Salatul Hajat Dua is a powerful Islamic prayer for times when life feels hard and you don’t know what to do. Islam offers this special prayer when you really need help or guidance. It’s called Salatul Hajat, and it’s meant for moments of deep need. In this post, we’ll explore what Salatul Hajat is, how to perform it, its roots in Islamic teachings—especially what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said about it—and why it remains an essential practice for Muslims facing difficult times.
What Is Salatul Hajat?
When Muslims face difficulty in their life or really want something, they can pray Salatul Hajat (صلاة الحاجة). The word Hajat means “need” in Arabic. It’s not a prayer you have to do like fard, but it’s highly recommended (mustahabb) if you want to ask Allah for help with something important and personal.
It is reported from Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa (RA) that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said
مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَاجَةٌ، أَوْ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ، فَلْيَتَوَضَّأْ، فَلْيُحْسِنِ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ لِيُصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ لِيُثْنِ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلْيُصَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ لِيَقُلْ: لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ
“Whoever has a need from Allah or from any human being, let him perform ablution properly, then pray two rakats, then praise Allah and send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, and then say the following…”
(Hadith: Tirmidhi 479, Ibn Majah 1384)
This Hadith shows that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us to pray to Allah when we need help.
How to Perform Salatul Hajat
Now, if you don;t know how to perform Salatul Hajat, let me tell you in a step-by-step method:
Salatul Hajat is performed in two rakats (units of prayer).
- Make Wudu (ablution) properly.
- Make the intention (niyyah) in your heart to pray Salatul Hajat.
- Pray two rakats of nafl (voluntary) prayer.
- After the prayer, praise Allah, send salawat (blessings) on the Prophet (PBUH).
- Then make dua (supplication) to Allah for your needs.
You can make any prayer (dua) from your heart. It’s best to use duas taught by the Prophet (from the Sunnah) or from the Quran. But don’t worry, you can also make personal prayers in your own language.
Recommended Dua After Salatul Hajat
This dua is taught in the Hadith narrated by Ibn Abi Awfa (RA) and collected in Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 479).
اللَّهُمَّ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ، وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ، وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ، وَالسَّلَامَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ إِثْمٍ، لَا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلَّا غَفَرْتَهُ، وَلَا هَمًّا إِلَّا فَرَّجْتَهُ، وَلَا حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلَّا قَضَيْتَهَا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ
Translation:”O Allah, there is no god but You, the Forbearing, the Generous. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I ask You for the means of Your mercy, and the forgiveness of Your pardon, and the benefit of every good deed, and safety from every sin. Do not leave for me any sin but that You forgive it, any worry but that You remove it, and any need that is pleasing to You but that You fulfill it, O Most Merciful of the merciful.”
This Salatul Hajat dua is said after you’ve prayed the two units (rakats).
When to Pray Salatul Hajat
You can pray Salatul Hajat any time, just not during the prohibited times (like sunrise, sunset, or when the sun is highest). But the best times are:
- During the last third of the night (Tahajjud), when duas are more likely to be accepted.
- After obligatory prayers
What really matters is being sincere, not the time. If someone truly turns to Allah, He will respond.
Real-Life Application
Many Muslims around the world pray Salatul Hajat when they face:
- Financial difficulties
- Illness in the family
- Challenges in relationships
- Important decisions (e.g. jobs, marriage)
- Exams or visa applications
It gives you peace and reminds you that Allah is in control, no matter what happens.
Combine Dua with Sadaqah (Charity)
In Islam, giving charity (Sadaqah) and making prayers (dua) is highly recommended.The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ”
“Sadaqah extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire.”
( Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2616)
And another Hadith it is said that:
دَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ
“Treat your sick ones with charity.”
( Al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman:Hadith 9438)
Many scholars suggest that giving charity when you make a special prayer (dua), especially if you’re going through something difficult or urgent. It’s a way to show you are humble, care about other people, and trust in God (Allah).
Trust and Patience
In Islam, it’s believed that your prayers (Dua) are always answered. This can happen in three ways, either immediately, later on, or in a better way.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَدْعُو اللَّهَ بِدَعْوَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا إِثْمٌ، وَلَا قَطِيعَةُ رَحِمٍ، إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا إِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ: إِمَّا أَنْ تُعَجَّلَ لَهُ دَعْوَتُهُ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَدَّخِرَهَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ مِنَ السُّوءِ مِثْلَهَا.”
“There is no Muslim who calls upon Allah with a supplication that does not involve sin or cutting ties of kinship, but Allah will give him one of three things: either his dua is answered quickly, or it is stored for him in the Hereafter, or a harm is repelled from him.”
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith no. 11133)
So, even if what you asked for doesn’t happen immediately, trust that Allah is answering you in the best possible way.
Final Words
When you’re going through a hard time, you can pray Salatul Hajat to ask Allah for help. It’s a peaceful way to talk to Allah and share your problems to get what you want. Giving charity and making dua with a sincere heart makes it even more powerful. No matter how hard life gets, turning to Allah in prayer brings comfort. Salatul Hajat reminds us that real help doesn’t always come from people or things, it comes from Allah, who is the Most Kind and Most Powerful.
