Making dua is rewarding as dua is an important part of our faith and it is something that should be done regularly. There are many benefits to making dua and it is a great way to connect with Allah. It is also a forgotten sunnah of Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him. We all must try out best to revive this sunnah from now on.
What is Dua?
Dua is an act of worship that draws us closer to Allah Almighty and is a means of His mercy and blessings. It is one of the most powerful weapons a Muslim has in their arsenal, yet so many of us do not know how to make dua correctly, or we do not make dua at all.
- It increases our faith and reliance on Allah Almighty
- It purifies our hearts and souls
- It helps us to overcome our problems and challenges
- It brings us closer to Allah Almighty
- It is a source of comfort and peace for our hearts and minds
What are the different types of dua?
There are many different types of dua, each with its specific purpose and time. Some examples include:
Dua for forgiveness
This type of dua is made when we seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty for our sins and wrongdoings. It is a time to reflect on our mistakes and ask for guidance to avoid repeating them in the future. Allah (SWT) says in many surahs:
“Those who spend [in good] and those who pray and beg Allah’s pardon in the last hours of the night”. (3:17)
“And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterward seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”. (4:110)
“And Allah would not punish them while you (Muhammad) are among them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allah’s) forgiveness”. (8:33)
“And those who, when they have committed Fahishah (immoral sin) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; and none can forgive sins but Allah, and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know”.(3:135)
The Prophet (saw) said: “Blessings are for the one in whose record it is written that he frequently sought forgiveness from Allah”. (Ibn Majah) Also, he said: ” O my servants. You make mistakes by day and night and I will forgive them all. So seek forgiveness from Me and I will forgive you”. Hadith Qudsi reported by Muslim.
Dua for guidance
This type of dua is made when we feel lost or confused in life and need help finding the right path. It is a time to humble ourselves before Allah Almighty and ask for His guidance and wisdom. In Quran Allah says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ
“Praise to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us”. (7:43)
فَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
” Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful”. (12:64)
Prophet Muhammad pbuh said, do recite this Dua:
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِني ، وسَدِّدْنِي
” O Allah! Guide me and grant me success”.
Another narration of the last Hadith is:
اللَّهمَّ إنِّي أسْألُكَ الهُدَى والسَّدَادَ
(O Allah! Verily, I ask You for al-Hudā [right guidance] and as Sadād [success])
Dua that is also very beneficial for seeking guidance is Salatu Istikhara:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي
“O Allah, verily I seek the better [of either choice] from You, by Your knowledge, and I seek ability from You, by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. You have power, and I am powerless; You have the knowledge, and I know not; You are the Knower of the unseen realms. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me concerning my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair, then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and grant me a blessing in it. And if You know that this matter is not good for me concerning my religion, my livelihood, and the end of my affair, then turn it away from me and me from it; and decree for me better than it, wherever it may be, and make me content with it.”
After offering 2 rakkaat the, make this dua and surely He will guide us and make the ways easy for us.
Dua for seeking knowledge
If you want to increase your knowledge recite it just before studying.
رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
“O my Lord, increase me in knowledge” (20:114)
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
” My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance] and ease for me my task and untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech”.
Dua for seeking Help
When we feel helpless and find no way out in our life, then make a dua with more and more twakul. Allah says in the Quran: “And your Lord says, Make Dua before Me, I will accept for you. Verily those who disdain My worship surely will enter the hellfire contemptible” (40:60). In Baqarah Allah says: “When my servants inquire about me, (you tell them) that I am verily closer to them. I respond to the call of the supplicant whenever he calls me.” (2:186). Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Whosoever desires that Allah answers his duas in unfavorable and difficult conditions, he should make plentiful dua in days of ease and comfort.” Also, he said: “The person who does not ask from Allah, Allah becomes angry with him.”
By chronological order, we can observe that our Prophets have also made Dua
Dua of Prophet Adam
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
“Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.” (7:23)
Dua of Prophet Nuh
رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِىَ مُؤْمِنًۭا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًۢا
“My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction.” Surah Nuh (71:28)
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَنزِلْنِى مُنزَلًۭا مُّبَارَكًۭا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ
‘My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to accommodate [us].’” (23:29)
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْـَٔلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌۭ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِى وَتَرْحَمْنِىٓ أَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
“My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I do not know. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers.” (11:47)
Prophet Ibrahim’s Dua
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
“Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing. (2:127)
رَبَّنَا وَٱجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَآ أُمَّةًۭ مُّسْلِمَةًۭ لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
“Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites [of worship] and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.” (2:128)
رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ
“Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established.”(14:41)
رَبِّ هَبْ لِى حُكْمًۭا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
[And he said], “My Lord, grant me authority and join me with the righteous.” (26:83)
رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ
“My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.” (14:40)
Prophet Lut’s Dua
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱنصُرْنِى عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ
He said, “My Lord, support me against the corrupting people.” (29:30)
Prophet Yusuf’s Dua
رَبِّ قَدْ ءَاتَيْتَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّۦ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًۭا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
“Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous.” (12:101)
Prophet Shuaib’s Dua
رَبَّنَا ٱفْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَـٰتِحِينَ
“…Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give decision.” (7:89)
Prophet Ayub’s Dua
رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
“Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful.” (21:83)
Prophet Musa’s Dua
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى فَٱغْفِرْ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
“…My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (28:16)
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى 0 وَيَسِّرْ لِىٓ أَمْرِى 0 وَٱحْلُلْ عُقْدَةًۭ مِّن لِّسَانِى0 يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى 0
“…My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance], And ease for me my task, And untie the knot from my tongue, That they may understand my speech.” (20:25-28)
رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَقِيرٌۭ
“My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.” (28;24)
Prophet Sulaiman’s Dua
وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِى عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
“My Lord, enable me1 to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.” (27:19)
Prophet Yunus’s Dua
لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” (21:87)
Prophet Zakariya’s Dua
قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
“My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication.” (3:38)
Prophet Isa’s Dua
رَبَّنَآ أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًۭا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا وَءَايَةًۭ مِّنكَ ۖ وَٱرْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
“O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers.” (5:114)
What are the things to avoid when making dua?
Things to do
When making dua, or prayer, to Allah, certain steps should be taken to ensure that the prayer is accepted. First, it is important to have pure intentions when making dua. The prayer should be made with sincerity and with the hope that Allah will grant the request. Second, it is important to be humble when making dua. The supplicant should not have any arrogance or pride in their heart, but should instead humble themselves before Allah. Third, it is important to make dua at the proper time.
The best time to make dua is after performing the obligatory prayers, or during times of hardship and tribulation. Fourth, it is important to use proper etiquette when making dua. This includes using polite and respectful language and avoiding any obscene or disrespectful words. Finally, it is important to be patient when making dua. The supplicant should not become angry or frustrated if their request is not immediately granted, but should instead trust that Allah will answer their prayer in His own time and in His way.
Things not to do
Certain things should be avoided when making dua. First, it is important to avoid shirk when making dua. Shirk refers to the act of associating partners with Allah and is a grave sin in Islam. Second, it is important to avoid asking for harmful or evil things. Third, it is important to avoid making dua excessively as this can lead to impatience and frustration if one’s dua isn’t answered immediately. In conclusion, following these steps and avoiding these pitfalls will help increase the chances that Allah will accept your dua.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the dua is a very important part of Islam. It is a way to communicate with Allah and ask for His help. There are many benefits of dua, and it is important to know how to make dua correctly. There are four steps to making dua: 1) Choose the right time; 2) Make sure you are clean; 3) Face the Qiblah; 4) Raise your hands. 5) Make Dua with strong faith and be consistent in your duas. If your dua is not getting accepted, it means, it is evil for you and Allah (SWT) protects you from evil by this dua. Also, duas compensate for the hereafter. There are also some things to avoid when making dua, such as turning your back on the Qiblah or asking for something harmful.
Making Dua is Rewarding is part of an amazing series of content. For more, you are very much encouraged to follow our whole series Time to Revive where we discuss the forgotten sunnah or Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him, and try to revive them by considering most of the perspectives of the modern world. Reading them and making them a habit is now your choice.
By: Eeza Rasheed
