Signs of the Acceptance of Dua

Signs of the Acceptance of Dua

It is important to clarify that there are no explicit Qur’anic verses or authentic hadiths that list fixed signs proving the acceptance of supplication. What scholars have mentioned in their works regarding such signs is based on the experiences of the righteous, not on definitive legal texts.

Imam al-Shawkānī رحمه الله states:

“وَهَذِه العلامات الَّتِي ذكرهَا المُصَنّف هِيَ تجريبية، فَلَا تحْتَاج إِلَى الِاسْتِدْلَال عَلَيْهَا، وكل فَرد من أَفْرَاد الداعين إِذا حصل لَهُ الْقبُول وتفضل الله عَلَيْهِ بالإجابة لَا بُد أَن يجد شَيْئا من ذَلِك…”

“These signs mentioned by the author are experiential and do not require textual proof. Every individual who supplicates—if acceptance is granted to him and Allah bestows His response—will inevitably experience something of this.”

A believer should turn to Allah with certainty and trust, believing that Allah, Glorified and Exalted, hears and responds in the manner and time He chooses.

Commonly Mentioned Signs Observed by the Righteous

Scholars have observed that when supplication is accepted, a servant may experience certain effects, such as:

• A state of humility, fear of Allah, and tears, followed by calmness and inner peace
• Increased inclination toward acts of obedience and worship
• Frequent praise of Allah, such as saying:
  الْحَمد لله الَّذِي بنعمته تتمّ الصَّالِحَات
  “All praise is due to Allah, by whose favor righteous deeds are completed.”
• A sense of purification and clarity of the heart
• Relief from worry and distress
• Tranquility, reassurance, and expansion of the chest after supplication
• Inner strength and outward resolve, as though a heavy burden has been lifted

These are not definitive proofs, but comforting signs that Allah may have opened the door of goodness for His servant.

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Causes That Lead to the Acceptance of Supplication

Islam has guided believers toward actions and manners that increase the likelihood of supplication being accepted.

Beginning with Praise and Salutations upon the Prophet ﷺ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“إذا صلَّى أحدُكُم فليبدَأْ بتحميدِ اللَّهِ تعالى والثَّناءِ عليهِ ثمَّ ليُصَلِّ عَلى النَّبيِّ ثُمَّ ليدْعُ بعدُ بما شاءَ”

“When one of you supplicates, let him begin by praising Allah and glorifying Him, then send blessings upon the Prophet, then supplicate with whatever he wishes.”

Sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ before or after supplication is itself a form of supplication and is guaranteed acceptance.

Fasting and Supplication

Allah placed the verse of supplication among the verses of fasting, highlighting their deep connection:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ

“When My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the supplication of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, that they may be guided.”

Supplicating for Others in Their Absence

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“إذا دعا الغائبُ لغائبٍ، قال له الملَكُ: و لك مثلُ ذلك”

“When a person supplicates for another in his absence, an angel says: ‘And for you the same.’”

Choosing Blessed Times and States

Among the times and states in which supplication is more likely to be accepted are:

• Laylat al-Qadr
• The Day of ‘Arafah
• An hour on Friday

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“فِي يَومِ الجُمُعَةِ ساعَةٌ، لا يُوافِقُها مُسْلِمٌ، وهو قائِمٌ يُصَلِّي يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ خَيْرًا إلَّا أعْطاهُ”

“On Friday there is an hour during which no Muslim stands praying and asks Allah for good except that He grants it to him.”

Other moments include the last third of the night, during prostration, after obligatory prayers, between the adhān and iqāmah, at the time of rainfall, while traveling, while fasting, and in sacred places such as the Ka‘bah, Ṣafā and Marwah, and when drinking Zamzam.

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

“أَقْرَبُ ما يَكونُ العَبْدُ مِن رَبِّهِ، وهو ساجِدٌ، فأكْثِرُوا الدُّعاءَ”

“The closest a servant is to his Lord is while he is in prostration, so increase supplication.”

Additional Means of Acceptance

• Supplicating with Allah’s Beautiful Names and Attributes
• Supplicating through righteous deeds
• Ensuring lawful food, drink, and clothing
• Avoiding sin, injustice, and severing family ties
• Enjoining good and forbidding evil
• Frequent supplication, especially in Ramadan and gatherings of remembrance
• The supplication of the distressed, the just ruler, parents for their children, and righteous children for their parents

Causes That Prevent the Acceptance of Supplication

Just as there are causes for acceptance, there are obstacles that prevent it.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أشْعَثَ أغْبَرَ، يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إلى السَّماءِ، يا رَبِّ، يا رَبِّ، ومَطْعَمُهُ حَرامٌ، ومَشْرَبُهُ حَرامٌ، ومَلْبَسُهُ حَرامٌ، وغُذِيَ بالحَرامِ، فأنَّى يُسْتَجابُ لذلكَ؟”

“He mentioned a man who travels extensively, disheveled and dusty, raising his hands to the sky saying, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’ while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished by unlawful means—so how can his supplication be answered?”

Other obstacles include:

• Heedlessness of the heart
• Persistence in sin
• Lack of humility
• Hastening the response and abandoning supplication
• Neglecting obligations and remaining silent upon wrongdoing

The Prophet ﷺ warned:

“والَّذي نَفسي بيدِهِ لتأمُرُنَّ بالمعروفِ ولتَنهوُنَّ عنِ المنكرِ أو ليوشِكَنَّ اللَّهُ أن يبعثَ عليكُم عقابًا منهُ ثمَّ تَدعونَهُ فلا يَستجيبُ لَكُم”

“By the One in whose hand is my soul, you must enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, or Allah will soon send upon you a punishment from Him, then you will supplicate to Him and He will not respond to you.”

Supplicating with sin, severing family ties, or lacking belief in divine decree are also among the causes of rejection.

Final Reflection

Supplication is an act of worship rooted in humility, trust, and patience. Acceptance may come immediately, be delayed, or be replaced with something better—yet no sincere supplication is ever lost.

Allah knows best.

Ref : Adapted from Arabic from Mawdoo

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