Ramadan series - No DUA is unanswered

                                                                 No DUA is Unanswered

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ١٨٦

When My servants ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about Me: I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me. So let them respond ˹with obedience˺ to Me and believe in Me, perhaps they will be guided ˹to the Right Way˺.

This is an ayah from the second juzz. This ayah makes us realise that ALLAH answers all our prayers . Human beings are not self sufficient and we need support most of the times. Who better to ask for support than the almighty Allah, who can guide us, fulfill our needs and save us form any harm.Allah not only supports us but guides us to do the best so it is our duty to call upon him.A person can be rich, poor, healthy, weak, successful, man, women, young, old but each one of us is dependent on Allahs mercy.

Allah says that : يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّـهِ ۖ وَاللَّـهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ

O mankind, you are those in need of Allah , while Allah is free of need, the Praiseworthy.

Surat Fatir (35:15)

Understanding this ayah, we should realise that we are the ones in need and He is the all sufficient.  So we should seek his help in every situation.

Allah says ibadi,( عِبَادِى) a person in need is beloved to Allah. Allah calls him my servant with love. Allah says to Prophet  Muhammed (saw) when my ppl asks you about me tell them I am near . Here it means I hear them , hear the calls of the caller . (إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ) ۖwhen ever he calls be it morning, night in solitude, in public, in grief etc I listen to him. I am here for them 24/7 as  it says in ayatal kursi : 

لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ.  neither drowsiness takes over him nor he sleep… 

Again we see from the first ayah(ayah 186 surah baqarah), but if he wants me to listen to him he has to do some thing for me ; that is ..

فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى

So let them respond ˹with obedience˺ to Me and believe in Me

Allah asks us to pray 5 times a day which is one of the command and we have to follow all such commands which he has commanded us for our good. And that they have faith that if they obey me I will reward them . So that they are guided.  If they do follow the commands of Allah and ask his help they will definitely be helped in the best way and guided to do the right thing.

Allah grants him the tawfeeq to do things which has the best outcome. And so a person has to make dua, to Allah , whole heartedly, with love and fear ,with humility, with faith that he will be helped . To have the tawfeeq to make dua is a blessing in itself so do not be lazy or lose hope in dua. Making dua is also an ibada. When we make dua remember this ayah, Allah is listening to us. 

In this month of ramadan our iman is at its highest. We fast, we pray, we read Quran, these things make our iman stronger so make lots of dua, ask for everything that you need in the world and also our aakhira (Jannah). In sujood we are the closest to Allah so our dua will surely be accepted. It is highly recommended to make dua after every good deed.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There is no Muslim who calls upon Allah, without sin or cutting family ties, but that Allah will give him one of three answers: He will quickly fulfill his supplication, He will store it for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an evil from him similar to it.” They said, “In that case we will ask for more.” The Prophet said, “Allah has even more.”

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 11133

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani

There are certain times dua (supplication) is more likely to be accepted by Allah (SWT) as mentioned by Prophet (SAW). Some of them are mentioned below:

1. The Last Third Of The Night

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: 'In the last third of every night our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) (Allah (SWT)) descends to the lowermost heaven and says; "Who is calling Me, so that I may answer him? Who is asking Me so that may I grant him? Who is seeking forgiveness from Me so that I may forgive him?."' [Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi]

Amr ibn Absah narrated that the Prophet said: 'The closest any worshipper can be to His Lord is during the last part of the night, so if you can be amongst those who remember Allah at that time, then do so.'[at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i, al-Hakim - Sahih]

2.Between Adhan and Iqamah

Anas (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: 'A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected.'

[Ahmad, abu Dawud #521, at-Tirmidhi #212, Sahih al-Jami #3408, an-Nasai and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (sound)]

3.An Hour On Friday

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah’s Messenger (SAW) talked about Friday and said: 'There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (SWT), then Allah (SWT) will definitely meet his demand.' And he (the Prophet (SAW) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands.[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Some have said that this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer’s leader) enters the mosque on Friday’s prayer until the prayer is over (ie between the two khutbahs), whereas others have said that it is the last hour of the day (ie after the Asr prayer until the Maghrib prayer).

4.While Prostrating

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW), said: 'The nearest a slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (SWT) much in it. [Muslim, abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and others, Sahih al-Jami #1175]

5.At The End Of The Obligatory Salat:

Narrated Abu Omamah (RA): that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) was asked, O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (SWT), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) [at-Tirmidhi]. This time is after saying 'At-tahyat' , and before making Tasleem (finishing prayer)

6.The Night Of 'Qadr' (Decree)

This night is the greatest night of the year. This is the night which the almighty Allah (SWT) said about it, "The night of Al-Qadar (Decree) is better than a thousand months." [Surah al-Qadr, 97: 3]

The Night of Decree is one of the odd nights of the last ten nights of the blessed month of Ramadan. The angels descend down to the earth, and the earth is overwhelmed with peace and serenity until the break of dawn and when the doors of Paradise are opened, the worshipper is encouraged to turn to Allah to ask for his needs for this world and the Hereafter.

7.During The Rain

Narrated Sahel Ibn Sa'ad (RA): that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'Two will not be rejected, Supplication when the Adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of the rain'. [Al-Hakim 2: 114, and Abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah]

'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls' [reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469]. The time of the rain is a time of mercy from Allah (SWT) so, one should take advantage of this time when Allah (SWT) is having mercy on His slaves.

 

8.At the Adhan

'Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls' [reported by Imam al-Shafi' in al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469]

In another hadith; 'When the prayer is called, the doors of the skies are opened, and the du'a is answered' [al-Tayalisi in his Musnad #2106, al-Sahihah #1413]

9.The Traveller

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (SWT)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveller. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]

10.Dua of the one fasting until he breaks his fast.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said; Three supplications will not be rejected (by Allah (SWT)), the supplication of the parent for his child, the supplication of the one who is fasting, and the supplication of the traveller. [al-Bayhaqi, at-Tirmidhi - Sahih]