FRIDAY SERMON: Du‘a – A Divine Doorway To Seek Relief, Guidance And Success From Allah
Let us revive Du‘a in our homes, hearts, mosques, gatherings, and daily lives—so that Allah may revive His mercy upon the entire Muslim Ummah.
Muhammad Younis Bhat (Zahid)
Du‘a is one of the most powerful spiritual tools granted by Allah to humankind. It is the essence of worship, the weapon of the believer, the link between the servant and his Creator, and the key to the treasures of divine mercy. A Muslim may face countless difficulties, sufferings, failures, and emotional burdens throughout life, but Du‘a serves as a divine doorway through which every heart may seek relief, guidance, and success from Allah. The Holy Qur’an repeatedly emphasizes the significance of Du‘a, reminding believers that Allah is close to them, listening to their prayers, and responding in the best manner.
1. Definition of Du‘a
Du‘a, in its simplest definition, means to call upon Allah, to request His help, mercy, forgiveness, and guidance. It is an expression of absolute dependence on the Creator. Linguistically, Du‘a means to invoke, to request, to call. Islamically, Du‘a refers to the heartfelt communication between a servant and his Lord.
The Qur’an states:
“And your Lord says: Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” (Qur’an 40:60)
This verse encapsulates the generosity of Allah—He commands the believers to ask, and He promises to answer.
2. The Virtues of Du‘a (دُعا کے فضائل)
Du‘a is not merely a request; it is an act of worship and a sign of strong faith. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Du‘a is the essence of worship.” (Tirmidhi)
Du‘a reflects a believer’s humility and total reliance upon Allah. It brings peace to the heart, increases faith, removes hardships, and opens doors of divine blessings. No worship is more beloved to Allah than the supplication of His servant who raises his hands with sincerity, knowing that none besides Allah can fulfill his needs.
Du‘a strengthens the bond of servitude between man and his Creator. It is the spiritual oxygen that nourishes the soul. When a Muslim makes Du‘a, angels surround him, mercy covers him, and Allah listens to him more lovingly than a mother listening to her child. Du‘a has the power to change destiny, avert calamities, increase sustenance, ease grief, heal diseases, solve problems, and transform darkness into light.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Nothing repels destiny except Du‘a.” (Ibn Majah)
Thus Du‘a is not a small act; it is the heartbeat of Iman.
3. Etiquettes and Conditions of Du‘a (آداب اور شرائط)
Islam teaches specific etiquettes that beautify Du‘a and increase the chances of acceptance:
Etiquettes:
Begin with praise of Allah and Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ
Face the Qiblah
Raise the hands with humility
Ask with a sincere and present heart
Repeat the Du‘a three times
Use beautiful words and humility
Admit one’s weakness and Allah’s power
Cry if possible, or soften the heart
End with Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ
Conditions:
Halal earnings and a pure heart
Avoiding sins
Firm belief that Allah will answer
Patience and persistence
Trust in Allah’s wisdom and timing
4. Times When Du‘a Is Accepted
Islam mentions many blessed times in which Du‘a is quickly accepted:
Last third of the night
Between Adhan and Iqamah
At the time of rainfall
On Fridays, especially the final hour before Maghrib
While fasting and at the time of breaking the fast
During Sujood (prostration)
On the Day of Arafah
While travelling
When oppressed or wronged
These moments are filled with divine mercy, and believers should use them wisely.
5. Places Where Du‘a Is Accepted
Certain places carry special blessings:
Inside the Masjid Al-Haram
In front of the Ka‘bah
At Multazam
At Maqam Ibrahim
Inside the Prophet’s Mosque
At Raudah (between the Prophet’s tomb and pulpit)
On the plains of Arafah
At Muzdalifah and Mina
These places hold spiritual energy, and Du‘a made there rarely remains unanswered.
6. People Whose Du‘a Is Accepted
The Prophet ﷺ mentioned specific individuals whose Du‘a is never rejected:
Parents for their children
The oppressed
A just ruler
A traveller
Fasting person until he breaks his fast
The sincere believer who prays alone
A person helping another Muslim
A sick person making Du‘a for others
These individuals carry spiritual purity and sincerity.
7. Du‘a and Destiny
The relationship between Du‘a and destiny is a deep concept. Destiny is real, yet Du‘a can change what is written. Allah, in His infinite knowledge, writes destiny but allows Du‘a to alter outcomes.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Nothing changes destiny except Du‘a.”
Thus Du‘a is a powerful spiritual weapon that moves the heavens.
8. Barriers That Prevent Du‘a From Being Accepted
Some actions block the acceptance of Du‘a:
Consuming haram food
Unjust earnings
Persistent sin
Arrogance and lack of humility
Neglecting obligatory prayers
Hurting parents
Harboring malice or envy
Cutting ties of kinship
A clean heart attracts divine mercy, while sins create spiritual distance.
9. The Social and Spiritual Importance of Du‘a
Du‘a is not only personal—it has collective importance:
It brings peace within families
It spreads mercy among communities
It protects the Ummah from calamities
It strengthens unity
It increases patience, gratitude, and emotional strength
It builds a spiritually healthy society connected to Allah
Du‘a is the heartbeat of a nation.
10. Bad Du‘a — A Necessary Warning
While discussing the virtues of Du‘a, it is essential to warn the Ummah about the danger of Bad Du‘a—supplicating harm, loss, or destruction for innocent people, relatives, neighbours, or even one’s own children. The Prophet ﷺ strongly prohibited such behavior. He said:
“Do not make Du‘a against yourselves, nor against your children, nor your wealth, lest it coincides with an hour in which Allah grants all supplications.” (Sahih Muslim)
Bad Du‘a destroys blessings, breaks relationships, and invites divine displeasure. A believer’s tongue must spread peace, mercy, and goodness—not curses or hatred.
Conclusion
Du‘a is not simply an act of the tongue; it is a heartfelt surrender. It is the believer’s shield, his comfort, his weapon, his strength, and his means of connecting with the Creator of the heavens and the earth. A Muslim must never underestimate the power of Du‘a. When the world rejects you, Du‘a opens doors. When hearts break, Du‘a heals them. When destiny seems dark, Du‘a brings light.
A nation that holds fast to Du‘a can never be spiritually weak. Let us revive Du‘a in our homes, hearts, mosques, gatherings, and daily lives—so that Allah may revive His mercy upon the entire Muslim Ummah.
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