4 Effective Methods for Making Dua
Supplication (dua) is a profound act of worship that connects us directly to Allah (SWT). There are various methods to enhance the effectiveness of your dua while strengthening your relationship with Him. Each approach carries its unique significance and should be performed with sincerity and mindfulness.
1. MENTION YOUR GOOD DEEDS
This type of dua involves a person mentioning to Allah the good deeds they have performed solely for His sake. Your are invoking Allah’s mercy and help based on your righteous actions.
For example:
“Oh Allah, I gave charity for Your sake. Please bless me with ease and remove my financial hardship.”
“Oh Allah, I put on the Hijab solely for Your sake, please bless me with a righteous spouse.”
Key takeaway: Be sure to be specific in your supplication by clearly mentioning the good deed(s) that you are referring to. When making your dua, mention the actions you performed sincerely for the sake of Allah.
Evidence from hadith: Three men were traveling together. During their journey, they found themselves trapped in a cave by a large rock that blocked the entrance. Each of them began to make dua and mentioned their good deeds that they solely did for the sake of Allah. Afterwards, the rock was removed completely, allowing the men to escape the cave. (Sahih al-Bukhari 2215)
2. MAKE IT ABOUT THE DEEN
This type of dua is making it all about the deen. You directly connect your request to the service of Allah and make it an act of worship. By doing so, you ensure that your supplication is not just for worldly needs, but also for the sake of pleasing Allah and strengthening your connection to Him.
For example:
"Oh Allah, bless me with traveling so I can witness the beauty of Your creation.”
“Oh Allah, bless me with wealth so I can give charity and help the Muslims.”
“Oh Allah, bless me with a righteous spouse and children so we can grow together in worshipping You.”
Key takeaway: Don’t think you can trick Allah by framing your worldly desires as religious ones just to get your dua answered. Allah knows your true intentions. Ensure that your intentions are pure, and that you truly seek the dua to benefit the deen and please Allah.
Evidence from hadith: “The (reward of) deeds, depend upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended…” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6689)
*This one is mostly based on people's personal experiences. Some people have seen success with making this type of dua.
3. MAKE DUA WITH ALLAH’S NAMES
This type of dua involves invoking Allah by including Allah’s name(s) in your dua. By calling upon His beautiful names, you are acknowledging His greatness and seeking His attributes that align with your request. This not only enhances the likelihood of your dua being answered but also strengthens your connection with Allah.
For example:
“Ya Razzaq (O Provider), bless me with sustenance so I can support my family.”
“Ya Ghaffar (O Ever-Forgiving), forgive my sins and purify my heart.”
“Ya Mu’min (O Giver of Faith), grant me security and peace in my faith.”
Key takeaway: When making dua using Allah’s names, remember that you are asking through His attributes, and this requires sincerity and understanding. Don’t just repeat the names mechanically—reflect on their meanings and how they connect to your supplication. Make sure you use a name that relates to your dua.
Evidence from Quran: “And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.” (7:180)
In another verse, Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) made the dua: “My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower (Al-Wahhab)” (38:35). After making this heartfelt supplication, Allah accepted it and granted him an unparalleled dominion, including control over the wind and other extraordinary blessings.
4. MAKE A VOW TO ALLAH (NADHR)
Al-Nadhr (Arabic: النذر) refers to a vow or promise, where a person pledges to perform a good deed or act of worship if Allah grants them something in return, such as a child, job, success, health, etc. This is the type of dua, where you say: Oh Allah, if you do this for me, then I will do this for you.
For example:
“Oh Allah, if you provide me with a job, I promise to build a water well.”
“Oh Allah, if You bless me with a child, I promise to teach them Quran.”
“Oh Allah, if you provide me with good health, I promise to perform Umrah.”
Basically, you are tying a specific request to an action that aligns with your faith and commitment to the deen. If done correctly, it’s a way of demonstrating sincerity in seeking Allah's help.
Key takeaway: This really works if you have a sincere desire to do a good deed but are unable to do so because of a specific obstacle. For example, if you deeply wish to perform Umrah, but you don’t have the financial means to do so, you can make a vow to Allah and say, “Oh Allah, if You bless me with a job, I promise to perform umrah as soon as I can afford it.”
Evidence from Quran: Allah says, “And among them are those who made a covenant with Allah, [saying], ‘If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous.’ But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused. So He penalized them with hypocrisy in their hearts until the Day they will meet Him - because they failed Allah in what they promised Him and because they [habitually] used to lie.” (9:75-77)
In another Quran verse, He emphasizes, “And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.” (17:34)
WARNING 1: Making a vow or promise to Allah should not be taken lightly. If you often forget or don’t follow through, please DON’T use this method of dua. You know yourself best. If you do make a promise, make sure you write it down and follow through with it.
WARNING 2: Please DON’T do the opposite, such as saying, “Oh Allah, if You don’t give me this, I will stop praying.” Do NOT threaten Allah with anything. That is NOT the way to get your dua answered! END OF DISCUSSION.
WARNING 3: This dua method is not recommended in Islam as it has consequences. Some imams advise against making a vow to Allah, as He does not need our promises. While that is true, the Quran above shows that it’s permissible to use this method, as long as you fulfill your vow to Allah. Otherwise, Allah would have explicitly said NOT to make a vow with Him. Instead, He said, “He gave them from His bounty.”
This method should not be taken lightly. While it can be effective, it is better to avoid it if you are uncertain about fulfilling your vow. Instead, focus on other powerful methods of dua, such as invoking Allah's names, mentioning good deeds, or making dua sincerely for the sake of the deen.