“My Lord, My Lord”

Meaning of Duà: In Arabic, it means Request.

The word Dua is used in various shades of meaning in the Quràn:

1. An Act of Worship (Ibadah)
   
   Allah says in the Quràn:

   "And invoke not besides Allâh, any that will neither profit you, nor hurt you…" (10:106)

2. Seeking Help

   Allah says in the Quràn:

   "…and call your witnesses or helpers (if there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true…" (2:23)

3. Asking for something
   
   Allah says in the Quràn:

   "And your Lord says: Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)" (40:60)

4. A Statement

   Allah says in the Quràn:

   "Their statement therein will be: `Glory be to You, O Allah…" (10:10)

5. Calling someone

   Allah says in the Quràn:

   "On the day when He will call you, and you will answer…." (17:52)

6. Praising Highly Off

   Allah says in the Quràn:

   "Say: `Invoke Allah, or invoke the Most Gracious." (17:110)

Why make Duà? If Allah knows everything what will happen in our future, then why should we make Dua? If something in not decreed for us, then why should we make Dua because it won`t be answered. Then Why make Duà?

1. The Manifestation of humility, humbleness and dependency on Allah: A person reaches the highest level of humility while making Duà. Humility is the key to surrender to Allah. If we are proud, we would not want to humble our self in front of Allah. Jannah is not a place for arrogant people. Pride is a barrier to humble oneself in front of Allah. That is why Satan was thrown out from heaven. It Is narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. Mas'ud that the Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), observed: "He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise." (Muslim)
2. Getting the reward by obeying the order: We are commanded to make Duà. So even if our Duà is answered or not, we shall get the reward for it because we obeyed Allah. When women during their menstrual cycle do not pray, they are getting rewarded because they are obeying the commands of Allah, Subhan Allah. Ladies can do a lot of Du`as during those days. Duà is an Ibadah (Worship).
3. We truly acknowledge that Allah has power: When we make Duà we are acknowledging that we are helpless and only Allah has the power to accept our Duàs. We know that without Allah's Mercy and Help our Du`as will not be answered. If we make Duà and we believe firmly that only if Allah wills, our Duà will be answered, then making Duà is a form of submission to Allah.
4. The possibility that the thing asked for is dependent on the Duà: What if Allah has decided that unless we do not make Du`a, He will not grant it for us. So only if we make Duà, it might be answered. Allah is the creator of the causes and the effects, so maybe only if we make Du`a it will be answered.

How is Duà Answered?

We should always believe that our Duà is answered in some way or the other. Duà is always answered in one of the following ways:

1. Allah grants the person what he asks for as he asks for it right away.
2. Allah, instead, removes a calamity in the future of that person, similar to what he asked for.
3. Allah saves it for him for the Hereafter.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Any Muslim who makes a supplication containing nothing which is sinful, or which involves breaking ties of relationship, will be given for it by Allah one of three things:

1. He will give him swift answer,
2. or store it up for him in the next world,
3. or turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil."

Those who heard it said they would then make many supplications and he (peace be upon him) replied that Allah was more ready to answer than they were to ask! (Al-Tirmidhi Hadith)

Instead of asking why Allah did not answer our Duàs, we should think that Allah is removing any calamity from us or Allah is saving it for us to enter Jannah. Maybe it might be that one Duà of ours unanswered in this world that can save us from the Hell-fire, Subhan Allah.

We should always ask for beneficial things for this worldly life and for the Hereafter.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

“Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.“ (2:201)

Barriers to Duà being accepted

1. Asking for something sinful and asking for the severing of family ties.

   The Prophet(SAW) said, “ The Dua’a of anyone of you maybe answered by Allah as long as his does not involve a bad deed or severing kinship ties.” (Tirmidhi)

2. Food, drink and dress not being halal.
   

The Prophet, peace be upon him, then made mention of a person who travels widely, his hair dishevelled, and covered with dust."He lifts his hands and makes supplication, 'O Lord, O Lord,' but his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful, and his nourishment is unlawful. How then can his supplication be accepted?" (Muslim and Ahmad)

3. Being Impatient or hasty in wanting an answer as soon as possible.

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The invocation of anyone of you is granted (by Allah) if he does not show impatience (by saying, "I invoked Allah but my request has not been granted.") (Bukhari)

The Prophet(SAW) said: “You should know that Allah does not answer the Dua’a that comes from a heedless heart.” (Tirmidhi)

Etiquettes of Duà

Prophet(SAW) taught ”Make Dua’a while being certain of the response.” (Tirmidhi)

1. Be Sincere.
2. Begin by praising Allah and sending peace and blessings upon our Prophet (saw).
3. Be patient with conviction that Allah hears and will answer.
4. Seek out the appropriate times like sujood, after azaan, etc.
5. Raise hands.
6. Being in a state of Wodhu.
7. Facing the Qiblah.
8. Making tawbah and istigfaar before asking for what we want.
9. Ask Allah using His names and Attributes.
10. Pour our feelings out, say exactly how we feel.
11. Be firm/positive in asking.

Narrated Anas: Allah's Apostle said, "When anyone of you appeal to Allah for something, he should ask with determination and should not say, 'O Allah, if You wish, give me.', for nobody can force Allah to do something against His Will." (Bukhari)