13. After completing your dua, recite durood shareef.
Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates, “Duas remain suspended between the heavens and the earth. They do not proceed towards the heavens as long as durood on Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has not been recited (i.e. there is no guarantee for their acceptance).” [2]
14. Upon completion of the dua, rub your palms over your face. [3]
Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that whenever Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would raise his hands in dua, he would not lower them until he wiped his hands over his face.” [4]
15. Do not make dua for anything that is impermissible or for anything that is impossible (e.g. to become a Nabi).
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “A person’s dua will continuously be accepted as long as he does not ask for something sinful or for the cutting of family ties, and as long as he is not hasty (in his dua).” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was asked, “How is a person hasty (in his dua)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “A person says, ‘I have made dua and I have made dua, yet I do not see my dua being answered.’ He then gets tired and ceases to make dua.” [5]
16. Refrain from giving detailed descriptions in your dua. Rather, you should ask for goodness in general.
On one occasion, Hazrat Abdullah bin Mughaffal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) heard his son making dua in the following words, “O Allah! I ask You for a white palace on the right side of Jannah when I enter it.” Hearing this, Hazrat Abdullah bin Mughaffal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “O my son! Ask Allah Ta‘ala for Jannah, and seek His protection from the fire of Jahannum, as I heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) say, ‘There will be a group of people in this Ummah who will surpass the limits in tahaarah (e.g. wudhu, ghusl, etc.) and in making dua.” [6]
اُدۡعُوۡا رَبَّکُمۡ تَضَرُّعًا وَّ خُفۡیَۃً ؕ اِنَّہٗ لَا یُحِبُّ الۡمُعۡتَدِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۵۵﴾
Call on your Rabb with humility and softly, for Allah Ta‘ala does not love those who surpass the limits. [7]
17. It is better to make a comprehensive dua.
Hazrat Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would prefer those duas that were comprehensive, and he used to leave out the other duas. [8]
The following are among the comprehensive masnoon duas which are reported in the Hadith:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِيْ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِيْ الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
O my Rabb, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and save us from the fire of Jahannum.
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَأَلَكَ مِنْهُ نَبِيُّكَ مُحَمَّدٌ صَلّٰى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا اسْتَعَاذَ مِنْهُ نَبِيُّكَ مُحَمَّدٌ صَلّٰى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَنْتَ الْمُسْتَعَانُ وَعَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ
O Allah, I ask You for the good of what Your messenger, Hazrat Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), asked You for, and I seek Your protection from the evil of what Your messenger, Hazrat Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), sought Your protection from. From You alone is help sought, and You alone can fulfil and complete the need, and there is no ability (to refrain from evil) nor any power (to do good) except with the help of Allah. [9]
18. When making dua, ask Allah Ta‘ala to bless you with aafiyah (i.e. to bless you with ease in all departments of your life).
Hazrat Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports: I once asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), teach me a (beneficial) dua which I should beg from Allah Ta‘ala.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “Beg Allah Ta‘ala to bless you with aafiyah (physical and spiritual ease).” After a few days, I again came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and asked, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), teach me a (beneficial) dua which I should beg from Allah Ta‘ala.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “O Abbaas, O uncle of the Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), beg Allah Ta‘ala to bless you with aafiyah in this world and the aakhirah.” [10]
19. Refrain from consuming haraam or doubtful food and engaging in sins. Consuming haraam and engaging in sins prevents duas from being answered.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “O people, indeed Allah Ta‘ala is Pure and accepts only that which is pure. Allah Ta‘ala has commanded the believers with the same command that He gave to the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam). (In regard to the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam),) Allah Ta‘ala has said, “O Messengers, consume that which is pure and wholesome and perform righteous actions. Indeed, I am all aware of what you do.” (In regard to the believers,) Allah Ta‘ala has mentioned, “O believers, consume from the pure and wholesome foods that We have provided for you.” Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) explained the condition of a person undertaking a long, arduous journey. His hair is dishevelled and his clothing is covered in dust. He raises his hands to the sky, crying in supplication saying, “O my Rabb, O my Rabb (help me in my difficulty)!” However, his food and drink are haraam, his clothing is obtained from haraam sources, and his body is nourished with haraam, so how can his duas ever be answered?” (i.e. Despite being in this pitiable plight and condition, his duas are not answered). [11]
20. Do not curse your children while making dua or at any other time. It is possible that your curse may coincide with the time when duas are accepted.
Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Do not curse yourselves, your children, your slaves, or your wealth. Your curse may coincide with the moment (of acceptance) where if anything is asked of Allah Ta‘ala, it will be granted.” [12]
21. Do not be hasty and impatient for your dua to be accepted and materialise.
Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The servant will remain in the state of goodness so long as he is (pleased with the decree of Allah Ta‘ala and is) not hasty.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) enquired, “O Nabi of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! What does being hasty refer to?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “He says, ‘I made dua to my Rabb, but He did not answer my dua.’” [13]
22. If one feels that his duas are not being accepted, then he should not lose hope but should continue to make dua to Allah Ta‘ala. He should understand that Allah Ta‘ala knows what is best for each servant and Allah Ta‘ala will grant it to the servant at the appropriate time.
Hazrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whichever Muslim makes dua to Allah Ta‘ala and supplicates to Him, and his dua does not contain any sin (i.e. asking for anything which is impermissible) or the severance of family ties, Allah Ta‘ala will grant him one of three things. Either He will grant him what he had asked for (in this world), or He will keep the reward of the dua for him in the Aakhirah, or He will avert a calamity from him.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) said, “In that case, we will engage in abundant dua.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “Allah Ta‘ala is the more than everything (i.e. His power and treasures are more than what you ask for).” [14]
[1] سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 939، وقال العلامة علي القاري رحمه الله في مرقاة المفاتيح 2/696: قال ميرك: هذا الحديث ضعيف قال ابن عبد البر: ليس إسناده بالقائم
[2] سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 486، وقال الحافظ في الفتح 11/164: ويتقوى ذلك بما أخرجه الترمذي عن عمر موقوفا الدعاء موقوف بين السماء والأرض لا يصعد منه شيء حتى يصلي على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وقد التزم الحافظ في الفتح ألا تقل درجة الحديث عن الحسن فقال في مقدمته المسماة بهدي الساري (صـ 7): ثم أستخرج ثانيا ما يتعلق به غرض صحيح في ذلك الحديث من الفوائد المتنية والاسنادية من تتمات وزيادات وكشف غامض وتصريح مدلس بسماع ومتابعة سامع من شيخ اختلط قبل ذلك منتزعا كل ذلك من أمهات المسانيد والجوامع والمستخرجات والأجزاء والفوائد بشرط الصحة أو الحسن فيما أورده من
[3] مسح الوجه باليدين إذا فرغ من الدعاء قيل: ليس بشيء وكثير من مشايخنا رحمهم الله تعالى اعتبروا ذلك وهو الصحيح وبه ورد الخبر كذا في الغياثية (الفتاوى الهندية 5/318)
[4] سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 3386، وقال: هذا حديث غريب لا نعرفه إلا من حديث حماد بن عيسى وقد تفرد به وهو قليل الحديث وقد حدث عنه الناس
[5] صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 2735
[6] سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 96، وسكت عنه هو والمنذري في مختصره 1/47
[7] سورة الأعراف: 55
[8] سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 1484، وسكت عنه هو والمنذري في مختصره 430/1
[9] سنن الترمذي، الرقم:3521، وقال: هذا حديث حسن غريب
[10] سنن الترمذي، الرقم: 3514، وقال: هذا حديث صحيح
[11] صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 1015
[12] سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 1534، وقال العلامة المنذري رحمه الله مختصره 1/443: وأخرجه مسلم في أثناء حديث جابر الطويل
[13] مسند أحمد، الرقم: 13008، وقال العلامة المنذري رحمه الله في الترغيب والترهيب، الرقم: 2552: رواه أحمد واللفظ له وأبو يعلى ورواتها محتج بهم في الصحيح إلا أبا هلال الراسبي
[14] مسند أحمد، الرقم: 11133، وقال العلامة الهيثمي رحمه الله في مجمع الزوائد، الرقم: 17210: رواه أحمد وأبو يعلى بنحوه والبزار والطبراني في الأوسط ورجال أحمد وأبي يعلى وأحد إسنادي البزار رجاله رجال الصحيح غير علي بن علي الرفاعي وهو ثقة