Why aren't our Duas being answered?

Ibrahim Ibn Adham (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) was a scholar of the 2nd century and was the Ustaad and friend of Sufyaan As-Sawri (Rahmatullahi 'alayh). Once, some people asked him concerning the verse 60 of Surah 40 (Al Mu'min) where Allah said: “Supplicate to Me, I shall respond”.

They said: "We make Dua, but our Duas are not being answered."

On this, he replied:

• You recognise Allah but you do not obey Him.

• You recite the Qur’an-e-Kareem, but you do not follow it.

• You know Shaitan well, but you are still in good term with him.

• You claim to love Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) but you neglect his Sunnah.

• You claim to like Jannah but you do not try your best to acquire it.

• You claim to fear Jahannam but you do not refrain from sins.

• You say that death is certain - but you have not yet made preparations for it. You keep searching for the shortcomings of others but you do not look at your own shortcomings.

• You consume what Allah has given you, but you do not show gratitude to Him.

• You bury your dead people but you do not take lesson from it.

[Excerpt from "Khushu' Fis Salah" by Ibn Rajah Hambali (Rahmatullahi 'alayh)

[English version of "Ki faire nou dou'aa pas pé accepté?" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No. 2]