Class02-Conditions for Duas being accepted
Class 2
‘Conditions for Duas being accepted’
We have already discussed the fact that dua is a type of worship, so it is essential to discuss the pre-conditions that are necessary if one wishes one’s du a to be answered. Just like a person’s salat will not be accepted until he performs the necessary pre-requisites, such as wudu facing the qiblah, and covering the body, likewise a person’s du a will likely not be accepted until these conditions are met.
Ibn al-Qayyim writes, hinting at these factors:
Dua and the seeking of protection from Allah are like weapons, but the sharpness of a weapon is not sufficient for it to cause effect, for the person that handles it also plays a role. So whenever the weapon is a perfect one, having no blemish in it, and the forearm is strong, and there are no preventing factors, then it will cause an effect on the enemy. But if any of these three factors are missing, then the effect will also be lessened. So, if the dua in and of itself is not correct, or the person making the dua has not combined between his heart and tongue in the dua, or if there is a preventing factor, then the desired effect will not occur.
Conditions of Dua being accepted
There are many conditions of du’aa’, including the following:
1. You should call upon no one except Allaah.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “If you ask, then ask of Allaah, and if you seek help, then seek the help of Allaah.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2516; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’.
This is what is meant by the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “And the mosques are for Allaah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allaah” [al-Jinn 72:18]
This is the most important condition of du’aa’, without which no du’aa’ will be accepted and no good deed taken up. There are some people who make du’aa’ to the dead and regard them as intermediaries between them and Allaah. They claim that these righteous people will bring them closer to Allaah and intercede for them with Him, and they claim that their sins are so great that they have no status before Allaah, and that is why they set up these intermediaries and pray to them instead of Allaah. But Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor)” [al-Baqarah 2:186]
2. The Realisation that Only Allah Responds to Dua
This is the essence of one’s faith. A person must believe fully that only Allah is capable of hearing his prayer, and only Allah has the power to grant him what he desires. This is the essence of one’s belief. The Quran mentions this fact in many verses, Allah specifically states:
“Who (else is there) that responds to the call of the one in distress when he calls out, and He removes evil (from him), and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there any other god besides Allah? Little is it that you remember!” (Surah Naml 62)
This is why dua is amongst the greatest form of worship, and, if directed to other than Allah, amongst the greatest form of shirks as well.
3. You should avoid seeking a quick response,
For this is one of the problems that may prevent the du’aa’ from being accepted. In the hadeeth it says: “One of you may be answered so long as he is not hasty and says, ‘I said du’aa’ but I got no response.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6340; Muslim, 2735.
In Saheeh Muslim (2736) it says: “A man’s (du’aa’s) may be answered so long as it does not involve sin or severing the ties of kinship or hastening.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allaah, what does hastening mean?” He said: “When he says, ‘I made du’aa’ and I made du’aa’ but I did not see any response,’ so he gets discouraged and stops making du’aa’.”
Ibn al-Qayyim mentions: “And of the diseases that afflict dua and prevent its response is that a person is hasty in expecting a response, and the response is delayed, so he gives up hope, and leaves dua. His example is like that of a person who planted a seed, or a seedling, then guarded it, and took care of it, and watered it, but when it delayed in (giving its fruit) and reaching perfection, he left it and did not take care for it anymore!’
This does not mean, however, that a person should not pray that his du a be answered quickly, for it has been authentically narrated that the Prophet ﷺ prayed for rain and said: “…quickly, and not delayed…’. (Ibn Majah)
The hastiness that is prohibited is that a person leaves du a, thinking that he will not be responded to. There is no harm in asking Allah to respond to the dud quickly, so understand this difference!
4. Dua for Things that are Halal
In order for the dua to be accepted by Allah, all Glory and Praise be to Him, it is essential that it must be for something pure and good. The du’aa’ should not involve sin or severing of the ties of kinship, as stated the hadith quoted earlier stated that, “The dua of any worshipper will continue to be responed to, as long as he does not ask for a sin or breaking the ties of kinship”, and this clearly shows this aspect. The reason that the sin of breaking ties of kinship is mentioned explicitly is due to its grave nature of that sin, but the same rule applies to all other sins.
5. You should think positively of Allaah.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allaah, may He be exalted, says: ‘I am as My slave thinks I am.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 7405; Muslim, 4675. According to the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah: “Make du’aa’ to Allaah when you are certain of a response.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 245.
Whoever thinks well of his Lord, Allaah will bestow His bounty upon him and give him in abundance.
6. Connect and be focused.
Be aware of the greatness of the One upon Whom you are calling. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Know that Allaah does not answer a du’aa from a distracted heart.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3479; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 245.
We will study about some topics that helps connect in our Duas in next class InShaAllah.
7. Ensuring Halal Sustenance
We need to ensure that our food comes from good (halaal) sources. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” [al-Maa’idah 5:27]
The Prophet ﷺ stated that a response was unlikely for one who eats, drinks and wears haraam things. In the hadeeth it says: The Prophet ﷺ mentioned the man who undertakes a lengthy journey and is disheveled and covered with dust, and he stretches his hands towards heaven saying, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’ when his food is haraam, his drink is haraam, his clothes are haraam. He is nourished with haraam, so how can he be granted a response? Narrated by Muslim, 1015.
So only the one that has taqwa of Allah has a good chance of receiving a response to his du a, and part of that taqwa is that a person earns all his income from permissible means.
Ibn al-Qayyim said: Thus eating haraam things saps the strength of the du’aa’ and weakens it.
Therefore, among the necessary conditions for any du a to be accepted is the purity and lawfulness of one’s food.
8. You should avoid aggression in du’aa’
For Allaah does not like aggression in du’aa’. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors” [al-A’raaf 7:55]
9. The Du’aa’ should not distract you from an obligatory duty
Such as an obligatory prayer that is now due, and you should not neglect parents’ rights on the basis of du’aa’. This is indicated by the story of Jurayj, when he did not answer his mother’s call and turned instead to his prayer. She prayed against him and Allaah tested him sorely.
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The scholars said: This indicates that what he should have done is to answer her, because he was offering a supererogatory (naafil prayer), continuation of which was voluntary, not obligatory, whereas answering his mother and honouring her was obligatory and disobeying her was haraam. Saheeh Muslim bi Sharh al-Nawawi, 16/82.
Likewise, when any obligatory act must be responded to, then dua must be postponed for another time.
10. Seek nearness to Allah only in the ways that are prescribed in sharee’ah.
It is obvious that nearness to Allah is one factor that can enhance the chances of Dua being accepted. And it is this very factor that people tend to go out of the way and go against the rulings of Shariah. For example, some people seek nearness through a saint, some through chants where they sit and chant Allahu Allahu for hours claiming they are getting closer to Allah, etc, these are contradictory to what Islam teaches us. There are ways clearly mentioned in the Quran & Sunnah to seek nearness to Allah, one should learn that and try to implement it.
We list below some of the ways prescribed to seek nearness to Allah: –
- Seeking Nearness through His Word (the Qur’an)
- Abiding by the Laws of Allah
- Sincerely repenting to Allah
- Doing optional acts of Worship
- Voluntary fasting for the pleasure of Allah
- Dua’a (Supplication)
- Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah )
- Follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
- Keeping good company
- Having good manners, character and being kind
- Being Mindful of Allah
Can read details about these in the link of one of our class from our Course “Relation with Allah” : https://www.facebook.com/notes/learn-islam/class-10-ways-to-get-closer-to-allah/1719207124770777/
Note
However, it is possible that a person’s dua is accepted if some of these conditions are not met. The response of a dua depends on the Will of Allah, and He responds to whom He pleases. Therefore, it is possible that the dua of a disbeliever who does not meet any of these condition is responded to, and it is possible that a Muslim who fulfils all of these conditions is not responded to. However, without a doubt, the person who strives to fulfil and put into practice all of these factors will have a much greater chance of having his dua answered.
May Allah give us the Hidayah to be amongst those who are able to fulfil these conditions, and make us amongst those who are pleased with Him and He S.W.T. is pleased with.