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

Etiquettes of Supplication — In the Light of Hadith

Ubayy ibn Ka‘b رضي الله عنه narrates that whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ remembered someone and intended to supplicate for him, he would first supplicate for himself and then supplicate for that person.
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi)

Supplicating for oneself first reflects humility before Allah, acknowledging that all people are in need at His door and dependent upon His mercy.

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Ask Allah by raising your hands in such a way that the palms face forward, and do not supplicate with the backs of the hands raised. And when you finish supplicating, wipe your hands over your face.
(Sunan Abi Dawud)

Fudalah ibn ‘Ubayd رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard a man supplicating during prayer without praising Allah and without sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ said: This man has been hasty in his supplication. Then he called him and said — or addressed another man in his presence: When one of you prays, he should begin by praising Allah and glorifying Him, then send blessings upon His Prophet ﷺ, and thereafter supplicate for whatever he wishes.
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abi Dawud, Sunan al-Nasa’i)

Abu Zuhayr al-Numayri رضي الله عنه narrates: One night we went out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and passed by a man who was earnestly supplicating to Allah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stopped and listened to his supplication and humble pleading before Allah. Then he said to us: If he concludes his supplication properly and seals it correctly, he will have secured what he asked for. One of us asked: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, what is meant by concluding it properly and sealing it correctly? He ﷺ replied: He should end his supplication by saying “Amin.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud)

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه narrates: Once I sought permission from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to perform ‘Umrah and he granted me permission. He then said: My brother, include us in your supplications and do not forget us. ‘Umar رضي الله عنه says: The word “my brother” that he ﷺ addressed me with — if I were given the whole world in exchange for it, I would not be more pleased.
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abi Dawud)