{"_id":"668da04f0b76658b4c2333cd","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Is it better make a general Dua' instead of asking something specific?\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"I recently saw someone talking about how it is better to keep one’s Dua short and general rather than very specific. What is the validity of this and is there more information on the subject?\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Dua can be for anything and it can be short or long, general or specific. We should not place restrictions on dua.\\n\\nDua, in its essence, entails beseeching and imploring the One being asked. It inherently demands humility from the one supplicating. This state of humility can only be attained when one recognizes their absolute lack of power and complete dependence on the All-Powerful ﷻ. The act of dua serves as a testament to this realization – the understanding that we are helpless and needy subjects of the Owner and Sustainer of the universe. Nothing occurs without the Will and Power of Allah ﷻ, and no other force can bring about harm or good to us. We acknowledge that we are in need while He ﷻ is free of all needs. Dua encapsulates this profound meaning like no other human act, which is why the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ defined it as the essence of worship.\\n\\nFurthermore, Allah ﷻ has commanded us to supplicate to Him for all our needs. As Allah ﷻ says, \"},{\"insert\":\"\\\"And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed, I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.\\\" \",\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true}},{\"insert\":\"[\"},{\"insert\":\"Quran 2:186\",\"attributes\":{\"link\":\"https://quran.com/en/al-baqarah/186\"}},{\"insert\":\"]\\nImam Abdullah al-Haddad beautifully expresses this state of humility and realization of one's relationship with the Divine in one of his renowned poems:\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\\"My Lord's knowledge has fully sufficed me, No more do I seek or choose.\",\"attributes\":{\"italic\":true}},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"My prayers and supplications, Bear witness to my utter dependence.\",\"attributes\":{\"italic\":true}},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Thus, in times of ease and difficulty, I beseech Him with utmost sincerity.\",\"attributes\":{\"italic\":true}},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"As a humble servant, my pride lies, In embracing my poverty and reliance.\\\"\",\"attributes\":{\"italic\":true}},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Etiquettes of Dua\",\"attributes\":{\"header\":2,\"size\":\"large\",\"bold\":true}},{\"insert\":\"\\n\",\"attributes\":{\"header\":2}},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"This is not an exhaustive list\",\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true}},{\"insert\":\":\\n\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"To abstain from haraam food, clothing and earnings. (Muslim, Tirmidhi)\\nTo make dua with sincerity. In other words, one should firmly believe that nobody but Allah Ta’aala will fulfill his objectives. (Haakim)\\nOne should perform a good deed prior to making the dua & he should mention this during the course of the dua. e.g. He should say, O Allah! I had performed so & so deed solely for Your pleasure. O Allah! accept my dua due to the barkat of that deed. (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).\\nTo make dua while one is pure & clean. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Nasai, Ibn Hibbaan, Mustadrak).\\nTo make wudhu before the dua (All six major hadith collections)\\nTo face the qiblah (All six major hadith collections)\\nTo sit as in the tashahhud position (Abu Awanah)\\nTo praise Allah Ta’aala at the beginning as well as at the end of dua (All six major hadith collections)\\nTo convey durud/salawat upon Rasulullah at the beginning as well as the end. (Abu Dawud, Musnad-Ahmad)\\nTo spread out both the hands. (Tirmidhi, Mustadrak)\\nTo raise both the hands up to the shoulders (Abu Dawud, Musnad-Ahmad)\\nTo sit with humility and respect. (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)\\nTo mention one's helplessness and dependence. (Tirmidhi)\\nTo abstain from raising the eyes towards the sky whilst making dua. (Muslim)\\nTo mention the Asma al-Husnaa (the names of Allah Ta’aala) and the sublime qualities of Allah Ta’aala. (Ibn Hibbaan and Mustadrak)\\nTo make the dua in a soft voice (All six major hadith collections on the authority of Abu Musa)\\nTo give preference to the dua phrases transmitted from the prophet (pbuh) because he didn’t leave out a single need of the deen nor of the dunya whilst teaching us how to make dua (Abu Dawud/Nasai)\\nTo make a dua that encompasses most of the needs of deen and the dunya. (Abu Dawud)\\nTo make dua in favor of oneself first, thereafter one's parents and to include the other Muslims in the dua as well (Muslim)\\nTo make dua with firm conviction (e.g. he should not say: “O Allah! If you wish fulfil so and so task of mine.” (All six major hadith collections)\\nTo make dua with enthusiasm & yearning. (Ibn Hibbn & Abu Awana).\\nAs much as possible, endeavour to bring about a “presence of heart and mind” and have high hope of the dua being accepted. (Haakim)\\nTo make dua earnestly and insistently. (Nasai, Hakim, Abu awanah)\\nTo abstain from making dua of severing family ties or other sins. (Muslim, Tirmidhi)\\nAvoid making dua of pre-determined and fixed things (e.g. woman should not make a dua of being transformed into a man or a tall person shouldn’t make Dua thus: “O Allah! Make me short .” etc) (Nasai).\\nDon’t make dua for rationally and legally impossible things. (Bukhari)\\nDon’t make a dua in which you ask Allah (swt) to confine His mercy to yourself only (Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)\\nAsk only Allah (swt) alone for all your needs. Do not depend upon His creation. (Tirmidhi/Ibn Hibbaan)\\nRub both hands over the face at the end of the dua (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibbaan, Majah, Hakim)\\nDon’t be impatient over the acceptance of dua. In other words, don’t say: “I’ve made dua repeatedly but to no avail.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)\\n\",\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"ordered\"}}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe30b76658b4c232829","tag":"Worship: Dua","count":109},{"_id":"668d9fe30b76658b4c232826","tag":"Worship: Etiquettes","count":79}],"createdOn":"2024-07-09T20:40:47.677Z"}