المعنى الاصطلاحي :

Drawing close to Allah by obeying Him or by invoking Him while hoping for His bounty and fearing His punishment.

الشرح المختصر :

"Du‘ā’" (supplication) is one of the greatest and most sublime acts of worship. It is a connection between the slave and his Lord. The one who abandons it is either desperate or arrogant. Categories of "du‘ā’": 1- "Du‘ā’" of request: It is one's verbal request to bring about benefit or ward off harm in this world or in the Hereafter, for example, you can say: "O Allah, the Oft-Forgiving, forgive me", etc. This supplication may be associated with raising hands or the index finger. 2- "Du‘ā’" of worship: It is one's drawing close to Allah by performing all inner and outer acts of worship, including words, actions, intentions, and giving up the prohibitions. The two categories of "du‘ā’" are inseparable, and each requires or involves the other. Conditions of "du‘ā’": 1. One should supplicate to none but Allah, not to a prophet, nor an angel, or a deceased. 2. One should supplicate with submission and attentive heart, because Allah does not accept supplication from the heedless. 3. One should expect good from Allah and not rush the answer. 4. One should not transgress in supplication by asking for something impossible or something leading to severing the kinship ties.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر :

"Du‘ā’" (sing. da‘wah): a call. "Dā‘i/dā‘iyah": a caller. Original meaning: attracting something towards you by your voice or speech. Other meanings: beseeching, naming, speech, honor.