Supplication

Supplication (also known as petitioning) is the most common^{[citation needed]} form of prayer, wherein a person asks God to provide something, either for the person who is doing the praying or on behalf of someone else. This is because a supplication is being made, also known as intercession.

In Christianity, the prayer of supplication for health by and on behalf of the sick is referenced in early Christian writings in the New Testament, especially James 5:13-16.

One example of supplication is the Catholic ritual of novena (from novem, the Latin word for "nine") wherein one repeatedly asks for the same favor over a period of nine days. This ritual began in Spain during the Middle Ages when a nine-day period of hymns and prayers led up to a Christmas feast, a period which ended with gift giving. A contemporary Christian example of supplication is the practice of the Daily Prayer for Peace by the Community of Christ where a member prays for peace each day at a specified time. Philippians 4:6 says, "Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

In Islam, the Arabic word duʻā (plural du'aat) is used to refer to supplications. Adʻiya may be made in any language, although there are many traditional Islamic supplications in Arabic, Persian and Turkish. In Islam, duʻā tends to mean personal prayer.

External links

• Supplication Prayers and Supplications from the Quran and the Sunnah
• Prayer types in Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Do You Pray Like Your Fathers?