What is the correct etiquette (adab) for making dua?

Dua is a private conversation between a servant and their Lord, and both the Quran and the Sunnah teach us to approach it with humility and adab. Allah says, 'Call upon your Lord humbly and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors' (7:55), and follows this by telling us to call on Him 'in fear and hope' (7:56) — never treating Him casually, and never losing hope in His mercy. Good practice includes opening and closing the dua with praise of Allah and salawat upon the Prophet, facing the qiblah where possible, being in a state of wudu, and raising the hands with palms upturned as a sign of need — the Prophet taught that Allah is shy to return a servant's raised hands empty. It is recommended to lower the voice rather than shout, to ask with firm conviction rather than a half-hearted 'if You will,' to call on Allah by names suited to the request (for forgiveness, ya Ghafur; for provision, ya Razzaq), and to be patient rather than rushing to feel unanswered. The outward posture matters, but sincerity and humility of the heart are what truly complete the etiquette.

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