Islam and Dua (Supplication)

Dua (supplication) is a conversation between man and Allah, it is act of worshiping our creator, the powerful. Prophet Muhammad, May Allah be pleased with him said: “A salve becomes nearest to his Lord when he is in prostrations, so increase supplication in prostrations. The supplication of every one of you will be granted if he does not get impatient and say, I supplicated my Lord but my prayer has not been granted.”

For Muslims, prayer is a set of ritual movements and words performed at fixed times, five times per day. Allah says: “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours”. (Q4:103). Muslims pray in the early morning before sunrise, in the middle of the day, in afternoon, at sunset and at night. Prayer is an act of worship, in which a Muslim reaffirm his belief in Allah and demonstrates his gratefulness. It is a direct connection between Allah and the believer and it is an obligation.

Dua (supplication) can be made for the individual, family, friends, strangers, those in dire circumstances, believers, and even for the whole of humanity. When making the Dua, it is acceptable to ask for good in this worldly life and in hereafter. Prophet Muhammad – May Allah be pleased with him – encouraged the believers to make Dua, He said: “the Dua of a Muslim for his brother in his absence is readily accepted. An angel is appointed to his side. Whenever he makes a beneficial Dua for his brother, the appointed angel says, Aamin. And may you also be blessed with the same”.

Although making Dua is not obligation, there are many benefits to making Dua to Allah frequently and with full submission. Feeling the closeness to Allah that comes with sincere Dua, it increases faith, gives hope and relief to the distressed and saves the supplication from the despair and isolation. Throughout the Qur’an, Allah encourages the believer to call on him. He asks us to lay our dreams, hopes, fears and uncertainties before Him and to be sure that He hears every word.

Allah says: “You alone do we worship and you alone do we ask for help” (Q1:5).

“And your Lord says, call on me; I will answer your (prayer). But those who are too arrogant to worship Me will surely find themselves in Hell, in humiliation”. (Q40:60).

“Say, O my salves who have transgressed against their souls; despair not of the Mercy of Allah, for Allah forgives all sins; for He is often forgiving, most Merciful”. (Q39:53).

“Say, call upon Allah, or call upon Ar-Rahman (the most Merciful), by whatever name you call Him (it is well), for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.” (Q17:110).

“And when my slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by my knowledge). I respond to the supplication of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright” (Q2:186).

When we make Dua, we call upon Allah in our hour of need, or express our gratefulness, or for any other reason including simply to feel the comfort of being close to Allah, we must remember to examine our sincerity and to check our intention. Dua must be addressed to Allah alone, who has no partners, sons, daughters or intermediaries. Our intention when making the Dua must be to please Allah, obey Him and trust Him completely.

When a person makes Dua, Allah may give him what he asked for or He may divert a harm that is greater than the thing he asked for, or He may store up what he has asked for, for the Hereafter. Allah has commanded us to call Him and He has promised to respond to our call.

SUPPLICATION FROM THE QUR'AN

·           "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing." [Q2:127]

·           "Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire." [Q2:201]

·           "Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people." [Q2:250]

·           "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people." [Q2:286]

·           "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower." [Q3:8]

·           "Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire," [Q3:16]

·           "Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and have followed the messenger so register us among the witnesses [to truth]." [Q3:53]

·           "Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess [committed] in our affairs and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people." [Q3:147]

·           "Our Lord, You did not create this [heavens and earth] aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire." [Q3:191]

·           "Our Lord, indeed we have heard a caller calling to faith, [saying], 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous." [Q3:193]

·           "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?" [Q4:75]

·           "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." [Q7:23]

·           "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing." [Q2:127]

·           "Our Lord, do not place us with the wrongdoing people."[Q7:47]

·           "Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, and You are the best of those who give decision" [Q7:89]

·           "My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many]from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication." [Q14:40]

·           "Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established." [Q14:41]

·           "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance." [Q18:10]

·           "Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering." [Q25:65]

·           "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous." [Q25:74]

·           "Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire." [Q40:7]

·           "Our Lord, and admit them to gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. And protect them from the evil consequences [of their deeds].And he whom You protect from evil consequences that Day - You will have given him mercy. And that is the great attainment." [Q40:8-9]

·           "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful." [Q59:10]

·           "Our Lord, upon You we have relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination."[Q60:4]

·           "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims." [Q46:15]

·           "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils. And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me."[Q23:97-98]

·           "My Lord, have mercy upon them [my parents] as they brought me up [when I was] small." [Q17:24]

·           "My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful." [Q23:118]

·           "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." [Q20:114]