How to start and end dua
First thing is first. Always start every word with the name of Allah.
Bismillahir Rehmanir Raheem
I start with the name of Allah, the most beneficent , the most merciful
After Bismillah, try to follow these three conditions for dua.
بَينا رسولُ اللَّهِ صلَّى اللَّهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ قاعدٌ إذ دخلَ رجلٌ فصلَّى فقالَ : اللَّهمَّ اغفِر لي وارحَمني ، فقالَ رسولُ اللَّهِ صلَّى اللَّهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ : عَجِلتَ أيُّها المصلِّي ، إذا صلَّيتَ فقعَدتَ فاحْمَدِ اللَّهَ بما هوَ أَهْلُهُ ، وصلِّ عليَّ ثمَّ ادعُهُ . قالَ : ثمَّ صلَّى رجلٌ آخرُ بعدَ ذلِكَ فحمِدَ اللَّهَ وصلَّى على النَّبيِّ صلَّى اللَّهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ فقالَ النَّبيُّ صلَّى اللَّهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ : أيُّها المصلِّي ادعُ تُجَبْ
أبو داود (1481)، والترمذي (3476)
From Faddaalah ibn ‘Ubayd (رضي الله عنه) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) heard a man making du’aa’ in his prayer without glorifying Allaah or sending blessings upon the Prophet ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم). The Messenger of Allaah ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) said, ‘This man is in a hurry.’ He called him and said to him or to someone else, ‘When anyone of you makes du’aa’, let him start by glorifying his Lord and praising Him, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet (ﷺ), then let him pray for whatever he wants.’” [Tirmizi] [Abu-Dawud]
#2 Send "Salat ala Nabi" before dua
After glorifying Allah swt, read Salat ala Nabi .This is proved from many Ahadith .Some of the Ahadith are written below.
- Al-Bayhaqi narrated in Shu’ab al-Eemaan that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: “Every du’aa’ is not responded to until one sends blessings upon the Prophet ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم).” This was narrated by Baqiy ibn Mukhallid from ‘Ali in a marfoo’ report, i.e., it was attributed to the Prophet ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم). [Al-Bayhaqi ]
#3 Say "Ameen" after dua
The word “Ameen” meaning can be found from two words mentioned in Hadith i.e ”اِسْمَعْ وَاسْتَجِبْ“ which means , ” O Allah listen to this (dua) and accept this (dua)”.These words have almost the same meaning as that of Ameen. In a hadith , “Ameen” is also considered as part of dua . [reference]
#4 Send "Salat ala Nabi" after completing dua
Final step is again sending Salat ala Nabi ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) .Imaam al-Nawawi said in THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCES [KITAB AL-ADHKAR] p 175: “ The Ullema (Islamic scholars) are all agreed upon that it is mustahub to start dua by glorifying and praising Allah, then saying Salat Ala Nabi (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and then in the end of the dua ,say Salat Ala Nabi again. There are many marfoo’ Ahadith on this subject as the following one.
‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) said: “Du’aa’ is detained between the heavens and the earth and no part of it is taken up until you send blessings upon your Prophet ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) .” [al-Tirmidhi, 486]
Infact Salat Ala Nabi ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) is also a dua to Allah swt for His blessing and peace upon Dearest Prophet Muhammad ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) . So say Ameen after the final Salat Ala Nabi ( صلي الله عليه وآله وبارك وسلم) also
