From the statements of the Salaf regarding Du`aa

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1. Being guided towards making Du`aa is itself a big success:

`Umar bin al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه said: “I am not concerned about the response, but what concerns me is the Du`aa (itself). If the Du`aa is inspired*, then the answer (surely) follows it.” [Iqtidhaa al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (2/706)]

* Meaning: Allaah تعالى guides the person towards making Du`aa and also teaches him on how to make it. Like how Allaah تعالى taught Aadam عليه السلام the words of repentance and thereafter forgave him:

{Then Aadam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily, He is the One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful.} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 37]

[Note: Allaah knows best, but this statement of `Umar رضي الله عنه does not mean that a person will receive new words. Whatever has already been mentioned in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah are sufficient for us.

Example: from the Qur’aan:

﴿رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ﴾

{Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire!} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 201]

And from the Sunnah:

اللهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى، وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى

“O Allaah! I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity and self- sufficiency” [Saheeh Muslim (6566)]

Shaikh `Abdul Rahmaan bin Naaser al-Sa`dee رحمه الله said about this Du`aa:

“(The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) supplicated to (Allaah تعالى) with four words in which are gathered all the goodness for the servant (of Allaah) in regards to the Deen and the Dunya.”

So what is to be understood is that:

a) The person recalls the Sunnah of making the Du`aa - i.e. starting the Du`aa by Praising Allaah تعالى and sending prayers upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. A lot of people make haste and ignore this Sunnah.

b) The person recalls the proper Du`aa at the required time.

Example: It has become a habit of some people that when they face some difficulty, they say:

لا حولَ ولا قوَّة إلا بالله

“There is no might or power except with Allaah.”

But what has been legislated is that when faced with a difficulty, a person should say:

إنَّا لله، وإنَّا إليه راجعون

“To Allaah we belong to Him is our return.”

Another example: When in anger, the Sunnah is to seek Allaah’s refuge from the accursed Shaytaan, but instead, some people send prayers upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.

c) The person avoids all that which becomes a hindrance in the Du`aa from being accepted. Example he should avoid sins, Haraam consumption, and avoid asking for a thing which is in itself Haraam (like breaking up of ties of kinship).]

2. Be devoted while supplicating:

`Umar bin al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه said: “(Du`aa should be done) with devotion or else Allaah تعالى has forbidden to accept the Du`aa and the Tasbeeh” [Jaami` al-`Uloom wal-Hikam (1/276)]

Allaah تعالى said:

{Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors.} [Surah al-A`raf (7): 55]

3. Don't be inattentive while making Du`aa:

`Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said: “Allaah تعالى does not accept the Du`aa except those that are done sincerely (and with devotion). Allaah تعالى does not accept those Du`aa that are done for making the people hear it, or for showing off, or done playfully, or inattentively, except those that are done with a firm heart.” [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1096)]

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`Abdul-Rahmaan ibn Yazeed said: Al-Rabee` used to go to `Alqamah every Friday. When I was not there, they would send for me. Once he (al-Rabee`) came when I was not there. `Alqamah (later) met me and told me: Did you not see what al-Rabee` brought? He (al-Rabee`) said: “Do you not see how frequently people make supplications and how rarely they are answered? That is because Allaah عز وجل accepts only the sincere supplication.” I asked: Didn't `Abdullaah (Ibn Mas`ood) say that? He (`Alqamah) asked: What did he say? I said: `Abdullaah (Ibn Mas`ood) said: “Allaah تعالى does not listen to someone who wants other people to hear, nor the one who shows-off, nor the one who plays. He only listens to the one who makes a supplication firmly from his heart.” [Adab al-Mufrad (606) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

4. Make a lot of Du`aa in your times of Ease:

Abu al-Dardaa’ رضي الله عنه said: “Supplicate to Allaah in your days of ease, so that perhaps He تعالى may respond to you in your days of difficulties.” [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1101) and Hilyatul Awliyaa’ (1/225)]

There is a Hadeeth with a similar meaning:

Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever would be pleased to have Allaah respond to him during hardship and disaster should make much Du`aa’ in times of ease.” [Tirmidhee (3382) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

5. Supplicate like a drowning person:

Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه said: “Soon a time is coming upon the people when no one will be saved except the one who supplicates, like how a drowning person would supplicate.” [Musannaf ibn Abee Shaibah (29173, 37145, 37146) and Shu`ab al-Imaan (1078)]

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And on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه who said: “There will be a Fitnah (and at that time) no one will be saved except the one who supplicates like how a drowning person would supplicate.” [Musannaf ibn Abee Shaibah (37749)]

[Note: A similar narration has been attributed to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم but it has been graded as “Munkar” (Rejected) by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Dha`eefah (5467)]

**Sometime back, when the Egyptian crisis escalated, Shaikh al-Fawzaan حفظه الله advised to stay away from the Fitnah and make Du`aa to Allaah تعالى for the welfare of the people. But some brothers said: “should we sit at home like women doing nothing?” So what do they have to say about these statements of the Companions?!

6. Supplicate for yourself:

On the authority of `Abdullaah bin Abu Saaleh: Once Tawoos paid me a visit while I was sick and I said to him: O Abu `Abdul-Rahmaan! Supplicate to Allaah for me. So he said: “You supplicate for yourself, for He (Allaah تعالى) responds (more quickly) to those who are in distress when they pray to Him.” [Sifat al-Safwah of ibn al-Jawzee (1/454)]

7. When you feel your prayers are not being answered, then upon you is to do Tawbah and lots of Istighfaar:

`Alee bin Abu Taalib رضي الله عنه said: “A calamity does not descend except due to a sin, and it is not lifted except with repentance.” [al-Jawaab al-Kaafee (85)]

A man once complained to Hassan Al-Basri رحمه الله of drought and shortage of water. Hassan said to him: “Ask Allaah for forgiveness.” Another man complained of poverty, and his reply was: “Ask Allaah for forgiveness.” A third complained: “O Abu Saeed (Hassan Al-Basri), pray to Allaah that he bestow upon me a child for I am childless”, and he replied: “Ask Allaah for forgiveness.” The fourth one complained that his harvest had failed, and Hassan replied in the same way. So one of those who were sitting (in the gathering) said: “There came to you men with different complaints but you instructed them all to repent to Allaah and ask Him for forgiveness?” So Al-Hassan replied that Allaah says (in the Qur’aan):

﴿ فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاء عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَارًا ﴾

{I (Nuh) said (to them): ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft-forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.} [Surah An-Nuh (71): 10-12]

8. Concentrate while supplicating:

Abu Bakr al-Shiblee said regarding the statement of Allaah تعالى:

﴿ادْعُونِى أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ﴾

{Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation)} [Surah al-Ghaafir (40): 60]

He (al-Shiblee) said: “Call Me without negligence, and I’ll respond to your (invocation) without limit.” [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1111)]

9. Receive the Glad Tidings:

Al-Hassan said regarding the statement of Allaah تعالى:

﴿ادْعُونِى أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ﴾

{Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation)} [Surah al-Ghaafir (40): 60]

He said: “Work towards it (meaning: supplicate) and receive the glad tidings. Verily! It is a right upon Allaah عز وجل to respond to the invocations of those who Believe and do righteous deeds and He تعالى will add even more for them out of His Grace.” [al-Tabaraanee in al-Du`aa (9) as well as in his Tafseer (2/94)]

10. Do not block the path of response with sins:

Yahya bin Mu`aadh al-Raazee used to say: “The response is not delayed when you supplicate, except for when you have already blocked its path with sins.” [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1114)]

11. Righteous deeds raise the Du`aa higher:

Wahab bin Munabbih رحمه الله said: “The similitude of the one who supplicates without (doing righteous) deeds is like the one who shoots an arrow without a bow.” [Musannif ibn Abee Shaibah (29269, 35170)]

And he also said: “Righteous deeds raise the Du`aa higher.” Then he recited the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ﴾

{To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it} [Surah al-Faatir (35): 10] [Jaami` al-`Uloom wal-Hikam (1/276)]

12. The Du`aa of the Children:

Sa`eed bin al-Musayyib رحمه الله said: “The ranks of a person is raised (high) after his demise due to the supplication of his child.” [Musannif Ibn Abee Shaibah (12082, 29739)]

There is in fact a Hadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in this regards:

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Verily, Allaah raises the grades of His righteous slaves in Paradise. So, he asks Allaah: How did I attain this (high position)?” Allaah تعالى says: {Because of the supplication of your child (for your forgiveness)}.” [Musnad Imaam Ahmad and Ibn Maajah (3660) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

13. Start with yourself:

 Al-Nakh`ee said: “When you supplicate, start with yourself, for you never know which of your Du`aa will be quickly answered.” [Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (29227)]

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Sa`eed bin Yasaar said: I was sitting with Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما and I mentioned a person and prayed (to Allaah) to have mercy on him. (Ibn `Umar) hit my chest and said: “Begin with yourself” [Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (29229)]

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`Aaishah رضي الله عنها said to her nephew: “You supplicating for yourself is better than some storyteller supplicating for you.” [Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (29230)]

The Ahaadeeth in this regards:

Narrated Ubay bin Ka`b رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم directed that when supplicating for another, one should begin with himself. [Tirmidhee (3385) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Allaah have mercy upon us and Moosaa. Had he shown patience he would have seen wonderful things, but fear of blame, with respect to his companion, seized him and he said: If I ask anything after this, keep not company with me. You will then have a valid excuse in my case, and had he (Moosaa) shown patience he would have seen many wonderful things.” (The narrator) further said: Whenever he صلى الله عليه وسلم made mention of any Prophet, he صلى الله عليه وسلم always said: Allaah have mercy upon us and upon my brother so and so. [Saheeh Muslim (5865) and Sunan Abu Dawood (3984)]

Similarly Nooh عليه السلام began the supplication, praying for himself, his parents and then the Muslims, saying:

﴿رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًا﴾

{"My Lord! Forgive me, and my parents, and him who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women. And to the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, and disbelievers, etc.) grant You no increase but destruction!"} [Surah al-Nooh (71): 28]

14. The more one asks, the closer he gets to Allaah عز وجل:

On the authority of Muhammad bin Haamid: I said to Abu Bakr al-Waariq: Teach me something which will make me closer with Allaah تعالى and will make me closer to the people. He said: “The thing that will make you closer to Allaah تعالى, is that you keep on asking Him. As for the thing which will make you closer to the people, is that you stop asking them.” [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1064)]

The Hadeeth:

On the authority of Abu al-`Abbaas Sahl bin Sa`d as-Sa`dee رضي الله عنه who said: A man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said: O Messenger of Allaah, direct me to an act which, if I do it, [will cause] Allaah to love me and the people to love me. So he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Renounce the world and Allaah will love you, and renounce what the people possess and the people will love you.” [Sunan Ibn Maajah (4102) and graded as “Saheeh li ghairhee” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (944)]

15. Asking Allaah تعالى continuously:

Al-Auzaa`ee رحمه الله said: “The best Du`aa is to ask Allaah تعالى persistently and with humility towards Him.” [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1072)]

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ﴾

{Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors.} [Surah al-A`raaf (7): 55]

The Hadeeth:

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The invocation of anyone of you is granted (by Allaah) if he does not show impatience by saying: I invoked Allaah but my request has not been granted.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (6340) and Saheeh Muslim (6593, 6594)]

Allaah تعالى gives to some due to their humility what He تعالى withholds from many due to their arrogance.

[Refer to the incident of the three, one suffering from baldness, one from blindness and one from leprosy in Saheeh Muslim (7071)]

16. Never abandon making Du`aa:

Sufyaan Ibn `Uyainah رحمه الله said: “Do not abandon (making) the du`aa and do not let your conjectures stop you from it*. For verily, Allaah تعالى answered the call of Iblees, while he is the most evil of creations. Iblees said (as mentioned in the Qur’aan): {“O my Lord! Give me then respite till the Day they (the dead) will be resurrected.” (Allaah تعالى) said: “So indeed, you are of those reprieved”} [Surah al-Hijr (15): 36-37] [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1107)]

*(i.e. a person makes the du`aa and then from himself thinks that his du`aa is not being answered, so he stops making the du`aa.)

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying: “The supplication of the servant is granted in case he does not supplicate for sin or for severing the ties of blood, or he does not become impatient.” It was said: Allaah's Messenger! what does: “If he does not grow impatient" imply? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “That he should say like this: I supplicated and I supplicated but I did not find it being responded. and thus he becomes frustrated and abandons supplication.” [Saheeh Muslim (6595)]

17. Cry for your need! But be satisfied in what you have:

 Al-Surree al-Saqatee said: “Be like a boy, who when he wants something and his parents cannot give it to him, he cries over it. So you be like him. When you ask your Lord and He doesn’t give it you, you should cry over it.” [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1106)]

18. Praise before petition:

Ibraaheem al-Taymee said: It was said: “If a person were to begin (his invocation) with the praises of Allaah before asking (his needs), then it is certain (that it WILL be accepted). But if he began with his needs before the praises, then it is hoped (that it MAY be accepted).” [Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaibah (29171)]

The Hadeeth:

The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “When anyone of you makes Du`aa’a’, let him start by glorifying his Lord and praising Him, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, then let him pray for whatever he wants” [Sunan Abu Dawood (1481) and Tirmidhee (3477) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

In another Hadeeth; Umar narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Du`aa’ is detained between the heavens and the earth and no part of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم” [Tirmidhee (486) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

19. The similitude of those who supplicate to Allaah تعالى:

Muwarriq al-`Ajlee said: “I did not find a similitude for a Believer except like a person in the sea, on a piece of wood and he is supplicating: O my Lord! O my Lord!, so that Allaah عز وجل may deliver him (out of his difficulties).” [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1074)]

20. Importance of being righteous for the Du`aa to be answered:

Muhammad ibn Waasey` said: “Du`aa with devoutness (even if it is) little is sufficient (than no devoutness at all), as how little amount of salt is sufficient (in food).” [Shu`ab al-Imaan of al-Baihaqee (1109)]

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Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه said: “Du`aa with righteousness is sufficient (to be responded) as how (little amount of) salt is sufficient in food.” [Musannaf ibn Abi Shaibah (29272)]

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Tawoos رحمه الله said: “Du`aa with truthfulness is sufficient as how salt is sufficient in food.” [Shu`ab al-Imaan (1110)]

21. It's the sincerity and not the length that counts the most:

Sometimes, it is not the length of the Du`aa that matters. What matters most is the sincerity in it:

Ayyoob عليه السلام supplicated saying:

{(O Allaah!) Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy} [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21): 83]

And Allaah تعالى responded saying:

{So We answered his call}.

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Yunus عليه السلام supplicated saying:

{Laa ilaaha illaa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allaah)], Subhaanaka (Glorified and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers} [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21): 87]

And Allaah تعالى responded saying:

{So We answered his call}.

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Zakariyyah عليه السلام supplicated saying:

{O My Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the Best of the inheritors.} [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21): 89]

And Allaah تعالى responded saying:

{So We answered his call}.

[Note: Nothing wrong with long supplications, only emphasizing on the “sincerity” part of it.]