Importance of Du’a
The Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said:
اَلدُّعَآءُ مُخُّ الۡعِبَادَةِ
Du’a is the essence of worship. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 5, p. 243, Hadith 3382)
Du’a is a weapon of a true Believer
The Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said:
اَلدُّعَآءُ سِلَاحُ الۡمُؤۡمِنِ وَ عِمَادُ الدِّيۡنِ وَ نُوۡرُ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ
Translation: Du’a is a weapon of a believer, a pillar of Deen and a light of the Heavens and the Earth.
(Al-Mustadrak, lil-Haakim, vol. 2, p. 162, Hadith 1855)
In another blessed Hadith, the Noblest Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated, ‘Shall I not tell you the thing which gives you relief from your enemy and increases your sustenance. Keep praying in the court of Allah Almighty day and night, for Du’a is the weapon of a believer.’
(Majma’-uz-Zawaid, vol. 10, p. 221, Hadith 17199)
Du’a averts calamity
The Rasool of mankind, the Peace of our heart and mind, the most Generous and Kind صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘A calamity descends, Du’a intercepts it and then they fight each other until the Day of Judgement.’ i.e. Du’a does not let that calamity descend. (Al-Mustadrak, vol. 2, p. 162, Hadith 1856)
Status of Du’a in worship
Sayyiduna Abu Zar Ghifari رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ has stated, ‘Du’a is as important in worship as salt in food.’ (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 8, p. 40, Hadith 4)
Three advantages of Du’a
The Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: If a Muslim makes such a Du’a in which he does not ask for any sin and any relationship to be severed, Allah Almighty will certainly grant him one out of three things: Either
The outcome of his Du’a soon appears in his lifetime, or
Allah Almighty removes any type of calamity from this bondman, or
Goodness is arranged for him in the Hereafter.
In another narration, it is stated that (when a bondman would witness reward for his supplications in the Hereafter which were left unfulfilled in the world), he will aspire, if only! No supplication of mine would have been fulfilled in the world. (Al-Mustadrak, p. 165, vol. 2, Hadith 1862) Islamic brothers! Did you notice! Du’a never goes unrewarded. If its outcome does not appear in this world, the reward for it will definitely be granted in the Hereafter. Therefore, showing laziness in Du’a is not appropriate.
Recite when you look at funeral
سُبْحٰنَ الْحَیِّ الَّذِیْ لَا يَمُوْتُ
Translation: Purity be to Him Who is alive and would never die. (Ihya-ul-‘Uloom, vol. 5, p. 266, summarized)
Du’a when entering graveyard
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا اَهْلَ الْقُبُوْرِ يَغْفِرُ اللّٰهُ لَنَا وَ لَـكُمْ اَنْتُمْ سَلَفُنَا وَ نَحْنُ بِالْاَثَر
Translation: Salam be to you, O people of the graves! May Allah Almighty forgive us and forgive you. You have come here before us and we are to follow you. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 2, p. 329, Hadith 1055)
Du’a when putting soil onto the grave
مِنْهَا خَلَقْنٰكُمْ وَ فِيْهَا نُعِيْدُ كُمْ وَ مِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً اُخْرٰی
Translation: We created you from the earth. And will take you back into it. And will raise you again from it.
Du’a for entering the toilet
اَللّٰھُمَّ اِ نِّیْۤ اَعُوْذُبِكَ مِنَ الْخُبُثِ وَ الْخَبَاۤ ئِثِ
Translation: O Allah Almighty I seek Your refuge from wicked male and female jinns. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 195, Hadith 6322) Since bad jinns live in the toilets, this Du’a should be recited. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 1, p. 259)
Du’a after exiting the toilet
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیْۤ اَذْھَبَ عَنِّی الْاَذٰی وَ عَافَانِیْ
Translation: All praise is for Allah Almighty Who has removed suffering from me and has given me comfort. (Al-Musannaf, vol. 7, p. 149, Hadith 2)
An act for protection from Satan
لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہٗ لَا شَرِیْكَ لَہٗ لَہُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَہُ الْحَمْدُ وَ ھُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ
Translation: There is no worthy of worship except Allah Almighty. He is All Alone. Has no partner. For Him is the kingdom and for Him is the praise and He has power over everything. It is reported by Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated, ‘Whoever recites these words 100 times in the day, this act of his will be equivalent to freeing 10 slaves, 100 virtues will be written in his Book of deeds, his 100 sins will be forgiven, these words will protect him from Satan for that day until the evening, and no one will come with a greater deed than him except the one who has performed this act more than him.’ (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, p. 402, Hadith 3293)
Du’a when putting on clothing
اَ لْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیْ کَسَانِیْ ھٰذَا وَ رَزَقَنِیْہِ مِنْ غَیْرِ حَوْلٍ مِّنِّیْ وَ لَا قُـوَّ ۃٍ
Translation: All praises are for Allah Almighty Who has clothed me with this (garment) and granted it to me without my strength and power. (Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 4, p. 59, Hadith 4023)
Du’a when applying kohl
اَللّٰهُمَّ مَتِّعْنِیْ بِا سَّمْـعِ وَ الْبَصَرِ
Translation: O Allah Almighty! Benefit me with listening and seeing. (Hamara Islam, part 1, p. 40)
Du’a upon seeing a Muslim smiling
اَضْحَكَ اللّٰہُ سِنَّكَ
Translation: May Allah keep you smiling. (Al-Hasan Al-Haseen, p. 104)
Du’a for the one offering ‘Itr
عَطَّرَ اللّٰهُ اَيَّامَكَ
Translation: May Allah Almighty make your life fragrant.
Du’a to be invoked when drinking Zamzam water
اَللّٰھُمَّ اَسْئَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَّافِعًا وَّ رِزْقًا وَّ اسِعًا وَّ شِفَاۤ ءً مِّنْ کُلِّ دَ اۤءٍ
Translation: O Allah Almighty! I ask You for useful knowledge, and plentiful sustenance, and cure from every illness. (Al-Mustadrak, vol. 2, p. 132, Hadith 1782)
Du’a when entering the Masjid
اَللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِیْۤ اَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Translation: O Allah Almighty! Open the doors of Your mercy upon me. (Al-Hasan Al-Haseen, p. 54)
Du’a when leaving the Masjid
اَللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِیْۤ اَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
Translation: O Allah Almighty! Open the doors of Your mercy upon me.
Du’a when leaving the Masjid
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلٰی رَسُوْلِ اللّٰہِ
Translation: With the name of Allah Almighty (I exit) and Salam be upon the Noblest Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Al-Hasan Al-Haseen, p. 55)
Du’a to be invoked at the end of Majlis (gathering)
سُبْحٰنَكَ اللّٰھُمَّ وَ بِحَمْدِكَ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ اَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَیْكَ
Translation: Purity belongs to You and O Allah Almighty all the virtues are solely for You, there is no Almighty except You; I seek forgiveness from You and repent to You. (Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 4, p. 347, Hadith 4857)
Du’a when entering the marketplace
لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہٗ لَا شَرِیْكَ لَہٗ لَہُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَہُ الْحَمْدُ یُحْیِیْ وَ یُمِیْتُ وَ ھُوَ حَیٌّ لَّا یَمُوْتُ بِیَدِہِ الْخَیْرُ وَ ھُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ
Translation: There is none worthy of worship except Allah Almighty. He is all alone. He has no partner. Sovereignty is for Him and all praise is for Him. He gives life and He gives death. He is alive; He will never die. All goodness are under His control and He has power over all the things. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 5, p. 271, Hadith 3439) Allah Almighty writes one million virtues for the reciter of this Du’a, removes one million of his sins, raises his ranks a million times and makes a house for him in Jannah. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 4, p. 39)
Earn profit and prevent loss in the market
سُبْحٰنَكَ اللّٰھُمَّ وَ بِحَمْدِكَ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ اَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَیْكَبِسْمِ اﷲِ اَللّٰھُمَّ اِنِّیْۤ اَسْئَلُكَ خَیْرَ ھٰذِہِ السُّوْقِ وَخَیْرَ مَا فِیْھَا وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّھَا وَ شَرِّمَا فِیْھَا اَللّٰھُمَّ اِنِّیْۤ اَعُوْذُبِكَ اَنْ اُصِیْبَ فِیْہَا یَمِیْنًا فَاجِرَۃً اَوْ صَفْقَۃً خَاسِرَۃً
Translation: In the name of Allah Almighty, O Allah Almighty! I seek goodness from You out of whatever is in this market and I seek Your refuge from whatever evil is in this market. O Allah Almighty! I seek refuge with You from this thing to commit false swearing or make a deal with loss. (Al-Mustadrak, vol. 2, p. 232, Hadith 2021)
Du’a to be recited before eating
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ وَ بِا للّٰہِ الَّذِیْ لَا یَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِہٖ شَیْءٌ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ لَا فِی السَّمَاۤءِ یَا حَیُّ یَا قَیُّوْمُ
Translation: I begin with the name of Allah Almighty, by the blessing of Whose name, nothing in the skies and the earth can cause harm, O the Ever-Living, O the Ever-Lasting. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 15, p. 109, Hadith 40792)
Du’a to be recited after eating
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیْۤ اَطْعَمَنَا وَ سَقَانَا وَ جَعَلَنَا مُسْلِمِیْنَ
Translation: Gratitude to Allah Almighty, Who fed us and made us Muslims. (Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 3, p. 513, Hadith 3850)
If someone fed you, recite this Du’a too
اَللّٰھُمَّ اَطْعَمْ مَنْ اَطْعَمْنِیْ وَاسْقِ مَنْ سَقَانِیْ
Translation: O Allah Almighty! Feed him who fed me. (Sahih Muslim, p. 136, Hadith 2055)
Du’a when looking in a mirror
اَللّٰھُمَّ اَنْتَ حَسَّنْتَ خَلْقِیْ فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِیْ
Translation: O Allah Almighty You have made my physical appearance good looking; also make my character good. (Al-Hasan Al-Haseen, p. 102)
Du’a upon sneezing
اَ لْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ
Translation: All praise is for Allah Almighty. (Al-Hasan Al-Haseen, p.103)
Du’a for the sneezing person who says ‘اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه’
یَرحَمُكَ اللّٰہ
Translation: May Allah Almighty have mercy upon you. (Al-Hasan Al-Haseen, p. 103)
Du’a for the one who replies to the sneeze
یَغْفِرُ اللّٰہُ لَـنَا وَ لَـکُمْ
Translation: May Allah Almighty forgive us and forgive you. (Al-Hasan Al-Haseen, p. 103)
Du’a for paying off debt
اَللّٰھُمَّ اکْفِنِیْ بِحَلَا لِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ وَ اَغْنِنِیْ بِفَضْلِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ
Translation:O Allah Almighty grant me lawful sustenance, protect me from the unlawful; and with Your grace, make me not dependent on anyone except You. (Al-Mustadrak, vol. 2, p. 230, Hadith 2016) Above-mentioned Du’a is very effective remedy; if every Muslim regularly recites this Du’a once after every Salah, he will remain protected from debt and oppression. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 4, p. 51)
Du’a to prevent from backbiting
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ وَ صَلَّى اللّٰہُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ
Allah Almighty will designate an angel that will prevent you from backbiting. When you depart from that gathering and recite ﴿بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ وَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ﴾, the angel will prevent people from backbiting against you. (Al-Qaul-ul-Badi’, p. 278)
Du’a to be recited after drinking milk
اَللّٰھُمَّ بَارِكْ لَـنَا فِیْہِ وَ زِدْنَا مِنْہُ
Translation: O Allah Almighty, grant blessings in it for us, and grant us more than this. (Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 3, p. 476, Hadith 3730)
Du’a for getting on a vehicle
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ
Translation: (I get on with) the name of Allah Almighty. (Al-Hasan Al-Haseen, p. 80)
Du’a to be recited after sitting comfortably into a vehicle
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ سُبْحٰنَ الَّذِیْ سَخَّرَ لَنَا ھٰذَا وَ مَا کُنَّا لَہٗ مُـقْرِنِیْنَ وَ اِنَّـاۤ اِلٰی رَبِّنَا لَـمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ
Translation: All praise is for Allah Almighty, Purity belongs to Him Who has put this vehicle under our control and this was not within our control (otherwise), and without doubt we are to return to our Rab Almighty. (Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 3, p. 49, Hadith 2602)
Du’a when entering home
اَللّٰھُمَّ اِنِّیْۤ اَسْئَلُكَ خَیْرَ الْمَوْلَجِ وَ خَیْرَ الْمَخْرَ جِ بِسْمِ اﷲِ وَ لَجْنَا وَ بِسْمِ اﷲِ خَرَجْنَا وَ عَلَی اﷲِ رَبِّنَا تَوَکَّلْنَا
Translation: (I get on with) the name of Allah Almighty. (Al-Hasan Al-Haseen, p. 80)
Du’a when exiting home
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ تَوَکَّلْتُ عَلَی اللّٰہِ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُـوَّ ۃَ اِلَّا بِا للّٰہِ
Translation:In the name of Allah Almighty, I have put my trust in Allah Almighty. Strength to refrain from sins and power to do good is (bestowed) from Allah Almighty only. (Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 4, p. 420, Hadith 5095)
Du’a before sleeping
اَللّٰھُمَّ بِا سْمِكَ اَمُوْتُ وَ اَحْیٰ
Translation: O Allah Almighty, with Your name, I die and live (i.e. sleep and awaken). (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 193, Hadith 6314)
Du’a after waking up from sleep
اَ لْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیْۤ اَحْیَا نَا بَعْدَ مَاۤ اَ مَا تَنَا وَ اِلَیْہِ النُّشُوْرُ
Translation: All praise is for Allah Almighty Who gave us life (i.e. wakefulness) after death (i.e. sleep) and to Him we have to return. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 193, Hadith 6314)
Du’a on a burn injury
اَذْھِبِ الْبَاْسَ رَبَّ النَّاسِ اِشْفِ اَنْتَ الشَّافِیْ لَا شَافِیْ اِلَّا اَنْتَ
Translation: O Rab of mankind! Relieve the agony, provide cure; You all alone is provider of cure, there is no one who can provide cure except You. (Sunan-ul-Kubra, vol. 6, p. 254, Hadith 10864)
Du’a for seeking protection from snake, scorpions etc
اَعُوْذُ بِکَلِمَاتِ اللّٰہِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
Translation: I seek refuge with complete and perfect words of Allah Almighty from the evil of creatures. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 5, p. 346, Hadith 3616; Al-Mu’jam-ul-Awsat, vol. 1 p. 161 Hadith 523)
Du’a to be recited in extreme danger
اَللّٰھُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْ رَاتِنَا وَ اٰمِنْ رَوْعَا تِنَا
Translation: O Allah Almighty! Veil [protect] us and replace our worry by (the feelings of) security and tranquillity. (Musnad Imam Ahmad, vol. 4, p. 8, Hadith 10996)
Du’a to be recited when visiting the ailing person
لَا بَاْسَ طَھُوْرٌ اِنْ شَآ ءَ اللّٰہُ
Translation: There is nothing to worry about, this illness is a means of purifying from the sins. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, p. 505, Hadith 3616)
Increase in sustenance
یَـا مُسَبِّبَ الْاَسْبَابِ
500 times, with Salat-‘Alan-Nabi eleven times before and eleven times after it, after Salat-ul-‘Isha, whilst facing the Qiblah, in the state of Wudu, and whilst bare-headed in such a place where there is nothing between your head and the sky, even without having a cap on the head. (Madani Panj Surah, p. 231)
Du’a to be recited when visiting the ailing person
لَا بَاْسَ طَھُوْرٌ اِنْ شَآ ءَ اللّٰہُ
Translation: There is nothing to worry about, this illness is a means of purifying from the sins. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, p. 505, Hadith 3616)
Du’a for funeral of adults (man and woman)
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَ مَيِّتِنَا وَ شَاهِدِنَا وَ غَآئِبِنَا وَ صَغِيْرِنَا وَ کَبِيْرِنَا وَ ذَ کَرِنَا وَ اُنْثٰنَا ط اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ اَحْيَيْتَهٗ مِنَّا فَاَحْيِه عَلَی الْاِسْلَامِ ط وَ مَنْ تَوَ فَّيْتَهٗ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهٗ عَلَی الْاِيْمَانِط
Translation: O Allah Almighty! Forgive all of our living ones and all the dead ones, and all those who are present and all those who are not present, and all our young ones and all our elderly ones, and all our men and all our women. O Allah Almighty! Whomever you keep alive from among us, keep him alive in Islam, and whomever of us you make die, make him die with faith. (Sunan-ut-Tirmizi, vol. 2, p. 314, Hadith 1026)
Du’a for funeral of a minor boy
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا فَرَطًا وَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَاۤ اَجْرًا وَّ ذُخْرًا وَّ اجْعَلْهُ لَنَا شَافِعًا وَّ مُشَفَّعًا
Translation: O Allah Almighty! Make this (child) a precursor as a source for our salvation and timely helpful and make him our intercessor, and the one whose intercession is accepted. (Fatawa ‘Aalamgiri, vol. 1, p. 163)
Du’a for funeral of a minor girl
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا فَرَطًا وَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَاۤ اَجْرًا وَّ ذُخْرًا وَّ اجْعَلْهَا لَنَا شَافِعَۃً وَّ مُشَفَّعَۃً ط
Translation: O Allah Almighty! Make this (child) a precursor as a source for our salvation and timely helpful and make her our intercessor, and the one whose intercession is accepted. (Derived from: Fatawa ‘Aalamgiri, vol. 1, p. 164)