How to make dua: etiquette and the best times
To make dua, begin by praising Allah and sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, raise your hands, ask with certainty and humility, and be patient for the answer. Here is the etiquette of du‘a step by step from the Sunnah, the best times when du‘a is answered, and what to do when it seems unanswered.
Last updated: 8 October 2026
Allah is near
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ﴿١٨٦﴾
How to make dua, step by step
| Step | From the Sunnah |
|---|---|
| Begin with praise of Allah | Use His names that fit your request; see the 99 names of Allah. |
| Send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ | Durood at the start and end (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 3477). |
| Face the qiblah and raise your hands | The Prophet ﷺ raised his hands in du‘a (Sahih al-Bukhari 6341), palms facing up. |
| Ask with certainty and humility | “Call upon Allah while certain of being answered” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 3479). |
| Admit your faults and need | As Yunus did in the whale: “I was among the wrongdoers.” |
| Ask for good in both worlds | “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter” (2:201). |
| Be patient | Du‘a is answered as long as one does not say “I prayed and was not answered” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6340). |
For the names of Allah, see the 99 names of Allah; for the words of blessing, Durood Ibrahim.
The best times for dua
- The last third of the night (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145)
- In sujud, the closest a servant is to his Lord (Sahih Muslim 482)
- Between the adhan and the iqamah (Sunan Abi Dawud 521)
- The last hour of Friday afternoon (Sunan Abi Dawud 1048)
- While fasting and at iftar
- On the Day of ‘Arafah
- When travelling, and the du‘a of parents for their children (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 1905)
For the night, see tahajjud prayer; for Friday, Jumu‘ah prayer.
Words from the Quran and Sunnah
The best words are often the ones Allah and His Messenger ﷺ taught: see Rabbana duas from the Quran and our daily duas for every situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make dua in English?
Yes. Personal du‘a can be in any language. Inside the prayer itself, many scholars prefer Arabic; du‘a after the prayer, at any time of day, can be in English, Urdu, Bengali or any language you speak.
Why is my dua not answered?
The Prophet ﷺ said every du‘a is answered in one of three ways: granted, a harm turned away of equal measure, or saved as reward for the Hereafter (Musnad Ahmad 11133). Halal earnings and patience also matter.
Do I need wudu to make dua?
No, du‘a is allowed at any time. Being in wudu and facing the qiblah are good manners, not conditions.
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