Dua – an Arabic word written here in English letters. Three small letters that make up a word and a subject that is large and breathtaking. This word ‘dua’ roughly translated to mean supplication or invocation.
Dua is uplifting, empowering, liberating and transforming and it is one of the most powerful and effective act of worship a human being can engage in.
Dua is the weapon of the believer.
It affirms a person’s belief in One God and it shuns all forms of idolatry or polytheism.
Dua is essentially submission to Allah (swt) and a manifestation of a person’s need for God.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "A slave becomes nearest to his Rubb when he is in prostration. So increase supplications while prostrating."
[Muslim].
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجد، فأكثروا الدعاء" ((رواه مسلم)).
Riyad as-Salihin: Book 16, Hadith 21
Arabic/English book reference: Book 16, Hadith 1428
On one hand, prayers are performed at fixed times, five times per day.
In the early morning before sunrise
In the middle of the day
In the afternoon
At sunset
At night.
Prayer is an act of worship, in which a Muslim reaffirms his belief in Allah and demonstrates his gratefulness. It is a direct connection between Allah and the believer and it is an obligation.
On the other hand, Du’a is a Muslims way of feeling that connection to Allah
At anytime,
In any place.
Muslims can call on Allah frequently throughout the day and night and ask for His help, mercy, and forgiveness.
Du’a incorporates praise, thanksgiving, hope, and calling on God to assist the one in need and grant his or her requests.
Dua can be made for the individual, their family, friends, strangers, those in dire circumstances, for the believers, and even for the whole of humanity.
When making the dua it is acceptable to ask for good in this worldly life and in the hereafter.
A person making dua should not hold back, but ask Allah (swt) to grant both the largest and smallest requests.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), "The supplication of every one of you will be granted if he does not get impatient and say (for example): 'I supplicated my Rubb but my prayer has not been granted'." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
The narration of Muslim is: "The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah! What does growing impatient mean?" He (ﷺ) said, "It is one's saying: 'I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.' Then he becomes frustrated (in such circumstances) and gives up supplication altogether."
وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "يستجاب لأحدكم ما لم يعجل: يقول: قد دعوت ربي، فلم يستجب لي" ((متفق عليه)). وفي رواية لمسلم لا يزال يستجاب للعبد ما لم يدعُ بإثم أو قطيعة رحم ما لم يستعجل. قيل يا رسول الله ما الاستعجال؟ قال يقول قد دعوت وقد دعوت فلم أرَ من يستجب لي فيستحسر عند ذلك ويدع الدعاء.
Riyad as-Salihin: Book 17, Hadith 35
Arabic/English book reference: Book 17, Hadith 1499
Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, encouraged the believers to make dua. He said, “The dua of a Muslim for his brother in his absence is readily accepted. An angel is appointed to his side. Whenever he makes a beneficial dua for his brother the appointed angel says, Ameen. And may you also be blessed with the same’”. [Sahih Muslim]
Although making du’a is not an obligation, there are many benefits to making dua to Allah frequently and with full submission.
Feeling the closeness to Allah that comes with sincere du’a
It increases faith
Gives hope and relief to the distressed
Saves the supplicant from the despair and isolation
Throughout the Quran, Allah encourages the believer to call on Him, He asks us to lay our dreams, hopes, fears and uncertainties before Him and to be sure that He hears every word.
You Alone do we worship and You Alone do we ask for help. (Quran 1:5)
And your Lord says, Call on Me; I will answer your (prayer). But those who are too arrogant to worship Me will surely find themselves in Hell, in humiliation. (Quran 40:60)
Say, O My slaves who have transgressed against their souls; despair not of the Mercy of Allah: For Allah forgives all sins; for He is oft Forgiving, most Merciful. (Quran 39:53)
Say, Call upon Allah, or call upon ArRahman (The Most Beneficient): By whatever name you call upon Him, (it is well): For to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. (Quran 17:110)
Narrated Ilbn Abbas is Once I was behind the Prophet al and he said: "O boy, I will teach you a few words:
Be loyal and obedient to Allâh [worship Him (Alone)], remember Him always, obey His Orders. He will save you from every evil and will take care of you in all the spheres of life.
Be loyal and obedient to Allâh, you will find Him near (infront of you) i.e. He will respond to your requests
If you ask, ask Allâh.
If you seek help, seek help from Allah.
Know that if all the people get together in order to benefit you with something, they will not be able to benefit you in anything except what Allâh has decreed for you. And if they all get together in order to harm you with something, they will not be able to harm you in anything except what Allâh has decreed for you. The pens have stopped writings [Divine (Allâh's) Preordainments]. And (the ink over) the papers (Book of Decrees) have dried."
[This Hadith is quoted in Sahih At-Tirmidhi]
And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the supplications of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. (Quran 2:186)
Prophet Muhammad pbuh called du’a the essence of worship. [At-Tirmidhi]
He (pbuh) also suggested that the believer be humble, yet firm when making du’a and said, “When one of you supplicates, he should not say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You will,’ but be firm in asking and make the desire great, for what Allah gives is nothing great for Him.” [Saheeh Muslim]
When we make du’a, when we call upon Allah in our hour of need, or express our gratefulness, or for any other reason including simply to feel the comfort of being close to Allah,
We must remember to examine our sincerity and to check our intention.
Du’a must be addressed to Allah alone, who has no partners, sons, daughters or intermediaries.
Our intention when making the du’a must be to please Allah, obey him and trust him completely.
When a person makes du’a:
Allah may give him what he asked for
Allah may divert a harm that is greater than the thing he asked for
Allah may store up what he has asked for, for the Hereafter.
Allah has commanded us to call upon Him and Allah has promised to respond to our call.
Allah knows best.