The Function of Dua' in Islamic Shari'ah
Sans the Prevalent Exaggeration and Even Transgression

A beautiful ayah illustrating different parts of dua leading us to the “right way”. Let me quote a few additional verses of the Quran on this subject before we discuss the role of Dua in our Shari’ah.

To start with, the jewel and masterpiece of dua’ in the First Chapter of our Holy Text: ^[3]

We are mandated to start our day with this dua, recite it thrice at intervals during the day and finally retire for the night after rehearsing the same dua’, making a total of seventeen reiteration  in five installments spread over the whole day. A remarkable and very effective prescription for Muslims for their spiritual needs and development. If we can comply with this drill with real concentration and mindfulness (khushoo’ and khuzoo’) I am sure we do not need any of the books and booklets of long Arabic duas. This Mother of Duas will Insha Allah see us through. All we need in addition are the very personal duas, on very personal occasions, coming from within us in our personal lingo and idiom.  A few other references from the Holy text to elaborate the concept of Dua’ in the Shari’ah: ^{[4], [5], [6], [7], [8]}

(Please note the Arabic word in this ayah is Rawh and not Rooh. Rawh includes the idea of a Mercy that stills or calms our distracted state. It is particularly relevant here to the emotions of Jacob.)

These different ayahs have highlighted different features and requisites of an effective dua. In the first ayah, response from Allah Ta’aala Subhaanahoo is assured. Second, this assurance covers all faults and sins, however small or big. Third, sincerity and devotion to Allah is necessary for success. Fourth, an appeal to HIM with humility and privacy is suggested. And lastly a warning, not to loose hope in HIS powers of Eternal Mercy whatever the sin or crime — very small, very big. This can be labelled as the decisive factor in application of dua’ — complete faith of the seeker that his supplication would be accepted. Abu Hurairah has reported “The Messenger of Allah said The supplication of every one of His slaves will be granted as long as he does not get impatient and say, “I supplicated to my Rubb again and again but I do not think my prayer will be answered.” [Al-Bukhari, Muslim].

The index ayah is preceded and followed by ayahs on the instructions and injunctions about the Holy month of Ramadan and fasting. This ayah, as if is sandwiched between a discussion of this subject. Why? Ramadan, in some respects and to many is a period of trial. This ayah reminds them that Allah Ta’aala Subhaanahoo is close to them, watching them and listens to them. In the usual attractive style of the Text, this ayah describes succinctly that if you think of HIM, HE is very close to you; if you appeal to HIM, HE hears and responds to you and if you are looking for the “right way” then you will find it if you follow HIS dictates with complete Faith in HIM. This ayah also reminds us that even though we cannot see or subject to any form of perception our Lord and the absolute Master of this vast Universe, nonetheless, HE is close enough to us for a direct communication with HIM. Contrary to a rather popular concept in Muslims, we do not need an intermediary in the form of a Wali, Peer, Shaikh or Imam to reach HIM and  plead to HIM.

Ibn Kathir offers an explanation for introducing this ayah in between a discussion on Ramadan. In his opinion, this ayah hints that the dua’ made at iftaar is always accepted. The Holy Prophet also has confirmed this opinion:

“The prayer made by one who is fasting at the the time of iftaar is accepted.”

Hence, it was the practice of the noble companion Abdullah Ibn Umer to collect his family at the time of iftaar and make a dua’.

Mufti Mohammed Shafi has drawn a subtle but practical ruling from this ayah. As Allah Ta’aala Subhaanahoo declares in this ayah “I am near”, the Mufti derives from this statement that “it has been hinted that prayers should be said slowly and quietly; to raise voice during prayer is not desirable.” He quotes the background in which this ayah was revealed (shan-e-nuzool) as an evidence for his conclusion. A villager, says Ibn Kathirvisited the Holy Prophet and asked “Tell me if our Lord is near us, then we shall pray in a lowered voice; and if he is far, we shall call him with raised voices”. This verse was revealed in response.

Dua is a very essential and valuable part of our Ibaadah. Unfortunately there is intense exaggeration if not transgression displayed in this matter — both scholarly and popular. The role of dua is distorted and its importance magnified out of all proportion. A beautiful write-up by Sound Vision http://www.soundvision.com/dua-and-zikr is a good example. An author in the article states: “What a tragedy, for dua is the most potent weapon of a believer. It can change fate, while no action of ours ever can. It is the essence of ibadaah or worship. With it we can never fail; without it we can never succeed. In the proper scheme of things, dua should be the first and the last resort of the believer, with all his plans and actions coming in between……..In every difficulty our first action is dua, as is our last…” The author then elaborates his point by a long list of virtues of dua’. ^[9]  A sister had sent me a dua for Ramadan which stated that “Dua is the only element that changes Taqdeer. Everything is pre-written. But with DUA it can be re-written.” I am sorry I think these views display a very misleading ignorance of our Deen. Our mandatory prayers are the FIRST and FOREMOST worship. Reading and studying the Holy Quran — I do not mean merely chanting of words — comes next. All other forms of worship put together including Dua cannot even come close. As a matter of fact prayers combined with Fasting and Zakat can see us through to Jannah, Insha Allah without any additional effort as per the saying of our beloved Holy Prophet:

Narrated Talha bin ‘Ubaid-Ullah (Radi-Allahu ‘anhu): “A bedouin with unkempt hair came to Allah’s Apostle (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi WaSallam) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards the prayers.” He replied: “You have to offer perfectly the five compulsory prayers in a day and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray Nawafil.” The bedouin further asked, “Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards fasting.” He replied, “You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan, unless you want to fast more as Nawafil.” The bedouin further asked, “Tell me how much Zakat Allah has enjoined on me.” Thus, Allah’s Apostle (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The bedouin then said, “By Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allah has enjoined on me. Allah’s Apostle (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, “If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he will be granted Paradise).”  (Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 11)

The root of the Arabic word dua’ means to cry out or call out. Supplication is the closest word in English.  Dua is a very context sensitive ibaadah, based on the person and the occasion.  A mother’s dua for his son suffering from cancer is entirely different ball game from the dua of an Imam with his large congregation. It has to be a personal pleading to his Lord Creator coming from his inner emotional self for his problems in his own words. If s/he cannot find the words to express her/his feelings, rest assure Allah Ta’aala can reach the heart. The well researched  article referred to earlier wants to make the practice of dua a free for all so that every body is making dua for every body about every thing all the time. An author in this article says “Tools like email and social networking sites like Facebook are effective ways to reach and stay in touch with many people quickly and cheaply. They are also ideal methods of reviving the practice of making Dua……Start an online Dua circle by making a list of family and friends you feel close to. Send them an email or tag them in a note explaining that you are asking them nothing more than one minute of their time once a week to make a Dua for yourself or another person on the list. It could be for a sibling to do well on an upcoming exam. It could be for someone’s surgery to be successful. Then, set a day and time when everyone will make Dua for that one minute for that shared item…..”.  The social media is hardly the forum for our Dua, a powerful tool of personal, emotional and direct appeal to the All Mighty. Repeatedly the authors of this article have referred to Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as saying that Dua is the “essence” of worship (Tirmidhi). Very true. All of them, however then concentrate on the “essence” only and have conveniently forgotten the “worship” part of the statement.

A word about the prevalent and popular practice of books, pamphlets, emails, videos, texts and messages of a long list of Sample Sunnah Duas for all possible situations. (The article referred to earlier gives fifteen duas for mercy and forty four for personal duas; elsewhere forty three occasions are sited for making a dua like leaving a gathering or entering a market place.) Most of these are in Arabic – many real long ones – with translation. One can read them or chant them but this act is hardly a dua. As far as the insistence on the Arabic text is concerned, one of the authors in this very article very nicely puts it “But one thing that’s often forgotten about Dua is that it’s direct communication with Allah. And Allah is multilingual. He actually created and knows all languages, whether it’s the specific dialect of your village back home or the street talk of urban America.” Also generally speaking, how good are these duas? Are all of them reliable? It is worth pondering.

Dua comes spontaneously whenever there is an occasion for it. However, because of its importance it has been formalized and categorized. So full twenty one occasions are listed as the “Best Time for Dua”. ^[10]

As stated earlier, calling out to  Allah Ta’aala Subhaanahoo is an end in itself. Hence it should not occur to anybody as to why a dua’ has not been answered. However, most of us cannot help just doing that. I came across a long list of reasons why our supplications are not answered. It makes an interesting reading. ^[11]

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, an eminent Islamic scholar has described process of dua’ in a very convincing and compelling style: “The Dua and prayers for seeking refuge with God are like a weapon, and a weapon is only as good as the person who is using it; it is not merely the matter of how sharp it is.  If the weapon is perfect and free of faults, and the arm of the person using it is strong, and there is nothing stopping him, then he can lay waste to the enemy.  But if any of these three features is lacking, then the effect will be lacking accordingly”.

Wikipedia gives a short but interesting history of the literature of dua’. ^[12]

Notwithstanding what I have stated hitherto, the Quranic duas’ excel and transcend all the others provided one understands its meaning word by word. Our beloved Prophet has termed the following part of an ayah of the Quran as the “best dua’”: وَمِنهُم مَن يَقولُ رَبَّنا آتِنا فِي الدُّنيا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنا عَذابَ النّارِ

“Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.”

Short, Concise, Complete and Comprehensive. As a matter of fact our five daily mandatory prayers are the best examples of beseeching and entreating (i.e. offering dua’) Allah Ta’aala Subhaanahoo. It would be handy to have a list of these supplications for ready reference. ^[13]

Our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has frequently stressed the status and influence of supplication. According to At Tirmidhi he has called dua’ as “the essence” of worship. Hence   several collections of “authentic” and popular Prophetic duas are available. It is suggested that “the words of the Prophets are more complete and submissive to God’s will” and help the believers to “to use the clearest and most concise words when offering his supplications.” It has also been proposed that “Making dua in the court of Allah the Exalted is an art and has an etiquette” All this is perhaps true but I dare say quite irrelevant to the spirit and purpose of dua’. The Messenger of Allah has also highlighted several aspects of supplication:

“A slave becomes nearest to his Lord when he is in prostration. So increase supplications in prostrations.’’ [Saheeh Muslim]

 “The supplication of every one of you will be granted if he does not get impatient and say, `I supplicated my Lord but my prayer has not been granted’.’’ [Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim]

 “The dua of a Muslim for his brother in his absence is readily accepted. An angel is appointed to his side. Whenever he makes a beneficial dua for his brother the appointed angel says, Ameen. And may you also be blessed with the same’”. [Saheeh Muslim

Emphasising that the seeker should be humble but confident, he has said “When one of you supplicates, he should not say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You will,’ but be firm in asking and make the desire great, for what Allah gives is nothing great for Him.”[ Saheeh Muslim]

The hadith recommending dua for a brother seems to be inspired by the Quranic instruction: ^[14]

A list of Prophets’ dua is included for ready reference. ^[15]

As I close, allow me to assert that dua is not just reading; it is not simply reciting; it is not even wholly  praying. Dua is requesting, appealing and even demanding directly from our Sustainer and Cherisher with the hope and conviction that HE WILL grant it, BUT in HIS style, at HIS time and by HIS wisdom. Let us keep it that way, please.  Be assured. Allah Ta’aala Subhaanahoo loves to be urged and implored by HIS creatures and persistently encourages and goads us to beseech and entreat HIM for all our needs, desires and ambitions.

……..and Allah knows best.

May Allah Ta’aala bless us with true understanding–“fahm”–of our Deen, Aameen.

Dr. Khalid Mitha