Making du’aa and engaging in the remembrance of Allah is one of the ways of gaining barakah (divine blessings) in our lives.
When we analyse the lives of the productive Muslims in the past, such as those of the pious predecessors, we notice that they made the habit of engaging in dhikr (remembrance of Allah 
) and making du’aa an integral part of their life: as a result, they moved mountains and achieved so much within the same short lifespan that people of our time live through!
It was this barakah, this divine blessing from Allah that aided them and allowed them to achieve more in their lives.
By taking on this productive habit ourselves and making it a part of our lives, we too can increase in our productivity, accomplish more in our time and move mountains by Allah’s permission.
So where do we start? Well first of all, I recommend that you get yourself the pocket-sized book called Hisnul Muslim (Fortress of the Muslim) which is a compilation of authentic du’aas from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Keep this book within your reach all the time so that you can read and benefit from it.
Alternatively, if you do not prefer to carry a book with you all the time then good news for you! You can download a du’aa app onto your smartphone and read du’aas from there.
There are many du’aa apps out there in both the Apple & Android market – here are the 4 best du’aa apps I’ve come accross:
1. Dua & Azkar
The free Dua & Azkar app by Ahsanul Haque is a simple dua application available for both Android and Apple devices. Each du’aa is arranged in an easy-to-navigate format and it contains along with it clear Arabic text, transliteration, translation and audio.
Pros: This app is a free application with no ads. The du’aas within it are arranged according to a timing or event which makes it useful for you to find the du’aa as the time/event occurs, e.g. after praying, morning remembrances etc.
Cons: The downside to the Dua & Azkar app is that it does not contain all the du’aas from the Hisnul Muslim du’aa book. However from testing this app, I can see that the focus is more on simplicity and practicality. Therefore, only the du’aas that you are most likely to use on a regularly basis are included, and less du’aas makes the app faster and easy to load.
2. Muslim Kids Series “Dua”
The Muslim Kids Series “Dua” app by Yufid Inc is a colourful dua application made for children (or the little child in you!)
Pros: The Muslim Kids Series “Dua” app has an artistically designed interface to appeal to children and it contains a range of du’aas that children can memorise along with audio to help them get it right. What I like particularly about this app is its cute illustrations as it makes the process of learning du’aas more enjoyable!
Cons: The Muslim Kids Series “Dua” app is a free app, however it is ad-supported so you will find advertisements. The advertisements itself are not a big distraction from the overall app – but there is a chance that children may click on it while they use this app. An ad-free paid version can solve this problem, however it is not available yet.
3 & 4. Hisnul Muslim Collection (Fortress of a Believer)
For those of you wanting a du’aa application containing all the supplications from the Hisnul Muslim book, you can’t get past the Hisnul Muslim Android app by ReadisMed and myDuaa: Fortress of a Muslim app by IhsaanFusion.
Pros: These two apps contain 260+ authentic du’aas along with transliteration, translation and audio. The Hisnul Muslim app is lightweight and is free to download and the myDuaa: Fortress of a Muslim app is beautifully designed and offers more features. It is also available for both Android and iOS devices.
Cons: The Hisnul Muslim app is only available for Android devices. As for the myDuaa: Fortress of a Muslim app it is heavier in size compared with the Hisnul Muslim app and is a paid app that will cost you 99 cents. Yet, the investment is definitely worth it!
Hisnul Muslim: Android | myDuaa: Fortress of a Muslim app: iOS Android
Now that you know about these great apps, here are some practical ways on how to make sure you use them:
1. Save apps as a shortcut on the home screen
This way it will always be within your reach and can serve as a reminder to you to use it often.
2. Encourage children to memorise the supplications
Children have amazing memories and love playing with gadgets, so help nurture this productive habit when they are young. You can set them up with the colourful du’aa app (or any of the apps) and let them hear the audios until they memorise it. You can even turn it into a competition among the family and reward whoever memorises a du’aa first!
3. Familiarise yourself with the du’aas
Keep just 10 minutes aside everyday to scan through the du’aas so that the next time you come accross any situation, e.g. sighting the crescent moon, then you can remember to take out your phone and recite the du’aa for it.
So there you have it, apps and practical steps on how to inculcate the productive habit of making du’aa. Now go ahead and get the barakah back into your life through daily du’aa!
