Inside the Ka’bah

Usamah bin Zaid radhi allahu anh narrated that the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wassallam, when he entered the Ka’bah, made du’a to Allah at all its sides. (Muslim) In another hadith, Abdullah bin ‘Umar said,

“I saw Allah’s Messenger entering the Ka’bah. He, Usamah bin Zaid, Bilal, and ‘Uthman bin Talha, and they (locked the door) on themselves. So when they opened it, I was the first to enter and I met Bilal and asked him, ‘Did Allah’s Messenger pray in it?’ He said, ‘Yes, he prayed between the two Yamani pillars.’” (Bukhari & Muslim)

However, it might be difficult for many of people to enter the Ka’bah. In such a situation, it is sufficient for a person to make du‘a inside the wall which is surrounding the Ka‘bah from one side as this is considered a part of the Ka‘bah. The evidence is in the hadith,

“‘Aishah radhi allahu anha asked Allah’s Messenger about the jidar (wall), ‘Is it part of the Ka’bah?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘Why did they not enter it into the Ka’bah?’ He said, ‘Your people lacked sufficient funding.’” (Bukhari & Muslim).

At Safa & Marwah

Jabir narrated in his lengthy hadith about the pilgrimage (Hajj) of the Messenger of Allah,

“…Then he walked out from the door heading towards As-Safa, and when he got closer to the Safa, he recited, ‘Verily, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are of the symbols of Allah.’ {Al-Baqarah. 158} and he said, ‘I begin with that which Allah began with,’ so he began with As-Safa and went up on it till he sighted the Ka’bah. He then faced the Qiblah and then proclaimed the oneness of Allah, made takbieer and said, ‘La ilaha Illallah wahdahu la shareeka lah. Lahul-Mulk wa lahul-hamd, wa-huwa ‘ala kulli shay-in qadeer. La ilaha ilallahu wahdah, anjaza wa’dah, wa nasara ‘abdah, wa hazamal ahzaaba wahdah.’ Then he made du’a between the two, repeating what he said three times. …and he did the same actions at Al-Marwah as he did at As-Safa.” [Muslim]

Therefore, it is a sunnah to make du’a to Allah at As-Safa and at Al-Marwah during ‘Umrah or Hajj, as these are counted among the places where du’a is accepted.

At Arafah

During the Hajj, and particularly on the day of ‘Arafah, one must try to make du’a to Allah subhanahu wa ta a’la as much as he can, because a du’a made on this day is the best du‘a and it is more likely to be accepted as explained in the following hadith. ‘Amru-bin-Shu’aib narrated from his father who, in turn, narrated from his father,

“The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wassallam said, ‘The best du’a is the du’a (made) on the day of Arafah.’” (Tirmidhi)

The People from Whom Du’a is Accepted

Anyone who abides by the conditions of du’a, refrains from the reasons of its rejection, implements its manners and seeks the times and places of acceptance will be among those whose du’a will be accepted. The Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wassallam have also shown us specific types of people whose du’a are especially accepted by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

A Person’s Du’a for His Muslim Brother

A Muslim must always try to remember his brothers during du’a because such a du’a is accepted Allah. Whatever we ask for our brother, we will be granted likewise. Umm Ad-Dardaa narrated that the Prophet used to say,

“A Muslim’s du’a for his brother in his absence is accepted. There is an angel (assigned) close to his head, whenever he supplicates for his brother that which is good, the assigned angel says, Ameen, you will be granted similarly.” (Muslim)

Du’a of an Oppressed Person

On many occasions, the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wassalam used to warn his companions from the du’a of an oppressed person as it will certainly be answered. An example of this is the incident when Allah’s Messenger sent Mu’adh bin Jabal to Yemen. He gave him many instructions among which he said,

“And beware of an oppressed person’s du’a for there is no shield between it and Allah.” (Bukhari)

A Father’s Du’a Against His Child

When in anger, parents must avoid making du’a against their children as it might be answered, and that they will regret the du’a later. A father’s du’a for or against his children is answered as was mentioned by the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wassallam in the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah,

“Three (types) of du’a are answered, without doubt: an oppressed person’s du’a, a traveling person’s du’a and a father’s du’a for his son.” (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood)

In another narration collected by Ahmad and Tirmidhi, the Prophet said, “…a father’s du’a against his son.”

A Fasting Persons Du’a

Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger said,

“Three (types) of du’as are not rejected: A fasting person’s till he breaks fast, a just ruler’s and an oppressed person’s.” (Tirmidhi)

In another collection by Tirmidhi, it has been reported that when a person invokes Allah when he is about to break his fast, his invocation is not rejected.

A Pious Child’s Du’a for the Deceased Parents

Children remain a benefit even when a person has passed away. When they make du’a to Allah requesting pardon for their deceased parents, their du’a is accepted. The one whose children forget after death, is certainly a loser. Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah’s Messenger said,

“When a person dies, all rewards from deeds are terminated except from three – a continuing charity, knowledge from which benefit is (still) gained, and a pious child who is making du’a for him.” (Muslim)