The Impact of Supplication and the Causes of Its Acceptance.

Question:
This person is asking, O Shaykh, about the impact of supplication. He says, in the life of a Muslim, if the response is delayed, is this a deficiency in me? And what are the times for supplication?

Answer:
Answer: Supplication is the greatest of the types of worship. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Supplication is worship.” So the status of supplication is great, and the Muslim is in need of it. He supplicates to Allah regarding all his affairs by which his religion and his worldly life are rectified. He supplicates to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and persists with Allah in his supplication, and does not despair or lose hope in the mercy of Allah if the response is delayed. Perhaps the delay in the response is for his good. So he supplicates; supplication is upon him, and supplication is worship, and he is rewarded for it, even if his objective is not achieved. He is rewarded for the supplication because it is worship. So he increases in supplication and does not despair. As for the etiquettes of supplication and the causes of its acceptance: eating what is lawful. This is a cause for the acceptance of supplication, by his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): “There is a man who lengthens his journey, disheveled and dusty, stretching his hands to the sky: O Lord, O Lord, and his food is forbidden, and his drink is forbidden, and his clothing is forbidden, and he is nourished with what is forbidden, so how will he be answered?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Make your food pure, and your supplication will be answered.” And among the causes of the acceptance of supplication is that he supplicates to Allah while being certain of the response, and does not supplicate to Him while not being certain of the response. He says: if something happens, or if it does not. He supplicates to Allah while being certain of the response, by his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): “Supplicate to Allah while you are certain of the response, for supplication is not answered from a heedless, distracted heart.”