Ramadan Dua Accepted

Ramadan Message: Ramadan Dua Accepted?

Ramadan Messages and Daily Reminders for 2010
Day 15

In a previous article, we discussed the importance of making dua (supplication) to Allah. Making dua to Allah is encouraged throughout our lives. But this is highly recommended during Ramadan because Allah will grant a fasting person his wishes, if what is asked for is good for him, and He deems it so. There is no one thing that you can ask for that would be too small and insignificant. Allah is indeed all-powerful, all-merciful, and all-giving, that we may fear what we regard as important to us may be in reality "not worthy" to be asked for to Allah.

But remember that Allah has told us to make dua.

“And when my slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them) I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.”
(Holy Quran, 2: 186)

And He, in His infinite Mercy, also says: “Who else is there that responds to the call of the one in distress when he calls out, and He removes evil from him? ...Is there any other God besides Allah? Little is it that you remember!”
(Holy Quran, 27:62)

However, it is not uncommon for people to complain that they have asked God for something, but they have not received it. They become upset when their prayers and dua to Allah is not answered. They feel hope ebb away, and start to feel resentful.

One muslimah writes to us:

"For the last two Ramadans, I had fasted sincerely, and I had been more attuned to the spiritual aspect of the holy month. I made an effort to pray my obligatory 5 daily prayers during the month, where before I had skipped prayers. I read the Quran. I also made vows to be a better Muslim and be true to my religious obligations. I did so because I felt my life was heading in a direction I did not like. I also wanted to get married, but it did not seem to be happening for so many reasons. Meanwhile, all my friends were moving on to the next chapter of their lives, marrying and starting families. So my Ramadan dua for the last two years had been simply for Allah to make my life easier so that I could finally get married. But this has not happened. Now it is my third Ramadan, and I still have the same wish. But part of me, thinks it is hopeless to ask this of Allah again. I should perhaps not ask for this anymore. Sometimes, I feel upset, but then I wonder if it could it be my fate not to be married? But then my life is not perfect, and I have not kept up to my vows to be better, so could that be the reason? Because of such thoughts, I find myself not as "sincere" this Ramadan - I am more tired physically, and have skipped prayers. Then I feel bad about it."

If you are at this point, then please have the good conscience, to step away from the negative feelings and contemplate on whether or why your dua has not been accepted or answered.

Some things to think about on why your dua may not be accepted:

1. Praying to other than Allah (SWT):

Allah (SWT) said: “And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not anyone along with Allah (72:18). He (SWT) also says, “So invoke not with Allah another god lest you should be among those who receive punishment.” (26:213)

2. Hastiness in Dua:

We make dua and expect it to be answered the next morning, at the latest. We should be patient when making dua to be answered. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Your supplication will be answered if you are not impatient, and if you do not say, ‘I supplicated but my supplication was not heard.’” (Malik)

The Prophet (SAW) said: “The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah! What does growing impatient mean?” He (SAW) said, “It is one's saying: ‘I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.’ Then he becomes frustrated (in such circumstances) and gives up supplication altogether.”

This shows that Dua should be continuous, and that we should avoid giving up our Dua because it has not been responded to at a time that we see fit. For Allah (SWT) is The Wise and we know that no Dua is ever wasted! This does not mean however, that we cannot pray that our Dua be answered quickly, for it has been narrated that the Prophet prayed for rain and said "quickly, and not delayed." (Ibn Majah)

3. Impurity of one’s sustenance:

Allah (SWT) said: “O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you…” (2:172). It is important that one’s income be lawful and free from interest as the Prophet (SAW) said, “Make wholesome your earning, Allah will accept your Dua.”

The Prophet (SAW) made mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled, and covered with dust. “He lifts his hands and makes supplication, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’ but his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful, and his nourishment is unlawful. How then can his supplication be accepted?” (Muslim and Ahmad)

4. Not being assertive on what he asks for:

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “None of you should say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You wish, (or) O Allah, have mercy on me if you wish.’ Rather you should be firm in your request, for (Allah does whatever He wishes) and no one can force Him to do otherwise.”

5. Neither enjoins good nor forbids evil:

The Prophet (SAW) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my life is, you either enjoin good and forbid evil, or Allah will certainly soon send His punishment to you. Then you will make supplication and it will not be accepted.” (At-Tirmidhi)

6. Not praying with humility and submissiveness:

Allah (SWT) said: “So call you upon (or invoke) Allah with sincere devotion to Him (Alone)…” (40:14) The Prophet (SAW) said, “Make dua to Allah in a state that you are certain that your dua will be responded to, and know that Allah does not respond to a dua that originates from a negligent, inattentive heart” (Tirmidhi). It is the one who prays with no humility and submissiveness, whose heart is negligent and inattentive.

7. Striving actively to change oneself first:

Allah (SWT) said: “…Verily, Allah will not change the (good) conditions of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)”

So the next time you think that your dua hasn’t been answered and you want to give up think again and keep trying because Allah is always near.

“And Your Lord said: Call on Me, I will answer you”
(Holy Quran, 40:60)

Source:http://www.ramadan.com.au/why-is-my-dua-not-accepted

Hopefully, the muslimah does not lose hope. She needs to have faith that her dua will be accepted, assuming she continues to be sincere in her words and actions. InshaAllah, her dua will be accepted in due course, if it something Allah deems good for her.