Is Persistence in Prayer Correct? Should We Be Persistent in Prayer? The Prophet (peace be upon him) Says…
The Most Exalted of Creation -sallâllâhu aleyhi wa sallam- Our Prophet offers an important teaching regarding the acceptance of our prayers.
Should We Be Persistent in Prayer? (Hadith)
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“A servant’s prayer is accepted unless he asks for something sinful or that causes estrangement between relatives, or if he rushes it.”
“O Messenger of Allah! What does rushing mean?” was asked.
The Prophet -sallâllâhu aleyhi wa sallam- replied:
“It is when the servant says, ‘I have prayed so many times and my Lord has not accepted my prayer.’ Then he gets discouraged and abandons the prayer.” (Muslim, Remembrance [Zikr], 92)
An Example from Zakariyya
Indeed, Zakariyya -peace be upon him-, for the purpose of strengthening his faith, “…My Lord! Do not leave me childless!” (Surah Al-Anbiya, 89) and the child he desired was only granted to him forty years later as Yahya -peace be upon him-.[1]
Footnote: [1] See Surah Maryam, 7-8; Ibn al-Allan, Dalil al-Falihin, IV, 311-312.