MUSLIM VILLA - QURAN ONLY

Overall it's an acceptable dua, just that it focuses too much on confession of human wrongs and should have made more promises to Allah for striving to avoid those wrongs.   That can be viewed as the nervous approach of the suppliant.  The essence of the dua itself is okay.  I have analyzed every line of it, and it's very lengthy.  Certain parts of it may sound a bit poetic but the thoughts it expresses are Halal as I understand them;  certain aspects are repetitive.  But it certainly does not contain anything against Quranic values.   

Many Sunni circles also recite this dua.  But some Wahabized Sunnis who are overly influenced by folks like Ibn Taimiyah etc. are terribly against duas with rhythms and eloquent language even if the contents are 100% Halal.  I suppose they miss the crude and vulgar language of Abu Huraira in those countless offensive ahadith. 

They also object that the isnad of this dua is unauthentic, that Amir ul-Momineen, Imam Ali, did not read this dua to his friend, Kumayl.    But I say to hell with isnad.  As far as authenticity of narrator or its chain is concerned, it's well known about each and every Hadith or traditional chain that they're are never authentic,  99.9% of all isnads are concoctions.  In a case like this, if you have thoroughly explored the contents of the entire dua and found it compatible with Tawheed and all principles of the Noble Quran, you can definitely recite it with the understanding that it's a nice and soothing supplication you are making to Allah by completely ignoring the isnad ... no matter who recited it or not.  Isnad is an institution which must be taken as fake to start with.  You can recite this dua just the way you would recite some nice dua you might pen yourself to humbly reach out to The Almighty in your own words.  No "scholar" or 'mufti' can stop you from doing that.  Similarly, no one can stop you from reciting dua  kumayl or you can even rename it or call it what you wish, that would be irrelevant.  The only important aspect, I repeat, is you must be sure it's grounded in Monotheism and is fully in conformity with Quranic values.

That's very correct Sister. 

Yes I agree brother.  Many Sunni circles do read dua-e-kumail.  It's only those with tendencies of drifting into the path of takfiris that bring up ridiculous reasons for rejection.  How can you reject anything simply because its language is eloquent or carries a poetic rhythm?   LOL .. you're right.  While reading sophisticated or decent language, those salafized Sunnis do probably miss the embarrassing insinuations and the cheap style as in the narrations of guys like Abu Huraira, Anas, Darda etc. 

Btw .... since when did the Salafis become so particular about "isnad" when the entire Sunni Hadith literature they view as "sahih"  is rife with fraudulent isnad? Not to mention, even if a logical isnad says something not warranted by the Quran, that isnad along with its content must be trashed.

Moreover, authenticity problem (that is, truthfulness in regard to the source) exists throughout all Sunni and Shiia man-written literature.    But if anyone says something that correct with the Quran as Sole Criterion, then it should be accepted regardless of who said it.  Isnad is totally irrelevant.

 

Sorry for the delayed return as I was out of station.  Very interesting points Sister Ruhi. 

Large portions of the du'a reflect how much the suppliant will miss Allah if they are granted Hellfire.   Yes, those parts of the supplication sound emotional.  It is also true that dwellers of Hellfire will express complete remorse once the Judgement is given to them as the Noble Quran has expressed many times.  Concerning this du'a I would say that suppliants who are so aware of missing Allah from this point on earth, don't seem to be the ones who might be punished in the next world because the real unrighteous folks usually don't have such depth in terms of regret or remorse nor any profound compunctions in this world ....  and those who do, often end up coming to the path of Allah before it's too late.  In such cases, yes, sometimes the pangs of self-reproach can be severe and some of these folks cannot bear to forgive themselves.  That leads to begging and imploring Allah to overlook their past.  The point is, if the process of 'coming home' within a person is sincere, Allah will know it best and then one doesn't have to worry.  Just leave all matters to Him.  According to HIS principles as elucidated in HIS most Noble Book, He does not hold any genuine believer who has truly changed for the better, accountable for their past missteps. 

Personally I think it's perfectly okay. 

Besides, just speaking generally, if at any time you are unexpectedly uncomfortable with some supplication they are reciting in a jam'ah, you need not be a participant.  Just sit silently looking down, don't raise your hands as for making du'a and don't recite it.  Again, Allah knows thoroughly what is in everyone's heart.    Just make sure that in future you don't join a congregation that recites supplications you aren't comfortable with.  I reiterate, I'm speaking generally.  I'm comfortable with du'a kumayl even though it's not my favorite du'a as it's too lengthy and repetitive.
   

.....   and yeah, I would also like to know Sister Heba's opinion   :)

Furthermore .......

As you folks have rightly mentioned, various Sunni circles are against this supplication.  But the purpose of their rejection is simply opposition, nothing else.

Let me elaborate, a bit (or a bit more than 'a bit' :)  ) on this issue.

The origin of this dua has a hadithist root, so to say.  Nonetheless, if its contents are in compliance with the Sole Criterion, the Noble Quran, then it can be accepted as a supplication by ignoring the isnad which is always controversial.

From what I know, both Sunnis and Shiias accept that this du'a was narrated by al-Khidr whom, I think, hadithist sources accept as a prophet though the Quran does not confirm this point.  They say that this supplication from al-Khidr has taken by Amir ul-Momineen Imam 'Ali and taught to a prominent companion of his named Kumail ibn Ziyad.

According to Sunni sources, the following is the portion of Dua Kumail which Imam Ali recited:

“O Allah, I ask You by virtue of Your mercy which encompasses all things, and by virtue of Your power by which You dominate all things and everything submits to it, and by virtue of Your might by which You overcome all things, and by virtue of Your power, which nothing can resist, and by virtue of Your greatness, which encompasses all things, and by virtue of Your sovereignty, which transcends all things, and by virtue of Your eternal Countenance which will remain after all things cease to be, and by virtue of Your names which filled the space of all things, and by virtue of Your knowledge which encompasses all things, and by virtue of the light of Your Countenance which illuminates all things; O Light, O Most Holy, O First of the first, O Last of the last, O Allah, forgive me my sins which weaken all bonds. O Allah, forgive me my sins which bring down divine wrath. O Allah, forgive me my sins that remove blessings. O Allah, forgive me my sins which detain supplication (and prevent it from reaching You). O Allah, forgive me my sins which bring down calamity. O Allah, forgive me all the sins I have committed and every error I have made… “

This is a du'a begging Allah Almighty for forgiveness (maghfirah).  Though it might sound a bit poetic and quite repetitious, it is certainly compatible with Tawheed (Monotheism) and in conformity with Quranic principles.  Yet, much to my surprise, a particular Sunni sheikh or "scholar" (his name not mentioned or probably Sheikh Muhammad Saalih Munajjid who claims to be the 'supervisor') at Islam Q&A (https://islamqa.info/en/answers/181861/ruling-on-a-duaa-called-duaa-kumayl-ibn-ziyaad) says that this dua should not be recited because firstly he considers its isnad to be incorrect, that it wasn't recited by Imam Ali.  So, he rules it out as fabricated.  This may also imply that the Sunni sheikh assumes that al-Khidr also did not recite this du'a.  However, the point is, forget the isnad.  What's significant is the content.  No matter who writes or composes a du'a (even if I write it), as long as it's according to the principles of the Quran and does NOT violate the concept of Tawheed, there is no reason to reject it.

Secondly, what surprises me most, quoting that sheikh's words "Even if we assume that all of its words and meanings are good .. it has also become a slogan or symbol of the Raafidis and others of their ilk who follow innovation. It is stated above that they regard it as holy, venerate it and hold it in high esteem. Something that is like that should not be taken as a religious practice."   There we go again !!  Total madness, dunk in sectarianism and false accusation.  In other words, he is trying to say that since the salafist minded Sunnis have picked the label "Rafidis" for Shiia Muslims, so even if the Shiias do something that's right, even if it conforms with the values of the Quran, it must still be rejected because those people are given the title "Rafidis."  Again differently put, the idea is to shun this du'a so that "there is no resemblance with Rafidis."  These are the category of sectarianists who have sunk into the lowest depth of depravity with a shameful sense of self-righteousness.   Just ignore them.

Thirdly, quoting him again, "It is stated above that they regard it as holy, venerate it and hold it in high esteem."  I don't know what this man is talking here.  What "holy" or "veneration"?   Who said that?   Dua is a du'a.  Everyone respects it, and that's all.  No one ever said Dua Kumayl is "Divine" (AstaghfarAllah) or anything of that sort.  It's simply a lengthy supplication that's recited by many Shiia Muslims on Fridays.  Mostly it's cut short and only excerpts are recited.  Its length makes it difficult to recite the entire supplication in every prayer congregation.  And as brother TS said, this du'a isn't one of my favorites either.  But this sort of attitude by Sheikh Munajjid and his likes is deplorable, an outcome of being stubbornly rooted in schism, arising from a spirit of plain disobedience to Allah Almighty.

A very important reminder for these flagrant sectarianists:

"Indeed! As for those who sunder their religion and become schismatics, no concern at all have you with them. Their case will go to Allah, Who then will tell them what they used to do."  (6:159)  Surah Al-Anam.


 

These are both very correct points.

 

 :o   Oh my Dearest Allah!   So this is the reason for Sunni rejection of dua Kumayl?




Exactly, what does he mean "holy" and "venerate it" ?  It's just a man-written dua and because it's a dua addressed to Allah, so people respect it.  These salafis only think of picking up a quarrel through opposition whenever the Shiias are brought into a discussion.

Thanks plenty for the additional input Sister Heba. 

Some of these guys are just crazy, just want to fight.