Beyond outward etiquettes, the true essence of duʿāʾ lies in the state of the heart. These inner states are the keys that unlock the acceptance of your duʿā’:
1. Precede Your Duʿa With a Good Deed
The Prophet ﷺ taught the blind man who wished to be healed to make duʿā’, perform wuḍū’, pray, and then supplicate. This shows the value of approaching Allah through righteous actions. For this reason the scholars recommended giving charity before the prayer for rain (ṣalāt al-istisqā’), either because charity brings down mercy, or because it is a means of drawing closer to Allah before making the duʿā’ for rain and sustenance.
Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) mentioned among the causes for answered duʿā’ is to give charity beforehand. He said: “I witnessed Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (raḥimahullāh), when he would go out for Jumuʿah, he would take whatever he found at home — bread or otherwise — and give it in charity secretly on his way. I heard him say: ‘If Allah has commanded giving charity before conversing with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then giving charity before conversing with Allah Himself is even more deserving and more complete in virtue.’”
2. Do Duʿa in Secret
Allah ﷻ says, “Supplicate to your Lord humbly and secretly” (7:55).
Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) explains that concealing duʿāʾ reflects stronger īmān, as it shows the believer is certain that Allah hears even the quietest of whispers. It also demonstrates greater respect; just as people lower their voices before worldly kings out of reverence, it is even more appropriate to lower one’s voice before Allah, the King of all kings.
This form of supplication also nurtures deeper humility, as a quiet, broken voice often mirrors a broken heart — a state most beloved in duʿā’. It makes the prayer more sincere, protecting it from the dangers of showing off or seeking the attention of others.
Moreover, it allows for a heart-focused connection with Allah; the quietness minimises distraction and helps the heart remain present. It shows a heightened awareness of Allah’s nearness, as seen in the example of Prophet Zakariyyā (ʿalayhis-salām), who prayed in a low voice because he knew how close Allah is. He called upon Him as one who whispers intimately to someone near, not as one who cried out to someone distant.
Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (raḥimahullāh) said, “Duʿā’ performed privately is 70 times more virtuous than duʿā’ performed openly. The Muslims (of the past) would supplicate extensively, yet not a sound would be heard from them! It was nothing but a whisper between them and their Lord.”
3. Humble Yourself and Display Complete Submission to Allah
Begin your duʿā’ by expressing your weakness and total need of Allah. Speak from a place of brokenness, acknowledging your dependence upon Him, fearing His punishment, and hoping for His mercy. Allah says, “Supplicate to your Lord humbly and secretly… in fear and hope” (7:55–56).
Ibn Rajab (raḥimahullāh) said: “Brokenness and humility are among the greatest causes for duʿā’ to be answered.” He also said: “The more heartfelt the desperation and need, the more likely the duʿā’ will be answered.”
Ibn ʿAqīl al-Ḥanbalī (raḥimahullāh) said: “When one’s need is intense and he turns to duʿā’, or his fear overwhelms him and he weeps, then that is the best time to make duʿā’. It is a moment of sincerity, and no sincere duʿā’ goes unanswered.”
One of the early worshippers once said to his companions: “I know when my duʿā’ is accepted.” They asked, “How?” He said: “When my heart trembles, my skin shivers, my eyes weep, and my tongue flows with duʿā’; that is when I know the response is near.”
4. Be Persistent and Implore Allah Earnestly
The Prophet ﷺ used to like making duʿā’ three times, and seeking forgiveness three times (Aḥmad). On some occasions, the Prophet ﷺ repeated his duʿā’ five or seven times, teaching us the value of being persistent in our requests.
Persistence isn’t nagging. Allah loves His servants who return to Him again and again. Unlike how we may hesitate to repeat requests to people out of fear of rejection or annoyance, Allah loves it when He is repeatedly asked. Al-Surayy al-Saqaṭī said: “Be like a child who desires something from his parents, but they do not give it to him. He then sits and cries over it. Be like that child. When you ask your Lord for something and He does not grant it immediately, sit and weep over it.”
Persistently calling upon Him shows your humility, need and conviction that no one can fulfill your need except Him. Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) said: “One of the most effective remedies is persistence in duʿā’ (supplication).” He also said: “The most beloved of His creation to Him are those who ask Him the most and best, and He loves those who are persistent in duʿā’. The more the servant persists in asking, the more Allah loves him, draws him closer, and grants him.”
Yazīd al-Raqāshī narrated from Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu): “There is no servant who says, ‘Yā Rabb, Yā Rabb, Yā Rabb (O Lord, O Lord, O Lord),’ except that his Lord responds to him saying: ‘Labbayk, Labbayk (Here I am, here I am).’”
“The best duʿā’ is persistence in calling upon Allah and humbly beseeching Him.” – Imām al-Awzāʿī (raḥimahullāh)
5. Place Complete Hope in Allah and Turn to Him Alone
Allah ﷻ says in a ḥadīth qudsī: “I am as My servant thinks of Me” (Bukhārī).
Ibn Masʿūd (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said: “No servant ever had good expectations of Allah except that Allah gave him what he hoped for because all goodness is in His Hands.”
Too often, we raise our hands in duʿā’ to Allah, but our hearts quietly lean on others, placing more hope in people than in the One who controls all outcomes. Allah reminds us: “And to your Lord, direct your longing” (94:8).
Ibn Taymiyyah (raḥimahullāh) said, “Relief only comes when all hope in created beings is cut off.” Al-Fuḍayl b. ʿIyāḍ (raḥimahullāh) said, “By Allah, if you despair of people and stop wanting anything from them, your Master will give you everything you desire.” One of the pious predecessors said, “Whoever wants to know how much he truly knows Allah, let him look at what Allah has promised and what people have promised; and see which one his heart relies on more.”
Even if you feel unworthy because of your sins, never let that stop you from turning to Allah. Sufyān b. ʿUyaynah (raḥimahullāh) said, “Whatever (evil) you know about yourself should not prevent you from making duʿā’, because Allah accepted the duʿā’ of the worst of Allah’s creation. Iblīs — may he be cursed — said, ‘My Lord, give me respite until the Day when they are resurrected.’ (Allah) said, ‘You are of those given respite.’”
6. Be Certain That Allah Will Answer
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Make duʿā’ to Allah whilst you are certain of a response, because Allah (ʿazza wa jall) does not accept a duʿā’ from a heedless, distracted heart” (Tirmidhī).
ʿUmar al-Mukhtār (raḥimahullāh) said, “Yaqīn is that you ask Allah for something, despite everything around you indicating that it won’t happen. But you are completely certain and sure in your heart that Allah will accept your duʿā’.”
7. Be Fully Present and Always Mindful
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Indeed, hearts are vessels, and some are more receptive than others. So when you ask Allah, ask Him with certainty of response, for Allah does not respond to a servant who calls upon Him with a heedless, distracted heart” (Aḥmad).
Duʿā’ must come from a focused, conscious heart. Know what you’re asking for and who you’re asking from: none other than the Lord of Majesty and Honour. It is not befitting for a servant to address their Lord in a careless, mechanical way, reciting memorised words without reflection or understanding.
Al-Munāwī (raḥimahullāh) writes, “No attention is given to the supplication of one who is heedless: absent from his Lord and preoccupied with worldly concerns. Being mentally present, fully alert, and sincere in duʿā’ is one of its most important etiquettes.” Imām al-Rāzī also said: “The (scholars) unanimously agreed that duʿā’ made with a heedless heart has no effect.”
Tip: When your heart becomes heedless of duʿā’ and your tongue grows weak in supplication, but you wish for Allah to open the doors of prayer for you, then say this duʿā’:
اَللّٰهُمَّ أَعِنِّيْ عَلَىٰ ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
“O Allah, help me to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You in the best manner.”
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever wants Allah to open for him the doors of duʿāʾ, let him say (the above)” (Abū Dāwūd).
8. Be Assertive in Duʿa
The Prophet ﷺ said: “None of you should say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You will,’ or ‘O Allah, have mercy on me if You will.’ Let him be firm in his request, for no one can compel Allah” (Bukhārī).
Ask clearly and confidently, with humility in your heart and trust in Allah’s generosity. Don’t make your request conditional and be sure Allah will respond. You are calling upon the Most Generous, so ask with conviction and trust.
9. Be Ambitious and Ask for Everything
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When one of you asks for something from Allah, then let him be plentiful (in what he asks for), for indeed he is asking his Lord” (Ibn Ḥibbān). In another ḥadīth, he told us, “When you ask Allah, ask for al-Firdaws (the highest level of Jannah)” (Tirmidhī).
Al-Munāwī (raḥimahullāh) writes, “If one of you wishes for good from the goodness of this world or the next, then let him make many wishes. For he is only asking his Lord, the One who raised him, blessed him, and was good to him. So let him increase in his desire and broaden his request. Let him ask for both the great and the small — even the strap of his sandal — for if Allah does not make it easy, it will never be made easy. Thus, the one asking should ask abundantly, not limiting or restricting his requests. The treasuries of Allah’s generosity pour forth day and night, and His giving never diminishes, no matter how great or immense the request may be. His giving is merely between the letters Kāf and Nūn (‘Be’, and it is).”
Do not limit your duʿā’ to only what you perceive as possible. Nothing is too big for the One being asked and nothing is too small for the one asking Him. Be realistic in everything except your duʿā’. After all, you are asking the Lord of the impossible!
True reliance on Allah means asking Him for both great and small matters, never thinking that the small ones are within your control. Ibn Rajab (raḥimahullāh) said, “Some of the pious predecessors would ask Allāh for everything, even when they needed salt for dough and grass for the sheep.”
10. Converse Intimately With Allah
‘At-tamalluq’ is the art of speaking to Allah with soft, loving words; not merely asking, but praising, pleading, and pouring out your brokenness. It reflects humility, longing, and closeness. It is the essence of ‘munājāt’: an intimate, hushed conversation with your Lord. It is opening your heart: expressing your fears, your gratitude, your hopes, and your love for Allah.
This was the way of Prophet Zakariyyā (ʿalayhis-salām), whose duʿā’ Allah praised: “When he called upon his Lord in secret. He said, ‘My bones have weakened, and my head has turned white. But never, my Lord, has my prayer to You remained unanswered.’” (19:3-4). Though Allah already knew his state, Zakariyyā (ʿalayhis-salām) still described it. Allah loves to hear His servants speak to Him intimately and pour out their hearts before Him.”
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah loves three people… (one of them is) a group who travelled through the night until sleep became more beloved to them than anything else. They lay down their heads, yet one among them rose to humbly plead with Me, reciting My verses…” (Aḥmad). This is the heart that rises in the night — sincere, broken, hopeful — and savours the sweetness of intimately conversing with Allah through reciting His words, praising Him and supplicating to Him.
“Duʿāʾ has pillars, wings, causes, and proper times. If it aligns with its pillars, it becomes strong; if it aligns with its wings, it soars to the heavens; if it aligns with its proper times, it succeeds; and if it aligns with its causes, it is fulfilled.
Its pillars are: presence of the heart, gentleness (of spirit), humility, submissiveness, the heart’s attachment to Allah, and detachment from worldly means.
Its wings are: sincerity.
Its times are: the pre-dawn hours.
Its causes are: sending blessings upon Muḥammad ﷺ.
– ʿAṭā’ (raḥimahullāh)
