Strengthening Our Du’a
“And your Lord said, invoke Me and I will respond to your invocation” (Qur’an 40:60).
Immersed as we are in this materialistic world, many of us forget that material causes do not produce the desired effects independently of the Will of Allah(swt). We forget to achieve total reliance on Allah(swt) and we often neglect to implement the moral causes for achieving our goals.
One such moral cause that has become forgotten today is Du’a, the humble supplication of a believer to Allah(swt). Even when it is remembered, it is not performed in the correct way which weakens its transmission. Or certain customary and cultural practices have distorted the authentic precepts and practice of the manners in which du’a was committed by our pious predecessors. We can strengthen and purify our Du’a by fulfilling the conditions for its acceptance and observing the manners of its performance.
Many virtues of Du’a have been mentioned in the Qur’an and the Sunnah:
“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, (tell them) I am indeed near.I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls” (Qur’an 21:187).
“Invoke your Lord with humility and in secrecy” (Qur’an 7:55).
“So invoke Allah(swt) making your worship pure for Him” (Qur’an 40:14)
Nu’man bin Bashir relates that Allah(swt)’s Messenger (SAW) said, “Du’a is Ibadah (worship)” [Tirmidhi].
Abu Hurairah’s narration of the Prophet (SAW): “Anyone who does not invoke Allah(swt), will cause Allah(swt) to be angry with him.” (Ahmad)
Acceptance of Du‘a
For one’s Du’a to be accepted, one must direct it solely to Allah(swt); “Invoke Him only, making your religion sincere to Him” (Qur’an 7:29). Also, the Prophet (SAW) said in a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas(RA); “If you ask, ask Allah(swt) and if you seek help, seek help from Allah(swt).” (Ahmad, Tirmithi)
Perform the Du’a in conformity with the Shari’ah: The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever innovates in this matter of ours, something which is not part of it, it will be rejected.” If a person is sincere but is not following the Sunnah, his worship is rejected. Similarly, if a person is following the Sunnah but his work is not sincerely done for the sake of Allah(swt), his worship is still rejected.
Trust in Allah(swt) and have certainty of a reply: One must be certain that Allah(swt) does whatever He wishes, whenever He wills. Allah(swt) tells us in the Qur’an: “And there is nothing, but with Us are the stores thereof. And We do not send it down except with a known measure” (Qur’an 15:21).
In a Hadith Qudsi narrated by Abu Dharr(ra), Allah(swt) revealed through the Prophet (pbuh), “O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request from Me, and were I to give everyone what they requested, that would not decrease what I have anymore than a needle decreases the sea if put into it” (Muslim)
Presence of the heart: Always make sure that your heart is mindful when you are supplicating because Allah(swt) does not answer a Du’a from an inattentive heart. Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah(swt)’s Messenger (pbuh) said, “Invoke Allah(swt) while you are certain to be answered and know that Allah(swt) does not answer a Du’a from a heart which is inattentive and unmindful” (Tirmidhi).
Rejection
Some of the reasons that may cause our Du’a to be rejected include the following:
Haraam: Haraam eating, drinking and clothing are all strictly prohibited and are major reasons for the rejection of Du’a. The Messenger of Allah(swt) said, “Allah(swt) the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah(swt) has commanded the faithful to do that which He commanded the Messengers. He (pbuh) then mentioned the case of a man who, having journeyed far, is dishevelled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying: “O Lord, O Lord” while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered? (Muslim). Abu Bakr said that he heard the Messenger of Allah(swt) saying ‘Every body which is nourished with that which is unlawful, will be first in the fire’
Hastiness and abandonment: One must be patient for ones Du’a to be accepted, as hastiness is one of the causes for its rejection or disapproval. Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet (pbuh) said, “The invocation of any one of you is granted (by Allah(swt)) as long as he does not show impatience by saying ‘I have invoked Allah(swt) but my request has not been answered’” (Bukhari). In another narration by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet (pbuh) said, “A servant is granted his request as long as he does not invoke Allah(swt) for a sin, or to break kinship ties, and he does not make haste.”
Committing sins: Allah(swt) said, “Verily, Allah(swt) will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (Qur’an 13:11). That is to say, if a people’s condition is good, Allah(swt) will maintain it as long as they are grateful and do not disobey Him. Similarly, if the condition of a people is bad, Allah(swt) will maintain it for them as long as they remain ungrateful and insist on disobeying him.
Abandonment of obligatory deeds: Just as doing good deeds is a reason for the acceptance of Du’a, similarly, abandoning good deeds is a reason for the rejection of Du’a. Hudaifah(RA), narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “By Him, in whose hand is my soul, you should enjoin good and forbid evil or else it is likely that Allah(swt) will send a punishment upon you and then you will invoke Him and you will not be answered” (Tirmithi). So, for example, how could those who have constantly neglected and abandoned their prayers or praying in congregation in the Masjid expect their Du’a’s to be answered?
Asking for a sin, or to break the bondage of kinship: The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Any Muslim who supplicates to Allah(swt) in a Du’a which contains no sin or breaking of kinship, Allah(swt) will give him one of three things: either his Du’a will be immediately answered or, it will be saved for him in the hereafter, or it will turn away an equivalent amount of evil (from him)”. The companions said “…so we will ask for more.” He replied, “Allah(swt) is more (generous).” [Ahmad]
Etiquette of Du‘a
The correct manner of invoking Allah(swt) is to begin with Hamd and Salawat. Exalting Allah(swt) and sending blessings upon the Prophet (pbuh). Abdullah bin Mas’ood narrated, “I was praying while the Prophet, Abu Bakr and Omar were together. After I sat (in the last Tashahhud), I began with praising Allah(swt) then I said blessings upon the Prophet and then I prayed for myself. The Prophet, said, “Ask (and) you will be given. Ask (and) you will be given.” (Tirmidhi)
Du’a at Times of Trouble & Pleasure
One must not make it a habit to remember Allah(swt) only at the time of trouble but he must constantly remember Allah(swt) in all circumstances. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “(Anyone who is pleased) that Allah(swt) responds to him at the time of trouble and distress, (should) increase Du’a at the time of calmness.” (Tirmithi).
Avoid Du’a Against Ones Family, Wealth & Children
Jabir narrated a hadith about a man who cursed his animal. The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Who is this who cursed his animal?” The man replied, “It is me O Messenger of Allah(swt).” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Get down from it for a cursed one must not escort us. Do not pray against yourselves, do not pray against your children and do not pray against your wealth. It might coincide with a time when Allah(swt) answers what you asked for.” (Muslim)
Lower Ones Voice
Invoke Allah(swt) in a low tone as it is closer to sincerity. “Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He does not like the aggressors” (Qur’an 37:55). And He also tells us: “And remember your Lord by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear without loudness in words, in the morning and in the afternoon and be not of those who are neglectful.” (Qur’an 37:205).
Perseverance
We must attend to our Du’a with perseverance, repetition and persistence. Ibn Rajab suggests that we invoke Allah(swt) with His names and attributes as this is among the greatest means of having our Du’a accepted.
Repetition
It is preferable to repeat you Du’a three times as it is more likely to be answered. Prophet (pbuh) cursed a few members of the Quraish thrice when they placed the abdominal contents of a camel on his back whilst he was in sajdah.
Confession
Confess your sins with sincere regret for your mistakes although Allah(swt) is aware of all your actions. It is also worthwhile to acknowledge all of Allah(swt)’s mercy bestowed upon you. The Prophet (pbuh) taught his ummah the Sayyid-ul-Istighfar which acknowledges the favour of Allah(swt) upon oneself.
Face the Qiblah
One of the good manners when making Du’a is to face the Qiblah however, this is not compulsory. Abdullah bin Zaid narrated that Rasulullah (pbuh) came to this place of worship to pray Istisqaa for rain so he invoked Allah(swt) and prayed for rain. Then he faced the Qiblah and overturned his gown (Bukhari).
Raise Ones Hands. It is a recommended practice to raise one’s hands in making Du’a as it was done by the Prophet (pbuh) at different occasions. Abu Musa al-Ash’ari narrated, “The Prophet invoked and raised his hands and I saw the whiteness of his armpits.” (Bukhari)
Make Wudhu
Although it is not compulsory, one is recommended to supplicate Allah(swt) while he is in a state of wudhu (ablution). When Rasulullah (pbuh) invoked Allah(swt) on behalf of Abi ’Amir he first performed wudhu. (Muslim)
Weep from the Rememberance of Allah(swt)
Abdullah bin ’Umar narrated that Rasulullah (pbuh) recited the verse in which Ibrahim alayhis-salaam is invoking Allah(swt). “O my Lord, they [the idols] have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoever follows me, he verily is of me. and whoever disobeys me, still you are indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Qur’an 36). In another verse, Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him is invoking Allah(swt): “If you punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You-only You are the Almighty, the All-wise” (Al-Ma’idah, 118). And Rasulullah (pbuh) then raised his hands and said, “Allah(swt)umma Ummati, Ummati (O Allah(swt), my nation, my nation)’ and then he cried.
Make Du’a for Oneself Before Making Du’a for Others
It is Sunnah in Du’a to start with yourself prior to mentioning others as was collected by Tirmidhi, in the narration of Ubay bin Ka’ab (ra) that if someone was mentioned to the Prophet (pbuh), he would invoke Allah(swt) for him but would begin with himself. However, it was also narrated of Allah(swt)’s Messenger that, on certain occasions, he would not begin with himself.
Do not Trangress in Du’a
When appealing to Allah(swt) in Du’a, we should not get into much detail by asking for the different rewards of Jannah. ‘Abdullah bin Mughaffal heard his son saying: “O Allah(swt), I ask you for the white palace on the right of the Paradise if I were to enter it”. So he said, “Dear son, ask Allah(swt) for Paradise and seek refuge from the [Hell) fire for I have heard the Messenger of Allah(swt) saying, ‘there will come in this nation people who will transgress (or exceed) in ablution and Du’a.” (Abu Dawood).
Make Du’a for Ones ParentsIt is good to mention one’s Muslim parents (deceased or alive) in invocation for the great favour they owe us, a favour which can never be compensated.For a Muslim never forgets his duties towards his parents both in life and in death. Allah(swt) said, “And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy and say, ‘My Rab, bestow on them Your mercy as they did raise me when I was young’ (Qur’an 17:24)
Make Du’a for the Mu’mineen
One is recommended to remember the Muslims and the Mu’mineen around the globe in their invocation. Allah(swt) said “Ask forgiveness for your sin and also for the believing men and women” (Qur’an 47:19)
Ask Allah(swt) Alone
Instead of complaining to people when struck by calamity, one must make it a habit to ask Allah(swt) alone for refuge. However, there is no harm to mention your problem to people and share their opinion. In the hadith narrated by Ibn ’Abbas, Rasulullah (pbuh) said to him while he was riding behind him on the same mount, “Be mindful of Allah(swt) and Allah(swt) will protect you. Be mindful of Allah(swt) and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask only Allah(swt) and if you seek help, seek help only from Allah(swt). And know that if all the nations were to gather together to benefit you, they would benefit you only with something that Allah(swt) had already prescribed for you, and if they gather together to harm you, they would harm you only with something that Allah(swt) had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages are dry.” (Tirmidhi).
Brothers and sisters Allah(swt)’s Messenger (pbuh) impressed upon us that there is no veil between the du’a of the believer and his Lord, over 17 times a day the believer recites in his prayers during Surah Al-Fatiha ‘You Alone we worship and from You alone we seek help’. Though we can ask the living to make du’a on our behalf, this short treatise crystalises that there is no substitute to lifting our hands directly and asking Allah(swt) ourselves. And Allah(swt) knows best.
