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Why doesn't Allah answer our Du`a?
Praise be to Allah.
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Du`a and ta`awwudhat [prayers seeking refuge with Allah] are like a weapon, and a weapon is only as good as the person who is using it; it is not merely the matter of how sharp it is. If the weapon is perfect and free of faults, and the arm of the person using it is strong, and there is nothing stopping him, then he can lay waste the enemy. But if any of these three features is lacking, then the effect will be lacking accordingly.” (Ad-Da’ wad-Dawa’, p. 35)
From this statement, it will be clear that there is an etiquette and rulings which must be fulfilled, in the Du`a and in the person making the Du`a.
There are also things that may prevent the Du`a from reaching Allah or being answered . These things must be removed from the person making the Du`a and from the Du`a. When all of these conditions are fulfilled , then the Du`a may be answered.
So, call you (O Muhammad and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allah making (your) worship pure for Him (Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake only and not to show off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship.) [Ghafir 40:14]
Sincerity in Du`a means having the firm belief that the One upon Whom you are calling Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted is alone able to meet your need, and it also means avoiding any kind of showing off in your Du`a.
I said (to them): Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers. [Nuh 71:10-12]
Other aspects of the etiquette of making Du`a, although they are not obligatory, are: to face the Qiblah; to make Du`a in a state of purity; to start the Du`a with praise of Allah and blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It is also prescribed to raise the hands when making Du`a.
One of the things that helps to bring a response to Du`a is to seek the best times and places .
Among the best times is the time just before Fajr (dawn), the last third of the night , the last hour of Jumu`ah (Friday), when rain is falling , and between the Adhan and Iqamah .
Among the best places are mosques in general, and Al-Masjid Al-Haram [in Makkah] in particular.
Among the situations in which Du`a is more likely to be answered are: when one is mistreated or oppressed, when one is travelling, when one is fasting, when one is in desperate need, and when a Muslim makes Du`a for his brother in his absence.
Things which may prevent Du`a from being answered include:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: A person's Du`as will continue to be answered so long as he does not pray for something sinful or for the breaking of family ties. (Narrated by Muslim)
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: O people, Allah is Good and only accepts that which is good. Allah commanded the pious to follow the same commandments as He gave to the Messengers. He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O (you) Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibat [all kinds of lawful foods which Allah has made lawful] and do righteous deeds. Verily, I am Well-Acquainted with what you do.” [Al-Mu’minun 23:51]
“O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with.” [Al-Baqarah 2:172]
Then he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) mentioned a man who has travelled on a long journey and is dishevelled and covered with dust; he stretches forth his hands to the heaven, (saying) O Lord, O Lord, but his food is prohibited, his drink is prohibited, all his nourishment is prohibited, so how can his Du`a be accepted? (Narrated by Muslim)
The man described by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had some of the characteristics which help Du`as to be answered, he was travelling and he was in need of Allah, may He be Exalted and Glorified but the fact that he consumed prohibited wealth prevented his Du`a from being answered. We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound.
In order for Du`as to be answered, it is not essential to adhere to all of these points and be free of all that could prevent one's Du`a from being answered. That is something which happens very rarely. But one has to try hard and strive towards achieving this.
Another important point is to realise that the response to the Du`a may take different forms:
And Allah knows best.