A Wish Come True!

Dua as a tool for connecting with our future selves.

A monstrous fountain was glistening with light and gushing water. Mouth agape and eyes glued, little me was compelled by the fountain like a mosquito to light. I tossed my pretty penny into the mosaic of copper and made a wish. It's good luck after all, according to European traditions. Though copper and silver have antimicrobial properties which can protect water and its drinkers from nasty infections. So perhaps pennies do carry some good fate.

They may even carry spiritual welfare by loaning a penny before making a request. Islamic traditions encourage us to give charity before supplication to increase its likelihood of getting answered. There are many such times of day and events which are perceived as winning ways to answered duas. But I would argue the key to a dua come true is through persistence more than perfect timing. The Prophet (ﷺ) said that dua is granted so long we don't ask for sinful things or grow impatient and abandon making dua. (Sahih Muslim, 2735c).

My future outcomes are determined by my vision for my future and strategizing towards those outcomes. Holding hands with my future self allows me to walk in her shoes and gives me the motivation to follow in her footsteps. But this requires a regular connection and reflections with her.

"someone's views of the future directly impact their attention and decisions (or pathways) in the present" - Dr Benjamin Hardy, PhD

There's a plethora of ways to stay connect my future self, by writing her letters or creating a vision board, but my favourite way is through dua.

There are specific types of duas we are encouraged to make that connect us to our future selves. We're prompted to make dua for the afterlife, for the Muslim ummah, and for ourselves in this life.

In order to walk in the gardens of paradise, I cannot simply wish upon a penny for it. The acceptance of this dua is conditional to how I live in the present. Urging me to reflect on who I need to be and what I need to do for jannah. Remembering this goal prompts me to do good deeds and seek protection from my nafs (destructive desires).

“his food was unlawful, his drink was unlawful, his clothing was unlawful, and he was nourished with unlawful; so how will his du‘ā’ be accepted?!” (Sahih Muslim, 1015)

Making dua for the ummah reminds me that I belong to the global Muslim community and have an obligation to contribute to it meaningfully. This shapes my personal goals by staying connected to the bigger picture that I fit into.

Repeatedly making dua for my yearnings of this world, reminds me of who I want to become and pivot my actions in the present to align with this version of me.

The etiquettes of dua also frame our mindset for success.

We begin by praising Allah to recognize His infinite capabilities and glory. To acknowledge that He is in control and we need His mercy and guidance in every step of the way. Next we should send salawat (blessings) upon the Messenger (ﷺ) which reminds us of his mercy for delivering this message to us and to build a relationship with him to receive his intercession on the Day of Judgement.

“Make du‘ā’ to Allah whilst you are certain of a response, because Allah does not accept a du‘ā’ from a heedless, distracted heart.” (Jami at-Tirmidhī, 3479)

We must make dua with firm conviction that Allah will respond to our duas because He is Al-Mujeeb, the one closest to His believers who hears and accepts all duas. Without absolute conviction that my goals are achievable, I wouldn't waste my efforts towards them. This also gives me the ability to have astronomical ambitions.

“When one of you asks for something from Allah, then let him be plentiful (in what he asks for), for indeed he is asking his Lord.” (Ibn Hibbān)

Goals can never be reached by setting and forgetting. We must maintain an active remembrance of them and shape our current behaviours towards them. Making dua repeatedly encourages me to remember my goals and stick to them. I think the favourable times of making dua from the sunnah create opportunities for us to remember Allah and connect to Him. But ultimately, the key is to be patiently persistent with dua and match our behaviours to our wishes.

I’d love to know, what's your favourite way to set goals? Mine is to make a simple habit tracker of daily, actionable steps.