🕌 Islamic education

Du'a

📖 In short

Du'a means talking to God and asking Him for what we need. We can make du'a at any time, in any place and in any language: God is near, hears us and loves us to call on Him. Du'a is worship that brings us closer to God.

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ
Surat al-Baqarah (The Cow), verse 186

🤩 Did you know?

  • The Prophet ﷺ said: “Du'a is worship” (reported by at-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud).
  • A person is closest to their Lord while prostrating, so we make a lot of du'a then.
  • The Qur'an contains many prayers of the prophets, like those of Abraham, Jonah, Moses and Zechariah.
  • One of the most complete prayers is: “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

🔎 Find out more

🌟 How do I make du'a?

I start by praising God and sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, then ask for what I want with my whole heart, sure that God hears me. I raise my hands and pray humbly and respectfully.

🔍 Blessed times

There are times when du'a is hoped to be answered: in prostration, between the call to prayer and the start of the prayer, in the last part of the night, on Friday, when it rains, and when a fasting person breaks their fast.

💡 Praying for others

We pray for our parents, brothers and sisters, friends and all Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ told us that when someone prays for another in their absence, an angel says: “And the same for you.”

🎯 God always answers

God may give us what we asked for, or keep a harm away from us because of our du'a, or save it as a reward for us. So we never tire of making du'a and we aren't impatient.

📚 Key words

Du'a
Asking God for good
Humility
A focused heart and calm before God
Being answered
When God gives the one who prays what they asked for

🌱 Put it into practice today

Write three prayers on a piece of paper: one for yourself, one for your parents and one for a friend. Then say them while prostrating today.

🧩 Test yourself

1 When is a person closest to their Lord?

2 What does the angel say to someone who prays for another in their absence?

3 In which language can we pray to God?

📚 Read next

🎮 Try it yourself