Supplication: Why Prayers are not answered?

One day a Sufi saint Ibrahim Adham was passing through the bazaar in the city of Basra when he was surrounded by people who said to him: "O Ibrahim! Allah (SWT) has stated in the Noble Qur'an that: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)"; we call upon Allah (SWT) but our prayer is not answered.

Ibrahim Adham said: "The reason is because your hearts have died due to ten things so that your supplications have no sincerity as your hearts are not pure and free of contamination."

They asked: "What are those ten issues?"


Ibrahim Adham replied:


01: First and foremost you have accepted Allah (SWT) but have not repaid His claim.


02: You have recited the Noble Qur'an but have not practiced it.


03: You profess your love of the Holy Prophet of Islam (saw), but are opposed to his Household (as).


04: You claim to have enmity with Shaitan (Satan) but in practice you are in agreement with him.


05: You say that you are fond of heaven but in order to enter heaven you have not done anything.


06: You said that you were afraid of the Hell Fire, but have thrown your bodies into it.


07: You were busy slandering and criticizing people but were ignorant of your own shortcomings and faults.


08: You said that you didn't like the world but are greedily following it.


09: You confess to the reality of death but don't prepare yourself for it.


10: You have buried the dead but haven't taken a lesson or guidance from it.


These are the 10 practices (Ten Reasons) which cause prayers to remain unanswered.


"Prayer is not a spare wheel that you pull out when YOU ARE IN TROUBLE,

It is a steering wheel that keeps you on the right path throughout your life."

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Supplication: Sami Yusuf

Allahumma salli 'ala,
Sayyidina,
Muhammadin an-Nabiyyi al-ummiyyi,
Wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallim.
(O Allah, send your peace and blessings
upon our Prophet Muhammad,
and upon his family and companions.)


O Allah,
My sins are like
The highest mountain;

My good deeds
Are very few
They are like small pebbles.

I turn to You
My heart full of shame,
My eyes full of tears.

Bestow Your
Forgiveness and Mercy
Upon me.

Ya Allah,
Send your peace and blessings
On the Final Prophet,
And his family,
And companions,
And those who follow him.

Eight Things to Learn

One time a scholar asked one of his students, "You have spent a long time with me, what have you learned?"

He said I learned eight things:


First,

I looked to the creation. Everyone has a loved one. When he goes to the grave, he leaves his loved one. Therefore, I made my loved one my good deeds; that way, they will be with me in the grave.


Second,

I looked to the verse, "But as for him who feared to stand before his Lord and restrained his soul from lust," therefore, I struggled against my desires so I could stay obeying Allah.


Third,

I saw that if anyone has something with him that is worth something, he will protect it. Then I thought about the verse,"That which you have is wasted away; and that which is with Allah remains," therefore, everything worth something with me I devoted to Him so it would be with Him for me.


Fourth,

I saw the people seeking wealth, honor and positions and it was not worth anything to me. Then I thought about Allah's words, "Lo, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most aware of Allah, so I did my best to become aware of Allah in order to gain nobility in his sight.


Fifth,

I saw the people being jealous towards each other and I looked at the verse, "We have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of the world", so I left jealousy.


Sixth,

I saw the people having enmity and I thought about the verse, "Lo, the devil is an enemy for you, so take him as an enemy", so I left enmity and I took the Satan as my only enemy.


Seventh,

I saw them debasing themselves in search of sustenance and I thought about the verse, "And there is not a beast in the earth but the sustenance thereof depends on Allah", so I kept myself busy with my responsibilities toward Him and I left my property with Him.


Eighth,

I found them relying on their business, buildings and health and I thought about the verse, "And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him", therefore, I put my trust only on Allah.




Translated by: Jamal Zarabozo

If you want the Rainbow, you got to put up with the rain....

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A beautiful nasheed and video done "VisualDaawah"


'Ishara' By Nazeel Azami