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How can we hope that our Dua will be answered

Explaining the statement of the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam):  “How can then his supplication be accepted?” [1]

The meaning of this statement is “How does he expect to be answered?” It is in the form of a question, used to express surprise and unlikelihood, rather than as a literal question. This is understood as it is impossible for his supplications to be answered in their entirety. From this, it is also understood that delving into the unlawful and being nourished by it constitutes obstacles to having one’s supplications answered.

However, there may be circumstances that keep this obstacle from preventing the responses to supplication. Committing prohibited acts also prevents response to supplication. Just as not performing that which is obligatory, (such as shunning pursuing good and forbidding evil, as was mentioned in the hadeeth) prevents an answer to supplication, performing acts of obedience is a cause for their answer.

For this reason, when those who entered the cave supplicated to Allaah, seeking intercession by their righteous deeds done sincerely for Allaah, the Exalted, while they were dosed in the cave by a rock, their prayer was answered.

‘Umar bin aI-Khattab said, ” If you avoid what Allaah prohibited, your supplication and praise will be accepted.”

Wahb bin Munabbih also said,

مَثَلُ الذي يدعو بغير عمل، كمثل الذي يرمي بغير وَتَر

“He who supplicates without (good] deeds, is like one who shoots [an arrow] without a bow” [Recorded by Ibn al-Mubarak in “az-Zuhd” (322), and ‘Abu Na’eem in “al-Hilyah”, (4/53)]

Some of the Salafs (Pious Predecessors) said, “How can the answer [to our du’a] not be delayed when you have blocked its paths with sins.”

A poet reiterated the same meaning, saying,

{{ نحن نَدْعُو الإله في كُلِّ كَربٍ … ثُمَّ نَنساهُ عِندَ كَشفِ الكُروبِ
كَيْفَ نَرجُو إجابةً لدُعاءٍ … قَدْ سَدَدْنا طرِيقَها بالذُّنوب }}

“We pray to God in every distress,
And then we forget Him when our distress is lifted.
How can we hope that our du’a will be answered
When we have blocked its paths with sins.”

[Source: Jaami’ al-‘Uloom wal-Hikam, (1/277), checked by Shu’aib al-‘Arnaoot]

Footnote:

[1] The complete hadeeth is as follows:

Abu Huraira (radhiAllaahu ‘anhu) reported Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) as saying: 0 people, Allaah is Good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allaah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers by saying:” O Messengers, eat of the good things, and do good deeds; verily I am aware of what you do” (Qur’an 23:51). And He said: ‘ O those who believe, eat of the good things that We gave you” (Qur’an  2:172) He then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair dishevelled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication):” O Lord,O Lord,” whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How can then his supplication be accepted? [Saheeh Muslim (#1015)]

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