Supplication and the Law of Cause & Effect
Du'a' is an excellent means of achieving one's legitimate ends.
The universal law of 'cause and effect' itself encourages us to seek help from the Principal Cause- who is Almighty Allah. Thus even in circumstances when things can be acquired through natural means, one should not think that he/she is needless of supplication.
Some, on the other hand, may think that supplication is sufficient and there is no need of achieving our goals through the means that are at our disposal. Clearly, this path also is that of ignorance, for Almighty Allah has established the system of cause and effect and encouraged the human being to employ the same for his exalted ends. The following word of wisdom from Imam al-Sadiq ('a) endorses this:
Allah does not permit things to take place except by their causes; thus He made a cause for every thing.2
Seeking the Cause of Instilling Happiness
Having known the aforesaid, every understanding supplicant, would seek the causes that "instil happiness in spirits of the inhabitants of the grave" apart from praying for the same. Our holy traditions (which indeed are extensions of 1I1ight") have informed us how to make the deceased happy. Following are traditions worthy of contemplation:
I. Imam al-Sadiq ('a) was asked: 'Is it possible to recite prayers for the dead?' He said, 'Yes, and added:
2 'Allama Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, v.2, p.90