Granting respite (imlāʾ) refers to prolonging life, together with the provision and victory that may come with it.

The Most High says:

“Leave Me with those who deny this message. We shall draw them on, step by step, from where they do not realize; I shall grant them respite—for My scheme is firm indeed.” (al-Qalam 68:44–45)

This is a far-reaching subject that is treated at length elsewhere.

He also says:

“Call upon your Lord with humility and in private; surely He does not love the aggressors.” (al-Aʿrāf 7:55)

The point here is that calling upon Allah takes more than one form. It may be an act of worship in and of itself, for which the servant is rewarded in the Hereafter in addition to whatever benefit he receives in this world. It may be a request for some personal need that is then granted; the supplicant may still be rewarded if the request is something Allah loves. Or he may obtain nothing beyond that immediate need, or even suffer harm to his religion—being punished for neglecting Allah’s rights and exceeding His limits.

Consequently, the “means” (wasīlah) Allah has commanded us to seek toward Him includes both worshipping Him and making requests of Him. Drawing near through the righteous deeds He has enjoined, and through the supplications and intercession of the prophets and the righteous, is not a matter of swearing oaths upon Him by His creatures.

Within this same category is the people’s seeking the Prophet’s intercession on the Day of Resurrection: they will ask him to intercede with Allah for them just as, in this life, they used to ask him to pray for them—for rain and other needs.

Accordingly, ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Whenever drought struck us, we would seek a means to You…"