As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

“Many from amongst the Salaf disliked for du’a to be requested of them; and they used to say to the person requesting du’a, “And who am I?””*

– Sh. Sa’id ‘Abd al-‘Adhim [al-Atqiya’ al-Akhfiya’]

* i.e. meaning: ‘who am I that my du’a will be responded to’ etc. 

It’s very easy and at times habitual for us to say to another person ‘Pray for me’ or ‘Make du’a that Allah grants me such and such.’ Although there’s no problem in doing this, we often forget that Allah sometimes places us in situations so that we can call upon Him ourselves and worship Him on a deeper level. He wants to hear our du’as, He wants to respond to our call.

The person who is being tested and who is in dire need, is the best person to make du’a. Never forget: You are the best person to make du’a for yourself. You know your circumstance, and you know your suffering better than the person you’re asking. You can articulate it better and you can put much emotion and sincerity behind it. Allah is ready to respond to the one in need because He said:
“Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember.” [al-Naml: 62]
Indeed, little do we remember… May Allah make our tongues moist with His Remembrance, ameen.