Du'a - The weapon of the believer : PART 14

Salaam! 😃

September 4th: Factors that Prevent Du'as from Being Answered

One of the greatest trials that a muslim might be afflicted with is that his du'a is not answered. Hence why the prophet ﷺ would pray to Allah that his du'a not be amongst those du'as that are not responded to. In particular he(saw) would pray: "O Allah! I seek your refuge from knowledge that is without benefit, and from a heart that does not become fearful,and from a du'a that is not responded to!"

So the prophet(saw) would make du'a that his du'a be answered!

1. Haram Sustenance

2. Sins

3. Leaving Advice to Others

Part of one's iman is that one loves for one's brother what he loves for himself. This necessitates one's wanting good for one's brother and averting evil from him. So when one sees one's brother doing something that is not allowed, it becomes obligatory on one to try to prevent him, evn if he has to do so physically (if one is able to do so without any harm or adverse consequences). Similarly one has to advise and exhort him to do good deeds if he is being lax in performing them. The prophet(saw) said: " I swear by Him in whose Hands is my soul, you will of a surety command what is good, and forbid what is evil, or else it is very possible that Allah will send upon you His punishment, so you will make du'a to Him, and you will not be responded to."

4. Being Hasty

5. Becoming Tired

6. Asking for Something Prohibited

7. A man married to an evil woman
One who gave a loan but did not take precautions
And a man who gave his money to a fool

These three catgories of people in the following hadith: "Three people will make du'as, bu they will not be answered! (The first is) a man who had under him (in marriage) a woman who had an evil character, yet he did not divorce her. (The second is) a man who gave some money as a debt to another man, yet he did not use any witnesses. (The third is) a man wo gave his money to a fool, even though Allah says ' And do not give fools your money.'"

First case: A woman with lax morals. If this is the case and the man cannot correct her, then she should be divorced. If he does not divorce her, then he exposes himself to Allah's anger and his du'as are not responded to.

Second case: A person who is not wise in giving loans. He gives loans to people who are not trustworthy and on top of that he does not take the necessary precautions (2 witnesses). This ensures that no dispute arises if the two parties disagree about the amount of the loan.

Third case: A person who is not responsible with his money and enters in dealings with someone who is not wise or experienced in that area.

8. Abandoning the Etiquette of Du'a

A famous worshipper was once asked 'Why is it that we make du'a yet they are not responded to?'

He replied:

"Because you know Allah, yet do no obey Him
And you know that Prophet(saw) , but do not follow his sunnah
And you know the Quran, but do not act upon it
And you eat from the blessings of Allah, but you do not express gratitude for it
And you know Paradise, yet do not strive for it
And you know the Fire of Hell, yet do not run away from it
And you know Shaytan, but you do not fight him, and instead obey him
And you know death, but you do not prepare yourselves for it
And you bury the dead, but do not learn a lesson from it
And you have left your own faults, and instead busy yourself with the faults of others

EDIT: Next Chapter inshAllah - Chapter 11 The Wisdom behind a delayed response