HOW TO MAKE DUA’

Once, a ten-year-old boy was praying feverishly in prostration, 

“O Allah, the Most Merciful, the Magnificent, Make Faisalabad (a small city of Pakistan) the capital of Pakistan…”

His mother overheard him and asked, 

“Why would you pray so, my son?” The boy answered, 

“Well, Mama, we had a question on our final exam which asked, 'What is the capital of Pakistan?' and I mistakenly put 'Faisalabad' as my answer!"

Although we can laugh at the innocence of a child, his trust in his supplication to Allah (سبحانهوتعال) and his belief that his prayer will be heard is admirable; as a matter of fact, it is ideal. We also should have that kind of trust, that Allah can do anything, and that if only turn to Him our pain will be soothed and our problems given solutions.

Allah (سبحانهوتعال) states in the Quran (Umm Muhammad translation):

“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.”(Surat al-Baqara, 2:186)

The method and art of making dua:

Making dua in the court of Allah the Exalted is an art and has an etiquette which if considered, can result in the opening of many doors of Allah’s bliss and bounties. Some of the factors that help are listed below:

Praise Allah (سبحانهوتعال) and call Him by His beautiful names and attributes before setting out to ask Him for favors. Indeed Allah is praiseworthy and never tires of hearing and fulfilling duas of all of His creatures. Allah (سبحانهوتعال) states in the Quran:

“Say: Call upon Allah or call upon, the Beneficent Allah; whichever you call upon, He has the best names; and do not utter your prayer with a very raised voice nor be silent with regard to it, and seek a way between these.”(Surat al-Isra, 17:110)

Be Humble:

When you are praying, do not act as if you are enjoined the right to deserve whatever you are asking for. Make sure that you know that your Lord is the Most Gracious and you the Most Humble. Acknowledge your status before the Magnificent and do not be proud.

“Call your Lord humbly and secretly. He does not love those who transgress the boundaries.”(Sura al-Araf: 55)

Let Allah the Most High decide:

If you are asking for something which you really like, always remember that whatever you are asking for may not be always in the best interest. Allah (سبحانهوتعال) states in the Quran:

“It may be that you hate something when it is good for you and it may be that you love something when it is bad for you. Allah (سبحانهوتعال) knows and you know not.”(Sura al-Baqara, 2:216)

 Always let Allah (سبحانهوتعال) decide what is right for you and what is wrong for you instead of implying or imposing that you know better.

Be articulate:

Make sure to spell out in clear words what you want exactly. It is true that Allah (سبحانهوتعال) knows the secrets of the heart but He still wants you to pray and pray in an articulate manner. For example, all the sisters who want good husbands should not just suffice praying as such,

 “O Allah (سبحانهوتعال), give us a good husband.”Though it may sound out-of-the-world, but it is true that there are brothers who are good looking, rich and possess an excellent character. A sister may ask for all three with all her heart, and she will inshAllah get her wish, but it will be better if she knows the order of the features that she wants in her husband, i.e., a good character must come first and foremost.

Believe in your dua:

The most critical factor in a dua being accepted or not, is the belief of the seeker in his or her supplication’s being accepted. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported, “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), ‘The supplication of every one of His slaves will be granted as long as he does not get impatient and say, 

“I supplicated to my Rubb again and again but I do not think my prayer will be answered."[Al-Bukhari, Muslim].

Also, Allah (سبحانهوتعال) Himself states, 

“Do not despair of solace from Allah (سبحانهوتعال). No one despairs of solace from Allah except for people who disbelieve.”[Sura Yusuf, 87]

 Therefore, it is imperative that we do not grow hopeless of Allah (سبحانهوتعال)’s Mercy but keep on praying consistently and with patience.

Pray when happy and sad:

Allah (سبحانهوتعال) states at numerous places that a human being only remembers Him in the times of distress but forgets Him when he has tears of joy in his eyes. We all know that we do not feel good when our friends remember us in the times of distress but abandon us in the time of need. Though Allah (سبحانهوتعال)’s Rahma is infinite and His forgiveness is boundless, yet He expects us to keep on praying even when He has given us good times. Therefore, we should never forget our Lord when our heart’s joys know no bounds or when we are shouting in exhileration.

Remember others during prayers:

Allah (سبحانهوتعال) says:

“And ask forgiveness for your sins and also for the sin of believing men and women.” (Sura Muhammad, 19)

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 

“The dua of a Muslim for his brothers in his absence is readily accepted, an angel is appointed to his side, whenever he makes a beneficial dua for his brother, the angel says, ‘Ameen’, and May you be blessed with the same”. (Sahih Muslim).

So a great way of having a dua being accepted in your favor is to wish the same for your brother with all your heart and importune the Creater on his behalf. This way, not only will your dua be accepted, but you will become the cause of happiness of your brother as well.

The Proper Way To Make Dua

Note that there is not one particular part of the prayer when du'aa' should be offered, rather there are several parts of the prayer where the scholars have stated that the Messenger of Allah  offered du'aa', from the opening takbeer to the final tasleem.

It is also Sunnah to make du'aa' after the prayer and there are several du'aa's that we will mention below insh'allah. It should be noted that the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad  and the best of du'aa's are those which are in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet . The wording of the Messenger of Allah  is the best of wording, because he is the most knowledgeable of all people about the Arabic language, and the most eloquent in speech. Allah  enabled him to express the most profound of meanings in few words, which is called conciseness of speech.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah  say:
"I have been sent with concise speech." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6611; Muslim, 523.

Al-Bukhaari said: I heard that conciseness of speech means when many meanings which it would have taken books to write before are summed up in a phrase or two, and so on.

Based on this, if you want to say du'aa' in your prayers at the points at which it is prescribed and recommended (mustahabb) to say du'aa', the best of du'aa's are those which are said in the wording of the Prophet .

Second:

If you are not able to do that and you cannot memorize these du'aa's and dhikrs, then the best of du'aa' is that which avoids going to extremes in using fanciful language speech, and which avoids using rhyme to the point of absurdity, and which makes the du'aa' sincere and focused on the need in question, saying whatever is easy for you and whatever Allah  enables you to say.

It was narrated that the Prophet  said to a man:

"What do you say when you pray?" He said: "I recite the tashahhud, then I say: Allahumma inni as'aluka al-jannah wa a'oodhu bika min al-naar (O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and seek refuge in You from the Fire). I cannot murmur like you and like Mu'aadh." The Prophet  said: "It is about them that we were murmuring." Narrated by Abu Dawood, 792; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

Third:

With regard to du'aa' after the salaam, what the Prophet  used to do is to say, after finishing the prayer: Astghfir Allah, astaghfir Allah astaghfir Allah (I seek the forgiveness of Allah, I seek the forgiveness of Allah, I seek the forgiveness of Allah). Then he would say all the dhikrs that are narrated at this time.

Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
There is no saheeh report to say that the Prophet  used to raise his hands following an obligatory prayer, or that his companions (may Allah have mercy on them) did that, as far as we know. What some people do, raising their hands after the prayer, is a bid'aah (innovation) for which there is no basis . Al-Fataawa, 1/74.

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

With regard to du'aa' after the prayer facing the qiblah or facing the congregation, this is not something that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did at all. It is not narrated with a saheeh or hasan isnaad. As for doing that only after Fajr and 'Asr prayers, he did not do that and neither did any of his successors (khulafa'), and he did not teach his ummah to do that. Rather this is something that some people thought it was good to do to make up for not offering Sunnah prayers after those prayers. And Allah knows best.

The Prophet  offered most of the du'aa's that are connected to the prayer during the prayer, and he commanded us to offer them during it. This befits the state of the one who is praying, for he is facing his Lord and conversing with Him so long as he is praying. When he says the salaam that conversation comes to a close and he is no longer standing before Him and close to Him. So why should he not ask of Him whilst he is conversing with Him and close to Him and turning to Him, and then ask of Him when he has turned away from Him? Undoubtedly it is better to do the opposite. There is another subtle point to be made, which is that when the worshipper has

finished praying, and he has remembered Allah and proclaimed His oneness, glorified Him, praised Him and magnified Him by reciting the dhikrs that are prescribed following the prayer, it is mustahabb to send blessings upon the Prophet  after that, and to make du'aa' as he wishes, His du'aa' should come immediately after this second act of worship, not because it is after the prayer but because it is mustahabb for anyone who remembers Allah  and praises Him and sends blessings upon the Messenger of Allah  to make du'aa' after that, as it says in the hadeeth of Faddaalah ibn 'Ubayd:

"When any one of you prays, let him start by praising Allah, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet , then let him say du'aa' however he wishes."

Al-Tirmidhi said: (it is) a saheeh hadeeth. It was also classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. Zaad al-Ma'aad, 1/257, 258.

Fourth:

With regard to the points during the prayer at which du'aa' should be offered, we will sum this up for you as follows

1 - After the opening takbeer of the prayer and before starting to recite al-Faatihah. This is called Du'aa' al-Istiftaah (opening supplication):

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: When the Messenger of Allah  started to pray, he would remain silent for a while. I said: "May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah. What do you say when you are silent between the takbeer and recitation?" 

He said: "I say: Allahumma baa'id bayni wa bayna khataayaaya kama baa'adta bayna al-mashriqi wa'l-maghrib. Allahumma naqqini min khataayaaya kama yunaqqa al-thawb al-abyad min al-danas. Allahumma ighsilni min khataayaaya bi'l-thalji wa'l-maa'i wa'l-barad (O Allah, put a great distance between me and my sins, as great as the distance You have made between the East and the West. O Allah, cleanse me of sin as a white garment is cleansed from filth. O Allah, wash away my sins with snow and water and hail)."

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 711; Muslim, 598.

2 - Du'aa' al-Qunoot in Witr

It was narrated that al-Hasan ibn 'Ali said: The Messenger of Allah  taught me words to say in Witr: "Allahumma ihdini feeman hadayta wa 'aafini feeman 'aafayta wa tawallani feeman tawallayta wa baarik li feema a'tayta, wa qini sharra ma qadayta , fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda 'alayk, wa innahu laa yadhillu man waalayta wa laa ya'izzu man 'aadayta, tabaarakta Rabbana wa ta'aalayt 

(O Allah, guide me among those whom You have guided, pardon me among those whom You have pardoned, turn to me in friendship among those on whom You have turned in friendship, and bless me in what You have bestowed, and save me from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can influence You; and he is not humiliated whom You have befriended, nor is he honoured who is Your enemy. Blessed are You, O Lord, and Exalted)."

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 464; al-Nasaa'i, 1745; Abu Dawood, 1425; Ibn Maajah, 1178.

This hadeeth was classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi and others, and as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa' al-Ghaleel, 429.

3 - Du'aa' when standing up from bowing, at times of calamity

This is called Qunoot al-Nawaazil. This may be recited in all the obligatory prayers depending on the situation, and the worshippers behind the imam should say Ameen. See question no.20031.

4 - Whilst bowing.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say: "Subhaanak Allahumma Rabbanaa wa bi hamdika Allahumma ighfir li (Glory and praise be to You, O Allah our Lord. O Allah, forgive me)." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 761; Muslim, 484, from the hadeeth of 'Aa'ishah.

5 - During prostration. 

This is the best of du'aa', because the Prophet  said: "The closest that any one of you may be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so say a lot of du'aa' at that time." Narrated by Muslim, 482, from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah.
There are many ahaadeeth concerning this, for which we do not have room to mention them here.

6 - Between the two prostrations. 

One should say: "Allahumma ighfir li warhamni wajburni wahdini warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, enrich me, guide me and grant me provision)." Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 284; Ibn Maajah, 898 - from the hadeeth of Ibn 'Abbaas; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. And there are other du'aa's.

7 - After the tashahhud and before the salaam: 

the Prophet  said: "When any one of you has finished the last tashahhud, let him seek refuge with Allah from four things and say: Allahumma inni a'oodhu bika min 'adhaabi jahannam wa min 'adhaab il-qabri wa min fitnat il-mahyaa wa'l-mamaat wa min sharri fitnat il-maseeh il-dajjaal (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the torment of Hell and from the torment of the grave and from the trials of life and death and from the evil of the trial of the Dajjaal)." 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1311; Muslim, 588 (this version narrated by Muslim), from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah. Then after that he may pray for whatever he likes of the good things of this world and the Hereafter, because of the hadeeth of Ibn Mas'ood: The Prophet  taught them the tashahhud then he said at the end: "Let him ask for whatever good things he wishes." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5876; Muslim, 402.

There are many du'aa's which may be recited during the prayer, but we cannot quote all of them in this answer. We have referred to a few of those that have been narrated. Our advice to the questioner - and to every Muslim - is to have a copy of al-Adhkaar by al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him), which is a lengthy book. If he would like to have something shorter then he should get a copy of al-Kalim al-Tayyib by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, edited by al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on them all).