ISLAMIC LIFE
Islamic Lifestyle
24 Jul 2009
THE ETIQUETTE OF MAKING DUA
The Etiquette of Dua
These etiquettes are derived from ahaadeeth. For reasons of brevity, only a summary and reference of each hadith is mentioned instead of the entire hadith.
1. To abstain from haraam food, clothing and earnings. (Muslim : Tirmidhi)
2. To make Dua with sincerity. In other words, one should firmly believe that nobody but Allah Ta'aala will fulfill his objectives. (Haakim)
3. One should perform a good deed prior to making the Dua and should mention this during the course of the Dua, eg. he should say, ‘O Allah! I had performed such and such a deed solely for Your pleasure. O Allah! Accept my dua due to the blessing of that deed. (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).
4. To make Dua whilst one is clean and free from impurities. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Nasai, Ibn Hibbaan, Mustadrak).
5. To perform wudhu before the dua (All six major hadith collections)
6. To face the Qiblah (All six major hadith collections)
7. To sit as in the tashahhud position (Abu Awanah)
8. To praise Allah Ta'aala at the beginning as well as at the end of the dua (All six major hadith collections)
9. To recite durood upon the Prophet (SAW) at the beginning as well as the end. (Abu Dawud, Musnade-Ahmad)
10. To spread out both the hands. (Tirmidhi, Mustadrak)
11. To raise both the hands up to the shoulders (Abu Dawud, Musnade-Ahmad)
12. To sit with humility and respect. (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)
13. To mention ones helplessness and dependence. (Tirmidhi)
14. To abstain from raising the eyes towards the sky whilst making Dua (Muslim)
15. To mention the Asmaal-Husnaa (the names of Allah Ta'aala) and the sublime qualities Of Allah Ta'aala. (Ibn Hibbaan and Mustadrak)
16. To abstain from ceremonious rhyming of the dua phrases (Bukhari)
17. To abstain from saying the dua in a "sing-song" tone if the dua is in a poetic form (Hisn)
18. One should make dua through the medium of the prophets (alayhimus-salaam) and other pious servants. (Bukhari, Bazzaar, Haakim)
19. To make the dua in a soft voice (All six major hadith collections on the authority if Abu Musa)
20. To utter the Dua phrases transcribed from the Prophet (SAW). The Prophet (SAW) didn't leave out a single wordly or religious need whilst teaching us how to make dua (Abu Dawud/Nasai)
21. To make a dua that encompasses most of the needs of Islam and worldly matters. (Abu Dawud) To make dua in favour of oneself first, thereafter ones parents and to include the other Muslims in the dua as well (Muslim)
22. If the Imam is making dua, he should not make dua for himself only but he should Include all the congregants in the dua (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)
23. To make dua with firm conviction, e.g. he should not say: "O Allah! If you wish fulfil so and so task of mine." (All six major hadith collections)
24. To make dua with enthusiasm and yearning. (Ibn Hibbn & Abu Awana).
25. As far as possible endeavour to bring about a "presence of heart and mind" and cherish a high hope of the dua being accepted.(Haakim)
26. To make dua repeatedly. (Bukhari, Muslim)
27. This repetition should be at least thrice (Abu Dawud)
Note One may repeat the dua thrice in one sitting or he may repeat it on three different occasions. The "repetition of the Dua" can be interpreted in both ways."
28. To make dua earnestly and insistently. (Nasai, Hakim, Abu Awanah)
29. To abstain from making Dua of severing family ties or other sins. (Muslim, Tirmidhi)
30. Avoid making duas of pre-determined and fixed things,e.g. a woman should not make a dua of being transformed into a man or a tall person shouldn't make Dua thus:"O Allah! Make me short ." etc) (Nasai)
31. To refrain from asking for impossible things. (Bukhari)
32. To refrain from making dua in which you ask Allah Ta'aala to confine His mercy to yourself only. (Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)
33. Ask only Allah Ta'aala alone for all your needs. Do not depend upon His creation. (Tirmidhi/Ibn Hibbaan)
34. The one making the dua as well as the person listening to it, both should say Aameen at the end. (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai)
35. To pass both hands over the face at the termination of the dua (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi,Ibn Hibbaan, Majah, Hakim)
36. Don't be impatient over the acceptance of duas. In other words, don't say, "I've made dua repeatedly but to no avail." (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)
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On being asked, "What is the reason that our prayers are not accepted?", Ibrahim bin Adham (RA) answered because:
1 - You recognise the Lord, yet you do not follow and obey His commandments
2 - You study the scriptures yet you do not try to do what you are asked to do.
3 - You enjoy the gifts of your Lord, but you do not offer gratitude to him.
4 - You do not act so to avoid hell and enter heaven.
5 - You know the devil is your enemy, yet you do not deal with him as such.
6 - You know death must overtake you, yet you make no preparations for it.
7 - You consign your dead parents to the grave and yet you do not take lessons from the incident (and feel as if you are immortal).
8 - You know you have many faults, yet you try to find faults with others.
(Taken from Tadkharatul Awliyah (Memoirs of Saints)
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