Etiquette Of Du'a

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The following etiquettes are narrated in the Hadith. For reasons of brevity, only the following summary and reference of each Hadith is mentioned instead of the entire Hadith.

To abstain from haraam food, clothing and earnings. (Muslim, Tirmidhi)

To make Du'a with sincerity. In other words, one should firmly believe that nobody but Allah Ta'ala will fulfill his objectives. (Hakim)

One should perform a good deed prior to making the Du'a & he should mention this during the course of the Du'a. For e.g. He should say, O Allah! I had performed so & so deed solely for Your pleasure. O Allah! accept my Du'a due to the barkat of that deed. (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).

To make Du'a whilst one is clean. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Nasai, Ibn Hibbaan, Mustadrak).

To make wudhu before the Du'a (All six major hadith collections)

To face the Qiblah (All six major hadith collections)

To sit as in the Tashahhud position (Abu Awanah)

To praise Allah Ta'ala at the beginning as well as at the end of Du'a (All six major hadith collections)

To convey Durood upon the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam at the beginning as well as the end. (Abu Dawud, Musnad-e-Ahmad)

To spread out both the hands. (Tirmidhi, Mustadrak)

To raise both the hands up to the shoulders (Abu Dawud, Musnade-Ahmad)

To sit with humility and respect. (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)

To mention ones helplessness and dependence. (Tirmidhi)

To abstain from raising the eyes towards the sky whilst making Du'a (Muslim)

To mention the Asma al-Husnaa (the names of Allah Ta'ala ) and the sublime qualities Of Allah Ta'ala. (Ibn Hibbaan and Mustadrak)

To abstain from ceremonies rhyming of the Du'a phrases (Bukhari)

To abstain from saying the Du'a in a "sing-song" tone if the Du'a is in a poetic form (Hisn)

One should make Du'a through the medium of the Ambiyaa alayhimus-salaam and other Pious servants. (For e.g. He should say: 'O Allah! Accepts my Du'a through The good offices of these saintly people). (Bukhari, Bazzaar, Haakim)

To make the Du'a in a soft voice (All six major hadith collections on the authority if Abu Musa )

To utter the Du'a phrases transcribed from the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam because Rasulullah didn't leave out a single need of the Deen nor of the dunya whilst teaching us how to make Du'a (Abu Dawud/Nasai)

To make a Du'a that encompasses most of the needs of Deen and the dunya. (Abu Dawud)

To make Du'a in favour of oneself first, thereafter ones parents and to include the other Muslims in the Du'a as well (Muslims)

If the Imam is making Du'a, he should not make Du'a for himself only but he should Include all the congregants in the Du'a (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

Abu Dawud Radi Allahu anhu : Narrates that Rasulullah Salla Allahu Ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, said that
'' the Imam who makes Du'a for himself only, has betrayed the people." In other words, the Imam should not Make a Du'a that is restricted to him alone. For e.g. He should not say, "O Allah! cure my son." or "O Allah! Return my lost item." etc. but he should make a Du'a that includes all the congregation for e.g. He may say "O Allah! Forgive us and have mercy upon us."

To make Du'a with firm conviction (for e.g. he should not say: "O Allah! If you wish fulfil so and so task of mine." (All six major hadith collections)

To make Du'a with enthusiasm & yearning. (Ibn Hibbn & Abu Awana).

As far as possible endeavour to bring about a "presence of heart and mind" and cherish a high hope of the Du'a being accepted. (Haakim)

To make Du'a repeatedly. (Bukhari, Muslim)

This repetition should be at least thrice (Abu Dawud)

Note One may repeat the Du'a thrice in none sitting or he may repeat it on three different occasions. The "repetition of the Du'a" can be interpreted in both ways."

To make Du'a earnestly and insistently. (Nasai, Hakim, Abu awanah)

To abstain from making Du'a of severing family ties or other sins. (Muslim, Tirmidhi)

Avoid making Du'as of pre-determined and fixed things (for e.g. woman should not make a du'a of being transformed into a man or a tall person shouldn't make Du'a thus: "O Allah! Make me short ." etc) (Nasai).

Don't Make Du'a for impossible things. (Bukhari)

Don't make a Duaa in which you ask Allah Ta'ala to confine His Mercy to yourself Only (Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)

Ask only Allah Ta'ala alone for all your needs. Do not depend upon His creation. (Tirmidhi/Ibn Hibbaan)

The one making the Du'a as well as the person listening to it, both should say Aameen at the end. (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai)

Rub both hands over the face at the termination of the Du'a (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibbaan, Majah, Hakim)

Don't be impatient over the acceptance of Du'as. In other words, don't say: "I've made Du'a repeatedly but to no avail." (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)

Taken from http://www.islam786.org/powerofdua.htm#92607131

Please include us in your du'as and may Allah accept your du'a and reward you.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam