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Answered Prayers
amal
12/06/01 at 10:10:19
slm, fwd _____________________________________________________________________ An Answered Prayer [color=green] "And your Lord says: "Call on Me, I will answer you." (Ghafir : 60) [/color] A sister from France shares the following "Answered Prayer": I had a serious problem with my sister. She was 32 years old and not married. But that was not the problem. The problem was that she had no interest WHATSOEVER to meet brothers for marriage. She could not even stand to be in the same room with one, talk to one, look at one. I mean it was a big problem. So everytime she was supposed to meet someone for marriage . . . she ABSOLUTELY refused. My mother and I faced this problem for many years. And every time a brother would come to meet her, we would have to send him away because my sister refused to come out of the room! But at the same time I could see that she was not happy, she felt something missing from her life. So, finally I realized that the only One who could solve this problem was Allah. So last Ramadan I embarked on a serious mission of duaa. In every sujud during that Ramadan I asked Allah to provide my sister with a righteous, caring husband who would make her happy both in this life and the next. And I asked Allah to please allow her to be married before the Big Eid, The Eid of Sacrifice. If you know my sister you would say this is impossible . . . because no one could convince her to even sit with a brother. But still I asked Allah . . . in every single sujud. And subhan Allah . . . one month after Ramadan ended, circumstances arranged themselves and my sister was to meet a certain brother. And she actually agreed! That was the first miracle. But the greatest miracle is what happened that night. I can never forget it. My sister came out of the room, sat with the brother and actually enjoyed her time. She was happy! I felt I could see Allah softening her heart, and uniting their hearts for His Sake. Subhan Allah, they were married 1 week before the Eid of Sacrifice! And my sister is now happily married. I encourage everyone who is facing a problem to turn it over to Allah and to ask Him, ask Him, and ask Him. And Ramadan is the best time for this. Ramadan truly is a month for miracles, a month for answered prayers.

Re: Answered Prayers
amal
12/06/01 at 10:12:20
slm, fwd ____________________________________________________________________ An Answered Prayer . . . [color=green] "And who listens to the desperate soul when it calls on Him and relieves its suffering . . .? Is there another God with Allah?" (Al Naml : 62) [/color] A brother from Indonesia shares the following "Answered Prayer" : I had performed the Holy Pilgrimage - Hajj - once already and it was my greatest desire to perform it again. So I saved up enough money and the deadline for payment was one month after Ramadan. When Ramadan started, however, I heard a hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most generous in Ramadan and that he gave charity in Ramadan faster than even the wind. So, in my wish to emulate our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) I decided that I would give away the money that I had saved up for Hajj. Everyday of Ramadan I gave away part of that money, and everyday my savings decreased. Until when Ramadan finished, so too had my money. But my heart still burned for visiting the House of Allah. I prostrated before Allah and told Him, "Ya Allah, You have seen. I have tried to follow Your Prophet by giving away my savings, even though You know how much I wish to visit Your House. But I know that You never break Your Promise." As the days passed and the deadline for closing approached, I could see no money coming from any direction. I was on my knees again: "Allah, I only ask You for one thing. Please don't let my heart doubt in You. Everyday that passes is a day closer to the deadline. And I can't see any roads from which money could come. I can only see You - The Provider of all wealth." One week left: "Ya Allah, one week left!" Three days left: "Ya Allah, there are only three days left. And I know that I don't have to remind You about the deadline. But the Hajj - ya Allah!" Finally, it was the day of the deadline and I did not have the money for Hajj. I could only run to the mosque, and prostrate before the Almighty with tears in my eyes. "Ya Allah, a few more hours and its closed. But who else should I ask except You? Or maybe . . . maybe I am just not worthy of visiting Your House. But who else except You - the One who Owns all wealth? . . . Ya Allah, I did not give that money away so that you would replace it, but just to seek Your Pleasure." I left from the mosque with tears in my eyes . . . and at the gate of the mosque I found one of my friends waiting for me with a check with the exact amount for the Hajj !!!. . . Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar ! I made the Hajj that year and I will never forget it. And I will never forget that Allah never dissapoints those who ask Him . . . Even if His Answer sometimes comes in the last moment . . .

Re: Answered Prayers
amal
12/06/01 at 10:14:03
slm, fwd ______________________________________________________________________ An Answered Prayer . . . [color=green] "And if My Servants ask about Me: Verily I am close." (Al Baqarah: 186) [/color] A sister from America shares the following "Answered Prayer" : Subhan 'Allah, I used to pray so much for a righteous husband, for a husband that I could love for the sake of Allah. I prayed so much about it, staying awake through the nights during Ramadan. On the 27th night of Ramadan, I went to the special Laiylat-al-Qadr prayers here in Boston, where thousands of Muslims gather at a sports complex to pray together. As I was walking in the sisters' door, there was a brother handing out information about donations. I had seen him before, and knew that he was also an American Muslim. Allah put it in my heart to say "Salaamu Aleikum" to him. As I said that, our eyes met, and it felt powerful, almost like an electric spark. I made repentance to Allah for saying hello to a brother like that! But because of that smile, the brother asked another brother about me. A few weeks later he met with me to discuss marriage. After three meetings, he asked me to marry him, and we were married two months later. Now we are expecting a baby. Subhan 'Allah, I always try to remember how Allah answered my prayer by giving me someone even better than the husband I had imagined and prayed for. I never imagined, for example, that I would be able to marry a Muslim who comes from my own American culture. He and I have so much in common -- things I didn't even know about before we married! And he reminds me about Allah and helps me to be a better Muslim, insha'Allah. I give thanks to Allah, and remind us all to KNOW that Allah listens to our prayers and answers them as He wills.

Re: Answered Prayers
amal
12/06/01 at 10:17:14
slm, fwd ______________________________________________________________________ An Answered Prayer [color=green] "Those to whom the people said, "The people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it increased them in faith and they said, "Allah is enough for us, and an Excellent Trustee is He." So they returned with blessings from Allah and bounty, no harm ever touched them, they followed the Pleasure of Allah, and Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty." (Al' Imran: 173-174) [/color] A sister from America shares the following "Answered Prayer": I had been preparing to go to Mexico and study abroad for about 4 months and the entire time most of the Muslim women I talked to told me that I should be very careful, and that the Mexicans would probably be cruel to me because I wear hijaab. So, I was a nervous wreck before I left. I constantly prayed to ALLAH to facilitate my journey and make it easy for me. Well, SUBHANALLAH, my first week in Mexico, while in Mexico city, I got in contact with some Muslims and was able to go to the masjid there. When I moved to Guadalajara, where I stayed for 5 weeks, I had to live with a Mexican family. Previously, I was so worried that they would treat me harshly because I was Muslim and they were Catholic. But, ALHAMDULILAH, the family was some of the nicest people I have ever met, and I was able to do some good daw'ah with them. And, like in Mexico city, I found the masjid in Guadalajara and was able to go to jumu'ah frequently and made friends with the Muslim sisters there. Not only did ALLAH grant me an excellent trip and learning experience, but He provided me with friends that, insha'Allah, I will have for a lifetime.

Re: Answered Prayers
Barr
12/06/01 at 10:39:22
Assalamu'alaikum:-) MashaAllah, ukhti... I really appreciate this, I really do... shukran jazilan... jazakillahu khair:) In need of du'a and Allah's help :-) :::Barr:::

Re: Answered Prayers
Kathy
12/06/01 at 22:48:50
slm And boy am I grateful for my unanswered prayers!!!!!!! ....come to think of it, that is what made them answered!

Re: Answered Prayers
gift
12/07/01 at 04:42:59
[slm] wow :o :o :o subhanallah - may Allah swt answer all of our du'as [wlm]

Re: Answered Prayers
Hania
12/07/01 at 07:00:05
slm I don't know what to say except this thread is fantastic! I loved reading all about the answered prayers masallah. Allah is great. Thanks sis Amal. Fantastic Hania :)

Re: Answered Prayers
amal
12/27/01 at 23:23:53
Answered Prayers [color=green] "And He is the One who sends down the rain after you have given up all hope and spreads His Mercy, And He is The Protector, Worthy of all Praise." (Ash Shura : 28) [/color] A sister from America shares the following "Answered Prayer" : I have found in my 23 years of living that Allah is a Merciful and Giving God, who hears the prayers of those who sincerely and consciously pray, if only they are patient. In my case, I was 17 years old, and engaged for 3 years. Two days before my 18th birthday, I met another brother who immediately caught my attention. My mind and soul were both in accordance to the feeling that my heart felt when I saw him speak before a young adult crowd about the need for us to step up to the responsibility as future leaders in America, and the world. The only problem: I was to be married to someone else in 5 weeks ! I went through enormous heart-wrenching pain thinking about having to call off my wedding. But I knew that it would be an injustice to myself as well as my husband-to-be, if I married while my thoughts were on someone else. And thus began my prayers of Istikhara, in which I asked Allah for guidance and surety as to the decision I should make. After a week, I still could do nothing but think about "that brother" but also of the pain that I would cause to my intended husband. I wondered, "Why haven't You answered my prayers Allah? " and then I realized, He had answered my prayers by keeping the words, the face, the thought of "that brother" in my mind. So, what next for me to do but to exit the engagement. This was, however, extremely difficult, as I had been intended since I was 15 years old, and I did grow to love him. No matter what way I tried to put it, I couldn't fathom hurting my friend, my intended whom I had grown towards, yet, away from at the same time. And this began my prayers to Allah to make this pain-staking task easy. I had very little support from my family, and my mother could only think about the invitations that had been mailed and the beautiful dress that had been made. But soon my prayer for ease had begun to be answered, as my father, who was truly the only person's approval that I needed, said he supported my decision and would stand by me. To shorten this looong story that took place in a matter of 3 weeks, I broke off the engagement, but hurriedly after seeing the pain in my intended's eyes, I would change my mind. This happened 3 times, and every time I would say the words "wait, okay maybe we can . . . " I would go back to my room and cry and pray another prayer, asking Allah to have mercy on me, and to forgive me for my lack of strength to do the right thing, and to please just make it easier . . . Well, Allah did just that. The next night, my intended called me and broke off the engagement due to my "going back and forth", and this was a relief, as Allah took it out of my hands and put it in his. I didn't cry a day after that as I felt much better knowing that he did the final cutting, not me. Allah was so merciful to me, and the answered prayers didn't stop there. I began praying that Allah would bless me to marry "that brother", and I prayed and I prayed and I prayed. Well, I had done all that I could to catch the eye and intention of marriage of "that brother", including having my father call him. There didn't seem to be an interest aroused in him to marry me. So I stopped praying for Allah to let us be for each other and instead I prayed that Allah only bless me to marry the man that is best for me, and if he is not best for me to keep him away from me. I said that I only want what is best for me in this life and the lasting life of the hereafter. The praise is due to Allah, Alhamdulillah, 4 months after I set eyes on "that brother", he called to speak to my father, requesting permission to ask me to marry him!! My father gave the permission, and that night I said yes to marrying him. One year and a half later, we were married! Today 3 years and 4 months after the blessed day we were married, I thank Allah for blessing that brother to have been the best brother for me, and I now know that there is no one else in this world who can complete me and compliment me, better than the man that I prayed for and Allah blessed me with. Allah is always on the side of those who do right, who do right by their own souls and by His Creation. Let us all ask Allah to bless us with only that which is best for us to have and be. Ameen!

Re: Answered Prayers
bhaloo
12/28/01 at 00:28:35
slm Jazak Allah khairen, these are excellent posts. :)

Re: Answered Prayers
BroHanif
12/28/01 at 18:49:16
AWW, Nice one Sis Amal, I loved the hajj one. Salaams Hanif

Re: Answered Prayers
amal
12/29/01 at 01:42:49
An Answered Prayer . . . [color=green] "Surely, I am close. I answer the prayer of every one who calls on Me." ( Al Baqarah : 186 ) [/color] Sister Haifa shares the following "Answered Prayer": There was this difficult time when I was going through my O Levels. I had this one particular exam in which my teacher always put me down in its subject, and expected me to fail. I studied very hard for it as I wanted to prove her wrong with all my heart. At the time of the exam, I did badly. I thought I lost my chance of getting an A which is what I was really hoping for. I was expecting a C. I prayed with all my heart for about two months before the results came back from London although I knew my performance did not deserve an A. And guess what ?? I GOT THE A!!! Apparently all the students did quite poorly and so we were graded on a curve due to the difficulty of the exam. Al Hamdulilah, All Praise is to Allah, that truly felt like an answered prayer. I was so happy because of that feeling, of the feeling that Allah is so close and that He answered my prayer, more than getting the A !!! I could not contain myself, I looked for a Quran and kissed it. The memory truly stands out because of how much I wanted that grade. It's been several years now and I still smile and say thank you Allah. So keep the faith !

Re: Answered Prayers
destined
12/29/01 at 16:47:05
As salaamu alaykum, I found this a little while ago, thought it was quite relevant to the thread.  InshaAllah everyone will benefit from it.. =) ********************************************************* Strengthening our Du`a Translation by M. Baghazal from portions of "Shuroot ad-Du`a" by S'aid bin Wahf al Qahtani. Immersed as we are in this materialistic world, many us forget that material causes do not produce the desired effects independently of the will of Allah. We forget to achieve our goals. One such moral cause that has become forgotten today is Du`a, the humble supplication of a believer to Allah. And whenever it is remembered, it is not performed in the correct way and comes out weak. We can strengthen our Du`a by fulfiling the conditions for its acceptance and observing the manners of its performance. In the following article, we explore the virtues of Du`a , the conditions for the acceptance of Du`a, the reasons for the rejection of Du`a, the manners of Du`a and the best times to say Du`a. By applying this knowledge, our Du`a will insha`Allah stand a better chance to be accepted. Many Virtues Of Du`a Have Been Mentioned In The Qur`an and Sunnah. From the Qur`an "And when my servants ask you concerning me, [tell them] I am indeed near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls" (Qur`an 2:187). In another verse, he said, "And your lord said, invoke me and I will respond to your invocation" (Qur`an 40:60). He also said, "Invoke your lord with humility and in secrecy" (Qur`an 7:55). And he also said, "So invoke Allah making your worship pure for him" (Qur`an 40:14). From the Sunnah: Al-No`maan-bin-basheer relates that Allah's messenger, sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam, said "Du`a is Ibadah (worship)" [Abu-Dawood, Tirmithi]. Another example is paraphrased from by Abu-Hurairah's narration of the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, saying, anyone who does not invoke Allah, will cause Allah to be angry with him. [Ahmed, Tirmithi]. For One's Du`a To Be Accepted, Certain Conditions Must Apply Like Directing the @u`a solely to Allah. Allah said, "Invoke Him only, making your religion sincere to him" (Qur`an 7:29). In another verse he said, "So invoke Allah making your worship pure for him" (Qur`an 40:14). Also, the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said in the hadith narrated by Ibn-Abbas, radhiallahu anhu; "If you ask, ask Allah and if you seek help, seek help from Allah." [Ahmad, Tirmithi]. Performing The Du`a In Conformity With The Shari`ah: The prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said: "Whosoever innovates in this matter of ours something which is not part of it, it will be rejected." Hence, the Du`a has to be performed according to the sunnah of the prophet. If a person is sincere but is not following the sunnah, his worship is rejected. Similarly, if a person is following the sunnah but his work is not sincerely done for the sake of Allah, his worship is still rejected. Trust In Allah and Certainty of Reply: One must be certain that Allah does whatever he wishes, whenever he wishes. Allah tells us in the Qur`an, "Verily, his command, when he intends a thing, is only that he says be-and it is" (Qur`an 36:82). One must believe with certainty that Allah possesses all treasures. Allah said, "And there is nothing, but with Us are the stores thereof. And we do not send it down except with a known measure" (Qur`an 15:21). Also, in the hadith Qudsi narrated by abu-tharr, Allah revealed through the prophet, "O my servants, were the first of you and last of you, the human of you and jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request from me, and were I to give everyone what they requested, that would not decrease what I have anymore than a needle decreases the sea if put into it" (Muslim). Presence of The Heart: Always make sure that your heart is mindful when you are supplicating because Allah does not answer a Du`a from an inattentive heart. Ibn Rajab says, "This is the greatest condition for the acceptance of Du`a." Abu-Hurairah narrated that Allah's messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, "Invoke Allah while you are certain to be answered and know that Allah does not answer a Du`a from a heart which is inattentive and unmindful" (Tirmithi). Therefore, one must supplicate with total concentration and avoid distraction. Determing and Perseverance In Du`a: It is a requirement when supplicating, to appeal to Allah with determination. We must not make any exceptions by saying "O Allah forgive me if you wish". Abu-hurairah narrated that Allah's messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, "None of you shiould say 'O Allah forgive me if you wish', 'O Allah be merciful to me if you wish'; but he must appeal to Allah with determination, for nobody can force Allah to do something against his will" (Tirmithi) Some people, when supplicating for their brothers, have a habit of saying "May Allah forgive you InshaAllah,", "May Allah help you InshaAllah." The use of these word InshaAllah must be avoided in Du`a. Reasons That May Cause Our Du`a To Be Rejected Include The Following: Haraam Conditions: Haraam eating, drinking and clothing are all strictly prohibited and are major reasons for the rejection of Du`a. A hadith which supports this point is narrated by Abu Hurairah when the messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, "Allah the Almighty is good and accepts only that which is good. Allah has commanded the faithful to do that which he commanded the messengers", he said, "O you messengers, eat of the good things and do right;" "O you who believe, eat of the good things which we have provided you." He then mentioned the case of a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky saying: "O lord, O lord" while his food is unlawful and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can he be answered?" (Muslim). Also, the story of Abu Bakr, the first khalifah, is a great lesson for us. His daughter 'Aishah narrated that Abu bakr's slave brought him his meal as usual. It was not Abu bakr's habit to ask him where he got it from, as he was certain that it is from his own halal earnings. One day, as usual, he got him something to eat and Abu bakr ate it without asking about its source. The slave asked, "Do you know what this is?" He replied "What?" The slave answered, "In my days of ignorance, I once did some acts of magic for a person, although I had no idea how to do it, but I managed to cheat him. Only now did he reward me for it, and I bought you something to eat from it." Abu Bakr immediately put his hand in his mouth and vomited everything that he had eaten until his stomach was empty. (Bukhari) In another narration collected by Ahmad, it was said to Abu Bakr, "May Allah's mercy be upon you, you did all this although you have only eaten one bite." He replied, "If it will not come out except with m soul, I will get it out for I have heard the messenger of Allah saying 'Everybody which is nourished with that which is unlawful, will be first in the fire' so I was afraid that my body was nourished with this bite." Therefore, one must make sure that all his food, drink, and clothing are halaal. Hastiness and Abandonment of Du`a One must be patient for his Du1a to be accepted, as hastiness is one of the causes for its rejection or disapproval. Abu Hurairah narrated that the prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, "The invocation of any one of you is granted [by Allah] as long as he does not show impatience by saying "I have invoked Allah but my request has not been answered" (Bukhari and Muslim). In another narration by abu-hurairah, the prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "A servant is granted his request as long as he does not haste." It was asked, "O messenger of Allah, how does one haste?" He replied, "he says I have invoked but my invocation has not been answered, so he gives up and abandons Du`a" (Muslim) Hence, one must not haste since they reply might be delayed due to: not fulfilling conditions or the delay might actually be in one's favor. So, whenever you make Du`a, either you are given the good of what you asked for or an equivalent evil is turned away from you. Committing Sins: Allah said, "Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves" (Qur`an 13:11). That is to say, if a people's condition is good, Allah will maintain it as long as they are grateful and do not disobey him. Similarly, if the condition of a people is bad, Allah will maintain if for them as long as they remain ungrateful and insist on disobeying him. So, one should always avoid committing sins, major or minor, and if he happened to become a victim of shaitan's evil whisper, he must immediately repent and seek forgiveness from Allah. Abandonment of Obligatory Deeds: Just as doing good deeds is a reason for the acceptance of Du`a, similarly, abandoning good deeds is a reason for the rejection of Du`a. Hudhaifah, radhiallahu anhu, narrated that the prophet , sallallhu alayhe wa sallam, said, "by him, in whose hand is my soul, you should enjoin good and forbid evil or else it is likely that Allah will send a punishment upon you and then you will invoke him and you will not be answered" (Tirmithi). So, for example, how could those who have constantly neglected and abandoned Fajr prayers in the masjd except that their Du`a will be answered? And how could so many of those who do not pay Zakah expect their Du`a to be accepted? Asking For a Sin, or To Break the Bondage of Kinship: The prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "Any muslim who supplicates to Allah in a Du`a which contains no sin breaking of kinship, Allah will give him one of three things: either his Du`a will be immediately answered or, it will be saved for him in the hereafter, or it will turn away an equivalent amount of evil (from him)" The companions said".so we will ask for more" he replied, "Allah is more [generous]." (Ahmad and Tirmithi). Correct Manners In Invoking Allah Begin with thanking Allah and sending Blessings upon the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. Abdullah-bin-Mas`ood narrated, "I was praying while the prophet, Abu Bakr and Omar were together. After I sat [in the last tashahhud], I began with praising Allah then I said blessings upon the prophet, said, "Ask, [and] you will be given." (Tirmithi) Ibn-Al_Qayyim said, "There are three stages where a person is recommended to say blessings upon the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. In the first stage, one may say blessings upon the prophet, sallallau alayhe wa sallam, before beginning Du`a and after thanking Allah. In the second stage, one may say blessings upon the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam , before, during and after Du`a. In the third stage, one may say blessings upon the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, in the beginning and in the end of his Du`a and request his need in the middle of it. Du`a At Times of Trouble And of Pleasure: One must not make it a habit to remember Allah only at the times of trouble but he must constantly remember Allah in all circumstances. Abu-Hurairah narrated that the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "[Anyone who is pleased] that Allah responds to him at the time of trouble and distress, [should] increase Du`a at the time of calmness" (Tirmithi). It is the characteristic of a believer that he turns to Allah prior to the time of distress. Allah said, regarding Yunus when he invoked Allah and Allah answered and saved him: "Had he not been of those who glorify Allah, he would have indeed remained inside its belly [i.e., the fish belly] tell the day of resurrection" (Qur`an 37:143-144). Avoid Du`a Against Your Family, Your Wealth, And Your Children: Jabir narrated this hadith about a man who cursed his animal. The prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said "Who is this cursed his animal?" The man replied, "It is me O messenger of Allah." The prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "Get down from it for a cursed one must not escort us. Do not pray against yourselves, do not pray against your children and do not pray against your wealth. It might coincide with a time when Allah answered what you asked for." (Muslim) Lower Your Voice In Du`a: Invoke Allah in a tone as it is mentioned in the following evidences and it is also closer to sincerity. Allah said, "Invoke your lord with humility and in secret. He does not like the aggressors" (Qur`an 37:55). And he also tells us: "And remember your lord by your tongue and within yourself, humbly and with fear without loudness in words, in the morning and in the afternoon and be not of those who are neglectful" (Qur`an 37:205). Abu-Moosa Al-Ash`ari narrated: "We were with the prophet in a journey so the people started raising their voice while making takbeer. The prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, 'O people, calm down, you are not calling one who is All-Hearing, Near and he is with you" (bukhari and muslim) This means that Allah knows and sees all that you do. Make Du`a With Perseverance: We must attend to our Du`a with perseverance, repetition and persistence. Ibn-Rajab discusses this aspect, in his book Jami`Al`Uloom wal Hikam. He suggests that we invoke Allah with his names and attributes as this is among the greatest means of having our Du`a accepted. A hadith that provides evidence for the necessity of perseverance and persistence in Du`a reported by muslim where the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "The man, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty, spreads out his hands in the sky [saying] O lord, O Lord" Repetition: It is preferable to repeat your du`a three times as it is more likely to be answered. An evidence of this is mentioned in the following authentic hadith narrated by Abdullah bin Masood. "Once the prophet was offering salat [prayers] at the ka`ba. Abu-Jahl was sitting with one of his companions. One of them said to the others, "Who among you will bring the abdominal contents of a camel and put it on the back of Muhammed, when he prostrates?" The most unfortunate of them got up and brought it. He waited till the prophet prostrated and then placed it on his back between his shoulders. I was watching but could not do anything. I wished I had some people with me to hold out against them. They started laughing and falling on one another. Allah's messenger was in prostration and did not lift his head up till Fatima (the prophet's daughter) came and threw [the camels's abdominal contents] off his back. He raised his head and said three times, O Allah punish Quraish. So it was hard for abu-jahl and his companions when the prophet invoked Allah against them as they had the conviction that the prayers and invocations were accepted in this city (Makkah). The prophet said, "O Allah punish Abu-jahl, Utba-bin-Rabia, Shaiba-bin-Rabia, Al-Waleed-bin Utba, Umayya-bin Khalaf and Uqba-bin-AbiMuait. And he counted the seventh whose name I cannot recall. By Allah in whose hands my soul is, I saw the dead bodies of those persons who were counted by Allah's messenger in the Qalib (one of the wells) of Badr." (Bukhari and Muslim) Confess Your Sins With Regret And Gratefully Admit Allah's Mercy Bestowed Upon You: When making Du`a, confess your sins with sincere regret for your mistakes although Allah is aware of all your actions. Also it is worthwhile to acknowledge all of Allah's mercy bestowed upon you. In the hadith narrated by Shaddbin-Aws, the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam taught us Sayyid-ul_Istighfar: "aboo-u laka bini` matika `alyya wa aboo-u bidhambi fagh-firli, fa-innahu la yaghfir-u-thunuba illa anta" (meaning: I acknowledge your favor upon favor me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me for verily, none can forgive sin except you ) (bukhari). Face the Qiblah: One of the good manners when making Du`a is to face the qiblah however, this is not compulsory. Abdullah bin Zaid narrated that rasullullah came to this place of worship to pray istisqaa for rain so he invoked Allah and prayed for rain. Then he faced the qiblah and overturned his gown (bukhari). Raise your Hands In Du`a: It is a recommended practice to raise one's hands in making Du`a it was done by the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, at different occasions. AbuMoosa AlAshari narrated, "The prophet invoked and raised his hands and I saw the whiteness of his armpits." (Bukhari ) In another hadith, Salman narrated that the messenger of Allah said, "Your lord Tabaraka-wa Ta`ala is living and generous. He is ashamed of his servant if he raises his hands to him to return them unanswered" (Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi). Make Wudhu Before Du`a: Although it is not compulsory, one is recommended to supplicate Allah while he is in a state of wudhu (ablution). And evidence of this is in the narration of abumoosa when his uncle ubaid abi amir, prior to his death, sent him to the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallaam, after the battle of Hunain and instructed him to ask the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, to invoke Allah and seek forgiveness for him so the messenger of Allah requested some water, performed wudhu, raised his hands and said, "O Allah forgive Abi-Amir" (Bukhair and Muslim). Cry In Du`a With The Fear Of Allah: Abdullah-bin-`Umar narrated that the prophet recited the verse in which Ibrahim alayhesalaam is invoking Allah: "O my Lord they [the idols] have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoever follows me, he verily is of me. And whoever disobeys me, still you are indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful" (Ibrahim 36). In another verse, Isa alayhessalaam is invoking Allah: "If you punish them, they are your slaves, and if you forgive them, verily you-only you are the Almighty, the All-wise" (Al-Maa`idah, 118). And he then raised his hands and said, "Allahumma Ummati, Ummati (O Allah, my nation, my nation)" and then he cried. So Allah said, O Jibreel, go to Muhammed, although Allah is aware, and ask him 'What makes you cry?' So Jibreel approached the prophet and asked him. So Allah's messenger informed him of what he said, although Allah is aware. So Allah said to him, O Jibreel, go to Muhammed and tell him: "We will make you content with regard to your nations and will not mistreat you." (Muslim) Therefore, the prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam gave us an example to sincerely cry when beseeching Allah during supplication. Make Du`a For Yourself Before Making Du`a For Others: It is Sunnah in Du`a to start with yourself prior to mentioning others as was collected by Tirmidhi in the narration of Ubay bin Ka'ab that if someone was mentioned to the prophet, he would invoke Allah for him but would begin with himself. However, it was also narrated of Allah's Messenger that, on certain occasions, he would not begin with himself, (for example, when he supplicated for Ibn-Abbas, Anas and Um-Isma'eel, as was mentioned by Imam Muslim in his collection of authentic hadith). Do Not Transgress In Du`a: When appealing to Allah in Du`a we should not get into much detail by asking for the different rewards of Jannah. If a person is granted Jannah, he will be granted Jannah and all that is present in it. It was reported of Abi Nu`amah that Abdullah-bin-Mughaffal heard his son palace on the right of the paradise if I were to enter it". So he said, "Dear son, ask Allah for Paradise and seek Messenger of Allah saying, "There will come in this nation people who will transgress (or exceed) in ablution and Du`a" (Abu Dawood). Make Du`a For Your Parents: It is good to mention one's Muslims parents (dead or alive) in invocation for the great favor they owe us, a favor which can never be compensated. Allah said, "And lower unto them the using of submission and humility through mercy and say, 'My Rab, bestow on them your mercy as they did raise me when I was young" (Qur`an 17:24). In Surah Nuh, He said, "My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women. And increase not upon the oppressors but destruction" (Qur`an 71:28). Make Du`a For The Believers: Also, one is recommended to remember the Muslims and the Mu`mins around the globe in his invocation. Allah said "Ask forgiveness for your sin and also for the believing men and women" (Qur`an 47:19). Ask Allah Alone: Instead of complaining to people when stuck by calamity, one must make it a habit to ask Allah alone for refuge. However, there is no harm to mention your problem to people and share their opinion. In the hadith narrated by Ibn-Abbas, the prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said to him while Ibn-Abbas was riding behind him on the same mount "young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be mindful of Allah and you will find him in front of you. If you ask, ask only Allah and if you seek help, seek help only from Allah. And know that if all the nations were to gather together to benefit you, they would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and if they gather together to harm you, they would harm you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages are dry." (Tirmithi) There Are Special Times When Du`a Is More Likely To Be Accepted And It: Is recommended to invoke Allah at these times. Some examples are, Ramadhan, And Expecially Lailatul Qadr: One of the greatest times to invoke Allah is in the holy month of Ramadhan, particularly that last then nights and especially on lailatul Qadr. The preferred du`a on lailatul Qadr is: "O Allah ! You are pardoning and you love to pardon, so pardon me." (al-Tirmithi and Ibn Majah) After The Obligatory Prayers: Abi-Umamah Al-Bahili narrated that, it was said to the prophet, "O messenger of Allah, which du`a is most likely to be heard?" He said, "(In the depth of the last part of the night and after the obligatory prayers" (Tirmidhi) In The Last Part Of The Night: Abu-Hurairah narrated that Allah's messenger said, "Our Lord Tabaraka-wa-Ta`ala descends every night to the sky of the world, when the last third of the night remains and he says, 'Is there anyone to invoke me so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask me for something so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone to ask for forgiveness so that furthermore, Allah praised those who spend the last third of the night praying and in invocation, seeking forgiveness. He said, "They used to sleep but little by night and in the hours before dawn they were found asking for forgiveness" (Az-Zariyat, 17-18) Between Adhaan And Iqamah: One must try to make it a habit whenever he hears the adhaan (call for prayer) that he who immediately departs for the mosque is among the most fortunate who invoke Allah between Adhaan and Iqamah for their invocation is accepted. Anas-bin Malik narrated that Allah's messenger said, "The invocation is not rejected [when made] between adhaan and iqamah, so do invoke" (Tirmithi, Abu Dawood, and Ahmed). Sahl-bin-Sa`ad narrated that Allah's messenger said, "Two [invocations] are not rejected or rarely rejected; Du`a at the time of adhaan (call for prayer) and at the time of distress and when [two armies] encounter each other." In another narration , "at the time of rain" (Abu Dawood) An Hour In The Day Of Jumu`ah: Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's messenger mentioned the day of Jumu`ah and said, "There is an hour which if met by a muslim servant who standing in prayer and he requests anything from Allah, He will grant it to him" (Bukhari and Muslim). In another hadith, Abu-Moosa Al-Ash`ari said, Abdullah bini `Umar said, "Did you hear your father relating from rasulullah about the hour of Jumu`ah?" I said 'yes', I heard him saying, he heard Allah's messenger saying 'It is between the time when the Imam sits [for Khutbah] till the prayer is over" (Muslim). Ibn-Al-Qayyim, in his book Zad Al-Ma`ad, in agreement with other scholars, have favored the opinion that 'The hour on the day of Jumu`ah is after Asr.' However, a Muslim must try his best to spend the whole day of Jumu`ah in the remembrance of Allah, seeking his forgiveness and invoking him. In Salah After At-Tashahhud: Invocation after finishing At-Tashahhud, prior to Salaam, is recommended as was the practice of the prophet. Abdullah bin Mas`ood narrated: "I was praying while the prophet, Abu Bakr and Omar were together. After I sat [in the last Tashahhud], I began [saying Du`a' by praising Allah then I sent prayers on the prophet and then I prayed for myself. The prophet said, "Ask and you will be given, ask you will be given" (Tirmithi). When In Sujuud: Abu Hurarairah narrated that Allah's messenger said, "The closest a person gets to his Rab is during Sujuud [prostration]. Therefore, increase Du`a." One must try to invoke Allah during Sujuud, be it in Fajr (obligatory) or Nafil (supererogatory) prayer.

Re: Answered Prayers
amal
01/03/02 at 12:56:59
slm, Destined, that's a great article. Jazaki Allahu kheyran for posting it :)

Re: Answered Prayers
Caraj
01/05/02 at 14:06:34
I was a little hesitant about sharing this but decided I would. Only hesitant cause I am not Muslim but here goes. I raised my sons alone many years. I was a very young and immature mom. The oldest and I seemed at times distant even at a young age (8 to 10 y/o ) One day in church holding back tears I prayed my sons (especially the oldest who was the distant one) and I would be closer and asked God/Alah to please help me be a better mother. My heart ached in only a way a mother can understand. I was also filled with guilt as I knew I needed to do better. On the way out of church to the car in the parking lot (we had rode with my aunt that day) My oldest son (he was approx 8) looked up at me and out of the blue said,  "Momma I love you can I sit next to you on the way home?" All I could do is look up and in my heart quietly give thanks. Was the fastest answer to prayer I ever recieved.

Re: Answered Prayers
amal
01/27/02 at 20:27:58
[i]Cara, that was a beautiful story :) God always answers prayers...as long as we pray for something good! Alhamdulillah. Don't hesitate to share. In islam we believe that God provides for everyone in this life. It's in the hereafter that we take different routes according to our beliefs and deeds[/i] An Answered Prayer . . . [color=green] "Verily with every difficulty there is relief. Verily with every difficulty there is relief." (Al Inshirah : 5,6) [/color] A sister from the UAE shares the following "Answered Prayer": "Bismilah. In brief, things weren't going the way I wanted them to go at all for the past 3 months. It started with me quitting a job that I had loved dearly (teaching), but I simply couldn't cope with rude teenage guys. Later, I had an awful car accident that was 100% my fault and I walked out of it having to pay nothing simply because it seemed to the policeman that the other person was wrong. I carried the guilt and was depressed for a few days. All I was thinking was that I wasn't ready to leave this world. I haven't done much yet! I was so scared of death. A few days later, I was forced to go through a painful tooth operation and remove 2 wisdom teeth! Allah knows how much I hate doctors and the smell of their utensils. I became very worried when my face remained puffed up for a week and the doctor said this wasn't a normal case. Then, al7amdulillah after the recovery, I went through another stage where I was diagnosed (by mistake) as a patient with "depression"!!!! La ilah illa Allah. I had all the symptoms . and was so worried about my faith. I always told people it was impossible to have depression when the Quran is the best resort for our hearts. Then, the doctor said I was actually very normal and just needed a break! True! I needed a break from this world .. from this society .. I needed a break to sort things out. Then, I continued my search for a job ... but after Sept 11th, and the decrease in business, no one wanted to hire anyone. The thought of doing my masters was on my mind and I had forced my parents to allow me to use their credit card and pay for my TOEFL. When the test date came, I entered, signed in, and took a deep breath ... But the lady looked at me with a bitter smile and said: "Dear .. I'm sorry, but your passport has just expired yesterday!!!!!" I couldn't believe this was any coincidence. It wasn't meant! Allah was trying to show me that I needed a bit more patience. There must be something coming up for me to do in this life. A few days later, I got a proposal that simply shattered my world. It shook my faith and made me doubt my prayers. He was a person that simply "spoke a different language" and couldn't understand "why I was making a big deal out of prayers"!!! To my parents, he was amazing. He had everything a worldly girl would want: the money, the car, the looks, 2 apartments, and the sweet words!!! As they were all choosing the rings and dress colors, I was still in my own struggle against the world! I couldn't even start believing that he liked my personality!! Where on earth did he see us match ??! Was Allah going to end my dreams like that .. is he my destiny .. or is this a test? Then, I had to break the news that day and reveal my: NO WAY! Here, I made a du3a2 (prayer) and was sure it would be answered. It was Um Salama's: "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiuun. Allahuma i2girnee fee museebatee wakhluf lee khairan minha" : Truly to Allah we belong and truly to Him shall we return. O Allah, grant me reward in this calamity and send me something better." I knew He'd answer me soon. I was tired and decided that I needed peace of mind and nothing else. Things still were shaky at home where I am always in an argument with my parents ... but this time I knew I was 100% wronged in this proposal situation. I know I still had to be kind to my parents, but I really couldn't. I decided to avoid speaking to everyone and sleep early until I see what I was supposed to do next. And one day, as I drove towards a store ... I decided to check out the office next to it and see if they could help. I knew it was impossible now that Ramadan is coming and everyone wants what I wanted. And when I asked my parents ... they refused and said: "life is not only about this stuff .. do it later .. besides your passport is expired". I had been renewing the expired passport and the 8 days procedure took only 3 days by the help of Allah. Here, I felt Allah wouldn't let me down. Only last night, mom entered to my room and said: "Ok .. you can go .. but we ain't paying for it .. you do everything on your own". Al7amdulillah, I had seen this in a dream. The money wasn't a worry, I had saved for it. And I went today to check out if there was hope in applying .. they said yes .. give it a week or two. I booked the tickets, I will pay in a few days, and I chose the hotel. All I ask Allah for is to keep me alive for the next couple of weeks. I have so much to tell Him. The "relief" has come ... and Allah has sent me what is better!! I am going on a omrah with my brother!!!! I will make du3a2 (prayers) for everyone insha'Allah, those I know and those I don't. I am simply trying not to get very excited and to hold that breath. Allah really does not make you carry a burden heavier than what you can take. And .. He really does know your case, hear your prayers, and answer even if after 1,2,3 .. or 10 years. Only when He sees that you've been fighting so much .. only after the darkest moments of the night, dawn will appear. "With every difficulty there is relief." Just believe it when you pray! And well, after all, perhaps, dreams can come true, when you leave them to Allah. :)
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