Secrets of Accepted Prayer: A Complete Guide to the Etiquette of Supplication According to Imam Al-Ghazali and An-Nawawi

Have you ever felt that despite asking repeatedly, your hopes haven’t yet materialized? Often, we are too fixated on what we ask for, entirely forgetting how to ask for it. In Islam, the ethics and good manners presented when asking the Creator are the master keys to opening the doors of heaven.

Scholars unanimously agree that the etiquette of supplication (adab ad-dua) holds a profoundly high position in worship. Imam An-Nawawi, in his phenomenal book Al-Adhkar, cites a brilliant explanation from Imam Al-Ghazali regarding this matter. Supplication is not merely about reading a text; it is the ultimate manifestation of one’s absolute need and profound humility before Allah, the Most Rich.

Let us dissect these 10 primary etiquettes so that our supplications are more readily answered and our hearts become deeply tranquil.

The Essence: What is the Etiquette of Supplication to Allah?

Before delving into the technicalities, we must first clarify our intention (niyyah). Classical scholars explain that the true essence of etiquette in supplication is Izharul Faqah (the manifestation of spiritual poverty and absolute need).

When we pray, we are not informing Allah of our problems, for He is the All-Knowing. Rather, we are acknowledging our inherent weakness and affirming that He is the only One to rely on, which is the very core of our faith in Allah.

If you are looking for a basic summary of manners often taught in schools, Imam Al-Ghazali’s explanation transcends that, providing a much richer and more profound spiritual insight. He details ten vital points covering time, physical state, and most importantly, the condition of the heart.

The 10 Etiquettes of Supplication from the Book of Al-Adhkar

Here are the detailed etiquettes of supplication, drawn directly from the wisdom of Imam Al-Ghazali and masterfully commented upon by Imam An-Nawawi:

1. Seeking the Best Time (Azman Syarifah)

Time acts as a door; there are specific moments when the gates of the Divine court are swung wide open. The first etiquette of supplication is to actively seek out these auspicious times:

• The Day of Arafah.
• The holy month of Ramadan.
• Fridays.
• The last third of the night.
• The time for the pre-dawn meal (suhoor).

Read also: Getting to Know 5 Auspicious Nights and the Best Time to Pray

2. Utilizing Special Circumstances

Beyond specific times, certain conditions can drastically hasten the acceptance of a prayer. A supplicant should take advantage of highly conducive situations, such as:

• During prostration (sujud), which is the closest a servant can be to their Lord.
• When the rain falls.
• During the moments between the call to prayer (Adhan) and the Iqamah.

Imam An-Nawawi adds a crucial, deeply personal point: When the heart is soft. If you suddenly feel a wave of sorrow over your sins or are profoundly moved by hearing a verse of the Qur’an, consider that a “green light” from Allah to supplicate immediately.

3. Facing the Qibla and Raising the Hands

This is a core physical sunnah of supplication. Do not pray in haste or while turning your face away. Face the Qibla with focus, raise both hands as a physical sign of surrender and desperate need, and gently wipe your face upon concluding the prayer.

4. Regulating the Volume

The proper etiquette is to strike a balance: do not shout, but also do not whisper so quietly that your own ears cannot hear the words. Use a soft, melodious, and deeply hopeful voice (baina al-makhafatah wal-jahr).

5. Avoiding Overly Rhymed or Poetic Words

Imam Al-Ghazali firmly reminds us not to force ourselves to create artificial poetry or complex rhymes (saja’) in our prayers. Often, people become so consumed with composing beautiful words that their hearts remain completely empty.

Use simple, honest language that stems directly from a desperately dependent heart (lisanul iftiqar). It is highly recommended to use ma’tsur supplications (prayers found in the Qur’an or those taught by the Prophet ﷺ).

6. Humility, Reverence, and Fear

A prayer devoid of awe is like a body without a soul. One must actively cultivate a profound sense of Tadarru’ (deep humility), reverence (khushu’), and a healthy fear (rahbah) regarding one’s sins or the possibility of the prayer being withheld.

7. Full Certainty and Optimism (Yaqeen)

Never hesitate. Proper etiquette demands that we harbor a beautiful opinion of Allah (Husnuzan). The great scholar Sufyan bin Uyainah offered highly comforting advice for sinners:

“Do not let the sins you know you have committed prevent you from supplicating. For Allah alone granted the request of Iblis (the worst of creatures) when he asked for respite and a prolongation of his life.”

If even Satan’s ultimate request was granted, how much more likely is it for us—His believing, albeit flawed, servants—to be answered?

8. Urgency and Repetition

Do not give up easily. Repeat your core supplications at least three times. Never complain or say, “Why is it taking so long to be granted?” Haste and impatience frequently become the very obstacles that prevent the prayer from manifesting.

9. Beginning with Praise (The Order of Supplication)

There is a divine protocol that must be maintained. Do not immediately “thrust” your requests forward:

• Begin with Hamdalah (praising Allah).
• Continue by sending Salawat (blessings) upon the Prophet ﷺ.
• State your specific requests and needs.
• Close with another Salawat and Alhamdulillah.

You can also profoundly open your plea using the universally acclaimed Prayer of Prophet Yunus in the Belly of the Fish, recognized as a master key for desperate needs.

10. The Ultimate Key: Repentance and Restoring Rights

This is the most vital point, yet the most frequently overlooked. The tenth etiquette is to sincerely repent (tawbah), seek forgiveness, and immediately return any wealth or rights obtained unjustly (Radd al-Mazalim).

You must ensure that the food entering your body is strictly halal. Without this foundational purity, a supplication will find it incredibly difficult to pierce the heavens.

Original Reference Text (Kitab Al-Adhkar)

To preserve the authenticity and academic trust (amanah ‘ilmiyyah) of this knowledge, the following is the original Arabic text outlining these etiquettes, exactly as stated by Imam An-Nawawi in Al-Adhkar (pages 396-397):

وقال بعضهم : المراد بالدعاء : إظهار الفاقة , وإلا فالله سبحانه وتعالى يفعل ما يشاء . وقال الإمام أبو حامد الغزالي في ” الإحياء “: آداب الدعاء عشرة : الأول : أن يترصد الأزمان الشريفة … الثاني : أن يغتنم الأحوال الشريفة … الثالث : استقبال القبلة , ورفع اليدين … الرابع : خفض الصوت بين المخافتة والجهر . الخامس : أن لا يتكلف السجع … السادس : التضرع والخشوع والرهبة … السابع : أن يجزم بالطلب , ويوقن بالإجابة … الثامن : أن يلح في الدعاء ويكرره ثلاثا … التاسع : أن يفتتح الدعاء بذكر الله تعالى . العاشر : وهو أهمها والأصل في الإجابة , وهو التوبة , ورد المظالم , والإقبال على الله تعالى .

The Sunnah Order of Supplication (A Practical Summary)

For everyday practicality, here is a simple summary of the prayer flow you can implement immediately:

1. Preparation: Ensure you are in a state of physical purity (wudu) if possible, and face the Qibla.
2. Introduction: Recite the sunnah praises (tahmid) and blessings (salawat). A concise example:
   • Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin. Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala ali Muhammad.
3. The Core: Convey your deepest needs using humble, soft, yet highly confident language.
4. The Conclusion: Seal your supplication with salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ and say Ameen.

Don’t Forget This Fundamental Truth

Often, we meticulously perform the physical procedures of the sunnah, yet we entirely neglect the inner state and the purity of our sustenance. Imam Nawawi heavily emphasized in his final point that “Repentance and restoring injustices” are the absolute ashl (foundation) of answered prayers.

Let us critically re-examine the sustenance we bring into our homes. Is there a fraction of someone else’s right hidden within it? Let us inspect our hearts; does resentment or arrogance still reside there? Purifying one’s heart and wealth is infinitely more effective than merely beautifying the poetic arrangement of words in a prayer.

Let us refine our etiquette of supplication starting today. We do this not because Allah needs our perfectly structured prayers, but because we desperately need Allah to look upon us with His boundless mercy. May every whispered prayer we offer in the stillness of the night or during the lowliness of prostration become a radiant path to goodness for our lives in this world and the hereafter.