—all the more so when it coincides with those supplications that the Prophet ﷺ declared to be especially likely to receive an answer and that contain the Greatest Name.

There is, however, an important matter that requires our attention: the effect of a supplication may fail to appear for the person who offers it. This may be due to one of three reasons:

1. The supplication itself is deficient, meaning that Allah does not love it because it involves aggression or transgression.
2. The heart is weak—distracted and not truly turning to Allah at the moment of prayer.
3. An impediment to acceptance is present, such as consuming what is unlawful, the rust of sins covering the heart, or the dominance of heedlessness and desire.

Among the afflictions that prevent a supplication from bearing fruit is haste: a servant grows impatient, the response seems delayed, he loses heart, and abandons prayer altogether. Al-Bukhārī (6340) and Muslim (2735) relate that the Prophet ﷺ said, “A person will be answered so long as he is not hasty and says, ‘I prayed, but I have not been answered.’”

We ask Allah, Exalted is He, to accept our prayers and to set right our deeds. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy, Responsive. May abundant blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.