Praise be to Allaah.
It is mustahabb for the worshipper to
begin his du’aa’ with praise of Allaah, then to send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him), then to ask for whatever he wishes, because of the hadeeth narrated by Abu Dawood (1481) and al-Tirmidhi (3477)
from Faddaalah ibn ‘Ubayd (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) heard a man making du’aa’ in his prayer without glorifying Allaah or sending blessings
upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said, ‘This man is in a hurry.’ He called him and said to him or to someone else, ‘When anyone of you
makes du’aa’, let him start by glorifying his Lord and praising Him, then let him send blessings upon the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), then let him pray for whatever he wants.’” (This hadeeth was classed
as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 1314).
Al-Bayhaqi narrated in Shu’ab al-Eemaan
that ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Every du’aa’ is not responded to until one sends
blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).” This was narrated by Baqiy ibn Mukhallid from
‘Ali in a marfoo’ report, i.e., it was attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
(This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 4523)
‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: “Du’aa’ is detained between the heavens and the earth and no part of it is taken up until you
send blessings upon your Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 486; classed
as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 403).
Imaam al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy
on him) said in al-Adhkaar, p 176: “The scholars are agreed that it is mustahabb to start one’s du’aa’
by praising Allaah, then sending blessings upon the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and to
end the du’aa’ in the same manner. There are many marfoo’ reports on this subject (i.e., reports which are
attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)).”
Note that sending blessings on the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) take three forms:
1 – Sending blessings upon
him before making du’aa’, and after praising Allaah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “When anyone of you makes du’aa’, let him start by glorifying his Lord and praising Him, then
let him send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), then let him pray for whatever he wants.”
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3477; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 1314)
2 – Sending blessings upon
him at the beginning of the du’aa’, in the middle and at the end.
3 – Sending blessings upon
him at the beginning and at the end, and one’s personal request may be made in between.
(Adapted from the words of Ibn al-Qayyim
in Jila’ al-Afhaam, p. 531).
Based on the above, what you are
doing is valid and is in accordance with the Sunnah.
And Allaah knows best.
http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/21928/supplication