Duʿāʾ
Definition
Duʿa is the act of calling upon Allah — making requests, seeking help, expressing need, and pouring out the heart in direct conversation with the Creator. Al-Ghazali distinguishes duʿa from the ritual salah: while salah is a structured act of worship with fixed words and movements, duʿa is the free, personal, spontaneous conversation that can happen at any time and in any language. The Prophet ﷺ described duʿa as the very essence of worship — the act in which the human being most directly and honestly acknowledges their dependence on Allah and His absolute power to provide, guide, and rescue.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
1 book in the library
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