8 – Islam is an essential condition for deeds to be accepted and prayers to be answered. No matter what a non-believer may do, his works will be thrown back at him. Allah says: “We shall turn to whatever deeds they did and make them like scattered dust” (Qur’an 25:23).

9 – Servitude in this context has a specific sense: it is not the universal servitude that encompasses all creatures, but the servitude of consciously turning to Allah—seeking His refuge and beseeching Him with humility.

10 – The Prophet ﷺ said, “A servant’s supplication will be answered so long as he does not ask for something sinful or for the severing of kinship” (Muslim 2735). Therefore, the supplication that receives a response is the one that is sound in both its wording and its intent. Allah knows best.