Dua in Arabic means request, invocation, or supplication, to ask or beg for something from our creator. It is also an act of worship (Ibaadah) and constant remembrance (Zikr), a powerful tool given by Allah SWT to his slaves. Muslims are encouraged to make dua to seek guidance, forgiveness, blessings, and favors of both Dunya and Akhirah.
Muslims are encouraged to make dua not only for themselves but also for their families, friends, the entire Muslim community, and all of humanity. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to make lots of dua for his Ummah.
A Hadith says,
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) raised up his hands and said,
“O Allah! My Ummah, my Ummah,” and wept; Allah, the Exalted, said: “O Jibril (Gabriel)! Go to Muhammad (ﷺ) and ask him: ‘What makes you weep?” So Jibril came to him and asked him (the reason of his weeping) and the Messenger of Allah informed him what he had said (though Allah knew it well). Upon this Allah said: “Jibril, go to Muhammad (ﷺ) and say: ‘Verily, We will please you with regard to your Ummah and will never displease you”. – [Sahih Muslim]
Dua Helps Us Connect With Our Creator:
Dua is a conversation with Allah SWT which a servant makes to seek help for all his needs. Connection with Allah is the key to success in both worlds. Every action is dependent on intention. If we make a habit of asking Allah for the smallest of things we can turn our whole life into ibadah.
A Hadith says,
Dua is a means of beseeching Allah Almighty for the fulfillment of all our needs no matter how mundane or insignificant as it may be; or significant as facing overwhelming odds in the battlefield (Tirmidhi).
In Surah Al-Baqarah 2:186 Allah SWT says,
“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad ﷺ) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations 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 on the right path.”
Dua Helps in Self-Realization:
Following is a verse from the Quran that makes clear our position in front of our creator. It shows the degree of dependency we have on our creator. Without Self-realization the whole ibadah goes to waste. Our prayers just become robotic rituals that we repeat on time. Only a person with self-realization possesses the ability to understand his true self and this self-reflection is the core of Ibadah.
“O mankind! It is you who stand as beggars in your relation to Allah, and it is Allah Who is Free of all wants, Worthy of all praise. (Qur’an, 35:15)
Allah is Ghani (self-sufficient) and we are the needy ones. Dua is our need and we are totally dependent on Allah SWT for fulfillment of these.
Most Excellent Form of Worship:
Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The most excellent worship is Dua.” (Sahih Al-Jami)
Why do we worship Allah? Does Allah SWT need our duas and supplications?
Certainly no as He is Ghani, the self-sufficient one. Worshiping Him alone is our need. It takes it to another level and helps us perfect ourselves. Including duas in our worship transforms it to a high level of ibadah which will indeed make our life hereafter better.
It also makes us better human beings and will benefit our society as well. God Conscious people are better as they fear Allah and think before they act. In Islam, every act done with the right intention becomes an ibadah. So the whole life of a God Conscious person who indulges day and night in dua transform and benefits everyone around him.
Also, consider reading the below Duas:
Dua Increases Our Iman:
Human beings are created weak surrounded by needs and desires. And to fulfil these needs the only way which is in accordance with Islam is to ask from Allah swt alone. It improves our iman as we put our trust in Allah SWT and believe that He is enough to fulfill all our needs.
Dua Purifies Our Heart:
When we sin our heart becomes dirty and when we do dhikr our heart gets clean and enlightened. We all know that our physical body needs food and water for its nourishment and survival. Similarly, our spiritual heart needs a special food that is Zikr of Allah. In the Quran Allah SWT says that in the remembrance of Allah SWT hearts find peace. When the heart is deprived of zikr it becomes dead. With a dead heart, it’s easy to indulge in a sinful life. Therefore, we must do zikr constantly. Zikr is to be done in abundance as per the Quran (Zikran Kaseeran)
Dua Makes Us Humble:
Worldly achievements or gains can make us arrogant. Dua to keep us grateful and thankful to Allah SWT in these times keeps us humble and keeps us aware that these blessings can be taken back from us. And the realization that we don’t deserve these blessings and they are showered because of the mercy of Allah SWT keeps us down to earth.
Dua Can Change Our Fate:
Allah is Sami al Aleem, the one who listens the most, the all-knowing. He has given us very little knowledge of Taqdeer (Destiny) but he has given us this powerful tool through which our destiny can change. A dua made from depth of heart and with sincerity can reach the seven heavens and the keys of taqdeer are in Allah’s hand.
Narrated in Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 1970,
Zirr ibn Hubaysh relates that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was once offering Salah. When he reached Verse 100 of Surah An Nisa he began to make du’a. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) told him, “Ask and you will be granted” thrice. He said,
Allahumma inni as-aluka Imanan la yartad wa na’iman la yanfad wa murafaqata Muhammadin sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam fi a’ala Jannatil khuld
Translation: O Allah! I ask you for Iman that does not retrogress, bounties that do not deplete and the companionship of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in the highest levels of the eternal Jannah.”
Reference: https://hadithanswers.com/a-beautiful-dua-asking-for-the-companionship-of-nabi-sallallahu-alayhi-wa-sallam-in-jannah/
Importance of Dua in Prostration:
Making dua while in prostration has great significance. We are nearest to Allah SWT when we are prostrating. In this posture dua is permissible in fact it is preferable to make dua in it. The Duas shall be made preferably in Arabic and the same words should be used as recited by the prophet Mohammed (ﷺ).
Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“A slave becomes nearest to his Lord when he is in prostration. So increase supplications in prostrations.”(Sahih Muslim)
In other Hadith,
Narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations: “Allahumma aghfir li wa’rhamni wa’jburni wa’hdini wa’rzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, console me, guide me and grant me provision).”
Virtues of Calling Allah SWT by His Names:
Calling Allah by His name is the most powerful way to make dua to Him. We know Allah SWT through His name. Allah SWT commands us to remember Him through His name in Quran. We as Muslims believe that He is unique and has extraordinary qualities which define him. We have limited knowledge of Akhirah and the zaat of Allah SWT. Allah’s names are a window to know more about Him and get closer to Him.
For example seeking forgiveness by calling His name Ya Gafuru (the all forgiving, the ever forgiving) we get hope even if have sinned enormously.
Acceptance of Dua:
Allah SWT will accept dua in the following 3 ways:
- Dua will be fulfilled immediately
- A reward will be given in akhirah in place of it
- Evil will be diverted from him
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There is no Muslim who calls upon Allah, without sin or cutting family ties, but that Allah will give him one of three answers: He will quickly fulfill his supplication, He will store it for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an evil from him similar to it.” They said, “In that case, we will ask for more.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah has even more.”
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 11133
We often get impatient and hasty while asking Allah SWT. Allah SWT the all-knowing, knows what is good for us. We must ask him with full faith and be patient and wait for the best given to us by Allah SWT.
In another Hadith, it is mentioned that the reward of unanswered duas will be so big that by seeing it on the day of judgment man would wish that no duas of him would have been accepted in Dunya.
So, our ultimate focus should be success in Akhirah and we must make lots of dua related to both dunya and akhirah with Allah SWT.
