Reciting Durood before Making Dua

عن فضالة بن عبيد قال: بينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قاعد إذ دخل رجل فصلى فقال: اللهم اغفر لي وارحمني فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: عجلت أيها المصلي إذا صليت فقعدت فاحمد الله بما هو أهله وصل علي ثم ادعه قال: ثم صلى رجل آخر بعد ذلك فحمد الله وصلى على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: أيها المصلي ادع تجب (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: ٣٤٧٦، وقال: هذا حديث حسن)

Hazrat Fadhaalah bin Ubaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentions that on one occasion, while Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was seated (in the musjid), a certain person entered and performed salaah. After performing salaah, the person made dua saying, “O Allah Ta‘ala! Forgive me and shower Your mercy upon me!” Observing the manner in which this person had made dua, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed him saying, “You have hastened (in asking Allah Ta’ala for your need), O musalli! After performing salaah, when you are seated to make dua, commence by first praising Allah Ta‘ala as He is worthy of being praised. Thereafter, recite Durood upon me, and then present your need to Allah Ta‘ala.” Thereafter, another person performed salaah. After performing salaah, he praised Allah Ta‘ala, recited Durood upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) (and then commenced making dua). Observing this person (and him adhering to the etiquettes of dua), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to him, “O Musalli! Make dua, for your dua will be accepted!”