saima abdullah
my life iz 4 Allah
The Meaning of Du'a
The word 'du'a' is the verbal noun (masdar) of the verb 'da'a', which signifies 'to call out ,to summon.'
The word 'du'a' is mentioned in the Qu'ran to signify a number of meanings ,as the following verses show:
1. Worship.
'"And do not call besides Allah that which will not harm you or benefit you........."" (surah Yunus,106).
2. The seeking of aid.
"'And call upon your witnesses besides Allah........."" (surah al-Baqarah,23)
3. A request.
"'And call upon Me,for I will answer your prayers....." (surah Ghafir,60).
4. A call.
"'The day that you will be called......."'( surah Al- Isra,52).
5. Praise.
"'Say, ' Call upon Allah,or call upon al-Rahman..........""(surah al-Isra,110).
6. Speech.
""Their speech therein will be : 'Glory be to you,O Allah! ""'(surah yunus,10).
7. A question.
"'Call on your Lord so that He can clarify to us what it is......."'( Surah Al- Baqarah,68)
And other meanings besides these.
As for its islamic meaning,various scholars have defined it in similar terms.
Al- Khattabi said: " The meaning of du'a is the servant's asking his Lord for His help,and asking His continued support .Its essence is that a person shows his neediness to Alllah,and frees himself from any power or ability to change (any matter by himself).This characteristic is the mark of servitude,and in it is the feeling of human submissiveness.Du'a also carries the meaning of praising Allah ,and attributing to Him Generosity and Bounteousness. (Sha'n ad-Du'a, p.4).
Ibn al Qayyim defined it as,"Asking what is of benefit to the person,and asking the removal of what is harming him,or (asking) the repelling of it( before it afflicts him)."
(Bada'i al - Fawa/id,3/2)
Another scholar wrote: "The appeal to Allah ,all Glory be to Him,of a request,by asking Him with desire for all good that is with Him,and to be submissive to Him in asking what is desired and in obtaining what is hoped for."
