“And your Lord said, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you’” (40:60).
Duʿā’ is a whispering conversation with Allah (ʿazza wa jall), the Creator, Lord and Sustainer of all things. We reach out to Him for assistance, guidance and support because only He can give. He has power over everything, whilst we have none. His knowledge encompasses everything, whilst we know little. He is our Lord and we are His servants.
Duʿā’ is the essence of all worship; its pinnacle and its purpose. Duʿā’ is every moment, minute and hour in which we pour our heart out to Allah, praise Him, seek His forgiveness and beg Him. It is a heartfelt plea that flows from our worried and anxious souls, directed to the One who hears all things and knows all secrets. Duʿā’ magnifies how pitiful, poor and powerless we are; and how Great, Generous and Gracious Allah is. We understand and, importantly, admit that we’re unable to achieve a single goal or complete a single action, without Him. And so we turn to Him entirely and express our ʿubūdiyyah (servitude) to Him.
Duʿā’ is the command of Allah and the regular habit of the best people to have walked this earth. The Qur’ān overflows with the heartfelt duʿās of Allah’s Prophets, and the Sunnah is filled with the beautiful supplications of His beloved Messenger ﷺ, offering us deep guidance on how we should carry out this great act of worship.
Duʿā’ is one of the foremost forms of worship. More than this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Duʿā’ is worship (Aḥmad). This is because worship is a culmination of love and humility and submission — and duʿā’ is one of the most powerful expressions of all this. When we make duʿā’, we affirm our helplessness and need for Allah (ʿazza wa jall), display our complete submission and ʿubūdiyyah (servitude) to Him, and call upon Him with love and longing.
Duʿā’ is, in itself, a powerful affirmation of every single Name and Attribute of Allah. In turning to Him, we affirm that He is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Controller of all affairs, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the Most Merciful, the All-Great, the All-Powerful, and the Ever-Capable. The very act of duʿā’ reflects complete submission to Allah and a deep recognition of His exclusive right to be worshipped. At the same time, it places the human being in his rightful position: a poor, weak, created entity, who enjoys no control over his affairs, and is instead fully reliant on the One who controls and oversees everything. Through duʿā’, we acknowledge both the Majesty of our Lord and the fragility of our own existence.
Duʿā’ requires no intermediaries, no special permission and no petitioning to access the court of the King of kings. Through duʿā’, we speak to Allah personally, intimately and directly — anywhere, anytime and immediately. It is a special privilege bestowed upon every believer to call upon their Lord, knowing that He is Near and responsive. This closeness is beautifully captured in the verse: “When My servants ask you about Me, truly I am Near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me; so let them respond (with obedience) to Me, and believe in Me, so that they may be guided’” (2:186).
Duʿā’ is a sign of true humility as Allah ﷻ says, “And your Lord said, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you. Surely those who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell, fully humbled” (40:60). Only those who are arrogant forsake duʿā’. How can a servant not ask the Lord of the heavens and the earth? How can he not raise his hands to the One whose generosity is limitless, and in whose Hands lie the treasures of the heavens and the earth? How can he not humble himself in the court of the True Sovereign?
Duʿāʾ is one of the greatest blessings a servant can receive; the sweet gift of humbly turning to Allah, pouring out his heart in need and love. It is a pure gift, bringing comfort and tranquility as the servant draws closer to their Creator. This very feeling of closeness is itself a sign of Allah’s response to the servant’s pleas.
Duʿā’ is the key to every closed door. Allah is the Master of their locks and Determiner of their opening. Everything is under His control. If we desire something but Allah has decreed otherwise, we will never attain it. And if we wish to prevent something, but Allah has decreed it to occur, nothing can stop it. Dominion and decree belong solely to Him. Therefore, if we truly want something, it only makes sense to ask Him because He Alone has the power to fulfill our needs and remove the obstacles in our path. Duʿā’ opens every door of good.
Duʿā’ serves as the very foundation of our relationship with Allah. It is the balm for our aching hearts, nourishment for our souls and the solution to all our problems. In a world full of trials and turbulence, duʿā’ is our safe haven; an oasis of peace in the desert of worldly stress and difficulty. Through duʿā’, the servant finds comfort, connection, and clarity, pouring out his worries and hopes to the One who listens, understands, and responds with mercy and wisdom.
Duʿāʾ is the sanctuary of the Ummah in these days of hardship. Cruelty and suffering have escalated, dark clouds of injustice have spread and despair has paralysed us. Earnest duʿāʾ must be our recourse. It is our strength, our shield and our resistance to the tyrants and oppressors. With faith and conviction, we must turn to the One who hears all, pleading for relief, justice, and victory over those who seek to deny the Ummah.
“Duʿā’ is the weapon of the believer.” – al-Fuḍayl b. ʿIyāḍ (raḥimahullāh)
Let duʿāʾ be your constant companion; your lifeline in hardship and your gratitude in ease. Let it be the private sanctuary where your heart speaks freely to its Lord. Duʿā’ is truly a gift and should form an inseparable part of our daily lives.
Evaluating Your Life
