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Jaza KAllahu khairun for the information.
Prerequisites of an Answered Du'a 1/2
Avoid Du'aa (Invocation) against Others
Jabir narrated this hadeeth about a man who cursed his animal. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "Who is this who cursed his animal?" The man replied, "It is me O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet (SAWS) said, "Get down from it, for a cursed one must not escort us. Do not make Du'aa against yourselves, do not make Du'aa against your children and do not make Du'aa against your wealth. It might coincide with a time when Allah answers what you asked for." (Muslim)
Humble your Voice
It is recommended to invoke Allah (SWT) in a low tone, and it is mentioned in the following evidences; it is known to be a sign of sincerity. Allah said, "Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors." (Holy Qur'an, 7:55). He also tells us, "And remember your Lord within yourself with humility and with fear and without being apparent in speech-in the mornings and the evening. And do not be among the heedless." (Holy Qur'an, 7:205)
Abu Mousa al-Ash'ari narrated, "We were with the Prophet (SAWS) in a journey so the people started raising their voice while making Takbeer. The Prophet (SAWS) said, "O people, calm down, you are not calling one who is either deaf or absent, you are calling One Who is All-Hearing, Near, and He is with you." (Bukhari and Muslim). This hadeeth means that Allah (SWT) knows and sees all that you do.
Perseverance
We must attend to our Du'aa with perseverance, repetition and persistence. Ibn Rajab discusses this aspect in his book: Jami' al-Uloom wal Hikam. He suggests that we invoke Allah (SWT) with His Names and Attributes, as this is among the greatest means of having our Du'aa accepted.
Repetition
It is preferable to repeat your Du'aa three times as it is more likely to be answered. An evidence of this is mentioned in the following authentic hadeeth narrated by Abdullah Ibn Masoud, "Once the Prophet (SAWS) was offering salah (prayer) at the Ka'bah. Abu Jahl was sitting with one of his companions. One of them said to others, 'Who among you will bring a viscera of a camel and put it on the back of Muhammad, when he prostrates? The most unfortunate of them got up and brought it. He waited till the Prophet (SAWS) prostrated and then placed it on his back between his shoulders. I wished I had some people with me to hold out against them.
They started laughing and falling on one another. Allah's Messenger was in prostration and did not lift his head up till his daughter, Fatima, came and removed the camel's viscera from his back. He raised his head and said three times, 'O Allah punish Quraish.' So it was hard for Abu Jahl and his companions when the Prophet (SAWS) invoked Allah (SWT) against them as they had the conviction that the Du'aa and invocations were accepted in this city (Makkah).
The Prophet (SAWS) said, 'O Allah, punish Abu Jahl, Utbah Ibn Rabi'ah, Shaiba Ibn Rabi'ah, Al-Waleed Ibn Utbah, Umayya Ibn Khalaf and Uqba Ibn Abi Mu'ait.' And he counted the seventh whose name I cannot recall. By Allah, I saw the dead bodies of those persons who were counted by Allah's Messenger in the Qaleeb (one of the wells) of Badr." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Confess your Sins with Regret
When making Du'aa, confess your sins with sincere regret for your mistakes, although Allah (SWT) is aware of all your actions. Also, it is worthwhile to acknowledge all of Allah's mercy bestowed upon you. In the hadeeth narrated by Shaddad Ibn Aws, the Prophet (SAWS) taught us Sayyid-ul-Istighfar: "Aboo-u laka bini'matika alayaa wa aboo-'u bithambi fagh-firli, fa-innahu la yaghfir-u-thunuba illa anta." (Meaning: I acknowledge Your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me for verily, none can forgive sin except You). (Bukhari)
Face the Qiblah
One of the good manners when making Du'aa is to face the Qiblah, however, this is not compulsory. Abdullah Ibn Zaid narrated that the Messenger of Allah came to this place of worship to offer the Istisqaa salah (for rain), so he invoked Allah (SWT) and made Du'aa for rain. Then, he faced the Qiblah and overturned his gown (Bukhari)
Raise your Hands in Du'aa
It is a recommended practice to raise one's hands in making Du'aa as it was done by the Prophet (SAWS) at different occasions. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari narrated, 'The Prophet invoked and raised his hands and I saw the whiteness of his armpits." (Bukhari)
In another hadeeth, Salman narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "Your Lord is Living and Generous. He is too ashamed of his servant if he raises his hands to Him to return them unanswered." (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi)
Make Wudhu (Ablution) before Du'aa
Although it is not compulsory, one is recommended to supplicate Allah (SWT) while he is in a state of wudhu. An evidence of this is in the narration of Abu Mousa when his uncle Ubaid Ibn Amir, prior to his death, sent him to the Prophet (SAWS) after the battle of Hunain and instructed him to ask the Prophet (SAWS) to invoke Allah (SWT) and seek forgiveness for him. So the Messenger of Allah requested some water, performed wudhu, raised his hands and said, "O Allah, forgive Abi Amir." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Crying in Du'aa
Abdullah Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (SAWS) recited the verse in which Ibrahim (Abraham) (AS) is invoking Allah (SWT): "O my Lord, they (the idols) have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoever follows me, he verily is of me. And whoever disobeys me, still you are indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Holy Qur'an, 4:36)
He (SAWS) recited another verse, where Prophet Isa [Jesus (alaihi assalam)] is invoking Allah (SWT): "If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You - only - are the Almighty, the All-Wise." (Holy Qur'an, 5:118)And he then raised his hands and said, "Allahumma Ummati, Ummati (O Allah, my nation, my nation)," and then he cried. So Allah said, "O Jibreel (Gabriel), go to Muhammad and ask him, what makes you cry?" So Jibreel approached the Prophet and asked him. So Allah's Messenger informed him of what he said. So Allah said to him, "O Jibreel, go to Muhammad and tell him, "We will make you content with regard to your nation and will not mistreat you."(Muslim). Therefore, the Prophet (SAWS) gave us an example to sincerely cry when beseeching Allah (SWT) during supplication.
Make Du'aa for Yourself Before Making Du'aa for Others
It is Sunnah in Du'aa to start with yourself prior to mentioning others as was narrated by Ubay Ibn Ka'b. He said that if someone was mentioned to the Prophet (SAWS) he would invoke Allah for him but would begin with himself (Tirmithi). However, it was also narrated of Allah's Messenger that, on certain occasions, he would not begin with himself, (for example, when he supplicated for Ibn Abbas, Anas and Umm-Isma'eel, as was mentioned by Imam Muslim).
Do not Transgress in Du'aa
When appealing to Allah (SWT) in Du'aa, we should not get into much detail by asking for the different rewards of Jannah (Paradise). If a person is granted Jannah, he will be granted Jannah and all that is present in it. It was reported of Abi Nu'mah that Abdullah Ibnul-Muhgaffal heard his son saying (in invocation), "O Allah, I ask You for the white palace on the right of Paradise if I were to enter it." So he said, "Dear son, ask Allah (SWT) for Paradise and seek refuge from the Hellfire for I have heard the Messenger of Allah saying, "There will come in this nation people who will transgress (or exceed) in ablution and Du'aa." (Abu Dawud)
:wasalamex