Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Praise be to Allah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One, having no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
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Why Du’a?
- Du’a is a command of Allah, Subhannahu Wa Ta’laa. Du’a is Ibaddah!
In the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) says:
“Invoke Me (believe in My Oneness and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your invocation.
Verily! Those who scorn My worship (do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My oneness, they will surely enter Hell in humiliation” (Ghafir:60)
2. Du’a is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Salaam and his companions (RA).
3. Du’a is the practice of the believers.
“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) 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 (I answer the call of the caller)” (2:186)
4. Du’a increases our Emaan and proves that we are powerless over our destiny and proves our desperate need for Allah (SWT).
5. Du’a to Allah (SWT) proves to us His Great Mercy, His ongoing Mercy, and His ongoing Generosity!
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How does one make Du’a:
- Always begin your Du’a with praise for Allah (SWT), praise him by calling out to him using his Blessed Names.
Allahhumma (O Allah)
As Sami: All Hearing – only He can hear the whispering plea.
Al-Aleem: All Knowing – only He understands what is best for us.
Al-Qawi: All Powerful – the Only One with the Complete Power.
Al-Karim: The Ever Generous
Anas (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Recite frequently:
‘Ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram!” (O You, Possessor of Glory and Honor) (At-Tirmidhi)
- Raise your hands up (a gesture of begging and of receiving Allah’s (SWT) Blessings)
- Be firm in your conviction, do not be doubtful in words or in body language. Be convincing and insistent!
- Show your desperation, cry to Allah (SWT).
- Seek out the recommended times for making Du’a
In the last third of the night
When we break our fast
After every salah
Day of Jumu’ah between Asr and Maghrib
- Always end your Du’a by sending Peace and Blessings to our Most Beloved Prophet, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Salaam.
It is very important to be sincere in your Du’a and humble in your Du’a. Have a conversation with Allah (SWT) in private and quietly, and share with Him your desperation of your needs. Share your frustrations, share your weakness, and be confident that your Du’a will be answered.
“Whosoever is in the heavens and on earth begs of Him (its needs from Him). Every day He has a matter to bring forth” (Ar Rahman: 29)
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For your Du’a to be accepted:
- Do not ask for haraam (for something sinful), and don’t speak inappropriately to Allah (SWT).
- Do not make Du’a for something that would cut family ties.
- Do not become impatient and say that your Du’a has not been answered.
“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.” (Muslim)
- Be firm in your conviction that Allah (SWT) will answer your call.
If you do this, with full sincerity, your Du’a will be accepted. It is up to you and it is not a matter of “if” it will be accepted, it is a matter of “when” it will be accepted. Barriers to your Du’a being accepted are caused by you alone. Avoid the consumption of haraam!
There are three outcomes of Du’a made in sincerity:
- Allah (SWT) will fulfill your request in this life.
- He will save it for you in the Hereafter (because it was not good for you in this life).
- He will avert some harm from you in exchange for the Du’a (your request was not good for you here or in the hereafter).
Subhan’Allah. Alhamdulillah. Allahu Akbar
Allah (SWT) knows what is best for you and he is the best of planners!
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Make a du’a list! Include in that list:
- Seeking forgiveness for all of the believing Muslim men and women.
- Make du’a for those who have hurt you.
- Make du’a seeking forgiveness for those whom you have wronged
- Make du’a for your needs in this life (be specific)
- Make du’a for your needs in the hereafter (be specific)
- Make du’a for the needs of your family (be specific)
- Make du’a for the needs of family and friends (be specific)
- Make du’a for those who have helped you gain knowledge of your Deen (friends, family, and any individual/organization)
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One Du’a that we should all learn, and which should be made often:
“Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibul ‘afua fa ‘fu ‘annee”
“Oh Allah. You are forgiving, You love to forgive, so forgive me.”
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A Beautiful Dua’a, SubhanAllah:
“O’ the One Whom eyes cannot see, conjectures cannot grasp, and describers cannot describe;
Whom events cannot affect and Who does not fear calamities;
Who knows the weights of the mountains and the volumes of the oceans and the counts of the raindrops and of the tree leaves, and the counts of everything on which night brings darkness and day brings the light;
(O’ the One from Whom) a heaven cannot hide another heaven, nor the earth hide another earth, nor an ocean can hide what is in its depths, nor a mountain can hide what is behind its ruggedness-
Make the last part of my life its best, my last deed my best one and the day I meet You my best day.”
[This is a du’a that was made by a Bedouin, in the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah loved these words so much that he gave the man a gift of gold. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq used to make this du’a and when asked why he did this, despite being a companion of the highest status, he replied, ‘(Sometimes) a servant keeps on doing pious deeds for a lifetime but they are ended with the deeds of the people of the Fire. And (sometimes) a servant keeps on doing sinful deeds for a lifetime but they are ended with the deeds of the people of the Garden.’]
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If I have said anything here in this post that is wrong it is from me alone, and all that is right is from Allah (SWT).
Rivers Flowing in Paradise 