What is dua? What is its importance? What are its benefits? What is implied by its power? Why do we tend to use dua as our last hope? Our last resort? Why are we so alienated from power? Why, brothers and sisters in Islam, are we on the verge of neglecting its use?

Know, may Allah have Mercy on you, that had it not been for the significant benefits and immense power of dua, Allah (SWT) would have not ruled it upon his servants, the Prophet, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, would have not emphasised its significance and the Messengers that came before him would have not utilised dua when a calamity had befallen them or used it as a means of thanking Allah (SWT) for the infinite blessings He has showered upon them.

Brothers and sisters in Islam, how many blessings has Allah (SWT) provided us with? It is a blessing that at this moment your heart is beating rhythmically, that air is, by Allah’s command, entering your lungs and that your eyes are blinking as you read. What would happen if just one of Allah’s blessing was stripped away from you? And how now have you thanked Allah, the Most High, for all you blessings? “And He gave you of all that you asked from Him, and if you count the Blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them. (And yet,) behold, man is indeed most persistent in wrongdoing, stubbornly ingrate! (14:34)

Brothers and sisters in Islam, dua is a powerful means of asking from Allah (SWT) and as the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, ‘Dua is worship.’ (Trimithi) He even further specified that ‘The most excellent worship is dua.’ (Al-hakim) Dua is such a beautiful thing in the sense that we make dua for our own good and for the good of the Muslim community and yet not only do we have our dua answered, by the Will of Allah, but we are also rewarded for worshipping Him. Subhanallah! This is from the Grace and Mercy of Allah (SWT).

There is no doubt that every Muslim wants to be saved from Hell-fire and the wrath of your Lord, so make dua, for Allah (SWT) says, “…Invoke Me, I will answer your (invocation). Verily, those who scorn My worship they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!" (40:60) The Prophet (SAW) said, “If one does not ask Allah, He will get angry with him.” (Tirmithi)

Do you not like to be loved by your family? Your friends? How will it then be if you gained the love of Allah (SWT), your Creator and Sustainer? The Prophet (SAW) said, “Nothing is dearer to Allah than one’s supplication to him.” (Ibn Majah) The Prophet (SAW) also said that Allah (SWT) says, “…My servant continues to come nearer to Me through voluntary deeds until I love him, and when I love him, I become his ears with which he hears; I become his sight with which he sees; I become his hands with which he strikes; I become his legs with which he strides. If he asks Me, I shall surely grant his request. If he seeks My refuge, I shall protect him…” (Bukhaari) It was also narrated by Aa’ishah that the prophet (SAW) said: “Verily, Allaah loves those who are persistent in supplication.”

Brothers and sisters, do you not hope to gain the mercy of Allah (SWT)? The Most High says, “And invoke him with fear and hope, surely the mercy of Allah is near to those who do good.’ (7: 56) The Prophet (SAW) also said, “Anyone of you for whom the door to du’a’ has been opened, the doors to mercy have been opened for him. And the thing that Allah likes Most to be asked for is ‘afiyah (health, security, protection).” (Tirmidhi and Ibn majah)

“Dua is a weapon of a believer, a pillar of religion, and a light of the heavens and the earth.” (Al-Hakim) The power of dua is mighty indeed as the Prophet (SAW) said, “Nothing can avert the decree of Allah except supplication...” (Tirmithi) He (SAW) also said, “Dua is beneficial regarding calamities that have fallen and calamities that have not fallen. So, servants of Allah, devote yourself to dua.” (Tirmithi) and he (SAW) also said,‘Precautions are of no avail against the decree of Allah, but the supplication benefits in the case of a calamity that strikes or is about to strike. And when a calamity descends the supplication intercepts it and holds it at bay until the Day of Resurrection.’ (Al-Hakim) Imagine reader that as you enter your car you make dua to Allah (SWT) for protection and on that day it had been decreed for you to be involved in a terrible car accident. Picture yourself driving home and expecting, as you always had, to arrive safely. You are a few minutes away from your destination as the terrible decree comes hurtling down from the Heavens. It is expected to arrive in a matter of seconds and yet you are driving, blindly unaware, discussing your plans this evening with a friend. You turn into the next street, so close to home, wandering what’s for dinner as you bid your friend goodbye. The decree is inches from you! All of a sudden your dua, with its full power and might escapes your body, its target already identified and strikes the decree with a forceful blow, holding it off. The blinding light of its protection shielding the evil from you and yet you remain blind yourself, unaware of the terrible fate that had been reaching you! “O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of All Praise.” (35:15) Brothers and sisters in Islam, “…who listens to the distressed (soul) when he calls on Him, and who relieves his suffering…Is there any god with Allah? Little is that you remember.” (27:62)

Allah (SWT) says, “When my servants ask you (O Muhammad) concerning me, (tell them) I am indeed close (to them). I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright." (2:186) Servants of Allah (SWT), to attain our needs and wants, we must call upon the Almighty. By making dua to Allah (SWT) we become aware of our weakness and His greatness. The Prophet (SAW) said, “Ask Allah for everything, even the lace of your shoes. If Allah does not provide, it will never be available.” (Ibn al-Sunni- hasan. Supported by Tirmithi and others) The more we ask of Allah (SWT), the closer we get to Him and the more sincere our actions become. Our trust in Allah (SWT) increases and we realise that He is the only one capable of answering our needs and wants.

We are all humans and we commit sins by night and day. Do not think that Allah (SWT) will not answer your prayer for whatever reason, for He is indeed the Most Forgiving. The Prophet (SAW) said, “When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the heaven of the world and says, ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me (demand anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation; Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him; Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?’” Brothers and sisters in Islam, “…never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy…” (12:87) “Verily your Lord is the One modest and Generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in supplication, He is shy from returning them empty.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmithi) Indeed He is close to us and is capable of doing all things. Remember that He is the one who created you and it is Him to whom you will ultimately return.