablethanme.Youaretheexpediter andYouarethedeferrer.Thereisnodeitybut You.Andthereisnoabilityorpowerexceptby theleaveofAllah.SahihBukhari[2221,9482,534]&Muslim.

StudyTips

1) Studyinshort,frequentsessions.Ithasbeen proventhatshortburstsofconcentration repeatedfrequentlyaremuchmoreeffective thanonelongsession. 2) Takeguiltfreedaysofrest.Thereasonfor restingistorefreshoneself.Ondaysofffrom studying,enjoyyourselfanddonotfeelbad aboutnotstudying. 3) Honouryouremotionalstate.Donotstudyif youaretired,angry,distracted,orinahurry. Whenthebrainisrelaxed,itislikeasponge, naturallyabsorbinginformationwithout effort. 4) Reviewthesameday.Whenyoulearn somethingnew,reviewthepointsthesame day.Thistendstohelpcementthe
FortressoftheMuslimStudent 22

 5) Observethenaturallearningsequence.Try
tofirstgraspthebigpictureandthenfillin thedetails.Inthismanner,youareoften morelikelytothoroughlycovertheconcept. Prepareyourstudyenvironment.Certain elementsenhancehowwelldifferentpeople work.Considerlighting,privacy,snacks, temperature,equipmentandtimeofday. Respectbrainfade.Itisnormalforthebrain tohaveanattritionrateandforgetthings. Thetrickistoreview.Sincethefadingofour memorycanbeanticipated,creatingareview aspecttoourstudysessionwillsolvethe problem. Createastudyroutine.Schedulingcertain timesofthedaytostudy,helpsyougetintoa routine.Simplymarkdownstudysessionsin yourdiaryasifyouhaveanappointment. Setreasonablegoals.SubhanAllah,oneof themainreasonspeopledonotreachtheir goalsisbecausetheysetthemtoohigh. Settingmanageablegoals,eveniftheyseem simple,getsyouinthehabitofaccomplishing themandgradually,highergoalscanbeset.
23

informationintoyourbrain.

6)

7)

8)

9)

FortressoftheMuslimStudent

ImprovingyourMemory Forgetfulnessissomethingthatvariesfrom

persontopersonaccordingtoeachindividuals nature;somemaybemoreforgetfulthanothers. Someofthethingsthatmayhelptocombat forgetfulnessarethefollowing:

1) Keepingawayfromsin,asthebadeffectsof sinresultintheinabilitytoretainknowledge. AlShaafiee,mayAllah(s.w.t)havemercyon himsaid:Icomplainedto[myshaykh] Wakeeaboutmybadmemoryandhetaught methatIshouldkeepawayfromsin.Hesaid thatknowledgeofAllah(s.w.t)islight,andthe lightofAllahisnotgiventothesinner. 2) FrequentlyrememberingAllah(s.w.t)by performingThikr.Allah(s.w.t)says:And rememberyourLordwhenyouforget [AlKahf18:24] 3) Noteatingtoomuch,asthismayresultin excessivetirednessandadullingofthe senses,besidesexposingonetotheriskof physicalillnesses. FortressoftheMuslimStudent 24