The dua, or invocation, is called by the scholars the backbone of worship. From this phrase we understand that the believer's connection with his Lord should be a crucial pillar in the way he practises his religion. In essence, the bond he builds with the One who created him flows from the intensity of his belief in Him. How could one not call for help upon the One in Whom one is convinced of finding our relief ? The One in Whom one believes and of Whose Almightiness and Utmost Compassion one is certain.
How to make dua, and at what moments ? This is what we are going to see, by the permission of Allah azza wa jal.
Meaning and translation of the word dua
Dua has several meanings and several phonetic forms under which it is transcribed. It means as much « to connect to », « to call », « to invoke ». The word in phonetics dua is written in different ways. It is found written with a single « a » (dua), or as here « douaa », when it carries two. The representation of the two « a »s in this Arabic word دعاء seems intended to render in phonetics the hamza at the end. Sometimes, the phonetics accentuates the spelling with a number 3 to mark the sound of the letter Ayn : dou3a.
All these terms mean the same thing : to invoke Allah.
Dua in English
In the English language, the Arabic term دعاء is translated by the common noun « supplication », « invocation ».
Dua safar (Invocation of the traveller)
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. Glory and purity be to the One who has subjected all this to us while we were not capable of mastering it. And it is to our Lord that we shall return. O Allah ! We ask You to grant us on this journey pious goodness, God-fearing, as well as every act that pleases You. O Allah ! Make this journey easy for us and shorten its distance for us. O Allah ! You are our companion on the journey and the guardian over our families.
O Allah ! I seek refuge in You against the hardship of the journey, against any sorrowful sight and against any misfortune that may befall our property and our family upon our return.
Allâhu akbar, Allâhu akbar, Allâhu akbar. Subhan alladhi sakh-khara lanâ hâdhâ wa mâ kunnâ lahu muqrinîn, wa innâ ilâ Rabbinâ la-munqalibûn. Allâhumma innâ nasaluka fî safarinâ hâdha-l-birra wa-t-taqwâ, wa min al-'amali mâ tardâ. Allâhumma hawwin 'alayna safaranâ hâdhâ, wa twi 'annâ bu'dah. Allâhumma anta-s-sâhibu fi-s-safar, wa-l-khalîfatu fi-l-ahl. Allâhumma innî a'ûdhu bika min wa'thâi-s-safar, wa kaâbati-l-mandhar, wa sûi-l-munqalabi fi-l-mâli wa-l-ahl.
Dua sabah (Invocation of the morning)
Here we are in the morning and the Sovereignty belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Universe. O Allah ! I ask You for the good of this day: what it contains of conquests, victories, light, blessing and guidance. I seek refuge in You against the evil it contains and the evil that comes after it.
Asbahnâ wa asbaha-l-mulku li-llâhi Rabbi-l-'âlamîn. Allâhumma innî asaluka khayra hâdha-l-yawmi : fat-hahu, wa nasrahu, wa nûrahu, wa barakatahu, wa hudâh. Wa a'ûdhu bika min sharri mâ fîhi wa sharri mâ ba'dah.
Dua massa (invocations at the end of the day)
O Lord ! It is by You that we find ourselves in the evening and it is by You that we find ourselves in the morning. It is by You that we live and it is by You that we die and it is to You that the return will be.
Allahumma bika amsayna wa a bika asbaHna, wa bika naHya wa bika namutu, wa ilayka l-maseer
Dua of the evening
One of the duas before sleeping is this one :
« It is in Your name, O Allah, that I die and that I live. »
Bi-smika-llâhoumma amûtu wa ahyâ.
Dua of the oppressed
The invocation of the oppressed is unique and particular to each person. According to several books of prophetic Traditions, the call to Allah from the one who has suffered an injustice is to be feared. Let no one do wrong to another, whether that person be Muslim or not, for his dua as an oppressed person will not be refused by the Supreme Holder of Justice.
"…And fear the invocation of the oppressed, for there is no veil between it and Allah."
Reported by Bukhari, Muslim and others.
Dua for making things easy
Dua for an examination or for any other request that one wishes to see made easy :
"O Allah, nothing is easy except what You have made easy, and You are the One who, according to Your will, makes sorrow easy"
Allâhoumma La Sahla illa ma ja'altahu sahlan wa anta taj'all al hazan idha chitta sahlan
Dua of marriage
The invocation for someone who is getting married :
May Allah bless you, may He place blessing upon you and may He bring you both together in good.
Baraka Allahou Laka Wa Baraka 'Alayka Wa Jama'a Baynakouma Fi kheyr
The invocation to get married drawn from the dua of the prophet Musa, peace be upon him, in verse 24 of surah 28 :
"Lord, I am in great need of whatever good You may send down to me !"
Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayran faqir.
Dua of jumu'ah
There are two times during the day of Friday in which invocations are answered (dua mustajab) :
- From the moment the imam ascends the minbar until the end of the Friday prayer. Let the believer answer « amin » at the end of the imam's duas but let him not speak during the khutbah (the sermon).
- From the 'asr prayer until the end of the maghrib prayer
Believers are free to make their duas by taking invocations drawn from the Holy Quran or from the Sunnah. The prayers upon the prophet Muhammad, salla Lah 3alayhi wa salam, are to be multiplied on this day.
Dua of rain
When one sees rain, one invokes thus so that it may be a rain beneficial to all :
« O Allah, may it be a beneficial rain. »
Allâhoumma sayyiban nâfi'an.
Dua for asking for rain (dua al istisqa)
O Lord ! Grant us at once, without delay, a beneficial, useful, fertile rain, full of profit and without any harm.
Allâhumma sqinâ ghaytan mughîthan, marî'an, murîcan, nâfican ghayra dârrin, câjilan ghayra âjilin.
Dua of death
O Allah ! Forgive me and him and grant me after him a good thing.
Allahoumma Ghfirli Wa Lahou Wa A'qibni Minhou 'Ouqba Hasana
Dua rizq (invocation for sustenance)
« Lord, I ask You for useful knowledge, lawful sustenance and accepted deeds ».
-Allahoumma inni as-alouka 'ilman nafi'an wa rizqan tayyiban wa 'amalan mutaqabbalan
Dua after the prayer
The asking for forgiveness three times followed by a list of duas to recite, including these :
« O Lord ! You are Peace and peace comes from You. Blessed be You, O Worthy of glorification and magnificence. There is no deity [worthy of worship] but Allah, Alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion, to Him belongs the praise and He is Capable of all things. O Lord ! No one can withhold what You have given and no one can give what You have withheld. The fortunate one finds in his fortune no effective protection against You. There is no power nor strength except in Allah. There is no deity [worthy of worship] but Allah and we worship none but Him; grace and generosity are His. To Him go the finest formulas of praise. There is no deity [worthy of worship] but Allah. We devote to Him an exclusive worship despite the hatred of the disbelievers.»
" Allâhumma Antas-Salâm wa Minkas-Salâm Tabârakta Yâ Dhâl-Jalâl wal-Ikrâm. Lâ Ilâha Ill-Allâh Wahdahu lâ Sharîka Lah. Lahul-Mulk wa Lahul-Hamd wa Huwa calâ Kulli Shay'in Qadîr. Allâhumma lâ Mânira limâ Artayt wa lâ Murtiya limâ Manart wa lâ yanfarou dhâl-Jaddi Minkal-Jadd. Lâ Huwla wa lâ Quwwata illâ billâh. Lâ Ilâha ill-Allâh wa lâ Narbudu illâ Iyyâh. Lahu Nirmatu wa Lahul-Fadhlu wa lahu-Thanâ'ul-Hassan. Lâ Ilâha ill-Allâhu Mukhlisîna lahu-Dîn wa law Karihal-Kâfirûn "