When we make du’a (supplication) sometimes they are accepted and at other times they are not. Why could that be?
:ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًۭا وَخُفْيَةً ۚ”
“Call upon your Lord humbly and secretly. “
Dua requires action
Supplication is a sacred conversation between you and Allah, it is you asking Allah to grant, or take away or help, etc. you in a certain situation/s and things in your life. Du’a is a request for Allah’s assistance in order to achieve your request. Example of this Prophet Ayyub he was unable to move, laying in bed and could not stand on his own weight, he made du’a to Allah, “My Lord harm has touched me, you are the Most Merciful, oh Allah cure me.” Allah answered him immediately and responded by saying “touch the ground with your foot a well of water will come up that you can bathe and cleanse yourself in, it will heal you.” Here we can learn that Prophet Ayyub had to perform an action, he could not just rely on Allah to do whatever he wanted.
Supplication is about changing the condition that you are in, so that Allah can help you. You can’t just say, “O Allah grant me Jannah”, without praying, reading Qur’an and making dhikr, it doesn’t work like that. It is also important to praise Allah before you ask Allah, ensure that you please Him.
Perseverance in Dua
It is important to persevere and be consistent in making du’a, and not give up after just supplicating once or twice. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) encouraged repeating du’as and being steadfast in asking Allah.
رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ يَنْزِلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى سَمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ مَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ مَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ ”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: Our Lord who is blessed and exalted descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last one-third of the night remains, and says: Who supplicated Me so that I may answer him ? Who asks of Me so that I may give to him ? Who asks My forgiveness so that I may forgive him ?
In prayer while making sujood, at this time you are closest to Allah so ask him, make dua for He is listening.
“كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩”
“Again, no! Never obey him ˹O Prophet˺! Rather, ˹continue to˺ prostrate and draw near ˹to Allah˺.”