The closer a servant is to Allah—obeying Him and faithfully observing His commands—the more deserving his supplications and intimate entreaties to his Lord are of being answered and accepted. It is authentically reported in Sahīh al-Bukhārī from Abū Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—who said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Allah Most High said: ‘Whoever shows hostility to one of My allies, I declare war against him. My servant draws near to Me with nothing more beloved to Me than the duties I have imposed upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me through supererogatory deeds until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give him; and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely grant him refuge. I do not hesitate over anything I am to do as I hesitate over taking the soul of the believer: he dislikes death, and I dislike causing him pain.’”1

Similarly, when hardship afflicts a servant and he turns to Allah with truthfulness, sincerity, and intense longing, his supplication will not be rejected. Allah says: “Who is it that answers the distressed when he calls upon Him and removes adversity?”2 One scholar said concerning this verse: “Allah Most High has guaranteed that He will answer the distressed when he calls upon Him and has declared this concerning Himself. The reason is that seeking refuge in Him under dire necessity springs from sincerity and from severing the heart from all besides Him. Sincerity enjoys a special standing and sanctity before Him—Glorified is He—whether it comes from a believer or an unbeliever, an obedient person or a sinner.”3

The supplication of Jonah—peace be upon him—which he offered in the belly of the fish has significance