Abu Saed Khudri relates that Rasulullah (SAW) said, "Everyday and night in Ramadan Allah sets free a great number of souls from hell. And every Muslim during everyday and night there is a time when duaa is certainly accepted."
Apart from this hadith, there are many others stating that the duaa is accepted at the time of breaking the fast. Unfortunately at that time, we are so engrossed in eating food that we have no time for duaa, nor do we recall the duaa of breaking the fast is: O Allah for you I have fasted, in You do I believe, and on You do I rely and now I break this fast with food coming from you.
Abu Hurairah (RA) reports, Rasulullah (SAW) said: "There are three people whose duaas are not rejected, the fasting person until he breaks the fast, the just ruler and the duaas of the oppressed whose duaa Allah lifts above the clouds and opens unto it the doors of the heavens, and Allah says, I swear by my honour, verily I shall assist you even though it may be after some time."
In Durre Manthoor, it is reported from Aisha (RA) that when Ramadan arrived, the colour of Rasulullah's (SAW) face used to change. He then used to increase salaat, became even more humble in his duaas and had even more fear for Allah. According to another report, he (Rasulullah) hardly ever lay down in bed until Ramadan came to an end.
Further in a hadith, it is stated that the Angel bearing the throne are commanded in Ramadan to leave everything else and recite Ameen to duaa of those who fast. There are many hadiths stating that the duaas during Ramadan in particular are accepted. When Allah has promised and His truthful Prophet (SAW) has informed us, there should be no doubt whatsoever about the truth of these reports. Yet it is strange that in spite of this, we still find such people who apparently do not get what they make duaa for. They ask and do not receive. This does not mean that their duaas have been rejected. One should at this point understand the meaning of duaa being answered.
Rasulullah (SAW) informed us that when a Muslim makes duaa for anything from Allah, except for the severance of ties with relatives or for sinful thing then he definitely receives one of the following three things. Firstly, he gets the exact thing for which he made duaa.
Secondly, if that is not received, Allah either removes from his some great calamity in exchange for what he desired, or thirdly, the reward for the thing for which he made duaa is kept deposited for him in the Hereafter.
Another hadith states that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will call His servant, and say to him, "O My servant, I used to command you to ask of me I had promised to answer. Did you beg of me?" The servant will answer, "Yes I did." Then Allah shall reply, "You did not put forth any request which had not been accepted. You made duaa that a certain calamity should be removed, which I did for you in the worldly life. You made duaa that a certain sorrow should be case off you and the effect of that sorrow was even known to you. For that, I have fixed for you such and such a reward." Rasulullah (SAW) says, that person shall again be reminded of each and every duaa, and he shall be shown how it had been fulfilled in the world, or what reward had been stored for him in the Hereafter. When seeing that, he shall wish that not a single duaa of his have been answered on earth, so that he could receive the full reward only in the Hereafter.
Duaa is indeed very important and to neglect it at any time causes us great loss. Even when the outward signs seem to indicate that our duaa is not answered, courage should not be lost. Should Allah find that granting what we beseech of Him is beneficial, then He grants it, otherwise not. Actually, it is Allah's favour that we do not always get what we ask for, since very often, because of our lack of understanding, we beg of things which are not beneficial at a particular time.
Once again I must draw your attention to the fact that men as well as women suffer from a disease of cursing their children in their anger and sorrows. Be very careful. In the sight of Allah, there are certain times when whatever duaa is made it is immediately answered. So here due to our stupidity, the child is cursed and when the effect of that same duaa comes over the child and lands into calamity, the parents go crying and wailing from side to side not even realising that this is the result of their own curse. Rasulullah (SAW) commands us not to curse ourselves, our children, possessions, or servants.
It is just possible that this is the curse that is heard and answered at a time when all requests are granted, especially in Ramadan, which is filled with such special accepted moments. Hence in this month, great care should be taken. Omar (RA) reports from Rasulullah (SAW) "The one who remembers Allah during Ramadan is forgiven and the one who makes duaa to Allah is not forsaken."
Ibn Mas'ood (RA) reports that on every night of Ramadan a caller from the heavens calls out "O you seeker of good come, come near, O you seeker of evil, turn away (from evil) and open your eyes." Thereafter, that angel calls out, "Is there any seeker of forgiveness that he may be forgiven? Is there any one repenting so that his repentance shall be accepted? Is there anyone making duaa that his duaa may be granted? Is there anyone begging anything so that his plea may be fulfilled?"
Lastly, it should be borne in mind that there are certain conditions on which duaas are accepted. Among these is halal food. Where haram food is consumed, duaa is not accepted. Rasulullah (SAW) said, "Many a greatly troubled one in distress lifts up his hands to the heavens making a duaa, crying 'O Allah, O Allah.' However, the food he eats is haram, what he drinks is haram, his clothes are of haram amd in such cases, how can his duaa be accepted?"
A story is related about a group of people in Kufa whose duaa used to be always answered. Whenever a ruler was over them, they used to make duaa for a curse upon him which quickly came to destroy him. When Hajaaj became ruler there, he invited these people, among others, to a feast. After having eaten, he said: "Now I am not afraid of the duaa for curse upon me from these people because haram food has entered their stomachs."
At this stage, let us ponder over how much haram is being consumed in these times when people are even trying to make permissible the earnings of interest money. We find our people go so far as to think that bribery and what is obtained from it is permissible, while our traders very often, when deling with people, deceive them.
To be continued
