The hadeeth: “Allaah loves those who are persistent in making du’aa’”
Question

                Is this hadeeth saheeh: “Allaah loves those who are persistent in making du’aa’”?.
Praise be to Allah.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.