The Sunnah’s of Dua (Supplication)
1. To abstain from haraam (forbidden) food, clothing and earnings.
(Muslim, Tirmidhi)
2. To make Dua with sincerity. In other words, one should firmly believe that nobody but Allah Ta’ala will fulfil his objectives.
(Hakim)
3. One should perform a good deed prior to making the Dua & he should mention this during the course of the Dua. For e.g he should say; “O Allah! I had performed so & so deed solely for Your pleasure. O Allah! Accept my Dua due to the barkah (blessings) of that deed.”
(Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).
4. To make Dua whilst one is Paak & clean.
(Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Nasai, Ibn Hibbaan, Mustadrak).
5. To make 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’ala at the beginning as well as at the end of Dua
(All six major hadith collections)
9. To convey Durood upon Rasulallah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) at the beginning as well as the end.
(Abu Dawud, Musnad-Ahmad)
10. To spread out both the hands.
(Tirmidhi, Mustadrak)
11. To raise both the hands up to the shoulders
(Abu Dawud, Musnad-Ahmad)
Note: The hands should be raised to the shoulders in front forming a bowl shape with a slight gap between the palms/hands
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’ala) and the sublime qualities Of Allah Ta’ala.
(Ibn Hibbaan and Mustadrak)
16. To abstain from ceremonies 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
(Hisnul Hasin)
18. To make the Dua in a soft voice
(All six major hadith collections on the authority if Abu Musa)
19. To utter the Dua phrases transcribed from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) because he didn’t leave out a single need of the Deen nor of the dunya whilst teaching us how to make Dua
(Abu Dawud, Nasai)
20. To make a Dua that encompasses most of the needs of Deen and the dunya.
(Abu Dawud)
21. 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, and Ibn Majah)
23. Abu Dawud narrates that Rasulallah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “the Imam, who makes Dua for himself only, has betrayed the people."
In other words, the Imam should not make a Dua 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 Dua that includes the entire congregation for e.g. He may say "O Allah! Forgive us and have mercy upon us."
24. To make Dua 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)
25. To make Dua with enthusiasm & yearning.
(Ibn Hibban & Abu Awanah).
26. As far as possible endeavour to bring about a "presence of heart and mind" and cherish a high hope of the Dua being accepted.
(Hakim)
27. To make Dua repeatedly.
(Bukhari, Muslim)
28. This repetition should be at least thrice
(Abu Dawud)
Note: One may repeat the Dua thrice in none sitting or he may repeat it on three different occasions. The "repetition of the Dua" can be interpreted in both ways.
29. To make Dua earnestly and insistently.
(Nasai, Hakim, Abu Awanah)
30. To abstain from making Dua of severing family ties or other sins.
(Muslim, Tirmidhi)
31. Avoid making Dua’s of pre-determined and fixed things (for e.g. woman should not make a dua of being transformed into a man or a tall person shouldn't make Dua saying "O Allah! Make me short." etc)
(Nasai).
Note: The dua should be made only for permissible things.
32. Don't Make Dua for impossible things.
(Bukhari)
33. Don't make a Dua in which you ask Allah Ta’ala to confine His mercy to yourself Only
(Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Nasai, and Ibn Majah)
34. Ask only Allah Ta’ala alone for all your needs. Do not depend upon His creations.
(Tirmidhi/Ibn Hibbaan)
35. The one making the Dua as well as the person listening to it, both should say Ameen at the end.
(Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai)
36. Rub both hands over the face at the termination of the Dua
(Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibbaan, Majah, and Hakim)
37. Don't be impatient over the acceptance of Dua’s. In other words, don't say: "I've made Dua repeatedly but to no avail."
(Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)
38. Try to cry whilst making dua to Allah as he attends to his servants quicker when they are crying with meekness and humility just as a mother tends to her baby quickly when it cries out for its mother. If one cannot cry then one must at least try and simulate the act of crying.
Note: The dua should be concluded with Durood and Ameen.
49. When dua’s are answered Rasulallah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has taught us to be thankful and appreciative by saying:-
Alhamdulillaahilladhee be ‘izzathihee wa jalaa lihee tha thimmuswaaleehaath
“Praise be to Allah that good works have been accomplished by his Power and Glory.”
(Hakim)
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