رَبَّنَا اغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ  وَ لِوَالِدَیَّ وَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ  یَوۡمَ  یَقُوۡمُ الۡحِسَابُ (۴۱)

Translation from Knaz al-Iman: 'O our Lord, forgive me, and my parents, and all the Muslims on the Day when accountability will take place.'^[1]

Do not be slack in making duʿā!

O devotees of the Messenger! Duʿā is an excellent form of worship, and a hadith explains, اَلدُّعَاءُ مُخُّ الْعِبَادَۃِ – “Duʿā is the essence of worship.”^[2] Another benefit of making duʿā is that it is a free way of earning good deeds, as it does not require one to spend money nor put in any strenuous work. It only involves the focus of your heart and the use of your tongue. In fact, duʿā can be made within the heart, without uttering a word.

Nowadays, people are found to be lazy or slack when it comes to making duʿā. There are not many people who even make duʿā for themselves anymore. Those who offer salah and have a religious mindset usually make duʿā. Besides them, there are many who are facing difficulties such as illnesses or debts, and they do everything they can to solve their issues but do not make duʿā. This is despite the fact a hadith explains how duʿā is the weapon of a believer.^[3]

As for the people who do make duʿā, they only pray for themselves and not for other Muslims. Not only should we make abundant du’a for ourselves, but we absolutely must remember others too. By means of this we will acquire countless blessings اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه.

The reward of making du’a for others

The father of Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān, Mawlānā Naqi ʿAli Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه explains the etiquette of making duʿā, “The etiquette is when a person