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There are two ways of communicating with Allah Almighty: the five daily prayers, which are an obligation upon us, and dua. Unlike salah, dua is a form of prayer that can be made anytime, anywhere.
It is considered a weapon through which you can change your situation by asking for help from Allah Almighty. This is a huge mercy from Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) said,
“The dua is the essence of worship.”
(Jami’ at Tirmidhi 3372)
In this blog, you will get to know how powerful dua is and why it is so emphasised and valued in Islam. Keep reading to discover the meaning and virtues of making dua.
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Dua is a word from the Arabic language. It has several meanings in Islam. The first meaning is to praise Allah. The second meaning is to seek Allah and beg for His mercy. The third is to call upon the One who created everything.
All these definitions accurately describe the main purpose behind making dua to Allah, which is to call upon Him for whatever you need.
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The power dua holds is beyond one’s imagination. It is a way through which one can directly communicate with Al-Khaliq (the Creator). Its importance is mentioned in many places in the Quran and Sunnah.
In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah says,
“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad PBUH) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor).”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 286)
This verse clearly mentions that dua is a reminder of Allah’s closeness to His servants. It is the most liberating, empowering, and life-changing conversation one can have with their Lord.
If everything is already written in our destiny (qadr), can dua truly change anything? The answer lies in understanding something very beautiful; the dua itself is part of qadr.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Nothing can change the Divine decree except dua.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 90)
This means Allah, in His perfect knowledge, has already written whether a person will make a dua and how that dua will interact with their destiny. From our side, dua is a powerful tool that can bring ease, open doors, and protect us from harm in ways we may not even realise.
Think of it like this: someone might sincerely pray for better health. Soon after, they may find the right doctor, receive a proper diagnosis, or develop the strength to make healthier choices. In reality, both the dua and these outcomes were already written by Allah. But from our perspective, the dua changed the path.
Unlike Salah, making dua does not require Wudu or specific Raka’hs to validate them. However, there are some conditions that can increase the chances of acceptance, such as having complete trust in Allah, being patient and having sincere intentions.
To have your dua answered, you must:
Remember that the most important aspect of making a dua is the sincerity and intention behind it. The Prophet (PBUH) said,
“Know that Allah does not answer a dua from an inattentive heart.”
(Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3479)
How rewarding it would be if you could follow the Sunnah etiquette of making dua. It would surely bring blessings and increase the chances of your dua being accepted.
We shouldn’t just make dua when times are tough; rather, we should be asking of Allah at all times. In fact, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Whoever wishes that Allah would respond to him during hardship and grief, then let him supplicate plentifully when at ease.”
(Jami` at Tirmidhi 3382)
If you build a habit of constant supplication, it will strengthen your connection with Allah and prepare you for challenging moments. Did you know there are special times when dua is surely answered? Read our recent blog to learn more!
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Many people unintentionally make mistakes in their dua without even realising it. These small slips can affect the sincerity and impact of our supplications. By understanding them, we can strengthen our connection with Allah and make our duas more meaningful.
Some frequent mistakes include:
- Lack of focus or presence of heart: Making dua while distracted or without truly turning to Allah.
- Remembering Allah only in hardship: Asking for help in tough times but forgetting to make dua in moments of ease and gratitude.
- Asking for harmful or sinful things: A sincere dua should always align with what is good and pleasing to Allah.
- Losing hope too soon: Giving up when answers are delayed, forgetting that Allah’s timing is always perfect.
- Being impatient or questioning Allah’s wisdom: True dua comes with trust, even when we don’t understand the outcome.
- Skipping praise and salutations: Neglecting to begin with praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet (PBUH).
If we avoid these mistakes, we can approach dua with humility, patience, and faith. It reminds us that dua is a heartfelt act of worship and trust in Allah’s perfect plan.
Allah will always answer your supplications as long as you don’t ask for anything bad and as long as you don’t get impatient.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“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.”
(Riyad as-Salihin 1499)
When asked what impatience means, the Prophet (PBUH) explained that it is when a person says, “I have supplicated again and again, but I don’t think my prayer will be answered,” then becomes frustrated and stops making dua altogether.
Instead, we should trust in Allah’s timing and wisdom, knowing that every sincere dua is heard and answered in the best way.
The companions of the Prophet (PBUH) used to make dua for the smallest of things. They used to even ask Allah for salt for their food. In one hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to tell them,
“Let one of you ask his Lord for his every need, until he asks Him for salt, and asks Him for the strap of his sandal when it breaks.”
(Jami’ at Tirmidhi 3604)
This teaches that nothing is too big or small to ask Allah for. You need to understand that the only one you can rely on is Allah. So, we should turn to Him for everything we need.
Whether it's asking for help to not miss your train, being on time for a meeting, or finding something you’ve lost - ask Allah for it all.
Allah responds to every sincere dua in one of three ways:
a. Granting the request immediately.
b. Delaying it for a better time.
c. Replacing it with something even better (such as averting a hardship).
Just look at what the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Whenever a Muslim supplicates Allah, He accepts his supplication or averts any similar kind of trouble from him until he prays for something sinful or something that may break the ties of kinship.”
(Riyad as-Salihin 1501)
It shows even when your dua isn’t answered immediately, it still brings great benefits. This means every dua is answered either directly or by protecting you from a hardship you didn’t even know was coming.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to teach his Companions, saying: ‘When one of you reaches the morning, then let him say’,
اللَّهُمَّ بِكَ أَصْبَحْنَا وَبِكَ أَمْسَيْنَا وَبِكَ نَحْيَا وَبِكَ نَمُوتُ وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
Allāhumma bika aṣbaḥnā wa bika amsaynā wa bika naḥyā wa bika namūt wa ilayka l-masīr
‘O Allah, by You we enter the morning, and by You we enter the evening, and be You we live, and by You we die, and to You is the Return.’
(Jami’ at Tirmidhi 3391)
This is the dua you can recite after performing wudu:
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu wa ‘ash-hadu ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduh’;u wa Rasooluhu.
I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.
Ayesha (RA) narrated that whenever the Prophet (PBUH) saw rain, he used to say this:
اللّهُمَّ صَيِّـباً نافِـعاً
Allaahumma sayyiban naafi’an
O Allah, (bring) beneficial rain clouds.
(Sahih Bukhari, 1032)
iv. Dua for Forgiveness
Did you know that the Prophet (PBUH) used to recite this dua a hundred times in one sitting? You, too, can seek forgiveness for your sins by reciting this dua, as it is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (PBUH):
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Rabbighfir li wa tub 'alayya innaka Anta At-Tawwabur-Raheem
‘My Lord! Forgive me and pardon me. Indeed, You are the Oft-Returning with compassion and Ever Merciful.’
(Riyad as-Salihin 1872)
You can make the following dua for good health:
اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَدَنِي، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي سَمْعِي، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَصَرِي، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
Allaahumma ‛aafinee fee badanee, allaahumma ‛aafinee fee sam‛ee, allaahumma ‛aafinee fee baṣaree, laa ilaaha illaa ant.
'O Allah, make me healthy in my body. O Allah, make me healthy in my hearing. O Allah, make me healthy in my sight. There is no god but You.'
(Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 701)
The following supplication is from the Quran and can be recited to ask Allah to be merciful to our parents.
رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًۭا
Rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira.
‘My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.’
(Surah Al-Isra, verse 24)
In the moments of grief, our beloved Prophet (PBUH) used to say,
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْهَمِّ وَالْحُزْنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min al-hammi wal-huzni, wal-'ajzi wal-kasali, wal-bukhli wal-jubni, wa dala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal
‘O Allah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by (other) men.’
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6369)
Dua is a powerful tool that strengthens your connection with Allah and can even change your destiny. By making dua consistently with sincerity, patience, and gratitude, we open doors to countless blessings.
The more you make dua, the stronger your relationship with Allah becomes. So, don’t just make dua when you need something - make dua because you love talking to your Creator. He is always listening and near you.
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