TWO QUALITIES THAT LEAD TO ACCEPTANCE OF DUA

The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم has mentioned in one Hadith:

بَيْنَا رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ قاعِدٌ اِذْ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فصَلّى فقالَ: اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَ ارْحَمْنِيْ فقالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلّى اللهُ عَليْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ: عَجَلتَ اَيُّهاَ المُصَلِي إذا صَلَّيْتَ فَقعَدْتَ فاحْمِدِ اللهَ بِمَا هُوَ اَهْلُهُ وَ صَلِّي عَلَيَّ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُ. قالَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَجُلٌ آخَرَ بَعْدَ ذلِكَ فَحَمِدَ اللهَ وَ صَلَّى عَلى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ فقالَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ: اَيُّهَا المُصَلِّى ادْعُ تُجَبْ

Whilst the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم was once seated (in the Masjid) a man entered and offered his prayers thereafter he said (whilst supplicating): “O Allah! Forgive me and have mercy upon me.”

(After hearing this) Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه و سلم responded: “O Musallee (performer of prayer)! You have rushed (into supplicating). When you finish praying and then you sit (to supplicate), then praise Allah in a manner He is worthy of and send blessings upon me and then ask from Him.”

Thereafter, another man offered his prayers and then he praised Allah and sent salutations upon the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said (to him): “O Musallee! Ask and you shall be granted”

[Tirmidhi / Nasaai / at-Targheet wat Tarheeb]

إنَّ الدُّعَاءَ مَوْقُوْفٌ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الارْض لا يَصْعَدُ مِنْهُ شَيْئٌ حَتّى تُصَلِّيَ عَلى النَّبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ

Indeed a supplication remains remains between the sky (heavens) and the earth, it does not proceed until you send salutations upon your Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم.

[‘Umar Ibn Khattab رضي الله عنه]

Explanation

The above Hadith and Athar of Hadhrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه make it quite clear that when one intends to supplicate then he should raise his hands and not haste into asking for what he desires but instead he should praise Allah Ta’ala in a manner which He is worthy of thereafter he should send salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم.

Indeed a supplication without these two qualities and ingredients remains incomplete; such a Du’a leaves the ground but does not reach the sky; it remains hanging in between the two.