Reasons that prevent duáā from being accepted

[Rida]

Bismillāhi’r Raĥmāni’r Raĥīm
Reasons that prevent duáā from being accepted.
{Riđā[1]: They are fifteen; five mentioned in the text by the author quddisa sirruh and ten by myself.}

O my dear Muslim! If your duáā isn’t accepted, consider it as a flaw in yourself, do not complain about Allāh ta`āla. Because the flaw is not in His bestowing, rather it is in your asking.

His favors are on all and all-encompassing, but O Shahidi [2] –
What prevents you from being worthy of something?

Dear Muslim! Among reasons why duáā is rejected are:
Reason the first: If any condition or proper etiquette isn’t observed. This is your own shortcoming. Not to regret one’s own sins, and to complain about Allāh ta`āla instead, is outright shamelessness.

{Riđā: Nabiyy şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam says ‘A traveler on a long journey raises his hands towards the heavens. His hair is unkempt, and clothes dishevelled and dirty [from the arduousness of the journey.] And he cries, “O my Lord! O my Lord!” [yā Rabb, yā Rabb!] His food is from Harām ; his drink is from Harām; his clothing is of Harām; and his sustenance is from Harām. How then, will his prayer be accepted?’

RasūlAllāh SallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam mentioned travel and its arduousness because this is a time when duáā is more likely to be accepted. Anyway, as long as one’s food and drink aren’t free from Harām there is no hope of duáā being accepted.}

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Reason the second: One’s being replete with sins.
{Riđā: Though this reason is already included in the first, it has been mentioned seperately, to emphasize on the gravity of the matter.}

It is therefore necessary to redress the rights of the oppressed, to seek their pardon, repent from sins and have a firm resolve not to sin again; and do tawbah and istighfār before doing duáā.

It is reported from Kaáb al-Aĥbār that in the times of Sayyidunā Mūsā álayhi’s şalātu wa’s salām, there was a drought. He went out with the Israelites to do duáā, but it did not rain. Allāh ta`āla said to Mūsā álayhi’s şalātu wa’s salām, ‘I shall not accept your duáās since a backbiter is amongst you. He who reveals the defects of people to others.’[3] Mūsā álayhi’s şalātu wa’s salām asked, ‘O my Lord! who is he? Tell us so that we shall remove him from our assembly’. [It is said that] Allāh táālā replied: ‘I forbid you from backbiting, and will I do it Myself? Mūsā álayhi’s şalātu wa’s salām ordered everyone in the assembly to repent and it rained immediately afterwards.

Sufyān ath-Thawrī raĥimahullāh táāla says: ‘The Israelites suffered drought for seven years. At last, they fell to eating corpses and carcasses. They would go to the mountains and do duáā with utmost humility and fervor. They would wail but their duáā went unaccepted. Their Prophet was then informed: ‘If you walk such that your legs are worn upto your knees, and your hands touch the heavens and your tongues go dumb after continually beseeching, i shall not accept your prayers as long as you do not redress the rights of the oppressed. The Israelites then repented from oppressing fellow beings and it rained thereafter’.

Mālik ibn Dīnār raĥimahullāh táāla says: ‘The Israelites went out to pray for rain during a dire drought. Their Prophet was informed: ‘Tell them to go back; ye come with unclean bodies and raise such [unclean] hands towards Me? Ye kill unjustly and fill your bellies with Harām [and ask for succor?] Go away, lest I increase my wrath.’

It is reported from Abū Şiddīq Nājī that Sayyidunā Sulaymān álayhi’s şalātu wa’s salām came out to pray for rain. He saw an ant praying; it was saying: ‘O Allāh! I too am from your creation. We partake of the food thou bestow’st. Destroy us not for the sins of others.’ Sulaymān álayhi’s şalātu wa’s salām said, ‘Let us go back. It will rain on account of this ant’.

[Imām] Awzāýī says that people came out to pray for rain. Bilāl ibn Saád praised Allāh and said: ‘O who have assembled here! Do you not accept your crimes?’ The people replied, ‘We do’. Said Bilāl, ‘O Allāh, you have said: “We shall not harm the righteous”. We acknowledge our sins and seek your pardon. Have mercy on us and give us water’. It rained thereafter.

Someone asked Mālik ibn Dīnār to pray for rain. Said he: ‘You think that rain is delayed and i think that raining stones is delayed’. That is, ‘You think that it has not rained for long and i think that it is a Mercy of Allāh, that we deserve to be rained stones but are delayed of such punishment.’

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The third reason: Sovereignty of the Master. He is the Ruler not the ruled; He Overcomes all and is not overcome. He is the Master and not subservient. if He rejects your supplication, you cannot do anything; complaint or anger will avail you nothing. His ways are such, that He gives and witholds from His beloved ones as He pleases. Of what significance are you that you insist your wish to be granted? Who are you? What are you?

“And He is Dominant on everything; but many people do not know this”

{Riđā says: His being Free, Independent and Sovereign of all things is absolutely true. His Promise is true. His, is the final word. and His Mercy encompasses the world. Even if duáā is made such that it fulfils all conditions and is done with proper etiquette, it is not necessary that it be accepted. Mayhap it is manifest in other ways like affliction is deflected or it is treasured for the final day. This is explained later in the essay.

Anyway, nothing is binding on the Lord Almighty. “He does what He wishes”. “He Orders whatsoever He pleases" His sovereignty is absolute and there is no doubt in it. “Allāh is He who is Independent of everything, the Praised One”. Neither will He do the opposite of His Promise of reward or retribution. “Verily, Allāh does not contravene His promises”.
“My Word shall not change and I do not oppress My slaves” .

Alas! Alas! Alas!

There is no refuge fleeing from Allāh except that which is granted by Him Alone. Allāh is sufficient for us and what an excellent Benefactor is He! Peace and salutations on he who is mercy personified and guidance, the closest of means to achieve the pleasure of Allāh; and on his progeny and his companions.}

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The fourth reason: The Eternal Wisdom of the Almighty. Because you ask sometimes of something out of ignorance; and He rejects it out of Grace (for your own good); because giving it to you may cause you injury. For example, you ask him of silver and gold; [He rejects] for in it there is danger to your faith untold. You seek safety and health; but in the Knowledge of the Almighty it is a risk for your life after your death. Such a rejection is better than acceptance. Ponder on the verse: “Mayhap you love something, and that is harmful to you” And be thankful that your duáā isn’t accepted.

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The fifth reason: Sometimes, your duáā begets a huge reward in the hereafter; though you seek the temporal and soon to be ravaged pleasures of this world. The Lord Almighty has treasured this duáā for the judgement day. You should be thankful for that, not disappointed and complaining.

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Footnotes:

1. Imam ahmed raza (ra)

2. Shahidi: it is a practice in Urdu/Persian poetry that the final lines of the poem contain the nom de plume of the author. Shahidi seems to be the poet. Shahidī also means ‘to witness’ which makes the verse to mean: ‘His blessings are witnessed by all.’

3. It is among great virtues to conceal flaws of fellow muslims. Unless disclosing such a thing is necessary to prevent harm to others. For example a thief or a cheat should be warned against to protect others and it is not backbiting.

[DramaRani]

JazakAllah for posting this.

[Raeesa]

a great post... i can think of a few duaa's i have made in the past.. which in hindsight i look back and thank Allah for never granting because I wasn't aware of the things that were to come and had those been granted the way they would have troubled me..

[Musashi]

Asallamu 'alaikum wa rahmatulLahi wa barakatuh

Jazaka Allahu khair for the great post~ very informative.

[sally]

thanks....

[Rida]

wa iyyakum

Wassalaaam

[ChotooMotoo]

If your dua is illegal or for something bad, like you make dua that Allah (swt) harm someone or take wealth away from someone (and you're not an oppressed person seeking relief from oppression) then your dua is unlikely to be accepted.