It is an honor from Allaah when He answers our supplications

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Whenever Allaah تعالى answers your prayers, then know that this is a favor from Allaah. And there is in it, help from Allaah, to keep you firm upon His obedience, and this is indeed a great honor. 

Sometimes, a Du`aa is answered because of a reason involved, which acts as a catalyst, and which accelerates the response. 

And sometimes, the Du`aa is delayed because of the involvement of sins and acts of disobedience. 

But remember, Allaah answers the call of everyone, even if the one who is supplicating is a Kaafir. 

Narrated Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما: The Prophet ﷺ sent Mu`aadh to Yemen and said: ❝Be afraid, from the curse of the oppressed as there is no screen between his invocation and Allaah.❞
📚 [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1496, 2448, 4347) and Saheeh Muslim (19)]

Narrated Anas رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Be afraid, from the curse of the oppressed – even if he is a Kaafir - as there is no screen between his invocation (and Allaah).❞
📚 [Musnad Ahmad (12549) and graded as “Hasan li ghairihee” (Hasan due to corroborating chain) by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (767), Saheeh al-Jaami` (119), Saheeh al-Targheeb (2231)]

And before this, verily Allaah تعالى had answered the call of Iblees, while he is the most evil of creations. Iblees said (as mentioned in the Qur’aan): {“O my Lord! Give me then respite till the Day they (the dead) will be resurrected.” (Allaah تعالى) said: “So indeed, you are of those reprieved, till the Day of the time appointed”}
📚 [Surah al-Hijr (15): 36-38]

So, if a Muslim were to oppress a person, even if he were a Kaafir, and he supplicates, Allaah will answer the supplication of the oppressed person, even though he was a Kaafir. So, what about the supplication of an oppressed Muslim?!

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝There are three whose supplication is not rejected: The fasting person when he breaks his fast, the just ruler, and the supplication of the oppressed person for Allaah raises it (his supplication) up above the clouds and opens the gates of heaven to it. And the Lord says: {By My might, I shall surely aid you, even if it should be after a while.}❞
📚 [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2526) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. Also Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3598) and Sunan Ibn Maajah (1752) and graded as “Hasan” by Zubai `Alee Zai. Musnad Ahmad (8043, 9743) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shu`aib al-Arnaaoot]

Allaah تعالى would answer the supplications of the Mushrikeen (polytheist and pagans) when they were in distress or trouble.

وَإِذَا غَشِيَهُم مَّوْجٌ كَالظُّلَلِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ فَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ ۚ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَّا كُلُّ خَتَّارٍ كَفُورٍ

{And when a wave covers them like shades (i.e., like clouds or the mountains of sea), they invoke Allaah, making their invocations for Him only. But when He brings them safely to land, there are among them those that stop in the middle, between (Belief and disbelief). But none denies Our Signs except every perfidious ungrateful.}

📚 [Surah Luqmaan (31): 31]

Be patient O Muslims! Allaah تعالى responded to the supplications of Shaitaan, the Mushrikeen, and the Kuffaar! Verily, He تعالى will respond to your supplication as well.

Furthermore, a Muslim, even if he were a sinner, should not stop supplicating to Allaah. Every Muslim – the pious and the sinner among us – is in need of Allaah’s favors, blessings, and help. And when Allaah تعالى responds to the supplication, then, in reality, Allaah has honored the person by answering his call.

And if Allaah were to respond to the supplication of a person while that person is still pursuing evil and immorality, then know that this person is heading towards destruction. What he is receiving is only a Fitnah to lure him away from guidance, and then he will be suddenly overtaken by punishment or death while he is preoccupied, negligent, and unaware.

A lot of times, a person may face a calamity and undergo a lot of distress, but he may not find quick relief even after persistent supplications. Perhaps Allaah تعالى wants to test him with two or even more calamities, based on the strength of his Imaan (Faith) in Allaah and His Promises.

Yaqoob عليه السلام lost his son, Yusuf عليه السلام. He patiently waited and supplicated to Allaah for years. Then another son of his was accused of stealing the king’s measuring cup and was “imprisoned”. The third son of his refused to return because he failed his father twice and was ashamed. Then Yaqoob عليه السلام became blind because of the sorrow, yet he did not lose Faith in Allaah’s promise.

So, remember, Allaah تعالى may test a person with one calamity, and He تعالى may not respond to the supplication immediately. But He تعالى may provide relief after a second calamity or the third.

That is why, when a person is facing one calamity, he should persistently and diligently supplicate to Allaah for relief. Perhaps, Allaah تعالى may provide relief or He تعالى may delay. But when the second calamity befalls, and the person is patient, and seeks Allaah’s help through patience and prayers, then know that the relief is not far.

Allaah تعالى said:

أَمَّن جَعَلَ الْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا

{Is not He (better than the objects that you worship besides Him), (the One) Who made the earth a stable ground…}

📚 [Surah al-Naml (27): 61]

The One who has made the earth a stable ground is also capable of providing calmness to your heart and making your life stable?!

Then He تعالى said:

وَجَعَلَ خِلَالَهَا أَنْهَارًا

{…and has placed rivers in its midst}

📚 [Surah al-Naml (27): 61]

 

The One who made the rivers to run freely is also capable of making your whole life run smoothly, and He سبحانه وتعالى may guide it to whichever direction He تعالى wishes.

Then He تعالى said:

وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِيَ

{…and has placed firm mountains therein…}

📚 [Surah al-Naml (27): 61]

The One who has made the mountains firm is also capable of making your feet firm so that you do not doubt after having received Imaan (Faith).

Then He تعالى said:

وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا

{…and has set a barrier between the two seas (of salt and sweet water)...}

📚 [Surah al-Naml (27): 61]

If we were to pour water from two different cups into one tumbler, we will never be able to segregate the water of one cup from the other. He تعالى wants to remind you that the One who can place a barrier between the two bodies of water is also capable of placing a barrier between you and the calamities, can place a barrier between you and the hardships, can place a barrier between you and the things that cause you distress. He تعالى can place a barrier between you and everything that you are afraid of.

Then He تعالى said:

أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

{Is there any ilaah (object worthy of being worshiped along) with Allaah?}

📚 [Surah al-Naml (27): 61]

No, by Allaah! There is no one worthy of worship except Allaah. It is He Who is the only Ilaah (to be worshipped) in the heaven and the only Ilaah (to be worshipped) on the earth. And He is the All-Wise, the All-Knower.

Then He تعالى said:

بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

{Nay, but most of them know not.}

📚 [Surah al-Naml (27): 61]

But most of mankind is ignorant and associate partners with Allaah in worship, and do not revere Him as He should be revered. They make not a just estimate of Allaah such as is due to Him. Whereas on the Day of Resurrection, the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified is He, and High is He above all that they associate as partners with Him!

Immediately after this Aayah, Allaah تعالى said:

أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ

{Is not He (better than the objects that you worship besides Him), (the One) Who responds to the desperate one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil…}

📚 [Surah al-Naml (27): 62]

Who is it that can protect you from Allaah if He intends to harm you or intends to have mercy on you? For there is no protector or helper besides Allaah ﷻ. O my brothers and sisters! He سبحانه وتعالى responds and answers the supplications of those who are desperate, or distressed, or undergoing hardships, or facing calamities, or suffering pain. It is promise binding upon Him to remove your hardships if you supplicate to Him sincerely.

The He تعالى said:

وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ الْأَرْضِ

{…and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations…}

📚 [Surah al-Naml (27): 62]

Not only is He تعالى going to remove your hardships, rather, He تعالى is going to make you inheritors of the earth. When you supplicate to Him, He تعالى will provide for you over and above your expectations.

The He تعالى said:

أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ

{Is there any ilaah (object worthy of being worshiped along) with Allaah? Little is that you remember!}

📚 [Surah al-Naml (27): 62]

Little do we remember Allaah’s promise when facing a calamity. We hasten towards despair and hopelessness, and start having bad thoughts about Allaah, and begin doubting His promises.

O my brothers and sisters! Trust Allaah, have Faith in his promises. He تعالى will never let us down as long as we are beseeching Him, supplicating to Him, and invoking Him – sincerely, earnestly, diligently, and persistently.

Salmaan al-Faarisee رضي الله عنه narrated that  the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Indeed Allaah is Hayiy (Shy) and Kareem (Most Generous), and is ashamed to allow His servant’s hands to return empty after he has raised them up to Him.❞
📚[Sunan Abu Dawood (1488), Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3556), Sunan Ibn Maajah (3865), and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. In Sunan Abu Dawood and Ibn Maajah the wordings are: ❝Your Lord is Hayiy❞. In Sunan al-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah the additional wordings are ❝to return him empty handed and rejected.❞]

Anas رضي الله عنه said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ saying: ❝Allaah تعالى has said: {O son of Aadam, as long as you invoke Me and hope in Me, I shall forgive you in spite of what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Aadam! Were your sins (so numerous) to reach the lofty regions of the sky and you then asked forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you. O son of Aadam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me in worship, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it (too)}❞
📚 [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3540) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

If you were to supplicate to Allaah sincerely for forgiveness, He تعالى will respond to your supplications and will forgive you, and He تعالى not care how much you might had sinned earlier. When we turn to Allaah in repentance, He تعالى turns to us with forgiveness, and when we beseech Him for Help, He تعالى will provide for us relief, and when we turn to Him in obedience, He تعالى will provide for us beyond our expectations.

But if one were to associate partners with Him in Worship – and we seek Allaah’s refuge from this – then never will this person find success.