when is du'aa accepted?

Question: What are the times when du'aa are accepted during Ramadaan? What specific du'aa should you say during the different parts of Ramadaan and on Laylatul-Qadr or the last 10 days of Ramadaan?

Answer: Wallaahi, the first issue: the times of du’aa are mentioned, they are:

* between the Adhaan and the Iqaamah, in Ramadaan or other than Ramadaan between the Adhaan and Iqaamah there is du’aa mustajaab.
* On Friday when the Imaam climbs the minbar – at the time he climbs the Minbar, that is the time for du’aa mustajaab.
* In the last third of the night there is du’aa mustajaab.
* For the person who is fasting, his whole day is a time of du’aa mustajaab.
* The time of breaking the fast is a time of du’aa mustajaab.
* When the rain is falling it is a time of du’aa mustajaab.
* And du’aa is good at any time and that’s why Allaah تعالى said:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي

{And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) 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). So let them obey Me and believe in Me…} [Al-Baqarah 2:186]

So Allaah تعالى is telling us that He is closer to us and He wants us to make much du’aa, supplicating to Him. So du’aa is at any time, but there are times which are better than the others and which I mentioned, but this doesn’t mean that we don’t make du’aa at other times. No! We have to do it all the time; we have to keep in contact with Allaah all the time.

What is the best du’aa? The best du’aa is what has been mentioned in the Qur’aan and what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say. There is a book called Ar-Ruqaa ad-Du’aa or Ar-Ruqaa fil Kitaabi was-Sunnah by Shaykh Sa’eed ibn Wahf al-Qahtaanee. He gathered all the du’aa from the Qur’aan and from the authentic Sunnah, so I advise brothers and sisters to get that if it is translated, or they can read it directly from the text (Arabic).

And the best du’aa is what Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to say between the Rukn Yamaani and Hajr Aswad (i.e. between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone during tawaaf of the Ka’bah) :


رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
{…Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!}
[Surah al-Baqarah 2:201]

And what he صلى الله عليه وسلم taught ‘Aishah to say in Laylatul-Qadr :

اللَّهُمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
“O Allaah You are One who forgives and You love forgiveness so forgive me.”[1]

And what he taught her to say on ‘Arafah [2]:

لاَ إلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ, لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ, يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ, وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِير
And the du’aa for your parents:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ
{My Lord! Forgive me, and my parents…} [Nooh 71:28]

This is if they die as Muslims, but if they died as kuffar (disbelievers), you don’t seek forgiveness for them but you seek (forgiveness) for yourself and for your children as Allaah تعالى said in Surah al-Furqaan:

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
{…Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of the Muttaqûn} [al-Furqaan 25:74]

It is better to ask Allaah تعالى what Allaah commanded his Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to ask Him as Allaah تعالى said to him:

وَقُلْ رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
{… and say: "My Lord! Increase me in knowledge." } [Taa-Haa 20:114]

This is the only place where Allaah commanded the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to ask Him for something, and He told Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to ask Him formore Knowledge. So ask Allaah for more knowledge and Allaah تعالى will guide you. The best is also what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to do in the night prayer:

[3] اللهم رب جبرائيل وميكائيل...


Also:
[4] يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك

And the like. Wallaahu A’lam.


Answered by: Shaykh Muhammad al-Maliki

Title of Lecture: Ramadaan 1427 = 2006

Date of the Lecture: Saturday, October 14th, 2006

Listen to Lecture: Click Here

Read the Transcribed Lecture: Click Here

[1] Reported by Ahmed, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa`ee and Ibn Maajah and authenticated by Imaam At-Tirmidhi and Haakim. Shaykh al-Albaani رحمه اللهsays Saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaami` (#4423).

[2] With the following wording, Shaykh al-Albaani رحمه الله says Hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami` (#3274).

خير الدعاء يوم عرفة وخير ما قلت أنا والنبيون من قبلي لا إلهإلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير

[3] Reported with the following wording in Saheeh Muslim Kitaab Salaah al-Musaafireen wa Qasruhaa (#770).

اللَّهمَّ رَبِّ جَبْرَائِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ،فَاطِرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، أَنْتَتَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فيه يَخْتَلِفُونَ، اهْدِنِي لِمَااخْتُلِفَ فيه مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ، إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَىصِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ


[4] Shaykh al-Albaani رحمهالله says Saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaami` (#7987).

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why is my du'aa not answered?

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

Al-Istiqaamah
Rabee'ul-Awwal 1417H / August 1996CE

Issue No.3

WHY IS MY DU'AA NOT ANSWERED?

By the noble Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymain 1
[Q]: Allaah says: "And your Lord says: Call upon Me and I respond to your supplication." [Soorah Ghaafir 40:60]. So why is it that when a person's du'aa (supplication) is sometimes un-answered?

[A]: "All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the worlds. May the salaah and salaam (Allaah's blessings of peace) be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family and his Companions. I ask Allaah for the ability to be correct in belief, speech and actions, for myself and for my brothers.

Allaah says: "And your Lord says: Call upon Me and I will respond to your supplication. Verily those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Hell in humiliation." [Soorah Ghaafir 40:60] The questioner stated that he did indeed make du'aa (supplication) to Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic - but it was not answered by Allaah. So he is in doubt with respect to this noble aayah (verse), in which Allaah promises to answer the one who supplicates to Him, and indeed Allaah - the Most Perfect - never breaks His promise.

So the clarification of this is: that there are certain conditions that need to be fulfilled in order for a supplication to be answered. These conditions are:-

Firstly: Sincerity to Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic. That is to say, one must be sincere in his du'aa (supplication), so he turns to Allaah - the One free of all imperfections - with an attentive heart, being truthful in his turning to Him, knowing that Allaah - the Most Perfect, the Most High - is capable of answering his du'aa (supplication) and hoping that the du'aa will be answered.

Secondly: During du'aa, the caller should feel that he is need to Allaah - the Most Perfect, the Most High - in fact in dire need; and that only Allaah alone answers the supplication of the one in distress and the One who removes evil.

Thirdly: That the one making du'aa should refrain from haraam (unlawful) matters, as this acts as a barrier between the person and his du'aa (supplication) being answered - as has been established in the authentic hadeeth, from the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam who said: "Indeed Allaah - the Most High - is good and accepts only that which is good. Allaah has ordered the Believers to do that which He commanded the Messengers. Allaah - the Most High - has said: "O you Messengers! Eat of the good things and do righteous actions." [Soorah al-Mu'min 23:51]. And He - the Most High - says: "O you who Believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:172] Then he mentioned (the case of) a man who, having journeyed far is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky (saying): O Lord! O Lord! - whilst his food is unlawful, his drink unlawful and he is nourished unlawfully. So how can he be answered!" 2

So the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam explained the unlikelihood that this person's du'aa would be answered, even after fulfilling the apparent factors which aid the du'aa being answered. The apparent factors being:-

[i]: Raising ones' hands towards the sky, meaning towards Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic - since Allaah is above the heavens, above His 'Arsh (Throne). Extending the hands out towards Allaah - the Might and Majestic - is amongst the causes of du'aa being responded to, as is shown in the narration from the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam that he said: "Indeed your Lord is Alive, Most generous. He feels shy that when His servant raises his hands towards Him, calling upon Him, that He should rebuff him empty, having nothing." 3

[ii]: This man called upon Allaah - the Most High - using the name Rabb (Lord). Seeking tawassul (the means of nearness to Allaah) with this name is also regarded as one of the causes for du'aa to be responded to, since the Rabb is the Creator, the Owner, the Governer of all affairs - and the reigns of the Heavens and the earth are in His Hands. Due to this, you will find that most of the supplications made in the noble Qur'aan are by this name: "Our Lord! We have heard the call of one calling us to faith: 'Believe you in the Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, and remit from us our evil deeds, and take to Yourself our souls in the company of the righteous. Our Lord! Grant Us what You did promise unto us through Your Messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Judgment, for You never break Your promise. And their Lord has accepted of them, and answered them: Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, whether male or female." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:193-195]. So tawassul (seeking the means to nearness of Allaah) by this name is one of the causes for the du'aa to be responded to.

[iii]: This man was a traveler, and journeying is often a cause of du'aa to be responded to, because a person feels more in need of Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic - when traveling, than when a person is resident with his family. He was dusty and disheveled, seeming very insignificant in himself, as if the most important thing to him was to implore Allaah and to call upon Him - in any condition he may be - whether dusty and disheveled, or in ease and opulence. Being dusty and disheveled is also instrumental, like in the hadeeth attributed to the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam in which he said: "Indeed Allaah boasts to the people of the Heaven about the people standing at 'Arafah, saying: Look at My servants who have come to Me dusty and disheveled." 4

However, these factors did not bring about anything, because his food, his nourishment and his clothing were all haraam (unlawful). So the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam remarked: "So how can he be answered!"

Therefore, if these conditions are not satisfied, then the question concerning the du'aa being answered will seem distant. However, if the conditions are satisfied and the one supplicating is still not answered, then this is due to a wisdom which Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic - knows, and the one supplicating does not know what this wisdom is; and maybe that you like a a thing and it is bad for you.

So when these conditions are fulfilled and the one supplicating is not answered, then either he has been protected from an evil which is greater than what he asked for, or Allaah stores it for him until the Day of Resurrection, and he then gets a greater reward. This is so, because the one who makes the du'aa - calling upon Allaah alone, fulfilling the conditions and not being answered, but rather being saved from a greater evil - is in the position of having carried out the causes yet has been prevented from being answered, and therefore has a two-fold reward. One reward for making du'aa (supplication), and another reward for bearing the trial of not being answered. So that which is greater and more complete is stored for him with Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic.

Also of importance is that the one supplicating should not express dissatisfaction if his du'aa is apparently not being answered, for this action in itself is a reason for the du'aa not being answered - as the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "A servants du'aa continues to be answered as long as he does not ask for anything sinful or breaking the ties of relations, and as long as he does not become impatient." It was said: How does one become impatient O Messenger of Allaah? He said: "He says: I have supplicated, I have supplicated, yet it has not been answered. He therefore becomes despondent and abandons supplicating." So it is not befitting that the one supplicating should become impatient about being answered, then become disappointed and despondent, and thereby abandon making du'aa. Rather, one should call upon Allaah, since every du'aa you make to Allaah is an act of worship, which brings you closer to Him and increases your reward.

So my brother, you should take to making du'aa (supplication) in all affairs, be it general or specific, in difficulty or in ease. And if it was that supplication was only a means of worshipping Allaah - the One free from all imperfections, the Most High - then that would be sufficient. So it more befitting that a person strives in this - and with Allaah lies the success and the ability.

1. Majmoo' Fataawaa war-Rasaa'il (no.155).
2. Related by Muslim in his Saheeh (no.1015) from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu 'anhu.
3. Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (5/438) and Abu Daawood (no.1488). It was authenticated by al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar in Fathul-Baaree (11/143).
4. Saheeh: Related by Ibn Hibbaan (no.1006), from 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr radiallaahu 'anhu. It was authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami' (no.1868).
5. Related by al-Bukhaaree (11/140) and Muslim (no.2735), from Abu Hurayrah radiallaahu 'anhu.

reciting du'aa in Fard Salah

17. Question: I was told that in the fard (compulsory) salaah it is only permissible to say ‘Subhaana rabbi al-a'alaa’ three times and not to read other du’aas. Can we read whatever du’aas we want during sujood in the fard salaah?

Answer: In the sujood we say ‘Subhaana rabbi al-a'alaa’ (سبحان ربي الأعلى – How perfect my Lord is, The Most High.). We have to say it once and if we say it three times it is Sunnah, but if we say it ten times it is better. It is also different if you are praying as an Imaam where you should take care of the people following you – you shouldn’t make it too long for them; and if you are praying alone then you can say more of ‘Subhaana rabbi al-a'alaa’. And saying this ‘Subhaana rabbi al-a'alaa’ is waajib (obligatory), or ‘Subhaana rabbi al-a'alaa wa bihamdihi’. It is waajib and you have to say this in sujood; if you don’t say it in sujood then you make the sujood as-sahu (prostration of forgetfulness) for not saying it.

Some of the scholars say that you are permitted to say only this in the fard (salaah), but many others, who are correct, say it is allowed to say other things because it has been narrated that the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم said in his ruku’ and sujood:

سُبْحَانَكَ اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَ بِحَمْدِكَ اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Subhaanaka Allaahumma Rabbanaa wa bihamdika Allaahummaghfirlee
‘How perfect You are O Allaah, our Lord, and praised. O Allaah, forgive me.’ [31]

And, he صلى الله عليه و سلم said to Muadh رضي الله عنه “when you put your face in sujood say Allaahumma ainni ala shukrika wa husni ibaadatik.”[32] And the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم also said “in the sujood try to make as much du’aa as you can.”[33] It is a place that Allaah سبحانه و تعالى will accept it from you, so make du’aa in it.[34] So in the fard salaah you can make du’aa, but it is better to make the du’aa that are narrated like Subhaanaka Allaahumma Rabbanaa wa bihamdika Allaahummaghfirlee[31], “Allaahumma ainni ala shukrika wa dhikrika wa husni ibaadatik”[32] or any other du’aa that are narrated, and also any other du’aa that you want to say. But don’t make your du’aa in the fard prayer for things in this dunyaa; but in the non-fard prayer you can. For example, in the fard prayer it is better not to say “give me money”, “give me a good wife”, “give me a house”, “give me this…” but it is better to ask for things in the hereafter. Wallaahu A’lam.

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