How To Ask Dua:
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Duaa is a great act of Ibaadah (worship), which Allah has granted to the ummah (followers) of Nabi (S.A.W.). It is an act of Ibaadah which creates a direct link between a person and Allah. It makes a person realize that Allah is the only One who can fulfill his needs. It is for these reasons that Nabi (S.A.W.) refers to duaa as “the essence of Ibaadah” (Bukhari Shareef). Some muhaditheen explain that since duaa carries such great reward, therefore it is referred to “the essence of Ibaadah”.
The fact that Allah has made mention of duaa in the Quran is sufficient and clear evidence to prove the lofty status of duaa in our deen (religion).
The following are a few ayaat of the Quran pertaining to duaa.
“And your Lord says: Make duaa (supplicate) unto me, and I will respond and accept your duaa”. (Surah Ghaafir: Ayat 60)
“I respond and accept the duaa of the one who supplicates unto me”. (Surah Al Baqarah: Ayat 186)
“Make duaa unto Allah with humility and secret”. (Surah Ale Imraan: Ayat 55)
There are numerous ahadith advising the ummah to engage in duaa.
Hereunder are a few ahadith related to the virtue and importance of duaa.
“Ask Allah of His grace, because Allah loves that He be asked (i.e. that duaa be made to him)” (Tirmizhi)
“There isn’t anything nobler to Allah than duaa” (Adabul-Mufrad)
“Verily, Allah is modest and noble. He feels ashamed that a servant lifts up his hand in supplication and he is returned empty handed”. (Abu Dawood)
“Duaa is the weapon of a believer, pillar and support of deen (Islaam) and an illumination of the skies and earth”. (Haakim)
“Allah becomes angry upon the one who does not make duaa”. (Ahmed)
It is clear from the above quotes of the Quran and ahadith of Rasulullah (S.A.W.)that duaa holds a very esteemed position in Islam.
Faqeeh Abu Lais Samarqandi (R.A.), a renowned scholar of fiqh of the Hanafi mazhab, has recorded a hadith with the chain of narrators leading up to Hazrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) that the one who does five things would not be deprived of five things.
- The one who expresses gratitude (shukr) to Allah for His blessings would not be deprived of increase in his blessings.
- The one who exercises patience would not be deprived of reward.
- The one who repents for his sins would not be deprived of the acceptance of his repentance.
- The one who seeks forgiveness would not be deprived of forgiveness.
- The one who makes duaa (supplicates) would not be deprived of the acceptance of his duaa.
Faqeeh Abu Lais (R.A.) has recorded another hadith on the authority of Hazrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) that Nabi (S.A.W.) has said, “There is no believer who supplicates to Allah except that his duaa is accepted, either
- He is given the benefit of his duaa in this world or
- The benefit of his duaa is kept aside for the hereafter or
- His sins are forgiven in proportionate to the degree of his duaa.
The hadith further states that his duaa is readily accepted, as long as he leaves sinning and severing ties.It is also necessary to know the etiquettes, manners and accepted times for duaas.
Conditions for acceptance of Duaa
- A person should make duaa with total devotion and concentration. (Musnad Ahmed- Ibn Umar (R.A.))
- He should have certainty and conviction that Allah will accept his duaa. (Tirmizi- Abu Hurairah (R.A.))
- He should not consume haraam. (Muslim- Abu Hurairah (R.A.))
- He can only make duaa for those things which are permitted and acceptable in Islam. (Tirmizi- Ubaadah ibn Saamit (R.A.))
- He should not be hasty in his duaa i.e. he shouldn’t say, “Why is Allah not accepting my duaa?” (Muslim- Abu Hurairah (R.A.))
- The person making the duaa should be a person who is steadfast on deen (laws of Allah) or a person who has made a firm intention to rectify himself and become obedient to the commands of Allah (Surah Baqarah, Ayat 286)
- Make sure the niyyat is correct. Duaa should be solely for the pleasure of Allah.
A person complained to a wise person regarding duaa. He tells the wise person, “I make duaa, but my duaa is not accepted, whereas Allah in the Quran mentions, ‘Make duaa unto me and I will accept your duaa’”. The wise person replies that there are some actions which prevent the acceptance of duaa.- To do such actions which bring about the anger of Allah, but one is not remorseful.
- To claim to be the servant of Allah, but one does not carry out the actions of a true servant of Allah.
- One recites the Quran, but does not practice on the injunctions of the Quran.
- One claims to be the followers of Muhammad (S.A.W.), but does not practice on his sunnahs (teachings).
- One claims that the world is of no value, but attaches himself to this world
- One claims that this world will come to an end, yet his preparations seem to be forever.
- One claims that the life of Jannah is beautiful, yet he does not strive for it.
Times when duaas are most readily accepted:- Duaa at the time of Sehri (Surah Ale Imraan, Ayat 17)
- Duaa between azaan and iqaamah (Tirmizi- Anas ibn Maalik (R.A.))
- Duaa made after azaan (Abu Dawood- Sahl ibn Saad (R.A.))
- Duaa after fardh salaat (Tirmizi- Abu Umaamah Al Baahili (R.A.))
- Duaa at the time of Zawaal (midday) (Musnad Bazaar- Ayesha (R.A.))
- Duaa on the day of Arafat (Tirmizi- Abdullah ibn Amr (R.A.))
- Duaa in the month of Ramadhaan (Tabraani- Ubaada ibn Saamil (R.A.))
- Duaa on the 15th of Sha`baan (Sahih ibn Hibbaan- Mu`aaz ibn Sahal)
- Duaa upon completion of Quran (Tabraani- Irbaad ibn Saariyah)
- Duaa at the time of drinking Zam-Zam water (Haakim/Darul Qutni- Ibn Abbas (R.A.))
- Duaa on Wednesday between Zuhr and Asr (Musnad Ahmed- Jaabir (R.A.))
- Duaa on Friday at the following times:
- When the Imaam ascends a mimbar for the khutbah till he completes the Jummah Salaah.
- Time between Asr and Maghrib
- The last few moments before maghrib (Sahih Muslim – Abu Hurrairah (R.A))
Whose duaas are readily accepted?
- Duaa of an oppressed person (Tirmizi – Abu Hurrairah (R.A))
- Duaa of a fasting person at the time of Iftaar (breaking fast) (Tirmizi – Abu Hurrairah (R.A))
- Duaa of an upright and just leader. (Tirmizi – Abu Hurrairah (R.A))
- Duaa of a musaafir(Tirmizi – Abu Hurrairah (R.A))
- Duaa for your muslim brouther in his absence. (Muslim – Abu Darda (R.A))
- Duaa of a father for his child(Tirmizi – Abu Hurrairah (R.A))
- Duaa of a haji (one who has performed hajj) (Baihaqi/Haithami – Ibn Abbaas (R.A))
- Duaa of a sick person(Ibn Majah – Umar(R.A))
- Duaa of a person striving in the path of Allah. (Hakim – Ibn Abbaas (R.A))
- Duaa of a distressed person (such a person whom none can help but Allah) (Hakim – Ayesha (R.A))
Etiquettes of Duaa:
- Make wudhu before commencing a duaa.(Sheikh Fawaz Ahmed Zamarli)
- Perform nafl Salaah, or any act of good deed before commencing with duaa. (Sheikh Fawaz Ahmed Zamarli)
- Face the qibla at the time of making duaa.(Tirmizi – Umar (R.A))
- Raise the hands upto the chest while making duaa.(Ibn Majah – Salmaan; Musnad Ahmed – Abu Saeed (R.A))
- Begin the duaa by praising and glorifying Allah and thereafter send peace and salutations upon Rasul Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassalam). (Abu Dawood – Fudhail (R.A))
- Mention the different names of Allah. (Sheikh Fawaz Ahmed Zamarli)
- Make duaa for oneself first and then for others. (Tabrani – Abu Ayub (R.A))
- We understand from various ahadith that Rasul Allah (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) encouraged making duaa for:
- One’s parents.
- Muslims at large.
- Gaining ability to do good deeds and portray good character.
- Gaining the love of Allah.
- Attaining the best of this world and hereafter.
- Increasing one’s beneficial knowledge.
- Forgiveness of all types of sins.
- Seeking refuge
i. from treachery
ii. from sickness
iii. from trials, tribulations and difficult times
iv. from an evil neighbor
v. from the plots of the enemies
vi. misguidance
vii. from all types of evils
- Recite “Ameen” at the end of the duaa.(Abu Misbaah – Abu Dawood)
- Wipe hands over the face ant the completion of the duaa.(Bullughul Maraam – Ibn Hajr)
We make duaa that Allah makes us amongst those who remember Him abundantly and make duaa unto Him in all conditions, whether favorable or unfavorable. May Allah save us from being amongst those who only remember Him in difficulty, as Allah mentions in the Quran, “And when some affliction touches man, he cries to his lord turning to him in repentance, but when He bestows a favor upon him from himself he forgets that for which he cried for before” (Surah Zumr Verse 8)
A wise person once said, “Duaa is part of piety like salt being part of food. Therefore, if we want to become close and beloved servants of Allah, it is necessary that we have the quality of making duaa in all conditions. Our focus should be towards praising Allah. Remember well! “Duaa is a weapon of a believer” (Al-Hakim)
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Talha Desai,
Student Final Year, Alim Course
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah
