Du'aa

A reminder on the significance of Du'aa in Islam

Stories on the Power of Du’aa

1. Zakariya AS asked Allah SWT for offspring even though he and his wife were very old. Allah SWT accepted his Du’aa and gave him a righteous son in Yahya AS.
2. Rasoolullah SAWS asking for victory against the Quraish in the battle of Badr. Even though the Unbelievers outnumbered the Muslim by 3:1, Allah SWT accepted Rasoolullah’s Du’aa and granted victory.
3. A poor baker’s Du’aa to meet Ahmed Bin Hambal was granted in an unexpected way by Allah SWT.
4. Two personal stories from Mona, wherein her daughter’s Du’aa was accepted giving her what she wanted against all odds.
5. There are innumerable such instances in our own lives wherein something seemingly impossible was made possible because of Du'aa.

What is Du'aa? How does it tie in with our relationship with Allah SWT?

• The term Du'aa comes from the Arabic word to ‘call out’ or ‘summon’. Allah SWT says in the Quran, “And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)” [40:60 (Al-Ghafir)]

• There are 2 specific types of Dua  -  Dua Al Masallah or Dua of Asking, which we are all familiar with, and Du'aa Al-Ibaadah or Du'aa of Worship. Surah Al-Fatiha highlights both these type of Du'aas in the verse - Iyyaka Na’abudu wa Iyyaka Nasta’een.

• Rasoolullah SAWS is reported to have said that Du'aa is the very essence of worship: Du'aa Al Ibaadah

• Du’aa is a sign of Imaan - a way to recognise that everything comes from Allah.The One who listens and the only One who has the power to answer the Du'aa. "When my servants ask you concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me." [2:186 (Al-Baqarah)]

• Rasoolullah SAWS also said, Verily Allah SWT is angry at the person who does not ask Him. Not asking is a sign of arrogance/pride/superiority. By not doing Du'aa, you’re also disobeying Allah (see first point)

• It is also an expression of a believer’s submission to Allah and one’s neediness. "O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of All Praise" [35:15 (Al-Fatir)]

• The Prophet SAWS said, ‘When you ask (for anything), ask it from Allah, and if you seek help, seek help from Allah.” [narrated by Muhammad ibn 'Isa,  At-Tirmidhi]

• Du'aa is a conversation with Allah SWT. “It is the most uplifting, liberating, empowering, and transforming conversation a person can ever have.”

• Because He is the One…the only One who is Most Generous and Most Giving: Rasoolullah SAWS said: "Verily your Lord is the One modest and Generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in supplication, He is diffident (in some wordings, shy or hesitant) from returning them empty." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi - Hasan]

• Du'aa is a weapon. A weapon against illness, a  weapon against destitution, a weapon against hopelessness. And its a potent weapon for another reason: 

• Du'aa is the only thing that can change your Khadar or Destiny; But asking someone else or thinking that something else can answer your Du'aa becomes shirk.

• Finally, the ultimate reason for doing Du'aa: Nothing is liked by Allah SWT more than Du’aa.

Acceptance of Du'aa

• Du'aas are always answered although they may not take the form you’re expecting. Allah SWT can respond to your Du'aa in 3 ways:

• It is answered immediately
• It is not answered immediately but something bad that was going to happen to you, is turned away from you
• You’re given a credit for the unanswered Du'aa in the hereafter…meaning you can ask for this or a different Du'aa in the hereafter and it will be answered there.

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed that the Prophet SAWS said: “There is no Muslim who does not offer any du’aa’ (in which there is no sin or severing of family ties) but Allah will give him one of three things in return: either He will answer his du’aa’ sooner, or he will store it up for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an equivalent evil away from him because of it.” They said: “We will say a lot of du’aa’.” He said: “Allah is more generous.”

• Du'aa should be done with true conviction that it will be answered.

• “Whoever’s desires to have his Du'aa accepted by Allah in adversity should frequently do Du'aa in prosperity” [At-Tirmidhi]

• Du’aa should be done continuously. Ask Allah SWT again and again. When you ask a man for more and more, the man will become annoyed and angry even. The more you ask Allah SWT the more He loves you.

• Du'aa should be done with sincerity and humility.

• The best times for acceptance of Du’aa:

1. Ramadan & Laylatul Qadr
2. Day of Arafah
3. At the end of every obligatory prayer
4. At Midnight
5. Between adhaan & iqamah
6. After adhaan and during rainfall
7. On Fridays in last hour after Asr
8. When a cock is crowing because it sees angels 
9. When drinking zamzam
10. At time of Tahajjud
11. During travel
12. During Umrah
13. While visiting the sick
14. While breaking the fast

• The Du'aa of these is said to never go unanswered:
• The Du'aa of Parents for their children
• The Du'aa of Travellers
• The Du'aa for someone in their absence
• The Du'aa of someone who is oppressed - even if the oppressed one is a disbeliever (as believers we should beware of this)

• Du'aa may not be answered if

• it is made half-heartedly.  The Prophet SAWS is reported to have said,"Make du'aa to Allah in a state that you are certain that your du'aa will be responded to, and know that Allah does not respond to a du'aa that originates from a negligent, inattentive heart.”

• the one asking is indulging in haraam, especially in relation to what he eats and drinks and how he earns a living

• the one asking gives up on Allah stating that he asked but Allah didn’t answer. It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah said: "(The Du'aa) of any one of you will be answered so long as he is not hasty in seeking a response and does not say, ‘I prayed but I have not had a response.” [Narrated by al-Bukhari, 5981; Muslim, 2735]

• it is for something sinful.

• the one asking has broken off ties with his kin. 

Abu Hurairah RA reported that the Prophet SAWS said, ”A person’s Du'aa will continue to be answered so long as he does not pray for something sinful or for the breaking of family ties." [Narrated by Muslim]

Aadaab of Du'aa 

Doing Du'aa in the following ways is recommended:

• In sujood when the servant is closest to Allah SWT and it is also Allah’s most liked way of making Du'aa
• With open palms and wiping the face at the end
• Facing the Qibla
• With Wudhu
• After doing a good deed or giving charity

• The recommended order for doing Du'aa is:

1. Praise Allah and calling Him by His beautiful names
2. Praise/send blessings on the Prophet SAWS
3. Admit your sins and ask for forgiveness
4. Asking for what you want for yourself first and then ask for others
5. Repeat each supplication 3 times
6. Send blessings on Rasoolullah again
7. End with Aameen

What should we do Du'aa for?

• The Prophet SAWS had said: "Ask Allah for everything, even the lace of your shoes. If Allah does not provide, it will never be available." [Ibn al-Sunni, no. 349 - Hasan. Supported by at-Tirmidhi 4/298 and others]

• Ask for things in this world as well as the Hereafter

• Ask Allah SWT for safety

• Some examples of the things the Prophets asked for:

• Nuh AS - To destroy all disbelievers from the earth [71:26]
• Musa AS - To remove his speech impediment [20:25]
• Sulaiman AS - To give him a kingdom that no one else would ever have [38:35]
• Ayyub AS - To relieve him of physical affliction [21:83]
• Zakaria AS - To give him offspring [19:5]

Some recommended Du'aas 

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِىْ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِىْ الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار

Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire [2:201 (Al-Baqarah)]

Anas RA reported that Rasoolullah SAWS visited a person from amongst the Muslims in order to inquire (about his health) who had grown feeble like the chicken. Rasoolullah SAWS said: Did you supplicate for anything or beg of Him about that? He said: Yes. I used to utter (these words): Impose punishment upon me earlier in this world, what Thou art going to impose upon me in the Hereafter. Thereupon Rasoolullah SAWS said: Hallowed be Allah, you have neither the power nor forbearance to take upon yourself (the burden of His Punishment). Why did you not say this: O Allah, grant us good in the world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of Fire. He (the Holy Prophet) made this supplication (for him) and he was all right. [Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, Sahih Muslim]

حَسْبِيَ اللّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيم

Allah is sufficient for me. There is none worthy of worship but Him. I have placed my trust in Him, and He is the Lord of the Majestic Throne. [9:129 (Al-Tawbah)]

Abi Darda narrates that the Prophet SAWS said: The Prophet Muhammad SAWS said,  (Whomever says it) 7 times in the morning and in the evening, Allah will take care of whatever worries him/her of the matters of this world and the hereafter.” (morning means after Fajr and before sunrise, evening means after ‘Asr).

Du'aa of Adam AS to Allah in repentance

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers. [7:23 (Al-Aaraaf)]

Du'aa of Yunus AS asking Allah SWT for forgiveness from the belly of the whale

لَّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

None has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers. [21:87 (Al-Anbiya)]

Du'aa of Ayyub AS for relief from his illness

أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy. [21:83 (Al-Anbiya)

Du'aa of Ibrahim AS for himself, his parents, his children and all Believers

رَبِّ ٱجعَلنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّل دُعَآءِ

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

O my Lord! make one establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer. O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness - me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established. [14: 39 (Ibrahim)]

Du'aa of Yusuf AS to make his die as a Muslim

فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنُيَا وَالآخِرَةِ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ

The (only) Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian, etc.) in this world and in the Hereafter, cause me to die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous. [12:101 (Yusuf)]

Du'aa of Musa AS when he was going to preach to people of Egypt and the Pharaoh

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي * وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي

O my Lord! expand me my breast (grant me self-confidence, contentment, and boldness); And ease my task for me. And make loose the knot (the defect) from my tongue, (i.e. remove the impediment from my speech) So they may understand what I say. [20:25 (Al-Taha)]