Wednesday, December 06, 2006

The Answer to your Supplications is Delayed for a Reason

There is an interesting situation that confuses all of us : the believer who is afflicted with a calamity and then invokes Allah constantly, yet sees no signs of an answer to his prayers. Then when he comes near to the point of hopelessness, the true worth of his heart is found out.

If he is pleased with what Allah decreed for him, without losing hope of Allah's favor, then in most situations it is at this point that such a person's supplications are answered, answered because his test is over: his faith has shined through and the devil has been defeated. So is is at the time of near hopelessness that the worth of man is judged. This meaning is in the saying of Allah:

"Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such trials as came to those who passes away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said," when will come the help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly the help of Allah is near!" Quran 2:214

After Yaqub lost his son, much time elapsed, yet he never lost hope of relief. Instead of relief, another of his sons was then taken away, and even then he did not lose hope of Allah's favor and mercy:

"So patience is most fitting for me. it may be that Allah will bring them all back to me. Truly He! Only He is all knowing, all wise" Quran 12:83


Never therefore, should one feel that too much time has passed by without his supplications being answered. One should realize that whenever one is tested with hardship, one's patience and faith are being tested. To pass such a test, one must drive away the whispers of the shaytan and then turn for help to the Most Merciful, the most Generous, the most Wise.

Here is a little dua'a for students during finals..

"O Allaah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men."