A Guide To Understanding Duas: The Muslim Prayer for Guidance

What are Supplications (Duas) and Why Are They Important?

A “dua” or a prayer of supplication in English, is a prayer asking for help, an entreaty, a supplication that every Muslim addresses to Allah عزّ وجلّ so that He might meet their needs or satisfy their hopes, and that He might shower you with his benevolence and blessings.

The definition of the term “dua” is “to call upon,” “to ask for help” or “to summon” in Arabic.

Generally, in the Quran, the word “dua” means calling upon Allah عزّ وجلّ, asking for his attention, and talking to him, in other words, petitioning or supplicating him.

Supplications may be used to forgive our errors or our sins, to correct our faults, to give us the strength to overcome our difficulties, solve our problems, bring us closer to the creator and help us find the right path and peace in our souls.

Supplications are one of the most powerful means Muslims have to connect with Allah عزّ وجلّ and open their hearts to Him.

Supplications enable believers to approach their creator and to free themselves from doubts and anguish.

They strengthen one’s sense of security.

Supplications are a means to ask Allah عزّ وجلّ to give us our desires or meet our needs in the broadest sense of the term. 

When a believer goes through a difficult period, a supplication (dua) has the power of a miracle to solve our greatest problems, but only if you call on Allah عزّ وجلّ with a pure heart and true intentions.

Although not required, it is possible to use a supplication not only for personal requests, but also purely out of a religious sentiment, in other words, in a totally unselfish manner.

It is also possible to offer a supplication for someone else, since Islam is a religion that inspires Muslims to have brotherly feelings for the entire Ummah (Quran 47:19) (Riyad as-Salihin, Hadith 1495).

The supplications we offer can thus influence our fate or that of others, and change our destiny by bringing Muslims closer to their creator.

Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah referred to two types of supplications.

1 – Dua al-Ibadah: Prayers of Worship and Gratitude

A supplication of worship involves offering Allah عزّ وجلّ one’s prayers and worship without asking Him for anything for oneself (Muslim Hadith 384).

2 – Dua al-Istithanah: Supplications for Needs and Requests

The supplication of request involves asking Allah عزّ وجلّ for what we need. 

This distinction uses two terms found in verse 5 of the Al-Fatihah surah in which it is said: “You alone do we worship” (ibadah, offer of praise to God), and You alone do we ask for help” (istianah, request made to the creator) (Quran 1:5).

In fact, these two types of supplications are related because neither of them can be made to anyone other than Allah عزّ وجلّ.

It is possible to offer a supplication at any time, without constraint.

Supplications are made whenever a believer wishes and are not prescribed for any particular moment.

However, according to the Quran, some moments are more suitable than others.

• The time before the rising and setting of the sun (Quran 20:130).  
• The time after prayers (Quran 50:39/50).

Allah عزّ وجلّ appreciates when we make many supplications (Quran 33:35).

When someone offers a supplication (dua), Allah عزّ وجلّ may respond in three ways:

• Allah عزّ وجلّ may answer the request.
• Or He may keep the person away from a more significant harm or difficulty than the favor the person had requested.
• Or He may save the request for the hereafter.

It is important to understand that the response to a supplication may not be exactly what was expected. Allah عزّ وجلّ may immediately grant a supplication or it may take time.

Allah عزّ وجلّ may also answer a supplication differently by allowing the believer to avoid a difficulty, for example, or by giving him a blessing different from the one originally requested.

Allah عزّ وجلّ knows each believer’s heart and future and knows what is best for everyone (Quran 2:216).

A supplication made in Arabic and understood is a good thing. But you may offer a supplication (dua) in the language of your choice provided that it is offered sincerely.

A dua is your conversation with your Creator. He knows you and understands your heart and mind.

To make your supplication more likely to be successful, you should follow certain rules.

1 – Allah عزّ وجلّ must be the only subject of the supplication

The Muslim must invoke Allah عزّ وجلّ alone, without associating anything with Him or using any intermediary (Quran 72:18 and 6:41) (Tirmidhi Hadith 2516).

This condition is essential because, if it is not met, no supplication can be accepted or granted. 

2 – Muslims must invoke Allah عزّ وجلّ sincerely 

This is one of the most important rules (Muslim Hadith 1907).

To offer their supplications sincerely, Muslims must have the certainty that Allah عزّ وجل alone is capable of granting the believer’s requests and meeting their needs.

1 – Muslims must believe and be convinced that Allah عزّ وجلّ alone can grant their supplication

Supplications are acts of faith in the creator and help to keep our trust in Allah عزّ وجلّ alive in us and to constantly renew and strengthen it.

2 – Invoke Allah عزّ وجلّ using His beautiful names

You should invoke Allah عزّ وجلّ using His beautiful names in order to please the Creator, both at the beginning and at  the end of the supplication, as the creator intended (Quran 7:180).

3 – Supplications must be made with humility, reverence and discretion

“Call upon your Lord with humility and in secret. Surely He does not love transgressors.”(Quran 7:55)

4 – Do not show impatience

Do not show impatience while waiting for an immediate result, but rather trust that Allah عزّ وجلّ will grant your supplication (Muslim Hadith  2735, Bukhari 6340).

5 – You must not ask Allah عزّ وجلّ

You must not ask Allah for anything illegal or that would sever a family relationship.  

The supplication should not lead to severing a family relationship or committing a sin.

“There is not a Muslim upon the earth who calls upon Allah with any supplication, except that Allah grants it to him, or he turns away from him the like of it in evil; as long as he does not supplicate for something sinful, or the severing of the ties of kinship  (Tirmidhi Hadith 3573).

6 – Repeat the words of supplication and ask Allah عزّ وجلّ insistently

Being insistent in a supplication means repetition and consistency in making your request of Allah عزّ وجلّ (Bukhari Hadith 6338).

7 – Don’t use rhyming prose in your supplication

Supplications require humility and reverence. They must not be stylized and no play acting should come into this important act (Bukhari Hadith 6337).

1 – Performing Supplication in a State of Purity (Taharah)

It is recommended that you make your supplication to Allah عزّ وجلّ in a state of purity and thus make your ablutions as you would for prayer. This is not a requirement, but it allows you to receive a greater reward (Bukhari Hadith 214)

2 – Beginning with Praise of Allah عزّ وجلّ and the Prophet

 “Those who believe in the Messenger, and respect him, and support him, and follow the light that came down with him—these are the successful (Quran 7:157) (See also Muslim Hadith 384).

3 – Facing the Qiblah (Direction of Prayer)

Qibla is the direction in which Muslims face when they do their daily prayers (salah) (Bukhari Hadith 828, Muslim Hadith 894).

There are two options

1 – Supplicating in Prostration (Sujud)

Supplications while prostrate during a required or supererogatory prayer is allowed and advisable because the believer is closest to Allah عزّ وجلّ when in this position (Muslim Hadith 482).

This is an excellent time to ask Allah عزّ وجلّ for something.

2 – Raising Hands Open and Outstretched (After Prayer)

There are two options

• The first with hands at shoulder level (Bukhari Hadith 735, Muslim Hadith 390).
• The second with hands at the ears (Muslim Hadith 391).

Learn more about Seeking Guidance from Allah: How to Perform Salat al-Istikharah