Making dua is a conversation with God.  It’s a time to ask God to grant your requests, both large and small, for both here and the hereafter. Allah also knows what’s hidden in the deep recesses of our hearts. Those feelings of pain, anguish, resentment, love, hatred, bitterness, longing, etc. that we so successfully hide from everyone else, including our closest family members and friends. It is the prime objective of every sensible Muslim that he or she wants to be among the people who are righteous. No one wants to be an evildoer and is considered to be such in the court of Allah Almighty.

Beautiful Duas from the Quran

Here are some ways to purify our hearts with the Remembrance of Allah (SWT):

1. Prioritize the 5 daily prayers.

Allah (SWT) loves that we prioritize those actions that He requires of us: “…My slave approaches Me with nothing more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him…” (Hadith Qudsi in Bukhari and others).
The Prophet (PBUH) was asked, “Which deed is the dearest to Allah (SWT)?” He (PBUH) replied, “To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times” (Sahih Bukhari).

2. Read the Holy Quran with Understanding.

The Holy Quran is Allah’s message to humanity. It was sent to guide and heal our hearts. It was sent to be reflected upon:
“Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran, in order that you may understand.” (Quran 12:2).

3. Recite the “dearest phrases to Allah”.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “The dearest phrases to Allah are four: Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), Al-Hamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), La ilaha illa-Allah (There is no deity but Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greater). There is no harm for you in which of them you begin with (while remembering Allah). (Sahih Muslim)

4. Call on Allah by His Beautiful Names

“And the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them” (Quran 7:180). You can say for example, “Ya Rahman (The Most Compassionate), have mercy on me; Ya Ghaffar (The Oft-Forgiving), forgive me, etc.

5. Seek Allah’s forgiveness by saying “Astaghfirullah” (I seek Allah’s forgiveness)

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught that seeking Allah’s forgiveness polishes the heart: “Sometimes I perceive a veil over my heart, and I supplicate Allah for forgiveness a hundred times in a day.” (Sahih Muslim)

6. Make Dua (supplication) to Allah (SWT) for all of your needs.

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “The dua is worship.” Then he recited (verse 40:60), “And Your Lord said: ‘Call upon me, I will respond to you.’ (Jami` at-Tirmidhi)

7. Send Salawat (peace and blessings) upon the Prophet (PBUH).

“Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O you who believe! Send your blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.” (Quran 33:56).

8. Think Positive Thoughts About Allah (SWT)

“Indeed, having good thoughts concerning Allah is from the perfection of the worship of Allah.” (Tirmidthi)

9. Express gratitude to Allah for His blessings upon you.

Allah (SWT) connects remembering Him with being grateful to Him: “Remember Me and I shall remember you. Be grateful unto Me and deny Me not.” (Quran 2:152)
Allah (SWT) describes a purified heart as being thankful: “Allah does not wish to impose hardship upon you. Rather, He wishes to purify you, and to complete His blessings upon you, and in order that you may be thankful.” (end of verse 5:6)

10. Protection From Fire In Hereafter. “Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire.” (2:201)

11. For Patience And Endurance. Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance and make our foothold sure and give us help against those who reject faith.” (2:250)

12. Asking For Forgiveness. Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or fall into error.” (2:286)

13. Asking Ease From Allah. Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear, grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who deny the truth.” (2:286)

14. Asking Steadfastness. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Your grace. Verily You are the Giver of bounties without measure.” (3:8)

15. Asking For Purification. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and efface our bad deeds and take our souls in the company of the righteous.” (3:193)

16. For Seeking Truth. Our Lord! Lay open the truth between us and our people, for You are the best of all to lay open the truth.” (7:89)

17. Asking For Mercy. Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Your presence and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way. (18:10)

18. Asking Allah For Being Among The Righteous. Our Lord! Place us not among the people who have been guilty of evildoing.” (7:47)

19. Oh Allah, I beg You. Please guide my parents and my sister toward You. Do not let them die without realizing who their Lord is. Let them see the truth and help them resist the pressure of friends who try to turn them away from You.

20. Oh Allah, make every single aspect of my life be for You and in service of Your Creation. Please remove all false intentions that I have.

Now it’s time to test yourself on the signs of a pure and devoted heart!

• It continues to push its companion until he turns to Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa and repents.
• It doesn’t grow tired of the remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa or His worship.
• If it misses out on an act of obedience it feels a pain that is more severe than the pain felt when losing money.
• It finds sweetness and delight in worship greater than any delight from food and drink.
• If it enters salah, its worries and troubles from this worldly life leave it.
• It is stingier with its time being wasted than a miser’s stinginess with his money.
• It is more concerned with a good deed being performed correctly and accepted than the actual deed itself.

The world is full of temptation and it happens more than often that a person on the path of righteousness falls prey to the temptations of the world and deviates from the true path. Therefore, to avoid such a situation it is imperative that one seeks help and guidance from AllahMaking dua or supplicating in front of Allah Almighty more than often is one of the best ways of seeking His Mercy and Guidance. Therefore, in addition to praying after every prayer, a Muslim must supplicate to Allah more often especially in times of need.