Short answer
Yes. The Quran records the duas of Prophet Zakariyya, who was old with a barren wife: "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring" and "My Lord, do not leave me alone". Make these often, keep up istighfar, and seek medical help as well. No fixed number or ritual is required.
Making dua for children is mustahabb (recommended), and seeking medical treatment for infertility is permitted. Fixed numbers, amulets or rituals not taught in the sunnah are not required, and believing that any of them works by itself is wrong.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Wanting a child is natural, and Allah praises those who ask Him for righteous spouses and children. Infertility is one of the tests He mentions plainly: He gives daughters to whom He wills, sons to whom He wills, both to some, and makes barren whom He wills. That is not a sign of His anger. Some of the greatest prophets waited many years for a child.
Duas from the Quran you can make in Arabic or your own language:
- Rabbi hab li min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibah, innaka sami'ud-du'a (3:38): My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring; You hear every prayer. Zakariyya said it when he was old and his wife barren, and Yahya was born.
- Rabbi la tadharni fardan wa anta khayrul-warithin (21:89): My Lord, do not leave me alone, and You are the best of inheritors.
- Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata a'yun (25:74): Our Lord, give us joy in our spouses and children.
Istighfar. Nuh told his people to ask their Lord for forgiveness, and that He would increase them in wealth and children. Many scholars advise couples hoping for a child to say astaghfirullah often alongside these duas.
Make dua when it is most likely to be answered: in sujud, in the last third of the night, between the adhan and iqamah, and while fasting. Both spouses can make it. Treatment is part of tawakkul, not against it: see a doctor, and ask a mufti about fertility treatments such as IVF. Avoid anyone selling taweez or rituals with a promised result. See the dua for children and Salat al-Hajah.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:38
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ ﴿٣٨﴾
At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."
The dua of Zakariyya for a child.
Quran, Surah Al-Anbiyaa 21:89
وَزَكَرِيَّآ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِى فَرْدًۭا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ ﴿٨٩﴾
And [mention] Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, "My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are the best of inheritors."
Another dua of Zakariyya, after which Allah gave him Yahya.
Quran, Surah Al-Furqaan 25:74
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍۢ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا ﴿٧٤﴾
And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous."
A dua for a righteous family.
Quran, Surah Nooh 71:12
وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍۢ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَٰرًۭا ﴿١٢﴾
And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.
Nuh tied asking forgiveness to being given children.
Quran, Surah Ash-Shura 42:50
أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًۭا وَإِنَٰثًۭا ۖ وَيَجْعَلُ مَن يَشَآءُ عَقِيمًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۭ قَدِيرٌۭ ﴿٥٠﴾
Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Competent.
Children and infertility are both from Allah's decree.
Sahih Muslim 482
Sahih... أقرب ما يكون العبد من ربه وهو ساجد ...
"The closest a servant is to his Lord is when he is in prostration."
Sujud is one of the best times to ask for a child.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on treatment and medicine. Seeking medical treatment is permitted.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.