In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Etiquettes of Supplication (1) — In the Light of Hadith

Firm resolve and certainty

Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When any one of you supplicates to Allah, he should not say: O Allah, forgive me if You will; O Allah, have mercy on me if You will; O Allah, grant me provision if You will. Rather, he should ask with firm resolve, for Allah does whatever He wills and none can compel Him.
(Sahih al-Bukhari)

Begin with praise of Allah and invoke His Beautiful Names

In an authentic narration, it is mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ heard a man supplicating in this manner: O Allah, I ask You because all praise belongs to You; there is no deity except You. You are One, without partner; You are Al-Mannan (the Bestower of great favors); O Originator of the heavens and the earth without precedent; O Possessor of majesty and honor; O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all existence, I ask You for Jannah and seek Your protection from Jahannam.
The Prophet ﷺ then said to the Companions رضي الله عنهم: Do you know by what means he supplicated? They replied: Allah and His Messenger know best. He ﷺ said: By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, he called upon Allah using His Greatest Name; when supplication is made through it, it is accepted, and when asked through it, what is sought is granted.
(Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan al-Nasa’i)

Avoid haste and do not supplicate for sin or severing family ties

Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: A servant’s supplication continues to be accepted as long as he does not supplicate for sin or the severing of family ties, and as long as he is not hasty.
It was asked: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what does haste mean?
He ﷺ said: A person says, I supplicated again and again, but I did not see my supplication being answered; then he becomes weary and abandons supplication.
(Sahih Muslim)

Humility and submission

Allah Ta‘ala says:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِى نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً
(al-A‘raf 205)

(Remember your Lord within yourself with humility and fear.)

Raising the hands while supplicating

Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ﷺ raised his hands so high in supplication that the whiteness of his armpits became visible.
(Sahih al-Bukhari)

Keeping the voice low

Allah Ta‘ala says:
ٱدْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ
(al-A‘raf 55)

(Call upon your Lord with humility and privately. Indeed, He does not love the transgressors.)

The Prophet ﷺ said: Supplicate in a low voice, for you are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent; rather, you are calling upon One who is All-Hearing and All-Seeing.
(Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Bukhari)