The Virtue of Dua in Islam: Why It's Among the Greatest Acts of Worship
Quick answer: The Prophet ﷺ described dua as worship itself — a means of warding off harm and drawing down mercy, with etiquettes and specific times that increase the likelihood of an answer.
The Prophet ﷺ described dua as worship itself, saying "Dua is worship," because of what it embodies: a servant's acknowledgment of their need for Allah and reliance on Him alone — a direct connection between the servant and their Lord with no intermediary needed.
Allah says: "And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will respond to you" (Quran 40:60) — an explicit promise of a response, though that response may come as exactly what was asked, as protection from an equivalent harm, or as a reward stored for the Day of Judgment, as reported in hadith.
Recommended etiquettes of dua include facing the qiblah, raising the hands, opening with praise of Allah and blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, being persistent in asking, seeking lawful food and drink, and avoiding supplications involving sin or severing family ties.
Times when dua is especially likely to be answered include the last third of the night, the interval between the athan and iqama, the hour on Friday, while it is raining, while prostrating in prayer, and just before breaking a fast.
A specific request not being granted exactly as asked doesn't mean the dua went unanswered — Allah's response is broader than the literal request, and persisting in dua with certainty is at the heart of true reliance on Him.