God’s Definite Promise to Answer Prayer
For every human being, there may be times in life when he does not know how to talk to God. Some Muslims went to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) asking him about this. They wanted to know how they should call God. Then verse 186 of Surah Al-Baharah was revealed:
“(Muhammad), if any of My servants ask you about Me, tell them that the Lord says, “I am near; I accept the prayers of those who pray." Let My servants answer My call and believe in Me so that perhaps they may know the right direction.”
This verse shows that God loves those who call Him and in order for this connection to become two-way, man should want it to be so.
Praying to God means talking to Him and feeling Him near. Prayer is a connection with God in heart. Asking God shows one is hopeful that God will answer. If we did not have any hope that our prayers will be answered, we wouldn’t want anything from God.
In his Noor Interpretation of the Holy Quran, cleric Hojat-ol-Islam Mohsen Qara’ati says about this verse:
Praying is useful whenever and wherever it takes place because God says: “I am near” and His being near is forever. But what about us? Are we always near Him? If sometimes He gets angry with us, it is because we get far from Him as a result of our sins.
Answering prayers is certain and happens all the time. It is not temporary. Prayer is answered when it is accompanied by faith, as God says, “and believe in Me”.
Another point is that prayer is a means for growth and guidance: “… so that perhaps they may know the right direction.”
The question is why some prayers are not answered although God says: “Pray to Me for I shall answer you prayers”?
According to Hojat-ol-Islam Qara’ati, some reasons are as follows:
- Some actions such as committing sins, doing injustice to others, and obtaining Haram money could prevent answering of prayers.
- Sometimes one’s prayer is not answered but something similar to it is given to the one who has prayed.
- Sometimes the result of the prayer comes in the future for the one who has prayed for his family and posterity. Sometimes it is not answered immediately and its outcome will be seen in the Resurrection Day.
- Any prayer that is not answered is actually not a prayer because prayer means asking for good but many of the things we ask for may not be good.
