Etiquette of making Du’a

Allaah loves to be asked, and He encourages that in all things. He is angry with the one who does not ask of Him and He encourages His slaves to ask of Him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And your Lord said: "Invoke Me [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation)" [Ghaafir 40:60]

Du'aa' is very important in Islam, so much so that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Du'aa' is worship." (al-Tirmidhi)

The etiquette of du'aa':

The one who is making du'aa' should believe in Tawheed with regard to the divinity, Lordship, names and attributes of Allaah. His heart should be filled with Tawheed. In order for Allaah to respond to the du'aa', it is essential that the person should be responding to his Lord by obeying Him and not disobeying Him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allaah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)"   [al-Bayyinah 98:5]

Du'aa' is worship, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, so sincerity (ikhlaas) is a condition of its being accepted.

We should ask of Allaah by His most beautiful names. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allaah, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names"[al-A'raaf 7:180]

We should praise Allaah as He deserves before we call upon Him. Fadaalah ibn 'Ubayd (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: Whilst the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was sitting, a man came in and prayed and said, "O Allaah, forgive me and have mercy on me." The Messenger of Allaah (S) said, "You have been too hasty, O worshipper. When you have prayed and are sitting, praise Allaah as He deserves to be praised, and send blessings upon me, then call upon Him."(Tirmidhi)

Facing towards the qiblah. 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: On the day of Badr, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) looked at the mushrikeen, who were one thousand strong, and his companions numbered three hundred and nineteen. Then the Prophet of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned to face the qiblah, then he stretched forth his hands and started to cry out to his Lord: "O Allaah, grant me what You have promised me, O Allaah, give me what You have promised me. O Allaah, if this small band of Muslims perishes, You will not be worshipped on earth." He kept on crying out to his Lord, stretching forth his hands, facing towards the qiblah, until his cloak fell from his shoulders…(Muslim)

Raising the hands. Salmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Your Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, is Kind and Most Generous, and He is too kind to let His slave, if he raises his hands to Him, bring them back empty."(Abu Dawud)

Having certain faith that Allaah will respond, and focusing with proper presence of mind, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Call upon Allaah when you are certain of a response, and remember that Allaah will not answer a du'aa' that comes from a negligent and heedless heart." (al-Tirmidhi)

Asking frequently. A person should ask his Lord for whatever he wants of the good things in this world and the Hereafter, and he should beseech Allaah in du'aa', and not seek a hasty response, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:"The slave will receive a response so long as his du'aa' does not involve sin or severing of family ties, and so long as he is not hasty." It was said, "What does being hasty mean?" He said: "When he says, 'I made du'aa' and I made du'aa', and I have not seen any response,' and he gets frustrated and stops making du'aa'." ( al-Bukahari)

He should be firm in his du'aa', because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "No one of you should say, 'O Allaah, forgive me if You wish, O Allaah, have mercy on me if You wish'; he should be firm in his asking, for Allaah cannot be compelled." (Al Bukhari)

Beseeching, humility, hope and fear. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret" [al-A'raaf 7:55]

"Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us"  [al-Anbiya' 21:60]

"And remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and with fear and without loudness in words in the mornings and in the afternoons" [al-A'raaf 7:20]

Saying du'aa's three times. Its from the Sunnah of the Prophet(SAW) that its good to recite each dua 3 times.

Ensuring that one's food and clothing are good (i.e., halaal). Muslim (1015) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "O people, Allaah is Good and does not accept anything but that which is good." Allaah enjoins upon the believers the same as He enjoined upon the Messengers. He says (interpretation of the meaning):

'O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with' [al-Baqarah 2:172]

Saying du'aa' silently and not out loud. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret"  [al-A'raaf 7:55]

And Allaah praised His slave Zakariyyah (peace be upon him) by saying (interpretation of the meaning):

"When he called to his Lord (Allaah) a call in secret"[Maryam 19:3]