How should I make duʿāʾ? The etiquette of supplication.
The classical scholars codified the adab of duʿāʾ — the times of response, the postures, the formulas, the certainty of being heard. How to ask and how to wait.
10 passages from 9 books in the library
The classical scholars codified a refined etiquette for supplication — its best times, postures, formulas, and the certainty of being heard. Imam al-Ghazali, in his Mysteries of Supplication and Mysteries of Pilgrimage, teaches that one should not hasten the answer, calling upon Allah humbly 'with the supplication of the blind, the afraid,' and that gathering in numbers and beside those whose prayers are answered is recommended. Ibn Kathir relates that the best supplication is that of the Day of ʿArafah. The scholars contrast the believer's confident, answered calling — 'I have never been unhappy in calling upon You' — with the futile supplication of those who call upon idols that neither hear nor see.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 9 books by Ibn Kathir and Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
-
"supplication is the supplication on the day of Arafah and the best thing I and the prophets before me have said is"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"sinful servile, and I call upon You with the supplication of the blind, afraid, the supplication"
-
"The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, The best supplication is the supplication"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"He advised against hastening the response to supplication, saying that a person's supplication"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"from Abdullah ibn Amr, stating, The fastest supplication to be answered is a supplication"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"It is recommended to have a large gathering for the blessing of many supplications and the presence of someone whose supplication is answered."
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
-
"He explained the invalidity of worshiping idols that do not hear the supplication of their worshiper nor see his place"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"I used to ask Allah in my prayer to grant my brother's paradise. Should I then withhold from them wealth?"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"will say, Then call as you wish, but the supplication of the unbelievers is only an error. Then they will"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
-
"This saying, And I have never been in my supplication to you, my Lord, unhappy, reflects his confidence"
Want a different angle?
Type your question below — JM Scholar will ground its answer in the same sources.