that We have provided for you, and give thanks to Allah if it is Him alone that you worship.”

The Prophet ﷺ then related the case of a man undertaking a lengthy journey—unkempt and dust-covered—who raises his hands toward the sky, pleading, “My Lord! My Lord!” Yet his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he has been nourished on what is unlawful. How, then, could his supplication be answered? The Prophet ﷺ deemed it unlikely that Allah would respond to such a person, even though he has fulfilled several outward causes for acceptance. Because he lives on what is forbidden, he is far removed from Allah’s approval.

These, therefore, are four indispensable conditions for supplication. Allah is the One who grants success.

Chapter: The Command to Supplicate and Its Virtue

Allah the Exalted says, “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near; I answer the call of the caller when he calls upon Me.” He also says, “Who is it that answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes the harm?”

Explanation

We have already discussed the excellence of supplication and the prerequisites for its acceptance. In this noble verse Allah says, “And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near; I answer the call of the caller when he calls upon Me. Let them, therefore, respond to Me and believe in Me, that they may be rightly guided.” The address is directed to the Prophet ﷺ, for Allah says to him, “And when My servants ask you concerning Me …”