If Dua with Certainty Is Answered, Why Ask Twice?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question

If making dua with certainty means it is answered, why do we need to ask more than once? Does asking again not show a lack of certainty in the first promise?

Answer

Asking again does not mean you lack certainty. Each time you ask, you are worshipping Allah as He commanded.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Supplication is itself worship.” [Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi, who graded it fine and rigorously authenticated] This means that making du’a is an act of worship every time you do it. Repeating your du’a is like praying again after you have already prayed. We do not question why we pray each day. In the same way, asking again is not a sign of doubt. It is part of how we serve Allah.

Allah Most High says: “And your Lord has said: ‘Call on Me and I will answer you'” [Quran 40:60; Keller, The Quran Beheld]. The command comes before the promise. He tells us to call, and then tells us He answers. We are not petitioning a reluctant authority that might have missed it the first time. We are doing the thing He asked us to do, and He has bound Himself to respond.

What the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did warn against is the opposite of your worry. He said that a servant’s supplication “will be answered so long as he does not become hasty.” When he was asked what haste is, he explained: the man who says, “I have called, and I have called, and I do not see that He is answering me,” and then gives up and stops asking. [Bukhari; Muslim] Read that again with your question in mind. The tradition does not caution us against repeating. It cautions us against stopping.

Allah always keeps His promise, but the answer may come in different ways. The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “There is no Muslim who makes a supplication containing no sin and no severing of kinship but that Allah grants him by it one of three things: either He hastens its answer for him, or He stores it up for him in the next life, or He turns away from him an evil equal to it.” The Companions said, “Then we will make many supplications.” He said, “Allah is more abundant.” [Ahmad] The Companions wanted to ask more, not less.

Ask Again Because Asking Is Worship, Not Because the First Time Failed

Keep asking, and remember what you are doing. Each time you make du’a, you are obeying Allah and showing your trust in Him. Certainty is not about saying the perfect words once. It is about knowing that Allah hears you, has power over all things, and will give what is best. This certainty is what keeps you asking. Doubt is what makes a person stop.

And Allah knows best.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Related Answers

• Is It Wrong To Stop Supplicating (Du’a)? Persistent, repeated supplication is itself required etiquette and sits comfortably with certainty.
• Shall I Continue Making Dua despite My Hesitancy Not to Do So? Allah answers by hastening, by storing for the next life, or by diverting an equivalent harm.
• Struggling to Have Children: Ten Key Etiquettes of Du’a  The conditions and etiquettes of supplication, set out in order.
• How Can I Increase My Faith When My Duas Are Never Answered? Apparent delay is not rejection, and impatience is the one stated barrier.

 

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.

Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.

In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.

Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.

Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.

His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.