Level Up Your Dua to Level Up Your Life!

A Mexican proverb says, “Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.” Building on that, I say, “Tell me what you pray for, and I’ll tell you who you’ll be.”

Duas (supplications) are our most intimate desires, hopes and dreams packaged into earnest calls to our Lord to help us make them a reality. They wrap our goals into spiritual quests and make us recognize that, no matter what we do to achieve our personal or professional goals, ultimately, the outcome is up to God.

Thinking of duas as goal-setting wrapped in spiritual clothing helps us appreciate their power in our day-to-day lives to help transform ourselves and achieve our goals for this life and the next.

Islamic scholars have called duas the “weapon” of the believer. This is because a person armed with dua can fight against their doubts, fears and obstacles between where they are today and their goals and dreams in the future. Every impossible goal seems more possible through the power of dua.

This positive mindset, which connects spirituality with self-efficacy, makes dua an important “tool” (or weapon) in every professional toolkit.

And like every weapon, the effectiveness of dua depends on 3 elements:

1. The spiritual strength of the one making dua

2. The quality of the dua

3. The “target” of the dua

So how do we upgrade these three elements in our duas? Here are 7 ways to help enhance the effectiveness of your duas:

1. Do some soul searching and find out what you really want from this life and the next: This is the most crucial step to level up your dua. Unless you’re clear about what you want and unless you are asking what you wish for wholeheartedly, your dua will be come across as weak and flat.

2. Recognize all the previous duas that have been answered: Take a pen and paper and write down all the duas that you remember asking Allah for, things that perhaps seemed impossible a few days, months, years ago but are a reality today. This step will enhance your humility and gratitude when you make your next dua.

3. Connect what you want with one of the names and attributes of God: Write down what you want and go through the list of the names of God and His attributes. Ask yourself which of His names and attributes are most linked to what you want. This will develop a more profound knowledge of who God is and, in return, enhance the “certainty” with which you ask Him.

4. Develop a daily dua habit or routine: Have a set time for sitting every day and simply making a supplication, asking Him for all the things that you want based on your Step 1 above. Consistency and earnestly focusing on your supplication are vital here. Be like a child who wants something from a parent: ask, cry, plead daily, and never give up!

5. Sandwich your duas between abundance praise of your Lord and stating His names and attributes (see step 3 above) and performing salutations to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): These are the two bookmarks of your duas and the appropriate protocol when asking something of your Lord.

6. Review your dua list, tweak, and update: The moment your duas feel stale and monotonous, review them. Ask yourself, (1) “Do I really want what I’m asking for?” (2) “Do I have full certainty and confidence that God will answer me?” (3) “Has anything changed that I need to update my request?”

7. Take action: Don’t wait for a miracle to happen. A dua isn’t a spiritual crutch; it’s a spiritual booster that’ll propel you towards whatever you want to achieve.

A dua is a powerful ritual that has a real-life impact on your personal and professional life. Use it wisely and consistently, and you’ll see real impact in your life and on those around you.

Mohammed Faris is an international coach, author, and speaker who helps executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs rebalance their lives spiritually, physically and socially to achieve peak performance and live meaningful lives. He’s the founder of ProductiveMuslim.com and author of The Productive Muslim: Where Faith Meets Productivity.

(Writing by Mohammed Faris; Editing by Seban Scaria seban.scaria@thomsonreuters.com)

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