The Acceptance of Prayer and Its Impact on Human Life
Dua (Supplication); is an effort by a believer to draw closer to Allah, a source of psychological comfort, peace, and happiness.
Dua (Supplication); connects the believer with their Lord, strengthens their faith and trust in Allah, serves as a hope and refuge during times of hardship and distress, and frees them from feelings of loneliness.
Dua (Supplication); eliminates stress, anxiety, and grief that pave the way for physical illnesses, acts as a remedy for psychological and spiritual ailments, and accelerates the healing of physical diseases.
Dua (Supplication); protects individuals from visible and invisible calamities, serves as an opportunity to perform good deeds, fosters humility, reminds people of their servitude, and shields them from Allah’s wrath.
Dua (Supplication); alleviates loneliness and becomes a confidant for the individual. A person can only do what is within their power and overcome difficulties, but they struggle with matters beyond their capabilities. This difficulty reminds the person of their weakness, servitude, and Lordship, directing them to seek help from Him.
The way to overcome challenges and achieve success lies in supplication. Many people’s successes are due to the prayers of those who frequently make dua / parents’ blessings. Many hardships and failures stem from injustice and the curses of the oppressed.
Despite the large population of the world, many people complain of loneliness. A weakening of communication between individuals, a lack of love, the loss of neighborly and friendly ties have led to alienation among people. This phenomenon, called “individualization,” negatively impacts individuals’ perspectives on life. Thus, a person becomes an entity experiencing loneliness amidst crowds. For these reasons, stress, tension, anxiety, and loneliness are resulting in an increasing number of patients diagnosed with “depression” every day. Concerns about anxiety, insecurity, traffic congestion, transportation difficulties, competition in the workplace, uncertainty about the future, and incompatibility negatively affect a person’s mood. Some people who experience such crises and deadlocks turn to negative actions and behaviors, as well as sedatives and narcotics. It is in these situations that belief in Allah and the Hereafter comes to the forefront; religious values such as patience, willpower, perseverance, work, surrenderance (tawakkul), and supplication motivate people against difficulties, provide psychological relief, eliminate feelings of loneliness, and give spiritual strength.
Dua (Supplication) is a spiritual refuge for believers, a gateway to help, morale, and revitalization. Therefore, dua is an integral part of a Muslim’s life; the believer’s night and day, their home and workplace are filled with supplications. If one can be among those whose prayers are accepted, then they have attained worldly and eternal happiness.
According to the companion Hz. Enes (RA), it is narrated: “Every believer who supplicates has three gains: either his wish is granted immediately, or his sins are forgiven, or a reward is reserved for him in the Hereafter.”(Abdurrazzâk, Dua, No: 19649)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:
“A believer who supplicates, Allah either accepts his supplication or averts from him an evil equivalent to what he asked for, or removes from him some of his sins.”(Abdurrazzâk, Dua, 18650)
ACCEPTED PRAYERS
A believer’s prayer is accepted when they supplicate in accordance with its principles and etiquette, and they see the benefit and impact of it in this world and the Hereafter. Allah has informed in verses that the supplication of one who supplicates will be accepted:
“My servants ask you about Me; indeed, I am near, so I respond to the supplicant when he calls upon Me…” (Bakara, 2/186)
“Or who is there to aid the needy when he calls out [to his Lord] and removes his distress? Is there a god besides Allah? But little do you think!” (Namal, 27/62)
The first verse states that the supplication of one who supplicates will be accepted, and the second verse indicates that the hardship of someone in distress will be relieved, pointing to Allah’s responsiveness to supplications.
“Indeed, your Lord is Hearing and Knowing.” (Ibrahim, 14/39)
“Therein did Zakariyya pray, ‘O my Lord, grant me from Your grace a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Best to ask of.’” (Al-Imran, 3/38)
“And repent to Allah, O believers, that perhaps you will succeed.” (Hud, 11/61) These verses indicate that Allah is “near (to His servants),” “Hearing of supplications,” and “Responder (to prayers).”
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:
“A supplicating person seeks refuge in the mercy of Allah and makes dua, and Allah accepts it.” (Tirmizi, De’avât, 118; see Ibn Hibban, Addua’, No: 876; Hakim, Addua’, I, 497)
UNACCEPTED PRAYERS
A believer’s prayer is accepted when they supplicate in accordance with its principles and etiquette. The prayers of non-believing people and those who do not adhere to the proper procedures and etiquette are not accepted. We can list the prayers that will not be accepted as follows:
1. Prayers of Disbelievers Are Not Accepted
The supplications of disbelievers are not accepted, because prayer is an act of worship, and belief is a condition for the acceptance of acts of worship. (Ma’idah, 5/5; Bayyina, 98/5) Worship performed without faith is in vain, so prayers too are in vain and not accepted.
2. Prayers Made with Carelessness Are Not Accepted
Supplication must be made consciously to be accepted. Because prayer is an act of worship, and acts of worship can only be performed with awareness and sincerity.
3. Prayers Made in a State of Rebellion Against Allah Are Not Accepted
Prayers made in a state of rebellion against Allah are not accepted. For example, prayers offered while drinking alcohol, gambling, gossiping, stealing, or lying are not accepted.
4. Prayers Mixed with Hypocrisy Are Not Accepted
Supplication must be free from hypocrisy and showiness; it must be made with sincerity. Sincerity is required for the acceptance of acts of worship.
5. Prayers Mixed with Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah) Are Not Accepted
Worship must only be performed for Allah. The Almighty Allah states in many verses that supplication and worship should only be directed to Him, and that no other deities should be associated with Him.