Virtue of Facing the Qibla while making Dua.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ


Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu said, “The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa salaam faced the Qibla and said, ‘O Allah guide Daws (Those to the right path).’” (Bukhari & Muslim).

He said: "Every thing has a master, and the master of religious circles is to face the Qibla." Reported by Al-Tabrani with a good chain of narrators.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) when he made the supplication for rain, he also turned his face towards Qibla. He did so on many occasions, as on The Day of Badr. This is confirmed in Sahih Ahadith reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Narrated `Abdullah bin Zaid: The Prophet (ﷺ) went towards the Musalla and invoked Allah for rain. He faced the Qibla and wore his cloak inside out, and offered two rak`at.  : Sahih al-Bukhari 1012
There are numerous Hadiths on virtue of Qibla in prayer and other things :
http://sunnah.com/search/?q=qibla


Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (27/165):
I do not know of any imams who disputed the fact that the Sunnah is to face the qiblah at the time of saying du’aa’.
He also (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Iqtida’ Siraat al-Mustaqeem (364):
It is not recommended for the one who is saying du’aa’ to face any direction except the one that is recommended when praying. Do you not see that as the Muslim is forbidden to pray facing east or any other direction, he is also forbidden to face those directions when saying du’aa’. Some people, when saying du’aa’, try to face the direction in which the righteous man whom he venerates is, whether that is in the east or elsewhere. This is obvious misguidance and clear shirk. End quote.

It says in Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’ (1/367), which is a Hanbali book:
The one who is saying du’aa’ should face towards the qiblah because the best of gatherings is that which faces towards the qiblah. End quote.

It says something similar in the commentary on Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj (2/105), which is a Shaafa’i book.

Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Naqd al-Ta’sees (2/452):
The Muslims are unanimously agreed that the qiblah which it is prescribed for the one who is saying du’aa’ to face when saying du’aa’ is the qiblah which it is prescribed to face when praying. End quote.