You’re Allowed to Pray for Yourself Too

There is so much happening in the world right now. War. Injustice. Bloodshed. Fear. The suffering feels endless and it is affecting more and more countries. Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and the ripple effects are spreading wider every day.

It is almost impossible not to feel overwhelmed. The weight of it sits on our chests. We scroll through images and videos that we can never unsee. We feel guilty for smiling. For making du‘ā for something personal. For wanting ease in our own lives when others are being bombed, starved and oppressed.

Some of us are questioning how can I ask Allah for my marriage, my rizq, my health, my business, my healing when there are people begging Allah for the right to live one more day?

But I need you to hear this.

Despair is from shaytan. Hopelessness is from shaytan. Feeling like your du‘ā is not worth making, like your needs do not matter, like your voice should fall silent, all of that is from shaytan.

Because he knows a believer with hope is dangerous to his cause.

A believer with hope will keep turning back to Allah.

A believer with hope will keep making du‘ā.

A believer with hope will keep giving, keep helping, keep rising for tahajjud, keep planting seeds of goodness even in the darkest times.

And that is exactly what Allah wants from you.

There is a beautiful hadith that the Prophet ﷺ said:

_“If the Final Hour comes while you have a seedling in your hand, and it is possible to plant it before the Hour comes, you should plant it.”_ (Musnad Ahmad)

SubhanAllah. Even at the very end of the world. Even when it feels like there is no tomorrow. Even when everything seems hopeless. Allah wants you to plant. To build. To hope.

You are still living your life. You are still here for a reason. Allah placed you in this time, with your tests and your story and your purpose. Wanting good for yourself does not take away from the good you want for others.

We make du‘ā for Palestine. For Iran. For Lebanon. For Syria. For Yemen. For every land and every soul that is oppressed.

And we also make du‘ā for ourselves. For our healing. For our families. For our futures. For our hereafter.

Because your light, your goodness, your du‘ā, your work, all of that adds to the collective change the world so desperately needs.

So let your tears fall. Let your heart break for them. Let your heart ache for the Ummah.

But do not let that pain turn into despair.

Instead, let it turn into action. Into du‘ā. Into sadaqah. Into kindness. Into hope. Into change.

And let it also turn into love for yourself. Into compassion for your own journey. Into softness for your own wounds.

Allah does not see you as selfish for making du‘ā for yourself.

He sees you as His servant, calling upon Him, trusting in Him, hoping in Him.

And there is nothing more beautiful than that.

May Allah grant victory and ease to the oppressed. May He accept our du‘ās for them and for ourselves. May He fill the world with peace again. Ameen.

Bonus Tip:

Send *Salawāt upon the Prophet ﷺ* for those who are oppressed, for their safety, their healing, their freedom, and also for your own needs, your own heart, your own life.

Because Salawāt opens doors for them and for you.