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DUA
DUA ; The weapon of the believer. Prayer." The word du'a is generally used for supplication, as distinguished from salat, or the liturgical form of prayer e.g. Qur'an, Surah xiv 42: "O my Lord! Make me and my posterity to be constant in prayer (salat). O our Lord! And accept my supplication (du'a).

Dua – an Arabic word written here in English letters. Three small letters that make up a word and a subject that is large and breathtaking. This word ‘dua’ could be roughly translated to mean supplication or invocation. Although neither word adequately define dua. Supplication, which means communicating with a deity, comes closer than invocation which is known to sometimes imply summoning spirits or devils.

When we make dua, when we call upon God in our hour of need, or express our gratefulness, or for any other reason including simply to feel the comfort of being close to God, we must remember to examine our sincerity and to check our intention. Dua must be addressed to God Alone, who has no partners, sons, daughters or intermediaries. Our intention when making the dua must be to please God, obey Him and trust Him completely.
In Islamic terminology dua is the act of supplication. It is calling out to God; it is a conversation with God, our Creator, our Lord, the All Knowing, and the All Powerful. In fact the word is derived from the Arabic root meaning to call out or to summon. Dua is uplifting, empowering, liberating and transforming and it is one of the most powerful and effective act of worship a human being can engage in. Dua has been called the weapon of the believer. It affirms a person’s belief in One God and it shuns all forms of idolatry or polytheism. Dua is essentially submission to God and a manifestation of a person’s need for God.
Dua on the other hand is a Muslims way of feeling that connection to God at anytime, in any place. Muslims call on God frequently throughout the day and night. They raise their hands in supplication and ask for His help, mercy, and forgiveness. Dua incorporates praise, thanksgiving, hope, and calling on God to assist the one in need and grant his or her requests.
Dua can be made for the individual, their family, friends, strangers, those in dire circumstances, for the believers, and even for the whole of humanity. When making the dua it is acceptable to ask for good in this worldly life and in the hereafter. A person making dua should not hold back, but ask Allah to grant both the largest and smallest requests.
Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said, “A slave becomes nearest to his Lord when he is in prostration. So increase supplications in prostrations.“The supplication of every one of you will be granted if he does not get impatient and say, `I supplicated my Lord but my prayer has not been granted’.”
[Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim]

DAJJAL 

(al-Masīḥ ad-Dajjāl, - the false messiah ), Is an evil figure in Islamic eschatology. He is to appear pretending to be Masih (i.e. the Messiah) at a time in the future, before Yawm al-Qiyamah (Day of Resurrection), directly comparable to the figures of the Antichrist and Armilus in Christian and Jewish eschatology, respectively. “false, lying." The name given in the Hadis to certain religious imposters who shall appear in the world; a term equivalent to our use of the word Antichrist. Muhammad is related to have said there would be about thirty.

 

DARVESH, DARWISH

A Persian word for a religious mendicant (a pauper who lives by begging). It is derived from the word dar "a door" , Lit one who goes from door to door. Amongst Muslims, the darvesh is called a faqir, which is the word generally used for religious mendicant orders in Arabic books 

DA'WAH

Exorcism.Usually denotes preaching of Islam. Da‘wah means literally “issuing a summons” or “making an invitation”, being the active participle of a verb meaning variously “to summon, to invite”. A Muslim who practices da‘wah, either as a religious worker or in a volunteer community effort, is called a dā‘ī, plural du‘āt. A dā‘ī is thus a person who invites people to understand Islam through a dialogical process, and may be categorized in some cases as the Islamic equivalent of a missionary.

In the Qur’ān, the term dawah has other senses. In Sura 30 of the Qur’ān, it denotes the call to the dead to rise from the tomb on the Day of Judgment. When used in the Qur’ān it generally refers to God’s invitation to live according to his will. Thus, when used in the first centuries of Islam, it increasingly referred to the content of that message and was sometimes used interchangeably with sharī‘aand dīn.

Da‘wah is also described as the duty to “actively encourage fellow Muslims in the pursuance of greater piety in all aspects of their lives,” a definition which has become central to contemporary Islamic thought.

DAWUD / DAWOOD, The Prophet

Meaning beloved. Dawood and his son, Sulaiman were not only prophets, but also kings of the people of Israel. He was the youngest of his eight brothers. They were both known for their strength, wisdom, judgment, and devotion to Allah. The Prophet Dawood, besides being brave and wise, was known for his wonderful voice, which he used to sing the praises of Allah. When he sang, the mountains and valleys and all of nature seemed to join in. Prophet Dawud is perhaps most famous in Islam for defeating the Philistine giant Goliath, when he was a soldier in King Saul's army

 

His genealogy goes back through Judah, the son of Ya'qub, to Ibrahim. The figure of Dawood is of extreme importance in Islam because he was one of the few prophets to receive a named revealed book. It says in the Qur'an that the Zabur, were given to Prophet Dawood. It is a book of songs praising Allah. Prophet Dawood's son, Sulaiman, took over the task of prophecy after his death and he was made the subsequent King of Israel.

 

The Judeo-Christian and Islamic views of Dawood, however, differ in some aspects. Muslims do not accept the sins of adultery and murder attributed to Prophet Dawud in the Hebrew Bible, as they feel that prophets - in their belief the utmost chosen and elect of Allah - would never commit such grave crimes. The story of Bathsheba and Uriah is also absent in Dawood's Qur'anic narrative and plays no role in Islamic tradition. The Prophet Dawud passed away at the age of 70 years. He was buried in Jerusalem.

 

DU'A'-I-MA'SUR.

"Recorded prayer." A term used for prayers which were offered up by the Prophet, and have handed down in the Tradaitions.

 

DU'A'U 'L-QUNUT 

Called also the Qunutu 'l-Witr, "The prayer said standing.: A form of prayer recited after the qara'ah in the night prayer. Recited by some sects in the early morning. It is found in the Traditions.
Called also the Qunutu 'l-Witr,
Du’a’ al-Qunoot is recited in the last rak’ah of Witr prayer, after bowing, but if one recites it before bowing it doesn’t matter. But reciting it after bowing is better. Recited by some sects in the early morning. It is found in the Traditions.

 

DURUD

A Persian word. Arabic as-Salat. A benediction; imploring mercy. A part of the stated prayer, recited immediately after the Tashahhud, whilst in the same posture. It is as follows: "O God, have mercy on Muhammad and on his descendants, as Thou didst have mercy on Abraham and on his descendants! Thou art to be praised, and Thou art great! O God, bless Muhammad and his descendants as Thou didst bless Abraham and his descendants. Thou art to be praised and Thou art great." The merits of this form of prayer are said to be very great; for, according to Anas, the Prophet said, "He who recites it will have blessings on his head ten times, ten sins will be forgiven, and he will be exalted ten step." (Mishkat, book iv. c. xvii.) 

DARU’L-QARAR
"The abode that abideth." An expression which occurs in the Qur'an, Surah xl 42: "O my people! This present life is only a passing joy, but the life to come is the mansion that abideth

DARU’L-BAWAR 
Lit. "The abode of perdition." A term used for hell in the Qur'an, Surah xic 33, "And have made their people to alight at the abode of perdition."


DARU’S-SALAM
"The abode of peace." An expression which occurs in the Qur'an, Surah vi 127: "For them is a dwelling of peace with their Lodr! And in recompense for their works shall He be their protector."