The
Etiquette of Du'â
Collected
by the South African Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal
These 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 Duaa with
sincerity. In other words, one should firmly believe that nobody but Allah
Ta'aala will fulfill his objectives. (Haakim)
-
One should perform
a good deed prior to making the Duaa & he should mention this during
the course of the Duaa. For eg. He should say, O Allah! I had performed
so & so deed solely for Your pleasure. O Allah! accept my Duaa due
to the barkat of that deed. (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).
-
To make Duaa whilst
one is paak & clean. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Nasai, Ibn Hibbaan,
Mustadrak).
-
To make wudhu
before the Duaa (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'aala at the beginning as well as at the end of Duaa (All six major hadith
collections)
-
To convey Durood
upon Rasulullah (saw) at the beginning as well as the end. (Abu Dawud,
Musnade-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 Duaa (Muslim)
-
To mention the
Asmaal-Husnaa (the names of Allah Ta'aala) and the sublime qualities Of
Allah Ta'aala. (Ibn Hibbaan and Mustadrak)
-
To abstain from
ceremonies rhyming of the Duaa phrases (Bukhari)
-
To abstain from
saying the Duaa in a "sing-song" tone if the Duaa is in a poetic form (Hisn)
-
One should make
Duaa through the medium of the Ambiyaa (alayhimus-salaam) and other Pious
servants. (For eg. He should say. O Allah! Accepts my Duaa through The
good offices of these saintly people). (Bukhari, Bazzaar, Haakim)
-
To make the Duaa
in a soft voice (All six major hadith collections on the authority if Abu
Musa)
-
To utter the Duaa
phrases transcrIbnd from Rasulullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam because Rasulullah
Didn't leave out a single need of the Deen nor of the dunya whilst teaching
us how to make Duaa (Abu Dawud/Nasai)
-
To make a Duaa
that encompasses most of the needs of Deen and the dunya. (Abu Dawud)
-
To make Duaa in
favour of oneself first, thereafter ones parents and to include the other
Muslims in the Duaa as well (Muslims)
-
If the Imam is
making Duaa, he should not make Duaa for himself only but he should Include
all the congregants in the Duaa (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)
-
Abu Dawud (R.A.)
Narrates that Rasulullah Said that the Imam who makes Duaa for himself
only, has betrayed the people." In other words, the Imam should not Make
a Duaa that is restricted to him alone. For eg. He should not say, "O Allah!
cure my son." or "O Allah! Return my lost item." etc. but he should make
a Duaa that includes all the congregation for eg. He may say "O Allah!
Forgive us and have mercy upon us."
-
To make Duaa with
firm conviction (for eg. he should not say: "O Allah! If you wish fulfil
so and so task of mine." (All six major hadith collections)
-
To make Duaa 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 Duaa being accepted.(Haakim)
-
To make Duaa repeatedly.
(Bukhari, Muslim)
-
This repetition
should be at least thrice (Abu Dawud)
-
Note One may repeat
the Duaa thrice in none sitting or he may repeat it on three different
occasions. The "repetition of the Duaa" can be interpreted in both ways."
-
To make Duaa earnestly
and insistently. (Nasai, Hakim, Abu awanah)
-
To abstain from
making Duaa of severing family ties or other sins. (Muslim, Tirmidhi)
-
Avoid making Duaas
of pre-determined and fixed things (for eg woman should not make a duaa
of being transformed into a man or a tall person shouldn't make Duaa thus:"O
Allah! Make me short ." etc) (Nasai).
-
Don't Make Duaa
for impossible things. (Bukhari)
-
Don't make a Duaa
in which you ask Allah Ta'aala to confine His mercy to yourself Only (Bukhari,
Abu Dawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)
-
Ask only Allah
Ta'aala alone for all your needs. Do not depend upon His creation. (Tirmidhi/Ibn
Hibbaan)
-
The one making
the Duaa 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 Duaa (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi,Ibn Hibbaan,
Majah, Hakim)
-
Don't be impatient
over the acceptance of Duaas. In other words, don't say: "I've made Duaa
repeatedly but to no avail." (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)
From
Sidi Faraz Rabbani of the Hanafi
fiqh list.