Sometimes, even after observing the etiquettes of duʿā’, we may feel our duʿā’ remains unanswered. In such cases, it’s vital to reflect: is something preventing our duʿāʾ from being accepted?
The Prophet ﷺ would seek Allah’s protection from a duʿā’ that is not accepted:
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّىْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَّا يَنْفَعُ ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَّا يَخْشَعُ ، وَمِنْ نَّفْسٍ لَّا تَشْبَعُ ، وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لَّا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا
O Allah, I seek Your protection from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not humble itself, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not accepted (Muslim).
Below are the most common obstacles that prevent our duʿā’ from being accepted:
Impatience and Losing Hope
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The duʿā’ of every one of you is accepted as long as he does not grow impatient and says, ‘I made duʿā’ but it was not accepted’” (Muslim).
We should never set a time limit on when Allah will respond. While He is al-Mujīb (The Responder), He is also al-Ḥakīm (The Wise). Sometimes, we may dislike something, yet Allah places goodness within it; and at other times, we may desire something that ultimately harms us.
Even after prolonged supplications and patience, we should not think that our duʿā’ has been rejected. We should ignore the demoralising whispers of Shayṭān, remain optimistic and think well of Allah ﷻ. “Allah (ʿazza wa jall) says, ‘I am just as My servant thinks I am and I am with him when he remembers Me’” (Bukhārī).
Shayṭān seizes every chance to lead a servant away from worship, and what better opportunity than when a duʿāʾ appears unanswered? As the believer cries out to his Lord with humility, Shayṭān whispers doubt into his heart: “Where is your answer? Why hasn’t Allah responded?” In such moments, it is crucial to recognise this whisper for what it is, a trap, and to firmly resist it. Do not lose hope in Allah. The delay is not rejection, but a test of your trust, patience, and persistence.
“When Shayṭān comes and says, ‘How many times do you call upon Him without seeing a response?’ say: ‘I worship through my duʿā’.” – Ibn al-Jawzī (raḥimahullāh)
Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) said, “Among the afflictions that prevent a duʿā’ from taking effect is when a person becomes hasty and impatient for a response. He grows weary and gives up making duʿā’. This is like someone who sows a seed or plants a tree, tends to it and waters it, but when he does not see it growing as quickly as he wishes, he abandons it and neglects it.
Mu’arriq al-ʿIjlī (raḥimahullāh) said, “I asked my Lord for something for twenty years: it was not granted to me and I never gave up hope of it.”
Consuming Haram
One of the gravest obstacles to an accepted duʿāʾ is unlawful consumption. Though the limbs follow the heart, the heart is also influenced by the actions of the limbs. Eating what is ḥalal (permissible) brings light and purity to the heart, while consuming ḥarām (forbidden) or doubtful things corrupts, hardens, and darkens it.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “O people! Indeed, Allah is Pure and only accepts that which is pure. And Allah has commanded the believers with what He commanded the Messengers, saying: ‘O Messengers, eat from the good things and act righteously. Indeed, I am All-Knowing of what you do’ (23: 51). And He said: ‘O you who believe, eat from the good things We have provided for you’ (1:172). Then he mentioned a man who travels far, dishevelled and dusty, raising his hands to the sky saying, ‘O my Lord, O my Lord,’ but his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he has been nourished with the unlawful; so how can his (duʿā’) be answered?!” (Muslim).
This man outwardly displays several qualities that would normally lead to the acceptance of duʿāʾ. He is travelling a long distance, and a traveller’s supplication is more readily accepted. His humility is evident in his dishevelled state. He raises his hands in earnest supplication and persistently calls upon Allah, saying “Yā Rabb.” Yet despite these outward signs of sincerity, his duʿāʾ is still not accepted because his food, drink, and sustenance come from ḥarām sources.
Ibn Rajab (raḥimahullāh) explained, “As for what prevents the acceptance of duʿā’, the Prophet ﷺ pointed out that indulgence in the unlawful — whether in food, drink, clothing, or sustenance — is a major cause. This is also supported by the ḥadīth of Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā), and when the Prophet ﷺ said to Saʿd (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu), ‘Purify your food and you will be one whose duʿā’ is answered.’ Thus, consuming ḥalāl food, drink and clothing is a key reason for the acceptance of duʿā’.”
The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ gave immense importance to consuming only what was ḥalāl, and were deeply cautious about avoiding anything ḥarām. They knew that what entered the body had a direct effect on the heart, actions, and acceptance of duʿā’.
Sahl b. ʿAbdillāh (raḥimahullāh) said: “Whoever eats ḥalāl for forty days, his duʿā’ will be answered.”
Neglecting Commanding Good and Forbidding Evil
Allah ﷻ has honoured this ummah with superiority over other nations because it enjoins good and forbids wrong: “You are the best nation produced for mankind: you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah” (3:110).
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made this a personal obligation upon every member of this ummah, according to their ability. He ﷺ said, “Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable, then with his tongue. And if he is unable, then with his heart; and that is the weakest level of faith” (Muslim).
He ﷺ warned us, “By the One in whose hand is my soul, you must enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, or else Allah will soon send upon you a punishment from Him. Then you will supplicate to Him, but your supplication will not be accepted” (Tirmidhī).
This ḥadīth highlights that neglecting this obligation not only invites divine punishment but also lead to a devastating outcome: our duʿāʾ no longer being accepted.
Sins: The Greatest Barrier
Sins are the greatest barrier to an accepted duʿā’. Ibn Rajab (raḥimahullāh) explained: “Committing ḥarām acts and neglecting obligatory duties can also cause duʿā’ to be rejected. For instance, abandoning enjoining good and forbidding evil is mentioned in the ḥadīth as something that prevents the acceptance of duʿā’ of righteous people. On the other hand, acts of obedience and righteous deeds are among the greatest causes for duʿā’ to be answered. This is why, when the three men were trapped in the cave and the rock blocked their exit, they invoked Allah by their sincere righteous deeds, Allah answered their duʿā’.”
ʿUmar (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said: “By abstaining from what Allah has forbidden, Allah accepts supplication and glorification.”
Musā (ʿalayhis-salām) once saw a man raising his hands and earnestly asking Allah. So Musā (ʿalayhis-salām) said, “O Lord, Your servant is supplicating to You until I have felt mercy for him. You are the Most Merciful of the merciful: What have You done about his need?” Allah said, “O Musā, if he raises his hands until they fall off, I will not look into his need until he looks into My right (i.e. My due).”
Ten Things Blocking Your Duʿa
Ibrāhīm b. Adham (raḥimahullāh) was asked: “Why is it that we supplicate, yet our prayers are not answered?”
He replied:
“Because you know Allah, yet you do not obey Him.
You know the Messenger ﷺ, yet you do not follow his Sunnah.
You know the Qur’ān, yet you do not act upon it.
You consume Allah’s blessings, yet you do not show gratitude.
You know Paradise, yet you do not seek it.
You know the Fire, yet you do not flee from it.
You know Shayṭān, yet you do not oppose him; rather, you agree with him.
You know death, yet you do not prepare for it.
You bury the dead, yet you take no lesson from it.
You ignore your own faults and busy yourselves with the faults of others.”
6. Those Whose Duʿa Is Accepted
