What are the Topics of Dua (Supplication)? What Can a Person Pray For?
In what areas can a person make dua (supplication)? In other words, can we pray about everything? Examining the Quran and hadith, we can list the topics of dua as follows:
- Seeking to remain steadfast on faith and guidance, and desiring to perform righteous deeds.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated: “Make my heart firm upon the religion and obedience, and grant me guidance and piety, and beautify my character.” (Ibn Hibban, Addu’a, No: 900; Tirmidhi, Dawat, 30)
- Requesting material and spiritual blessings related to this world and the Hereafter, physical and mental health, worldly and eternal happiness, personal and social security.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked Allah for paradise, for every kind of good known and unknown, for goodness, beauty, and blessings in this world and the Hereafter. (Ibn Hibban, Addu’a, No: 868-869, 886)
- Seeking forgiveness for sins committed.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated to the Most High Allah for forgiveness of his mistakes and sins, whether hidden or overt, intentional or unintentional, knowingly or unknowingly. (Ibn Hibban, Addu’a, No: 899, 901, 928, 954–958)
- Seeking protection from all kinds of calamities such as debt, poverty, weakness, distress, and sorrow in this world, encountering undesirable situations, the enmity of Satan, carnal desires, malice, and envy.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) sought refuge with Allah from all evil known and unknown, from the fitna (trial) of death and life, from miserliness, cowardice, poverty and humiliation, hunger and treachery, injustice and oppression, helplessness and laziness, calamities and accidents, the aggression and harm of enemies, diseases, loss of intellect, hardness of heart, heedlessness, disbelief, hypocrisy, and ostentation. (Ibn Hibban, Addu’a, No: 869, Istiaza, 999-1003, 1009- 1010, 1016-1030)
- Seeking protection from the punishment of Hell in the Hereafter.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) supplicated: “I seek refuge with Allah from the torment of the grave and Hell” (Ibn Hibban, Istiaza, No: 999). A person can make dua for every matter that is permissible according to Islamic law, for all material and spiritual, worldly and Hereafter affairs. Indeed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Let each of you ask his Lord for whatever he needs, even if it is a broken shoelace” (Abu Ya’la, Zikr wa Dua, No:1089; Tirmidhi, Dawat,137).
What is the Most Virtuous Dua?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O Allah! Make our ending in every matter good and protect us from disgrace in this world.” (Ibn Hibban, Addu’a, No: 949), thus setting an example for us and informing that the most excellent thing to be asked of Allah is health, safety, forgiveness, and mercy in this world and the Hereafter:
“A companion came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! What is the most virtuous dua?’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: ‘Seek safety (health, peace, security), forgiveness, and mercy from Allah in this world and the Hereafter.’ The next day he came again and asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! What is the most virtuous dua?’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave the same answer. On the third day he came again and asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! What is the most virtuous dua?’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave the same answer again and said: ‘If you are granted safety in this world, and safety is also granted to you in the Hereafter, then you have attained salvation.’ (Tirmidhi, Dawat, 89)
The Prophet’s hadith mention that life’s important events such as birth, death, and journeys; acts of worship, eating, drinking, dressing, sleeping, waking up, leaving home, experiencing blessings and calamities, and daily life are all subjects for dua.
One should not make dua regarding matters that are religiously forbidden, unlawful, or sinful. (see Ibn Abi Shaybah, Dua, 132, No: 29811)