Practical Hajj Guide

Allaah says:

Which means: And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible. (40:60)

And He says:

which means: And when My servants ask you, [O Muúammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. (2:186)

And He also says:

which means: Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil (27:62)

And the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) says: “Allah is Shy and Most Generous. He is Shy that when one raises his hands to Him (in Du’aa), He does not allow him to put them empty in failure.” [Ahmad, Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhee]

Also: “Whoever does not ask of Allaah, He becomes angry with him.” [at-Tirmithi]

And the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Du’aa’ is worship.” [at-Tirmithi and others]

The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also told Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas (radiallaahu ‘anhu): “O young boy! I wish to instruct you in some matters; be watchful of Allah, (i.e. the commandments of Allah) He will be watchful of you. Safeguard His rights, He will always be with you; if you must beg, beg of Him alone; if you need assistance, supplicate to Allah alone for assistance, and remember that if all the people jointly desire to benefit you with something, they will be unable to benefit you, except with that which Allah has preordained for you. And if all of them intend to do harm to you, they will not be able to afflict you with anything except that which Allah has predestined against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried” [Ahmad & at-Tirmith]).

It is reported from ‘Umar (radiallaahu ‘anhu) that he said: “I am not worried about whether my du’aa is being answered or not, but I’m worried about not making du’aa. But if I am inspired to make du’aa, then the answer comes with it”

Therefore, we must be confident and certain that Allaah does respond to our du’aas. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: "Call upon Allah with certainty of being answered. And know that Allah does not respond to the du'aa from a heart which is forgetful or frivolous." At-Tirmithi

From the etiquettes of du’aa are the following:

1. Ask Allaah using His Beautiful names: Allaah says:

(which means): And to Allaah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them (7:180)

2. Begin with hamd and thanaa (praising Allaah) and invoking peace and blessings on the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

3. Be truthful and sincere in your requestes before Allaah.

4. Be persistent and do not be hasty.

5. Repeat your request three times.

6. Make certain your food, drink and clothing (provisions) are from lawful means.

7. Raise your hands in du’aa and face the qiblah.

8. Try to be in wudhu.

9. Keep your voice moderate; between audible and silent.

10. Don’t try too hard to make your du’aa rhyme (be poetic).

11. Do not transgress in your du’aa; don’t ask for anything unlawful, or to cut off ties with family and do not ask for that which is extreme.

12. Ask of Allaah only.Dear pilgrim, of the people there are those who utter the testimony of faith (shahaadah) and think that it is sufficient for them. However, their words and actions contradict their claim (of tawheed). The proof of this is that they turn to other than Allaah and fall into shirk which angers Allaah and earns them His wrath and distance from Him. Some turn to the prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in du’aa while others turn to Ali, al Hasan and al Husayn (radiyallaahu ‘anhum) and yet others turn to righteous people (who are deceased) and other creatures of Allaah. These people have have commited the worst of crimes and have strayed.

(which means): And who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allaah those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they, of their invocation, are unaware. And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship. (46:5-6)So be careful to worship Allaah alone and to call upon Him alone and not turn to anyone else (saints/pirs, prophets, angels, etc…). All praise belongs to Him Who said: "Call upon Me; I will respond to you".

13. Presence of mind and heart along with sincerity in turning to Allaah.

14. Use supplications found in the sunnah and include the greatest name of Allaah.