Prayers & Creeds · Islamic
Du'as
Personal supplications addressed to God in one's own need, in words from the Qur'an, the Prophet, or the heart.
Tagged: Prayer Supplication
Historical Context
Du'a, "invocation" or "supplication," is Islam's free prayer of petition, distinct from the fixed ritual prayer (salah). The Qur'an presents God as near and answering the call of the caller, and large collections gather supplications taught by the Prophet Muhammad for waking, eating, traveling, grief, debt, and every other circumstance of life. Hands are traditionally raised with open palms as the requests are made.
Use and Practice
Du'as may be offered at any time and in any language, and are especially associated with the moments after the ritual prayer, the last part of the night, and the breaking of the Ramadan fast. Many believers use printed or digital collections of authenticated supplications.
References
- Sunnah.com — Hadith Collections Free / open access
Related Prayers and Creeds
- Salah — The ritual prayer performed five times daily, with fixed postures, recitations, and the closing testimony (Tashahhud).
- Dhikr — The remembrance of God through repeated short formulas of glory, praise, and greatness.
- Al-Fatiha — The opening chapter of the Qur'an, recited in every unit of the ritual prayer.
Related Across the Site
- Act of Contrition Prayer or Creed — A prayer of sorrow for sin, prayed in the Sacrament of Penance and in personal examination of conscience.
- Anima Christi Prayer or Creed — A medieval prayer asking Christ's body, blood, and passion to sanctify, save, and protect the one who prays.
- Ardas Prayer or Creed — The formal standing prayer of supplication and remembrance that frames Sikh worship and undertakings.
- Glory Be (Gloria Patri) Prayer or Creed — A short doxology praising the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, used across Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant worship.
- Hail Mary Prayer or Creed — A prayer to the Virgin Mary built from the angel's greeting in Luke 1, asking for her intercession.
- Prayers of the Rosary Prayer or Creed — The set of prayers prayed on the beads of the Rosary, including the Fatima Prayer and the Hail Holy Queen.
- The Angelus Prayer or Creed — A thrice-daily prayer of versicles and Hail Marys commemorating the Annunciation and the Incarnation.
- The Lord's Prayer (Our Father) Prayer or Creed — The prayer Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, shared by Christians of every tradition.