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01- Du'a explained:

The pre-conditions

In Islam there are nine pre-conditions that need to be present in order for a du'a to be accepted.

 

• Only God responds

This first pre-condition can be supported by the following verse in the Quran.

 

Or, Who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and Who relieves its suffering, and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Little it is that ye heed!

— Quran, sura 27 (An-Naml), ayah 62

 

Muhammad said:

When you ask (for anything), ask it from Allah, and if you seek help, seek help from Allah.

—narrated by Muhammad ibn `Isa at-Tirmidhi

 

Abu Hurayrah reported Muhammad as saying:

"Make Dua to Allah when you are certain of a response."

—narrated by Muhammad ibn `Isa at-Tirmidhi

 

• Sincerity

This is basically summed up in one sentence: in Islam a Muslim prays to God alone. This can be supported by several verses in the Quran.

 

"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah;

—Quran, sura 72 (Al-Jinn), ayah 18

 

Say: "Think ye to yourselves, if there come upon you the wrath of Allah, or the Hour (that ye dread), would ye then call upon other than Allah?- (reply) if ye are truthful!

—Quran, sura 6 (Al-An'am), ayah 40

 

Verily those whom ye call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you: Call upon them, and let them listen to your prayer, if ye are (indeed) truthful!

—Quran, sura 7 (Al-A'raf), ayah 194

 

"But those ye call upon besides Him, are unable to help you, and indeed to help themselves."

—Quran, sura 7 (Al-A'raf), ayah 197

 

• Tawassul

The term tawassul means the seeking of God's help and response through something beloved to Him. There are many ways of performing tawassul, as mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah, one may make mention of the names and attributes of God or a good deed one has done, a blessed time such as Ramadan. One could also ask someone alive to make du'a to God on one's behalf.

 

• Patience

In Islam, to be hasty in du'a is said to be a cause of rejection of du'a. The concept of hastiness is described in the following hadith.

 

It was asked, "O Messenger of God?...What does it mean to be hasty?" Prophet Muhammad responded "A worshipper says, 'I have prayed and prayed , and I don't yet see that it will be accepted; so he gives up hope of being answered, and leaves du'a'.

—Hadith narrated by Muslim from Abu Hurayrah, as mentioned in sahih al-Jami #7705

 

Basically this means that a person makes du'a and it does not get answered right away so a person gives up and stops asking for it. The type of hastiness that is forbidden in Islam is that a person leaves du'a, thinking that God will not respond to it. In Islam, Muslims are instructed not to give up du'a because they do not see a response immediately. This can be supported by verses in the Quran and Hadiths.

 

To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even those who are in His (very) Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they (ever) weary (of His service):

—Quran, sura 21 (Al-Anbiya), ayah 19

 

Muhammad is reported to have said:

"You will be responded to as long as you are not hasty (meaning that you give up du'a)"

—Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and others, from abu Hurayrah, as mentioned in sahih al-Jami #8085

 

The word hasty is used because it means that a person is hasty in expecting a response.

 

• Purity

In Islam, in order for a person's du'a to be accepted by God, it must be for something pure and good.

 

• Good intentions

In Islam it is imperative that a person making du'a have the best of intentions for whatever he or she is asking. An example would be if someone asks for an increase in wealth, they should intend with that increase in wealth to spend more on the poor and on their relatives.

 

• Attentive heart

Muhammad is reported to have said,

"Make du'a to God in a state that you are certain that your du'a will be responded to, and know that God does not respond to a du'a that originates from a negligent, inattentive heart"

—Hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim from Abu-Hurayrah and authenticated by al-Albani in sahih al-Jami

 

According to this hadith, a Muslim is instructed to make du'a with a mindful heart. A Muslim should be aware of what he is saying and should believe in his or her heart that their du'a will be responded to by God.

 

• Sustenance

It states in the Quran in sura Al-Baqara Verse 200:

So when ye have accomplished your holy rites, celebrate the praises of Allah, as ye used to celebrate the praises of your fathers,- yea, with far more Heart and soul. There are men who say: "Our Lord! Give us (Thy bounties) in this world!" but they will have no portion in the Hereafter.

—Quran, sura 2 (Al-Baqara), ayah 200

 

Again and moreover Muhammad is reported to have said,

"O People! God is al-Tayyib (pure), and He only accepts that which is pure! God has commanded the Messengers, for He said, 'O Messengers! Eat from the pure foods, and do right.' Furthermore he said, 'O you who believe! Eat from the pure and good foods we have given you.' Then Prophet Hazrat Muhammad mentioned a traveller on a long journey, who is dishevelled and dusty, and he stretches forth his hands to the sky, saying, 'O my Lord! O my Lord!', While his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully; how can he be answered?"

—Hadith reported by Ahmad, Muslim, and al-Tirmidhi from Abu Hurayrah, as mentioned in sahih al-Jami #2744

 

The Hadith above describes a man who earned his money by cheating other people. His money was impure so therefore everything he purchased with his money became impure. His clothes, drink, and food were all purchased with that money which was considered impure, so his clothes, drink and food were all considered impure. According to the above hadith, in Islam a person's du'a will not be accepted by God if he earns unlawful money.

 

The hadith also stresses that according to Islam, anyone who eats impure foods, such as pork, will have his or her du'a rejected by God.

 

• Non-interference

In Islam there is no specific time of day to which making du'a is restricted. In Islam, if something more important comes up than du'a, then that takes precedence. What is more important than du'a is defined by the Quran and Sunnah. Some examples include the call to prayer. If the adhan is called, in Islam one must respond to it. Another example is if a person is making du'a, and his or her parents call him or her for assistance, then responding to his or her parents takes precedence over du'a. This means a person must stop making du'a when he or she hears the adhan or the parents calling him or her, to respond. In Islam, the rights of the parents are great and are emphasized greatly in the Quran and Hadiths.