Du’a and its Relationship to Aqidah

Du’a has a very strong relationship with one's (aqidah (creed) and tawhid.[1]   Du’a is also one of the best ways that a person can increase his iman (faith), and appreciate Allah's Names and Attributes. It is a powerful reminder of man’s inherent incapability, and Allah's unlimited powers.

Du’a increases a person's iman (faith) due to many factors.  It makes evident  the fact that  a person  has absolutely  no control  over his destiny,  nor  does he have the power  to benefit  himself  or avert any evil from  him.  It shows the neediness that a Muslim feels towards his Lord.  It proves that the one making du'a sincerely believes that Allah hears his du'a, and will respond to it. Such a person must also affirm Allah's Infinite Mercy, Beneficence and Generosity. And  the  more  a person  increases  in the  realisation of his poverty towards  the Mercy of his Lord,  the more  he will increase in his iman as well. Likewise,  the more a person  appreciates and realizes the perfection  of Allah's  Names  and Attributes,   so too will he increase  in his iman, These  two  factors  -  knowing   one's  need  of Allah  in every matter,  and  knowing  Allah's  Perfect  Nature  -  are the essence of iman and  servitude  to Allah.

The one making du’a openly affirms his iman for Allah, for it shows that he believes in Allah, and that Allah, and only Allah, can listen and answer his prayers.

Another way in which the importance of du’a can be demonstrated is by showing that du'a is an implicit affirmation of tawhid in all of its aspects[2].

When  one makes  a du'a to Allah,  one is implicitly  acknowledging that  Allah  exists, and  that  He  is the  true  Lord.  The  person  so doing  is stating  by his  actions  that  Allah  controls  all matters,  for only Allah  has the power  and capability  to respond  to his du'a He is admitting   that  Allah  is the  Nourisher,    Sustainer, Creator and Master  of the entire  creation,  and all of this is the essence of Tawhid al-Rububiyyah, Even  when  a non-Muslim makes  a du’a to Allah (even if it is by another name),  he affirms  all of these  concepts  as well. It is because of this affirmation that it is possible that a non­Muslim's du’a is answered as well, for the response of a due arelates to Tawhid al-Rububiyyah. Allah  mentions in  numerous verses in the Qur'an (some of which  will be mentioned later) that disbelievers call out to Him  at times  of need,  and yet, when  He  responds  to their  du’a,  they worship   others  besides  Him.   So the  point  is that Allah does respond  to the du’a of the kafir  (unbeliever) as well as the Muslim,  far both  turn  to Allah  recognising  that  only Allah can grant  them  what  they desire. However, the du’a  of the Muslim  has a greater  chance  of being  accepted,  for he calls out only to Allah, whereas  the kafir calls out to others  besides Allah,  turning  to Allah only when  he is in great  distress.  Also, the fact that Allah responds to the du'a of the kafir does not in any way imply that He is pleased with him, or that he will be saved from the fire of Hell.  Rather, it shows that Allah is the Rabb, the true Lord of both the Muslim and kafir, and it shows that He is Al-Rahman, the Ever-Merciful, for He shows Mercy to the Muslim in this life and the Hereafter, and He shows some Mercy to the kafir in this life. Were it not for this Mercy, the kafir would not even be blessed with a morsel of food or a sip of water. And this general mercy entails that Allah responds occasion­ally to the du’a of a kafir, especially when it emanates from a heart that has turned sincerely and desperately towards Allah.

Du’a also necessitates that only Allah deserves to be worshipped (Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah), for if only Allah  has complete  control  over creation,  and  if only  He  can respond to the call of the one in distress, then  only He deserves our complete  submission  and worship.

Du’a also obligates that Allah has the most Perfect Names and Attributes (Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat). For only He  can hear the whispering   plea of the servant,  no matter where the servant  is, and only He  can  understand  the  situation   that  the  servant  is in.  His knowledge is far more complete than the knowledge of the servant himself concerning the plight that he is in.  Likewise, only Allah has the complete power and ultimate authority   in granting what the servant desires.

So du’a is a powerful indication of Tawhid in all of its three aspects.