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.