We as a Muslim who have many desires and needs, it is obligatory for him to always ask for these needs from Allah Ta’ala. Praying every time, it is recommended every time there is an opportunity.
Allah really likes his servant who is diligent in praying, unlike us asking a servant, then he will be annoyed and angry if someone keeps asking him.
In the hadith narrated by Imam Ibn Hibban, it is also stated,
إِذَا تَمَنَّى أَحَدُكُم فَلْيُكثِر ، فَإِنَّمَا يَسأَلُ رَبَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
“Whoever wants something needs (to Allah), then multiply those dreams, because actually someone is praying to Allah.”
It is very wrong if someone says that “It is not proper for a servant to ask Allah, except for heaven.” Or say, “The number of prayers you ask for, that’s why your prayers are not answered.”
Unfortunately, in praying a servant sometimes falls into error. Whether it’s praying and asking for something other than Allah, hasty in asking for an answer, and hastily concluded that his prayer was not heard and not answered by Allah Ta’ala, In fact, the prayer of a servant may not be answered because between two Thing.
It could be that there are other factors that we are not aware of and actually that can prevent our prayers from being answered, or Allah Ta’ala grants our prayers in a way that Allah wants, which sometimes may not be what we ask for and what we think.
Factors that prevent prayers from being answered
The prayer of a servant is granted depending on the belief and the quality of the prayer offered. Just like a sword is held by someone, so it will also be different if it is held by different hands, depending on who is swinging it and using it.
Imam Ibn Qayyim once gave an example,
والأدعية والتعوذات بمنزلة السلاح ، والسلاح بضاربه ، لا بحده فقط ، فمتى كان السلاح سلاحا تاما لا آفة به ، والساعد ساعد قوي ، والمانع مفقود ، حصلت به النكاية في العدو . ومتى تخلف واحد من هذه الثلاثة تخلف التأثير
“Prayer &ta’awwudz have degrees like weapons. The greatness of a weapon really depends on the person who uses it, not only on its sharpness. If the weapon is a perfect weapon, there are no defects, the user’s arm is a strong arm, and there is no barrier, then surely it can be used to hit and defeat the enemy. However, if one of the three things is lost, then the effect will also be different, namely weakening and decreasing.” (Ad-Daa’ wa Ad-Dawaa’, p. 35).
It is the same as a prayer that is said by someone. If the prayer that is asked for is fundamentally unworthy, or the person praying is not able to unite his heart and tongue, then the effect will also be non-existent.
The biggest obstacle to our prayers being hindered is the ignorance of a servant of his position which is very weak and in need of His Lord and his ignorance of the great position of Allah the Exalted, the All-Powerful and the All-Powerful.
Among the obstacles to the fulfillment of a servant’s prayer are:
First: Not perfect in repenting of all disobedience.
Therefore, before praying, he should immediately repent and ask forgiveness for all the sins he has committed.
Second: In a hurry to want to be quickly granted and quickly feel bored in continuing to pray.
Rasulullah SAW said in a hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, namely:
يُسْتَجَابُ لِأَحَدِكُمْ مَا لم يَعْجَلْ، يقول: دَعَوْتُ فَلَمْ يُسْتَجَبْ لِي
“A servant’s prayer will be answered as long as he is not in a hurry, namely by saying, ‘I have prayed but it is not answered.'”
Third: Not presenting the heart or neglecting the heart when praying.
Fourth: Eating other people’s property and goods that are not their rights.
As in the hadith of the Muslim Imam, namely:
ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ، يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، يَا رَبِّ، يَا رَبِّ، وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ، فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ؟
“Then the Prophet Muhammad told about a man who had traveled a long way, so that his hair became tangled and dusty and that person raised his hands to the sky and prayed, ‘O my Lord, O my Lord. illegal stuff. So, how will Allah answer his prayer that he prays?” (Hadith narrated. Muslim number. 1015)
Fifth: Not carrying out the cause that will lead to the desires and hopes that he asks for.
For example, a student who prays and asks for graduation, but he is lazy to study.
Rasulullah SAW said:
احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَلاَ تَعْجِزْ
“Be enthusiastic in doing things that benefit you, and ask Allah for help, and do not despair.” (Hadith History. Muslim no. 2664)
