The sacred month of Ramadan is a special time for fulfilling our duties to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It is also the best time to perform extra worship in addition to obligatory prayers. The month is full of innumerable blessings. Praying on a single special night, Laylat-ul-Qadr, for example, is equivalent to praying for thousands of months, and this night occurs once a year during Ramadan.
As a result, daily worship in Ramadan is even more important than all the other months combined. One type of worship that any individual can easily perform is dua, or supplication, which holds immense importance in Islam.
Prerequisites for Dua
Dua is a unique form of worship. Unlike any other kind of worship, there are no prerequisites. There are no particular words or verses that one needs to recite. There is no fixed order or amount for supplication. Supplication is personal and can be customized to one’s needs.
The beauty of supplication is while we are pleading to and requesting Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) upon us, it is still a form of worship. By supplicating to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), we are embodying the verse of Surah al-Fatiha that goes:
“You alone we worship, and to You alone turn for help.” [1:5]
Supplication to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the acknowledgement of His Might and Power. We must surrender ourselves completely and accept our powerlessness and insignificance in front of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Pure intentions and a devout heart are the only requirements for dua.
Some supplications should be offered at specific times, such as when this dua is recited while breaking the fast. However, it is not obligatory. Even if we do not recite the supplication for establishing and breaking a fast, this does not make the fast null and void. It is just a way of gathering as many of Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as possible.
Anyone can offer supplication at any time of the day and in any condition. There is no prerequisite for performing ablution or being in a state of cleanliness. This is why even women who are menstruating can do dikhr and dua. Supplication can also be done by children and those who are physically too weak or crippled to perform salah. Dua can be made silently in the heart because, as Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) says in the Holy Quran:
“Whether you say a thing secretly or openly, He knows the innermost secrets of your hearts.” [67:13]
It is necessary to examine how developing a habit of daily dua, starting in Ramadan, can bring a change in your life for the better.
The Transformative Effect of Habitual Supplication
Adopting a new habit or breaking an old one can significantly impact our lives. Some habitual behaviors can transform us completely. One such habit is that of supplicating to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) daily, multiple times a day. Here is why dua has such a deep effect on us:
· Dua Establishes a Personal Connection with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)
Supplication is personal. The content of dua and how it is offered varies from person to person and changes according to the needs of the supplicatory. This makes dua a deeply personal and spiritual form of worship. It allows us to become undone and vulnerable in front of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
Dua necessitates that it is straight from the heart. We are directly asking Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for His help and blessings. Supplication can be made in any language, further highlighting the personal nature of the connection we can form with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) because salah is offered in Arabic which is not a language that is intelligible to many Muslims around the world.
· It is a Source of Spiritual Strength
While we submit ourselves to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) completely while supplicating, the act strengthens us spiritually. Begging, pleading, and growling in front of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) reinforces the belief that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the All-Powerful (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) the All-Mighty (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). There is no higher power over Him nor anyone worthy of worship as He is.
Dua is the manifestation of our trust and belief in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Any problem, challenge, or desire we may have, we can ask Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Supplication in that way reaffirms our faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His Oneness, the basis of belief in Islam.
· Dua Provides Hope
Dua allows us to leave everything to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It unburdens us and removes anxiety. Supplicating to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) gives us hope. Requesting help from the All-Mighty (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) comforts us. Dua gives us a peace of mind.
Supplication also teaches us to remain patient even in the most trying times. This is because while we cannot be sure when our difficulties will be over, we can at least be sure of one thing: our supplications to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) are never in wane. Even if a dua goes seemingly unanswered, we will be rewarded for turning towards Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) in our times of need in the Hereafter.
· Encourages us to Remain Steadfast in our Prayers
As dua strengthens us spiritually and gives us hope, this further encourages us to submit to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and serve Him. Supplication, in turn, motivates us to remain on the path to belief and make us steadfast in our prayers.
Prayer and supplication are intertwined. Any kind of prayer reminds us to supplicate. On the other hand, as supplication involves requesting Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) favor, it encourages us to gain His favor by becoming regular and diligent in our prayers.
· Dua can Alter Destiny
According to an authentic hadith of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ), the only way we can change Divine Decree, or Qadr, is through dua. The tradition, as narrated by Hazrat Salman (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), records the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) saying:
“Nothing turns back the Decree except supplication, and nothing increases the life-span except righteousness.” [Jami at-Tirmidhi, Vol. 4, Book 6, Hadith 2139]
This proves that dua can alter what has been destined. It is such a powerful form of worship that it can bring about a spiritual change in us and change the course of our lives.
Making Dua Habitual During Ramadan
Ramadan is the perfect time to change our habits. During the month, we alter the normal course of our life completely. Fasting does not just involve refraining from food and drink from dawn till dusk. Sawm is about elevated spirituality and belief.
It is much easier to focus on worship and connecting with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) in such a spiritually charged environment. Ramadan creates circumstances conducive to strengthening our faith. That is the beauty of this month. Ramadan is truly a blessing from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), a blessing that we must make the most of.