As Hazrat Imam Aly, May Allah be pleased with him, once put it:
โWhen the world pushes you to your knees, you’re in the perfect position to prayโ.
Truly, desperation, fear and suffocation, while they’re the time when a person is in the most need for prayers, just being in a deadly need for praying, are themselves aments the most elements leading your prayers to be answered. In other words, tying yourself, your need and aspiration to the divine rope of Allah, is your gateway to getting heard and having your prayers answered.
In this unique post on The Muslim Tribune, we shall delve into many ways and powerful lessons from history and predecessors on ways to getting your prayers answered. Learn how patience, gratitude, and trust in Allah’s wisdom transform every prayers into a blessing.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah that :
the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: “There are three supplications that will undoubtedly be answered: the supplication of one who has been wronged; the supplication of the traveler; and the supplication of a father for his child.”
ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ุฃูุจูู ุจูููุฑูุ ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ุนูุจูุฏู ุงูููููู ุจููู ุจูููุฑู ุงูุณููููู ููููุ ุนููู ููุดูุงู ู ุงูุฏููุณูุชูููุงุฆููููุ ุนููู ููุญูููู ุจููู ุฃูุจูู ููุซููุฑูุ ุนููู ุฃูุจูู ุฌูุนูููุฑูุ ุนููู ุฃูุจูู ููุฑูููุฑูุฉูุ ููุงูู ููุงูู ุฑูุณูููู ุงูููููู ู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ู โ “โ ุซููุงูุซู ุฏูุนูููุงุชู ููุณูุชูุฌูุงุจู ููููููู ูุงู ุดูููู ูููููููู ุฏูุนูููุฉู ุงููู ูุธููููู ู ููุฏูุนูููุฉู ุงููู ูุณูุงููุฑู ููุฏูุนูููุฉู ุงููููุงููุฏู ููููููุฏููู โ”โ โ.โ
| Grade: | Hasan (Darussalam) |
| Reference | : Sunan Ibn Majah 3862 |
| In-book reference | : Book 34, Hadith 36 |
| English translation | ย :ย Vol. 5, Book 34, Hadith 3862 |
Indeed, prayer is one of the most profound acts of worship in a believerโs life.
But this doesn’t mean that one must be a father, a Ma’zloum, or a traveler in order to have his prayers answered by Allah.
Yes, through prayer, one can, not only ask Allah for his needs but also strengthen his faith, patience, and trust in His wisdom. History abounds with examples and stories of our predecessorsโprophets, companions, and righteous believersโwho taught us how prayers are answered in different ways, and how perseverance in supplication shapes our relationship with God.
In this post, we will explore timeless lessons about answered prayers from those who came before us, highlighting the values of patience, gratitude, and trust in divine timing.
The Essence of Prayer
Prayer is more than words whispered in solitude; it is a sincere conversation with God. Our predecessors understood prayer as an act of humilityโacknowledging human weakness and seeking divine strength. They knew that prayer is not always about receiving an immediate answer but about showing persistence and reliance on Godโs mercy.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught: โThe prayer of a servant will continue to be answered as long as he does not pray for sin or the breaking of family ties, and as long as he is not hasty.โ (Sahih Muslim). This hadith reveals the importance of patience when waiting for prayers to be answered.
Patience and Trust in Divine Timing
One of the greatest lessons is that prayer is always heard, but the response may come in different forms:
1. Immediate granting of the request.
2. A delayed response, which comes when the time is right.
3. Protection from harm instead of what was asked for.
4. A greater reward saved for the Hereafter.
Consider the story of Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him). For years, he prayed for a child, even though he and his wife were elderly. His persistent prayer was eventually answered with the birth of Prophet Yahya (John). This teaches us that no prayer is too small or too late for Godโs mercy.
It was narrated by Hurayrah that Prophet Muhammad (๏ทบ) said:
โThere are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just leader, and the supplication of the oppressed person; Allah raises it up above the clouds and opens the gates of heaven to it. And the Lord says: โBy My might, I shall surely aid you, even if it should be after a while.โโ
ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ุฃูุจูู ููุฑูููุจูุ ุญูุฏููุซูููุง ุนูุจูุฏู ุงูููููู ุจููู ููู ูููุฑูุ ุนููู ุณูุนูุฏูุงูู ุงููููุจูููููุ ุนููู ุฃูุจูู ู ูุฌูุงููุฏูุ ุนููู ุฃูุจูู ู ูุฏููููุฉูุ ุนููู ุฃูุจูู ููุฑูููุฑูุฉูุ ููุงูู ููุงูู ุฑูุณูููู ุงูููููู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู โ “โ ุซููุงูุซูุฉู ูุงู ุชูุฑูุฏูู ุฏูุนูููุชูููู ู ุงูุตููุงุฆูู ู ุญูุชููู ููููุทูุฑู ููุงูุฅูู ูุงู ู ุงููุนูุงุฏููู ููุฏูุนูููุฉู ุงููู ูุธููููู ู ููุฑูููุนูููุง ุงูููููู ูููููู ุงููุบูู ูุงู ู ููููููุชูุญู ููููุง ุฃูุจูููุงุจู ุงูุณููู ูุงุกู ููููููููู ุงูุฑููุจูู ููุนูุฒููุชูู ูุฃูููุตูุฑูููููู ูููููู ุจูุนูุฏู ุญูููู โ”โ โ.โ ููุงูู ุฃูุจูู ุนููุณูู ููุฐูุง ุญูุฏููุซู ุญูุณููู ููุณูุนูุฏูุงูู ุงููููุจููููู ูููู ุณูุนูุฏูุงูู ุจููู ุจูุดูุฑู โ.โ ููููุฏู ุฑูููู ุนููููู ุนููุณูู ุจููู ูููููุณู ููุฃูุจูู ุนูุงุตูู ู ููุบูููุฑู ููุงุญูุฏู ู ููู ููุจูุงุฑู ุฃููููู ุงููุญูุฏููุซู ููุฃูุจูู ู ูุฌูุงููุฏู ูููู ุณูุนูุฏู ุงูุทููุงุฆูููู ููุฃูุจูู ู ูุฏููููุฉู ูููู ู ูููููู ุฃูู ูู ุงููู ูุคูู ูููููู ุนูุงุฆูุดูุฉู ููุฅููููู ูุง ููุนูุฑููููู ุจูููุฐูุง ุงููุญูุฏููุซู ููููุฑูููู ุนููููู ููุฐูุง ุงููุญูุฏููุซู ุฃูุชูู ูู ู ููู ููุฐูุง ููุฃูุทููููู โ.โ
| Grade: | Hasan (Darussalam) |
| Reference | : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3598 |
| In-book reference | : Book 48, Hadith 229 |
| English translation | ย :ย Vol. 6, Book 46, Hadith 3598 |
Gratitude When Prayers Are Answered
Our predecessors emphasized gratitude as a key element of prayer. When a prayer is answered, gratitude reinforces faith and invites more blessings. Prophet Suleiman (Solomon), when granted immense power and wisdom, declared: โThis is by the favor of my Lord, to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful.โ (Qurโan 27:40).
Gratitude transforms answered prayers into stepping stones for further growth in faith, reminding us that blessings are both gifts and responsibilities.
Learning from Unanswered Prayers
Sometimes, what feels like an unanswered prayer is actually a hidden blessing. Our predecessors taught that unanswered prayers protect us from harm we cannot see. Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph, once said: โI do not worry about whether my prayer will be answered. I worry about whether I will be guided to make the prayer, for if I am guided to it, then the answer is with it.โ
This perspective helps us realize that prayer itself is a form of divine favor, and every supplication carries value even if the outcome is not what we expect.
Lessons of Perseverance
The companions of the Prophet also demonstrated unwavering perseverance in prayer. They prayed during hardships, battles, and moments of uncertainty, never losing hope in Godโs support. Their lives teach us that persistence in prayer cultivates inner strength and resilience.
One companion, Abu Hurairah, narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: โWhoever wants his prayers answered, let him make plenty of duโa (supplication).โ This teaches us that consistency, not just occasional requests, leads to divine response.
Practical Lessons for Us Today
From the lives of our predecessors, we can apply several practical lessons to our own spiritual journey:
โข Be patient: Answers may take time, but they always come in the form that is best for us.
โข Show gratitude: Every answered prayer deserves thanks and humility.
โข Trust Godโs wisdom: Sometimes unanswered prayers protect us from harm.
โข Stay consistent: Prayer should be a daily habit, not only during times of crisis.
โข Have faith: Trust that God listens to every word, even those whispered silently in the heart.
Conclusion
The stories of our predecessors remind us that prayer is never wasted. Every supplication draws us closer to God, strengthens our patience, and deepens our faith. Whether prayers are answered immediately, delayed, or redirected, Godโs wisdom always prevails.
By reflecting on these lessons, we can approach prayer not only as a request but as a journey of trust, gratitude, and perseveranceโjust as those before us did.
Maha Youssuf and The Muslim Tribune Editorial Team
