In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Supplication (Duʿā) and the Act of Supplicating

Author: Abdul Basir Sohaib Siddiqi
Date of Re-Publication: 06.11.2025
Translation by Tahleel Team

Introduction

Supplication (duʿā) shapes every moment of a Muslim’s life.
It is one of the most essential spiritual and social elements in a believer’s existence.
Duʿā purifies the soul, frees the mind from rust and weariness, and brings calmness and stability into an ever-changing life.
Through prayer, the needy hands of human beings are filled with the mercy of Allah Almighty.

Especially in difficult times—such as the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic—duʿā becomes even more important for Muslims.

Two Synonyms for the Word Duʿā

Su’āl (asking, requesting)
Qunūt (humble obedience and devotion)

Hadith References

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Duʿā is worship.”
Allah, your Lord, says: “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.”
(Narrated from Nuʿmān ibn Bashīr and Anas ibn Mālik, may Allah be pleased with them both)

In another narration reported by Tirmidhī:

“Duʿā is the essence of worship.”

This means that prayer is not separate from worship—it is its very heart.

Linguistic Meanings of Duʿā

Before going into the discussion, it is important to understand the linguistic meanings of duʿā.
In Arabic, the word duʿā carries several meanings depending on context, such as:

To ask or request something
To ask Allah for goodness
To pray for someone’s well-being
To curse someone (pray against them)
To supplicate often (as an exaggeration form)
To push someone harshly (as mentioned in Qur’an 107:2 – “He pushes away the orphan”)
To long for something pleasant (like a sweet fragrance)
To be in need of something (as clothes needing replacement)
To call or summon someone
To weep over a deceased person
To name or call someone by a title
To invite someone toward something (for an action or belief)
To encourage to fight or strive (call to battle)
To encourage to prayer
To call others to faith or religion
To bring someone toward oneself
To invite people to a meal or gathering
To request, plead, or petition (istidʿāʾ)
As a noun: a verbal calling upon Allah (plural: adʿiyah)
A call for blessing or giving from a tribe (plural: daʿawāt)
To declare one’s lineage in battle
To claim ownership or assert something as one’s own

Different Contextual Meanings of Duʿā

Depending on the relationship between the one who asks and the one asked, duʿā can have three meanings:

From lower to higher (human to Allah):
It means supplication—a humble request.
From higher to lower (Allah to creation):
It means command.
Between equals:
It means appeal or plea.

Thus, duʿā lies between the absolute independence of Allah and the complete dependence of human beings.
It connects the self-sufficiency of Allah with the neediness of man.

The Meaning of Qunūt

Qunūt also means duʿā, but it includes humility, obedience, steadfastness, and devotion within it.

Analysis of the Hadiths

The second hadith—“Duʿā is the essence of worship”—is considered authentic in meaning though rare in chain of transmission.
From both hadiths we understand:

Duʿā is a form of worship through asking, and every asking leads to a divine response.
Saying that duʿā is the essence of worship means that worship without supplication is lifeless.

When a person realizes their weakness and Allah’s power, duʿā becomes an expression of awareness and faith.
Such prayer is full of spiritual meaning—it connects human limitation with divine strength.

Philosophical Objections to Duʿā

Some philosophers argue that destiny cannot change, and therefore duʿā has no purpose.
For example, Aristotle (influenced by Plato) taught that some people are naturally free, others naturally slaves—
implying that every person’s position in life is fixed by nature.

Similarly, some religious sects and mystical movements (influenced by non-Islamic beliefs) claim that asking from Allah is unnecessary,
because Allah already knows every need and gives without being asked.

Islamic Understanding of Duʿā

However, a deeper reflection on human existence shows that while Allah’s generosity is not dependent on human requests,
duʿā is a means of self-knowledge and understanding one’s relation to Allah.

When a human being recognizes their limitations, their environment, and their restricted abilities,
they engage in duʿā—which becomes a form of knowledge, a spiritual act of awareness.

In both creation (takwīn) and social life, humans live within sets of possibilities—
some known, some unknown.
These possibilities are what religion calls divine decrees (taqdīr).
Moving from one state to another, or from one decree to another, is the process of life itself.

Hence, duʿā allows humans to seek movement from a difficult state to a better one,
and it becomes a vast spiritual field of human expression where divine mercy descends.

In this process, different kinds of divine inspiration play a role:

General inspiration (ilhām ʿāmm): accessible to all people.
Special inspiration (ilhām khāṣṣ): granted to saints (awliyā’).
Revelation (waḥy): reserved for prophets.

The Role of Duʿā in Islam

In Islam, duʿā is not merely asking for things—it is an essential part of faith itself.
It is deeply connected with the moral, legal, and educational systems of Islam.

Most of the duʿās taught in the Qur’an were revealed by Allah to the prophets,
who then taught them to their communities.

The Qur’an, as the final revealed Book, contains numerous prayers at different stages of human life.
Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught duʿās (known as duʿā al-masnūn)
that not only increase awareness and guide toward tawḥīd (oneness of God),
but also teach moral and legal lessons based on divine unity.

Effects of Duʿā in Human Life

Awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses.
Realization that the human being is free and responsible.
Commitment to moral principles in law and behavior.
Development of patience and endurance.
Mutual satisfaction between Allah and His servant.
The manifestation of divine mercy in life —
which is love itself, where Allah grants His servant what He knows to be best.