What is Dua? Briefly, the Importance and Virtue of Dua
Dua (supplication), is a profound feeling inherently present in human beings. For this reason, great importance has been attached to dua in all religions. Every person who believes in a higher power feels the need to make dua at different moments in life. This is because we all, from time to time, encounter events, sorrows, and difficulties that we cannot overcome. In such situations, a search for refuge and help arises, and this turns into dua.
Even those who normally do not make dua or are not believers feel the need to make dua in desperation when faced with problems they cannot solve. This is a clear indication that the human being is innately in need of dua. The Exalted Allah expresses this reality in the 12th verse (āya) of Sūrat Yūnus as follows:
“When harm touches man, he calls upon Us, lying on his side or sitting or standing; but when We remove from him his harm, he passes on as if he had never called upon Us to remove an affliction that touched him. Thus is made pleasing to the transgressors that which they have been doing.” (Yūnus, 10/12)
And in the 32nd verse (āya) of Sūrat Luqmān:
“And when waves come over them like canopies, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, there are [some] of them who are moderate [in faith].” (Luqmān, 31/32)
As can be understood from these verses (āyāt), making dua is a feature inherent in human nature. Moreover, through these verses (āyāt), the Exalted Allah reminds us that dua should be made not only in times of distress but at all times.
After sincerely presenting their wishes, the person who makes dua feels peace and relief in their qalb (the heart), and is filled with hope that their request will be fulfilled. In this aspect, dua acts as a protective measure against spiritual crises.
1. Dua is a Divine Command
Making dua is encouraged and praised in verses (āyāt) and hadiths:
“Call upon your Lord in humility and privately.” (al-Aʿrāf, 7/55; see also al-Anʿām, 6/63)
“Call upon Him in fear and aspiration.” (al-Aʿrāf, 7/56)
“Say [O Prophet]: What would my Lord care for you if not for your supplication?” (al-Furqān, 25/77)
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“O servants of Allah! I advise you to make dua.” (al-Ḥākim, Daʿawāt, I, 493; al-Tirmidhī, Daʿawāt, 102)
“To abandon dua is disobedience, it is a sin.” (al-Haythamī, Adʿiya, 2, No: 17194)
“Do not be incapable in making dua, for no person who makes dua is ever destroyed.” (Ibn Ḥibbān, Adʿiya, No: 871; al-Ḥākim, Daʿawāt, I, 494)
“When one of you makes dua, let him ask much. For he is asking from his Lord (whose bounty, generosity, and grace are vast and abundant).” (Ibn Ḥibbān, Adʿiya, No: 889)
“When one of you makes dua, let him ask for much and great things. For nothing is great or much for Allah.” (Ibn Ḥibbān, Adʿiya, No: 896)
The person who makes dua, by obeying the command of Allah and the Messenger, has worshipped, remembered Allah, and gained His love. Indeed, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Ask from the bounty of Allah, for Allah loves to be asked. The most virtuous worship is (to make dua and) to wait for the removal of a difficulty.” (al-Tirmidhī, Daʿawāt, 116)
2. Dua is an Act of Worship
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Dua is the essence of worship.” (al-Tirmidhī, Daʿawāt, 1)
“The most virtuous act of worship is to wait for Allah to remove a difficulty.” (al-Haythamī, Adʿiya, 7, No: 17202)
He also said, “Dua is pure worship,” and then recited the following verse (āya) from Sūrat al-Muʾmin:
“And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you. Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.’” (al-Muʾmin, 40/60; al-Tirmidhī, Daʿawāt, 1; Ibn Mājah, Duʿāʾ; Abū Dāwūd, Ṣalāt, 358; al-Ḥākim, Daʿawāt, I, 491; Ibn Ḥibbān, Adʿiya, No: 890)
Ibn ʿAbbās from among the Companions (ṣaḥāba) said, “The most virtuous act of worship is dua,” and recited the above verse (āya). (al-Ḥākim, Daʿawāt, I, 491)
- DUAS MENTIONED IN THE QUR’AN
- DUAS MENTIONED IN HADITHS
- DUAS FREQUENTLY RECITED BY THE PROPHET
3. Dua is Highly Valued in the Sight of Allah
“There is nothing more noble in the sight of Allah than dua.” (al-Tirmidhī, Daʿawāt, 1; Ibn Mājah, Duʿāʾ, 1) is clear evidence of this. For the person who makes dua acknowledges the existence, greatness, power of Allah, and His attribute of helping His servants, and by confessing his own weakness, expresses his need for Allah.
4. Dua is a Key that Opens the Gates of Mercy
“Dua is a key that opens the gates of mercy.” (al-Suyūṭī, I, 486) is a hadith expressing that the one who makes dua will attain the mercy of Allah.
When a person presents their wishes and requests to Allah as they feel in their heart—such as “My Lord! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings, forgive, help, protect from calamities”—Allah opens the gates of mercy to His servant and helps them.
5. Allah is Angry with Those Who Do Not Make Dua
“Whoever does not make dua to Allah, Allah becomes angry with him.” (Ibn Ḥibbān, Dhikr wa Duʿāʾ, No: 890; al-Ḥākim, Daʿawāt, I, 491; al-Tirmidhī, Daʿawāt, 2; Ibn Mājah, Duʿāʾ, 1) is a hadith that reveals this truth. For the person who does not make dua has not obeyed the command of Allah and the Messenger to “make dua,” and has acted arrogantly, seeing himself as self-sufficient. This situation,