Trilingual Doa

Last week, I was nominated to lead the doa (prayer) for the Judicial Commissioner's Elevation and for the Second Judges’ Conference 2009.

Do you realise that whenever there is the doa recitation at the beginning of any ceremony, not many of us would pay attention to what was being read. Sometimes it is because the reading of the prayer can be sooo mundane. Others just do not understand what was being read. Some prayers are just too formal and general and are not practical for that specific occasion.

So I decided to change the typical stereotype doa and drafted one that is specific for both of the occasion. My intentions are simple; since the doa is for something that is universally good, I wanted to read a doa that everyone could understand and appreciate with no religious or race boundaries. A doa that is comprehensive and meaningful. A doa that could catch you in the heart when you hear it, understand it, digest it, and hopefully, if it is accepted, will certainly be beneficial to everyone!

Since both occasion involved judges, I drafted my doa in Arabic, translated some of it into Bahasa Malaysia and English with the addition of English prayers. (I am truly indebted to my dad who vet through the doa and perfected my draft). I also tried to recite it as though I was submitting before the Federal Court, haha.

Alhamdulillah, it turned out pretty well (or so i think...) Many said it was the first time they heard a doa in BM and English and felt that they could understand better. I also had Chinese and Indian listeners who complimented the doa saying that finally they could understand and see the universal goodness in the doa. One said, "I am a devout Hindu but that was a good sermon! It must be your IIU training!"... Even the Big Boss complimented the doa.

I'm glad that some slight translation could have a huge part in promoting the universal goodness of Islam. So, I would like to share the substantial part from both doa’s with you all. Tell me what you think…

Judicial Commissioner's Elevation:

Ya Allah, Engkau telah menyatakan bahawa Engkau menjawab segala doa hamba-Mu

أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ

Yang bermaksud: “Aku memperkenankan permohonan orang yang berdoa kepada-Ku.”

Maka kami mengangkat tangan berramai-ramai untuk memuji Mu dan menyatakan hajat kami agar Engkau merahmati Majlis Pelantikan Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman kami pada pagi ini.

O Allah!

Please guide and Bless our newly appointed Judicial Commisioners so that they are able to make just decisions coupled with equity and Ihsan as how you have ordained us when you revealed in the Quran:
إِنَّ اللّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاء ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.”

· Therefore, we pray that You make them wise and increase their patience.
· Make them good judges and managers and enhance their knowledge and understanding.
· Open their heart to see the truth and grant them the courage to apply it.
· Lead them to do good and help them not to hesitate in preventing evil.
· Demystify their vision to detect falsehood and guard them constantly from going astray.
· Remind them if they have forgotten and assist them when they are in need.
· Continue to drive them to be more learned than they are now.
· Shower them with Your infinite mercy and let them share it with those who appear before them.
· Assist them in fulfilling their oath of office and reward them for doing so.

رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا
“Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error.”

رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الأبْرَار
“Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous.”

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
“Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost.”

O Allah, the Order of everything is determined by You as you have revealed:

إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ
“Verily, when He intends a thing, His Command is, "be", and it is!”

As you have elevated these distinguished individuals, we pray that you maintain their Independence, preserve their Integrity, protect their modesty and guard them against all temptations.

Verily, You are the Protector, the Sustainer, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, the Most Merciful and the One who accepts repentance.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار
"Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire!"

Second Judges Conference:

Ya Allah, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim, Engkau telah menyatakan dalam Quran bahawa Engkau menjawab segala doa hamba-Mu apabila Engkau turunkan ayat berikut:

أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ

Yang bermaksud: “Aku memperkenankan permohonan orang yang berdoa kepada-Ku.”

Maka kami mengangkat tangan beramai-ramai untuk memuji Mu dan menyatakan hajat kami agar Engkau merahmati Persidangan Hakim-Hakim Kali Kedua Bagi Tahun 2009 ini.

O Allah,

· Provide us the means to achieve a successful conclusion from this gathering.

· Channel our thoughts clearly and allow us to communicate effectively.

· Decorate us with the proper conduct so that we humble ourselves with more knowledge.

· Give us the strength and stamina to fulfill the mandate that is expected from us and O Allah… reward us for doing so.

Allahummar zuqna fahman nabiyyin wa hifzal Mursalin Birahmatika Ya Arhama Rahimin
Which means: O Allah! Grant us the understanding of the Prophets and the Memorization power of the Messengers and Bless us for You are the Most Merciful, Most Compassionate!

Our Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) has taught us that “The position of only two persons are enviable: the person whom You have bestowed wealth empowering him to spend it in the way of righteousness, and the person whom You gave wisdom with which he adjudges and which he teaches to others”

Oh Allah, Please make us among those worthy of envy.

Assist us in our quest to further improve the Malaysian Judiciary.

Verily, You are the Protector, the Sustainer, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, the Most Merciful and the One who accepts repentance.

I did not include the opening and ending of the doa and I omitted the repeated verses in the second doa.

Anyhow, All praises are to Him and may He accepts our prayers and be Merciful to all our souls...

Ameen...

Blog Adjourned!