Call upon Allah while you feel your absolute need of Him, knowing that He is self-sufficient and fully capable of granting whatever you ask.

Second, the supplication must be free of aggression. If it contains any form of transgression, Allah will not accept it—even if the plea comes from a father on behalf of his son or a mother for her child. Allah, Exalted is He, says, “Call upon your Lord humbly and privately; He does not love the transgressors.”

Thus, should a person pray for something sinful—asking his Lord, for instance, to provide that which is forbidden—his request is rejected because he has overstepped the bounds. The same applies if he asks for what is legally impossible, such as saying, “O Allah, make me a prophet”; such a supplication is impermissible, aggressive, and will not be answered. Likewise, praying against someone who is wronged will not be accepted, nor will a mother’s curse upon her son simply because he loves his wife, or a father’s curse upon his son merely because the boy keeps company with virtuous people. In short, no aggression may taint the prayer.

Third, one must supplicate with firm certainty that the answer will come, not as an experiment. Some people pray only to see whether their requests will be answered; such a prayer is not accepted. Call upon Allah convinced that He will respond. If you supplicate while harboring doubt, Allah will not accept it from you.

Fourth, the supplicant must keep clear of the unlawful and refrain from consuming anything illicit. Whoever lives on forbidden earnings—usury, illicit interest, deceit, lying, or similar sources—will not have his supplication answered. The proof lies in the Prophet’s statement ﷺ: “Allah is Good and accepts only what is good.” Allah has ordered the believers with the same command He gave to the messengers: “O Messengers, eat of the good things and act righteously,” and He also said, “O you who believe, eat of the good things…”