The power of du'a - Noor Ul Islam

28 Mar The power of du’a

Posted at 18:19h in Ramadan by Noor Ul Islam

Ramadan is a month that offers the opportunity to reap mountains of reward, work on our character as well as develop a deep connection with Allah swt. Making dua and having our supplications accepted is also one of the blessings of this month.

This blessed month is filled with times where Allah is waiting for us to open our hearts in dua. We fill our days contemplating what is important to us and ask Allah to grant our deepest wishes. The world is going through some of the most difficult times ever faced and we turn to Allah to seek his help.

The Power of Dua

Dua is the weapon of the believer; there is nothing else that can directly and regularly shield, protect and arm us against the trials and tribulations of this life like dua.

The Prophet (Pbuh) said:

“Dua (supplication) is worship” [Abu Dawud]

As Ramadan approaches, we should formulate an action plan for our dua and ensure we capture the invaluable moments of making dua.

It is not the length of your dua that matters, but rather the meaning and intentions behind it that are of importance.

Aisha (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Pbuh) preferred duas that were few in words and comprehensive in meaning [Abu Dawud].

Tips

General tips

1. Make a list of duas.

-Place these duas under a few headings to make it easier to remember. Pray for dunya, akhirah, deen and the ummah.

-Think about any struggles faced last Ramadan

-Include any Ramadan goals

2. Memorize/recite the daily duas

Etiquettes of making dua

There are a few simple guidelines we can follow to maximise the impact and sincerity of our dua.

-Have faith that Allah swt will respond

-Start duas by praising Allah swt and calling upon Him with His Most Beautiful Names

-Follow this by sending blessings upon the Prophet (Pbuh)

-End duas with salawat on the Prophet (Pbuh)

-Face the qiblah whenever possible

While there is no guarantee our dua will come true, we must pray as if it will. Our dua might avert a calamity, an illness or some other difficulty that was destined for us. We never truly know what is best for us, but Allah swt (glorified and exalted be He) certainly does — and He always delivers [Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 216].

Morning/evening adkhar

There is a set of duas that should be made in the morning and evening, the majority being found in the Fortress of the Muslim /Hisnul Muslim. We recite these duas after Fajr and Asr asking Allah swt for protection against the whispers of shaytan and the distractions of dunya.

أَصْبَحْنَا وَأَصْبَحَ الْمُلْكُ لِلهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ ولَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

aṣbaḥnaa wa aṣbaḥ-al-mulku lillaahi wal-ḥamdu lillaahi, laa ilaaha ill-allaahu waḥdahu laa shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa ‛alaa kulli shay’in qadeer,

We have reached the morning and at this very time unto Allah belongs all sovereignty and all praise is for Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is capable of all things.

اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَدَنِي ، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي سَمْعِي ، اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي فِي بَصَرِي ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ ، وَالْفَقْرِ ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

allaahumma ‛aafinee fee badanee, allaahumma ‛aafinee fee sam‛ee, allaahumma ‛aafinee fee baṣaree, laa ilaaha illaa ant (3x)

allaahumma innee a‛oodhu bika minal-kufri, wal-faqri, wa a‛oodhu bika min ‛adhaabil-qabri, laa ilaaha illaa ant (3x)

O Allah, grant my body health, O Allah, grant my hearing health, O Allah, grant my sight health. None has the right to be worshipped except You. (three times)

O Allah, I seek refuge with You from disbelief and poverty, and I seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave. None has the right to be worshipped except You. (three times)

Master dua

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

allaahumma anta rabbiy laa ilaaha illaa anta, khalaqtanee wa ana ‛abduka, wa ana ‛alaa ‛ahdika wa wa‛dika masta-ṭa‛tu a‛oodhu bika min sharri maa ṣana‛tu, aboo’u laka bi ni‛matika ‛alayya wa aboo’u bi dhambee, faghfir lee fa innahu laa yaghfir-udh-dhunooba illaa ant

The Prophet (Pbuh) said “The master supplication (most superior way) to ask for forgiveness from Allah is:

“O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshipped except You, You created me and I am Your slave and I abide to Your covenant and promise as best as I can, I seek refuge with You from the evil of which I have committed. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sin except You.”

(The prophet then) said: “If somebody says it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody says it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.”

Dua upon breaking the fast

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ ، وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ ، وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ

dhahab-aẓ-ẓama’u, wabtallat-il-‛urooqu, wa thabat-al-ajru in shaa’ allaah

The thirst has gone and the veins are moist, and reward is assured, if Allah wills.

Overcoming laziness

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ ، وَالْحَزَنِ ، والْعَجْزِ ، والْكَسَلِ ، والْبُخْلِ ، والْجُبْنِ ، وضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ ، وغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

allaahumma innee a‛oodhu bika minal-hammi wal-ḥazani, wal-‛ajzi wal-kasali, wal-bukhli, wal-jubni, wa ḍala‛id-dayni, wa ghalabatir-rijaal

O Allah, I seek refuge with You from anxiety, and sorrow, and weakness, and laziness, and miserliness, and cowardice, and the burden of debts and from being over powered by men.

Dua for parents

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

rabban-aghfir lee wa liwaalidayya wa lil-mu’mineena yawma yaqoom-ul-ḥisaab

“Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.”

Dua for forgiveness

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ

astaghfirullaa-hal-ladhee laa ilaha illaa huwal-ḥayyul-qayyoomu wa atoobu ilayh

‘I seek Allah’s forgiveness, besides Whom, none has the right to be worshipped except He, The Ever Living, The Self-Subsisting and Supporter of all, and I turn to Him in repentance.’

Additional recommended dua times

There are some additional times when duas are accepted that we should be aware of.

During the last hour on Friday

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah that the Prophet (Pbuh) said:

“Friday is divided into twelve hours. Amongst them there is an hour in which a Muslim does not ask Allah for anything but He gives it to him. So seek it in the last hour after the afternoon prayer.” [Sunan Abi Dawud]

On the night of Laylatul Qadr

The blessed night of laylatul qadr could be truly transforming of one’s destiny throughout the year.

Aisha (RA) reported:

“I asked: “O Messenger of Allah! If I realize Laylat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), what should I supplicate in it?” He ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) replied, “You should supplicate: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me).” [At-Tirmidhi].

Dua to say when anticipating the Night of Power

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عُفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allaahumma Innaka ‛afu-wun tuḥibul ‛afwa fa‛afu ‛anni

O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.

We cannot of course forget that we are facing a global health pandemic so it is important to include here are some Supplications (Dua) from the beautiful prophetic tradition to seek well-being and protection from diseases.

“Whoever among you suffers some sickness, or his brother suffers some sickness, let him say: ‘Our Lord Allah Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your will is done in heaven and on earth; as Your mercy is in heaven, bestow it upon the earth. Forgive us of our sins. You are the Lord of the good. Send down some Your mercy and healing upon this pain,’ and he will be healed.” (Hadith by Imam Abu Daud)

Dua for protection against illness

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ، وَالْجُنُونِ،وَالْجُذَامِ، وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الأَسْقَامِ

Allahumma inni a’uzubika minal baros, wal junuun wal juzzam, wa min sayyi’il-asqam

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from leprosy, madness, and evil diseases

(Sunan Abi Daud)

Dua for protection against every kind of harm

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Bismillahil-lazi la yadhurru ma’asmihi syai’un fil ardhi wa la fis-sama’i wa huwas-sami’ul aleem

In the Name of Allah with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of harm in the earth or in heaven, and He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing

(Sunan Abu Daud)

Dua to seek forgiveness and for well-being

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ

Allahumma inni as’alukal-’afwa wal ‘afiyah fid-dunya wal-akhirah

O Allah, I seek Your forgiveness and my well-being in this world and the Hereafter

(Sunan Ibn Majah)

Dua for total protection

اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي مِنْ بَينِ يَدَيَّ, وَمِنْ خَلْفِي, وَعَنْ يَمِينِي, وَعَنْ شِمَالِي وَمِنْ فَوْقِي, وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَن أُْغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِي

Allahummah-fazni min baini yadaiya, wa min khalfi, wa ‘an yameeni, wa ‘an syimali wa min fauqi, wa a’uzu bi’azomatika an ughtala min tahti

O Allah protect me from my front, behind me, from my right and my left, and from above me, and I seek refuge in Your Magnificence from being taken unaware from beneath me

(Sunan Ibn Majah)

These supplications are encouraged to be read daily, particularly in the morning and in the afternoon.

We ask Allah to grant us patience, to strengthen our reliance on Him, and to increase us in our faith and good deeds. Ameen

Al-Hizb al-Azam collection of duas

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The Prophet (Pbuh) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are smal

The power of du’a