How to make Dua: Tip #11

An attentive heart should be present during all forms of worship, especially in Dua and Salaah, in which you are requesting an audience with Allah.

The whole point of dua is that a person call out with a sincere heart to his Creator. This sincerity cannot be achieved if one calls out heedlessly, without earnestness. The Prophet said: “Make dua to Allah in a state that you are certain that your dua will be responded to, and know that Allah does not respond to a dua that originates from a negligent, inattentive heart”. [Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim from Abu Hurayrah, Sahih al-Jami #245]

This shows that Dua must be made with a mindful heart, such that one knows exactly what one is asking for, and remembers who he is asking, for he is asking the Lord of Honour. It does not befit, therefore, a servant to ask his Lord in a neglectful manner, such that he is not even aware of what he is saying, or using memorised sentences that he repeats over and over again without understanding these phrases and appreciating their meanings.

Imam Ahmad reports from Abdullah ibn Umar that the Prophet said: “Hearts are like vessels, some have greater capacity than others. Therefore, O people, when you ask from Allah, all Glory and Praise be to Him, ask from Him in a state in which you are certain that your prayers will be answered, for verily Allah does not accept from His slave any dua that is made from a neglectful heart. [Ahmad, from Ibn Umar. Al-Haythami said in Majma al-Zawa’id (10/148).

Al-Nawawi said: “Know that the purpose of dua is that one have an attentive heart (towards Allah), as we have already mentioned, and the proofs for this are more than can be mentioned, and the knowledge of it is so apparent that it need not be discussed. [Al-Adhkar p.356]

Abdullah ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasalam) said: “Hearts are like vessels, some more attentive and capacious than others. When you supplicate Allah you should be certain of being answered, and know that Allah does not answer a supplication that comes from a careless and inattentive heart.” [Ahmad]