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Why Make Dua?
In a sound hadith the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Allah’s wrath is on the one who does not call upon Him for help.” ‘Aishah reported, “The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, ‘Precautions are of no avail against the decree of Allah, but the supplication benefits in the case of a calamity that strikes or is about to strike. And when a calamity descends the supplication intercepts it and holds it at bay until the Day of Resurrection’. (Reported by Al-Bazar, At-Tabrani, and Al-Hakim, who says its chain of authorities is sound)
Salman Al-Farisi reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Nothing can avert the decree of Allah except supplication, and nothing increases life except virtuous deeds.” (Tirmidhi)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, 4: 109
Etiquette for making duas:
1. Start the supplication with Allah’s Praise and Blessings on His Prophet (s).
Fudalah b. ‘Ubaid reported that the Prophet (s) heard a man supplicating during prayer. He did not glorify Allah, nor did he invoke blessings on the Prophet. The Prophet (s) said, “He has been hasty.” Then he called the man and said either to him, or to someone else, “When any one of you prays, he should begin by glorifying and praising his Lord and then he should invoke blessings on the Prophet, peace be upon him, and after that he should supplicate Allah for anything he wishes.”
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4: 111c
2. To ask Allah by HIs Names.
Allah himself says in the Qur’an ( Surah Al A’raf, 7:180): “The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on Him by them;”
The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) heard a man saying: O Allah, I ask Thee, I bear witness that there is no god but you, the One, He to Whom men repair (As-Samad), Who has not begotten, and has not been begotten, and to Whom no one is equal, and he said: “You have supplicated Allah using His Greatest Name, when asked with this name He gives, and when supplicated by this name he answers.”
Source: Hadith narrated by Narrated Buraydah ibn al-Hasib in Abu Dawood, hadith 584.
I was sitting with the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) and a man was offering prayer. He then made supplication: O Allah, I ask you by virtue of the fact that praise is due to you, there is no deity but you, Who showest favour and beneficence, the Originator of the Heavens and the earth, O Lord of Majesty and Splendour, O Living One, O Eternal One. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said: “He has supplicated Allah using His Greatest Name, when supplicated by this name, He answers, and when asked by this name He gives.”
Source: Hadith narrated by Anas ibn Malik in Abu Dawood, hadith 585.
3. a. Be in a state of purity, face the Qiblah, and raise your hands when making duas.
According to Fiqh us Sunnah, volume 5, #96b, one must maintain a complete state of purity. face the direction of Ka’bah, seek forgiveness of Allah as much as possible. glorify Allah, and supplicate for one’s well being and welfare in this Iife and in the Hereafter, and for others, with fervor, attention, and with hands raised in supplication. Osamah bin Zaid reported: “I was riding behind the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Arafah, while he raised his hands in supplications to Allah.” (Reported by Nasa’i)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 5, #96b.
The Prophet went towards the Musalla and invoked Allah for rain. He faced the Qibla and wore his cloak inside out, and offered two Rakat.
Source: Abdullah bin Zaid in Sahih Bukhari, volume 2, hadith 125.
3.b Raise your hands in front of your face, but not above your head.
Umayr saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) praying for rain at Ahjar az-Zayt near az-Zawra’, standing, making supplication, praying for rain and raising his hands in front of his face, but not lifting them above his head.
Source: Narrated Umayr, the client of AbulLahm, in Sunan Abu Dawood, hadith #450
3.c. Supplicate with the palms of your hand upward.
The Prophet (s) said. “[...] Supplicate Allah with the palms of your hands; do not supplicate Him with their backs upwards. When you finish supplication, wipe your faces with them.”
Source: Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas in Sunan Abu Dawood, hadith #578.
3.d. Make Wudhu (ablution) before asking du’a
[...]I returned and entered upon the Prophet at his house, and found him lying in a bed made of stalks of date-palm leaves knitted with ropes, and on it there was bedding. The strings of the bed had their traces over his back and sides. Then I told the Prophet about our and Abu Amir’s news and how he had said, “Tell him to ask for Allah’s Forgiveness for me.” The Prophet asked for water, performed wudhu and then raised hands, saying, “O Allah! Forgive ‘Ubaid, Abu Amir.” [...]
Source: Narrated by Abu Musa in Sahih Bukhari, volume 5, hadith 612.
4. Use comprehensive words.
‘Aishah says that the Prophet, peace be upon him, loved the short but comprehensive, meaningful supplications, more than others. Fiqh us Sunnah (volume, #133a) gives below some of these supplications, which are a must for every believer:
Anas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, frequently prayed, “O Allah, give us all the good of this world, and the good of the life hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the fire.”
Abdallah ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed to Allah, “My Lord, help me and do not turn against me. Grant me victory, and do not grant victory over me. Plan on my behalf and do not plan against me. Guide me, and make the guidance easy for me. Grant me victory over those who act wrongfully toward me. O Allah, make me grateful to You, mindful of You, in awe of You, devoted to your obedience, humble, penitent, and ever turning to You in repentance. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sins, answer my supplication, clearly establish my evidence, guide my heart, make my tongue true, and draw out malice from my breast.”
5. Make dua during your sijda (prostration).
As pointed out by Br. Abdul Malik Mujahid, we are in one of the most submissive physical positions when in Sajdah. It is one of the best occasions to ask God for forgiveness, guidance, and all that we want.The Prophet use to make dua in Sajdah and not just tasbeeh as in obligatory prayers. He used to cry in Sajdah. Abduallah Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (s) said”[...] [While] prostrating yourselves be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.”
Source: Muslim
Abu Hurairah (r) reported, the Prophet (s) said, “The servant is nearest to his Lord when he is prostrating to Him, so make supplication in this state.” (Muslim)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, 4: 111a
6. Do not only do duas during times of difficulty.
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), said, “If anyone finds pleasure in receiving an answer from Allah in times of difficulty, he should make many supplications when times are easy.”
Source: Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.
7. Do not ask for anything sinful in your dua.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Any Muslim who makes a supplication containing nothing which is sinful or which involves breaking ties of relationship will be given for it by Allah one of three things: He will give him swift answer, or store it up for him in the next world, or turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil.”
Source: Narrated by AbuSa’id al-Khudri in Tirmidhi.
8. Be firm when making dua.
Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu’z Zinad from al-Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ”When you are making dua, do not say: ‘O Allah, forgive me if You wish. O Allah, forgive me if you wish.’ You should be firm in your asking, for there is no compelling Him.”
Source: Al Muwatta hadith 28, volume 15.
9.a. Do not be impatient if your dua has not yet been answered.
Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Abu Ubayd, the mawla of Ibn Azhar, from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “You will be answered as long as you are not impatient and say, ‘I have made a dua and I have not been answered .’ “
Source: Al-Muwatta hadith 29, volume 15.
9.b. Make dua with confidence in its acceptance.
Abu Hurairah also reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him,
said, “None of you should say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You wish, (or) O
Allah, have mercy on me if you wish.’ Rather you should be firm in
your request, for (Allah does whatever He wishes) and no one can
force Him to do otherwise.”
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, number 112b.
10. Pursue lawful means of livelihood
Please note that you should pursue lawful means of livelihood if you wish your duas to be answered. The following hadith makes this clear:
Abu Hurairah (r) reported that the Prophet (s) said, “O people, Allah is Good and He, therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying, ‘O Messengers, eat of the good things, and do good deeds; verily I am aware of what you do,’ Qur’an 23.51 and He said: ‘O those who believe, eat of the good things that We gave you’.” Qur’an 2.172 The Prophet, peace be upon him, then made mention of a person who travels widely, his hair dishevelled, and covered with dust. “He lifts his hands and makes supplication, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’ but his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful, and his nourishment is unlawful. How then can his supplication be accepted?“ (Muslim and Ahmad)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4: 110a
Ibn ‘Abbas reported, “Once, when I recited the verses of the Qur’an, ‘O you people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good’ (2.168) in the presence of the Prophet, peace be upon him. Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas got up and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Ask Allah to make me one whose supplication is heard.’ At this the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, ‘O Sa’d, consume lawful things and your supplications will be heard, and by Him in Whose hands is the soul of Muhammad, when a man puts into his stomach a morsel of what is forbidden his prayers are not accepted for forty days, and a servant of Allah whose body is nourished by usury or by what is forbidden becomes more deserving of the Hell fire.” (Al-Hafiz b. Marduwiyah)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4: 110a
11. There is no harm in making duas in obligatory prayers.
Yahya said that Malik was asked about making dua in obligatory prayers and he said, “There is no harm in making dua in them.”
Source: Al-Muwatta hadith 39, volume 15.
12. Do not make duas in a distracted manner.
The Prophet (s) has said in a Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: Make Dua and be assured of being answered, and know that Allah does not answer a Dua from a careless heart which is not concentrating
Source: Tirmidhi in article by Abdul Malik Mujahid, 31 doas to choose from.
13. Make dua. Allah wants you to.
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet said: Allah is angry with those who do not ask Him for anything.
Source: Tirmidhi in article by Abdul Malik Mujahid, 31 doas to choose from.
Section 14: Best Times During Which You Can Make Your Dua
14. a. Duas are preferred in the time after the final tashahud and just before doing the salaams that end your prayer.
According to Fiqh-us-Sunnah (volume 1, #161), it is preferred for the person to supplicate after the final tashahud and before making the final salutations (that end the prayer). The person may ask for whatever he wishes of the good of this life and the hereafter. Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet, upon whom be peace, taught him the tashahud and then said, “Then choose whatever you wish to ask (of Allah).” (Related by Muslim.)
14.b. Duas can also be made in the time between the adhan and the iqama.
The supplication made between the adhan and the iqamah is not rejected.
Source: Narrated by Anas ibn Malik in Sunan Abu Dawood, hadith #206.
14.c. The best time to make dua
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked: What supplication finds greatest acceptance? He answered: A prayer offered in the middle of the latter part of the night and after the prescribed Prayers.
Source: narrated Abu Umamah and transmitted by Tirmidhi, number 460, with a sound chain of authorities (according to Fiqh us Sunnah, vol 4, #111a).
14.d. Duas on the Day of Arafa
Yahya related to me from Malik from Ziyad ibn Abi Ziyad from Talha ibn
Ubaydullah ibn Kariz that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The best dua is dua on the day of Arafa, and the best thing that I or the Prophets before me have said is ‘There is no god but Allah, alone, without any partner’ (La ilaha illa’llah, wahdahu la sharika lah.)“
Source: Al-Muwatta, volume 15, number 32.
A video clip on the best times to make dua:
Section 15: Whose Duas Are Not Rejected
15. Supplications which are not rejected.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “The supplications of three persons are accepted, and there is no doubt concerning their acceptance: the supplication of a father, of a traveller, and of one who is wronged.’ (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Daw’ud, and Tirmidhi, with a sound chain of transmitters)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, vol 4, number 113c
The Prophet, peace be upon him, also said, “The supplications of
three persons are not rejected: the supplication of a fasting
person at the time of breaking fast, of a just ruler, and of a person
who is wronged. Allah causes their supplications to rise above the
clouds, and gates of heaven are opened for them, and God says,
‘By My Majesty, I will help you, even it be after a while’.” (Reported by Tirmidhi with a sound chain of authorities)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, vol 4, number 113c
16. Repeat your supplication three times..
Abdallah b. Mas’ud reported that the Prophet (s) loved to repeat his supplication three times, and pray for forgiveness three times.” (Abu Daw’ud)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, 4, 113a
17. Supplicate with attention and humility, in a voice neither loud nor low.
Allah says: “Neither say your prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between.” Qur’an 17.110 And “Call on your Lord with humility and in private, for Allah does not love those who go beyond bounds.” Qur’an 7.55
Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari reported, “Once the people raised their voices in supplication. At this the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, ‘Be easy on yourselves. You are not calling upon someone deaf or absent. You are calling upon one Who is All-seeing and All-hearing. He is nearer to you than the neck of your mount. O Abdallah b. Qais, shall I tell you a word that is one of the treasures of Paradise? It is: “There is no power nor any might except with the permission of Allah”.’ (Muslim and Bukhari)
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4: 111d
18. Supplicate without a sin or breaking blood ties.
Ahmad records that Abu Sa’id reported that the Prophet, peace be upon
him, said, “Any Muslim who makes a supplication containing nothing
that is sinful and nothing that involves breaking ties of blood
relationships, will be given for it by Allah one of these three things: He
may accept his request, or assign its reward for him in the next world,
or turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil.” Those who heard
it said, “We would, then, make many supplications.” The Prophet, peace
be upon him, replied, “Allah is more than ready to answer what you
ask.”
Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4: 112
19. End your supplication (dua) with amin.
We went out with the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) one night and came upon a man who made supplication with persistence. The Prophet (peace be upon him) waited to hear him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: He will have done something which guarantees (Paradise for him) if he puts a seal to it. One of the people asked: What should he use as a seal? He replied: Amin, for if he ends it with Amin, he will do something which guarantees (Paradise for him).
Source: Narrated by AbuZuhayr an-Numayri in Sunan Abu Dawood, hadith #361
19. Don’t rub your hands over your face or kiss your fingers or place your thumbs next to your eyes after finishing your dua.
Many Muslims and Muslimas have the habit of rubbing their hands over their face or kissing the tip of their fingers after finishing their dua. This is an innovation, and should not be done since there is not a single hadith or other evidence that the Prophet Muhammad (s) ever did this. Just put the hands down after saying “amin”.
1 – Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: With regard to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) raising his hands when saying du’aa’, there are many saheeh ahaadeeth concerning this, but as for his wiping his face with his hands, there are only one or two hadeeths concerning that, and they cannot be taken as evidence.
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 22/519
2 – al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salaam said: No one wipes his face with his hands after saying du’aa’ except one who is ignorant.
Fataawa al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salaam, p. 47
If it is not permitted to wipe the face after making du’aa’, it is more likely that the person who says du’aa’ should not be allowed to wipe his body either, or to kiss his eyes. Rather the scholars stated that kissing the thumbs and placing them on the eyes is a bid’ah (innovation) that was introduced by some of the Sufi tareeqahs, and there is a hadeeth concerning that which is falsely attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the ruling on wiping the face with the hands after making du’aa’. He replied:
Wiping the face with the hands after making du’aa’ is more likely to be not prescribed in Islam, because the ahaadeeth that have been narrated concerning that are da’eef (weak). Shaykh al-Islam (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: They cannot be used as evidence. If we are not certain or we think it most likely that this is not prescribed, then it is better not to do it, because Islamic rulings cannot be proven on the basis of mere conjecture, unless we believe it to be mostly likely to be the case.
The above material was taken from islamqa.com
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