Stop Playing Small!!!

There’s a way the people of the past relied on Allah that just shows how much they truly knew Him. They knew the magnificence of the One they were worshipping (within what Allah allowed them). And every time I reflect on the lives of these people, I just hope that I am able to have even a fraction of their belief.

These people were tried, but in their trials, they held firm.

In their du‘a, you see vulnerability and conviction. They didn’t try to play small or make things sound reasonable. They simply asked, and the Lord of the worlds, our Lord, gave them.

I recently came across the du‘a of Sa'ad ibn Ubadah (RA), and I’ve just been in awe.

He said:

> “O Allah, grant me praise and grant me glory. There is no glory without action, and there is no action without wealth. O Allah, a little will not rectify me, nor will I be good for it.”

Now, this is the du‘a of someone who wasn’t ready to play small in any way. Like, bro wasn’t ready for small wealth just for survival.

It’s one thing to ask for wealth. It’s another thing to ask for glory. But you need a whole different level of audacity to ask for both.

When you sit with this du‘a, you realize there’s no barrier. It honestly feels like a conversation between two close friends.

“There is no glory without action.”

Like: grant me the actions that match the glory. I need to be able to do big things for my honour to show.

“And there is no action without wealth.”

To do big things, I need wealth, real wealth, the kind that can carry the actions that bring glory.

Then he says:

“O Allah, a little will not rectify me.”

Oh my God. Like, Rabbi, kekere o le to mi.(small can't be enough for me)

He wasn’t trying to be humble at all. He was basically saying: the kind of action and glory I want cannot run on small resources.

And the part that blew me away?

“Nor will I be good for it.”

A self-aware man. I stan and restan.

Like: even me myself, I am not good for poverty. We cannot work together. Let’s part ways.

This is the du‘a of someone who knew that Allah is Al-Waliyy, the Protecting Friend. From the tone of the du‘a to the openness, who else would you speak to this intimately if not Al-Waliyy?

It’s also the du‘a of someone who understood that the One he was asking is Ar-Razzaq, Al-Ghaniyy, the Constant Provider, the One who is absolutely free of need.

He didn’t ask for wealth for one small project. He asked for wealth in entirety. He didn’t try to act humble like, “If You give me small, I’ll manage.” No.

He told the Lord of the worlds plainly: “A little will not rectify me.”

And did Allah give him? Oh, He did.

Allah granted his request. He was given wealth, and he used it generously. His giving became a source of honour for him.

It was reported that his kitchen was open every night in Medina. And during the Battle of the Trench, his reserve of food was among what sustained the Muslim army in that difficult moment. He was the one spending on the people.

Beloved Slave of Ar-Rahman, like one of my favourite women would say (may Allah bless her): don’t code for Allah.

Why are you trying to code for the One who knew you before you even became a thing? The bridge between what you have and what you lack is simply asking, all you really need to do is ask.

Nothing is too big, too small, too silly, or too grand for your Lord. ASK.

Learn from Sa'ad ibn Ubadah, the only restriction that exists is the one you’ve created for yourself.

May Allah grant us the honour of knowing Him. May He grant us the sweetness of knowing Him. May He grant our requests and make us among the noble.

So, I want you to think about it

If you removed every restriction from your du’a right now, what would you ask from Allah?

As for me, I will ask for Umrah, for Hajj, for S26 Ultra 1 terabyte, small work, 79178399 billion dollar weekly salary.

See you when I see you again.

Your du'a buddy,

Aayah.