What is Dua? Briefly, the Importance of Dua
Dua, is an innate feeling inherent in human nature. Therefore, prayer holds a significant place in all religions. Every person who believes in a higher power feels the need to pray at some point in their life. Because people sometimes experience events, sorrows, and difficulties that they cannot overcome. In such moments, dua is made to ask for help from Allah, the only power to which one can turn.
Even those who do not normally pray or believe may feel the need to pray when faced with hardship and distress. This situation is an indication of a person’s need for prayer. The Almighty Allah expresses this in verse 12 of Surat Yunus:
“When adversity strikes man, he cries to his Lord, turning to Him in private supplication. But when He removes the affliction from him, he is one of those who are ungrateful.” (Yunus, 10/12)
Surat Lukman also states:
“(They invoke Allah) when they ride on ships and are visited by a storm. They turn to Him in sincere devotion, with hearts filled with fear. But when He brings them safely to shore, some of them settle for something less than gratitude.” (Lukman, 32/32)
As can be understood from these verses, praying is a natural behavior inherent in human nature. The Almighty Allah reminds us through these verses that prayer should be performed not only in times of distress but always.
The person who prays feels peace and comfort in their heart and hopes that their request will be fulfilled. In this way, dua is like a protective measure against spiritual crises.
1. Dua is a Divine Command
Praying has been praised and encouraged in verses and hadith:
- “Call upon your Lord with humility and without being seen.” (A’raf, 7/55)
- “Invoke Him with fear and hope.” (A’raf, 7/56)
- “(O Prophet,) say, ‘If there were no compassion from your Lord, what would you have after it?’” (Furqan, 25/77)
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
- “O servants of Allah! I advise you to pray.” (Hakim, Adawat, I, 493; Tirmidhi, Adawat, 102)
- “To abandon prayer is disobedience and sin.” (Heysemi, Ediya, 2, No: 17194)
- “There is no one who prays but that he does not perish.” (Ibn Hibban, Adiyat, No:871; Hakim, Adawat, I, 494)
- “When one of you prays, let him ask with insistence.” (Ibn Hibban, Adiyat, No: 889)
- “When one of you prays, let him ask for what he wants abundantly and greatly. For nothing is too great or abundant for Allah.” (Ibn Hibban, Adiyat, No: 896)
The person who prays obeys the command of Allah and the Messenger, remembers Allah, and gains His love. As the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Seek bounty from Allah, for Allah loves that He is asked.” (Tirmidhi, Adawat, 116)
2. Dua is an Act of Worship
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
- “Prayer is the essence of worship.” (Tirmidhi, Adawat, 1)
- “The most virtuous act of worship is waiting for relief from distress.” (Heysemi, Ediya, 7, No: 17202)
He said, “Prayer is pure worship,” and then recited the verse:
“Your Lord says, ‘If you would call upon Me, I would answer you. But those who are too arrogant to call upon Me will enter Hell humiliated.’” (Mu’min, 40/60)
Ibn Abbas said, “The most virtuous act of worship is prayer,” and recited the above verse.
- DUAS MENTIONED IN THE QURAN
- DUAS MENTIONED IN HADITHS
- DUAS THE PROPHET (PBUH) RECIED FREQUENTLY
3. Dua is Highly Valuable in the Sight of Allah
The hadith, “There is nothing more precious than prayer in the sight of Allah,” (Tirmidhi, Adawat, 1; Ibn Mace, Dua, 1) is evidence of this. Because the person who prays acknowledges the existence, majesty, power, and ability of Allah to help His servants.
4. Dua is a Key that Opens the Doors of Mercy
The hadith, “Prayer is a key to mercy,” (Suyuti, I, 486) indicates that the person who prays will attain Allah’s mercy.
When a person expresses their wishes and requests to Allah with sincerity, such as “O my Lord! O Allah! Bestow blessings, forgive me, help me, protect me from calamities,” Allah opens the doors of mercy for him and helps him.
5. Allah is Angry at Those Who Do Not Pray
The hadith, “Whoever does not pray to Allah, Allah becomes angry with him,” (Ibn Hibban, Zikir ve Dua, No: 890; Hakim, Adawat, I, 491; Tirmidhi, Adawat, 2; Ibn Mace, Dua, 1) reveals this truth. Because the person who does not pray disobeys the command of Allah and the Messenger, considers himself independent of them. This is incompatible with “servitude” and provokes Allah’s anger.
6. Dua is a Believer’s Spiritual Weapon
The hadith, “Prayer is the weapon of the believer, the pillar of religion, the light of the heavens and the earth,” (Hakim, Adawat, No: 1812; Heysemi, Ediya, 5, No: 17198) indicates that prayer will protect the believer from various troubles. The word “weapon” here is metaphorical. A person protects himself from visible and invisible dangers by praying to Allah. If he can pray with sincerity and adherence to conditions, Allah will protect him. Thus, dua becomes the spiritual weapon of the believer.
The fact that the Most Merciful Lord, who commanded us to pray, has shown how to pray in the first verse of the Qur’an clearly demonstrates the importance of prayer:
“Guide us to the straight path.” (Fatiha, 1/6)
The most valuable moments in a person’s life are when they turn to Allah and remain alone with Him. The best way to achieve this closeness is through prayer. A praying person turns his entire being towards Allah and makes requests of Him.
The presence of dozens of dua examples on every topic in verses and hadiths further demonstrates the place and importance of prayer in religion.