8/23. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1481 — Proper Way to Begin Dua
Regarding Supplication (Ad-Du'a)
Hadith About the Proper Way to Make Dua in Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1481
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1481
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَيْوَةُ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو هَانِئٍ، حُمَيْدُ بْنُ هَانِئٍ أَنَّ أَبَا عَلِيٍّ، عَمْرَو بْنَ مَالِكٍ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ فَضَالَةَ بْنَ عُبَيْدٍ، صَاحِبَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ سَمِعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلاً يَدْعُو فِي صَلاَتِهِ لَمْ يُمَجِّدِ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " عَجِلَ هَذَا " . ثُمَّ دَعَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَوْ لِغَيْرِهِ " إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَبْدَأْ بِتَحْمِيدِ رَبِّهِ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ وَالثَّنَاءِ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ يَدْعُو بَعْدُ بِمَا شَاءَ " .
Fudalah ibn Ubayd Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard a person supplicating during prayer. He did not mention the greatness of Allah, nor did he invoke blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He made haste. He then called him and said either to him or to any other person: If any of you prays, he should mention the exaltation of his Lord in the beginning and praise Him; he should then invoke blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ); thereafter he should supplicate Allah for anything he wishes.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1481In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 66English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1476
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1481
This hadith teaches a clear adab of dua in prayer. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) heard a person making supplication, but the person did not first mention Allah’s greatness and did not send blessings upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that he had made haste. Then he taught that when a person prays, he should begin by praising and exalting his Lord, then send blessings upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and after that ask Allah for whatever he wishes. The main lesson is that dua is not only about asking. It is also about showing respect, praise, and love before asking. This makes the hadith important for anyone searching for the proper way to make dua, dua in salah, and sending salawat before dua.
What we learn from this hadith
- Begin supplication by praising and exalting Allah.
- Send blessings upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) before making personal requests.
- Avoid rushing into dua without the manners taught in the hadith.
- After praise and salawat, a person may ask Allah for what he wishes.
