The hadeeth: “Allaah loves those who are persistent in making du’aa’”

 

Is this hadeeth saheeh: “Allaah loves those who are persistent in making du’aa’”?.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

There are ahaadeeth which
are in circulation among people and are often-repeated, and some people may
be keen to spread them because they are unaware that they are not saheeh and
cannot be attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him). The Muslim should be cautious and should not attribute anything
to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) except that
which he knows is proven to be soundly narrated from him. 

This hadeeth – “Allaah loves those who are stubborn in
making du’aa’” – is not saheeh and cannot be attributed to the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
 
It was narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Du’aa’
(2/795), by al-‘Aqeeli in al-Du’afa’ al-Kabeer (4/452), by Ibn ‘Adiyy
in al-Kaamil, 7/2621).
 
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said in al-Talkhees: It was
narrated only by Yoosuf ibn al-Safar from al-Awzaa’i, and he is matrook
(rejected). Al-Albaani said in al-Irwa’ (3/143); It is mawdoo’
(fabricated).
 
And he stated in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah
(2/96-637) that it is baatil (false).
 
This is with regard to whether this wording can be
attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
 
With regard to the meaning:
 
What is meant by being persistent in du’aa’ is repeating
it. It is proven that this was what the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) did. Muslim (1794) narrated that Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah
be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) made du’aa’ he would repeat it three times, and when he
asked he would ask three times.
 
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
 
This shows that it is mustahabb to repeat du’aa’s three
times. The phrase “and when he asked” refers to du’aa’ as well, but the idea
is repeated in different words by way of emphasis.
 
Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Chapter
on repeating du’aa’s.” Then he mentioned the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may
Allaah be pleased with her), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) made du’aa’ to Allaah and repeated the du’aa’, when the
Jew Labeed ibn al-A’sam put a spell on him. ‘Aa’ishah said: Until one day,
or one night, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) made du’aa’, then he made du’aa’, then he made du’aa’… Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 6391; Muslim, 2189.
 
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Daa’ wa’l-Dawa’ (p. 25): One of the most beneficial of remedies is
persisting in du’aa’.
 
In Kitaab al-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad (305) it is
narrated from Qataadah: Mawraq said: I can find no other likeness for the
believer except that of a man who is at sea, clinging onto a piece of wood,
and saying, “O Lord, O Lord,” that Allaah might save him.

And Allaah knows best.