What are the obstacles to the acceptance of supplication?
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The questioner : He is asking about the obstacles to acceptance, hoping for information. May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : As for the obstacles to acceptance, it appears to me that he is asking about the acceptance of supplication. In reality, they cannot be fully enumerated, because there are hidden obstacles, such as the heart’s exclusion of acceptance and the like. However, among the tangible obstacles:
That the supplication contains injustice, such as supplicating against a person who has not wronged him, or supplicating for the severance of family ties.
Or that the person is one who consumes what is forbidden. Consuming what is forbidden is among the strongest obstacles to acceptance. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: إن الله طيب لا يقبل إلا طيباً ، وإن الله أمر المؤمنين بما أمر به المرسلين ، فقال تعالى : ياأيها الذين آمنوا كلوا من طيبات ما رزقناكم واشكروا لله إن كنتم إياه تعبدون وقال تعالى : ياأيها الرسل كلوا من الطيبات واعملوا صالحا ثم ذكر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الرجل يطيل السفر أشعث أغبر يمد يديه إلى السماء يا رب يا رب! ومطعمه حرام، وملبسه حرام، وغذي بالحرام، فأنى يستجاب لذلك Indeed, Allah is Pure and accepts nothing but that which is pure. And Allah has commanded the believers with what He commanded the messengers, saying: “O you who believe! Eat of the good things We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is Him you worship.” And He said: “O messengers! Eat of the good things and do righteous deeds.” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned a man who travels a long distance, disheveled and covered in dust, stretching his hands to the sky, saying: “O my Lord, O my Lord!” Yet his food is forbidden, his clothing is forbidden, and he is sustained with what is forbidden. How then can his supplication be accepted? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered it unlikely that Allah would accept the supplication of one who consumes what is forbidden, sustains himself with it, and wears it, even if he has performed the causes for the acceptance of supplication. Thus, consuming what is forbidden is among the strongest obstacles to acceptance, whether this forbidden matter was obtained through deception, lying, riba (usury or interest), injustice, or otherwise.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : As for the obstacles to acceptance, it appears to me that he is asking about the acceptance of supplication. In reality, they cannot be fully enumerated, because there are hidden obstacles, such as the heart’s exclusion of acceptance and the like. However, among the tangible obstacles:
That the supplication contains injustice, such as supplicating against a person who has not wronged him, or supplicating for the severance of family ties.
Or that the person is one who consumes what is forbidden. Consuming what is forbidden is among the strongest obstacles to acceptance. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: إن الله طيب لا يقبل إلا طيباً ، وإن الله أمر المؤمنين بما أمر به المرسلين ، فقال تعالى : ياأيها الذين آمنوا كلوا من طيبات ما رزقناكم واشكروا لله إن كنتم إياه تعبدون وقال تعالى : ياأيها الرسل كلوا من الطيبات واعملوا صالحا ثم ذكر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الرجل يطيل السفر أشعث أغبر يمد يديه إلى السماء يا رب يا رب! ومطعمه حرام، وملبسه حرام، وغذي بالحرام، فأنى يستجاب لذلك Indeed, Allah is Pure and accepts nothing but that which is pure. And Allah has commanded the believers with what He commanded the messengers, saying: “O you who believe! Eat of the good things We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is Him you worship.” And He said: “O messengers! Eat of the good things and do righteous deeds.” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned a man who travels a long distance, disheveled and covered in dust, stretching his hands to the sky, saying: “O my Lord, O my Lord!” Yet his food is forbidden, his clothing is forbidden, and he is sustained with what is forbidden. How then can his supplication be accepted? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered it unlikely that Allah would accept the supplication of one who consumes what is forbidden, sustains himself with it, and wears it, even if he has performed the causes for the acceptance of supplication. Thus, consuming what is forbidden is among the strongest obstacles to acceptance, whether this forbidden matter was obtained through deception, lying, riba (usury or interest), injustice, or otherwise.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.