ALLAH has created man to be His Khalifa on earth. He created for all the things on earth and gave him a power of seeing, hearing and understanding. He taught him speech and enlightened him with what is right and what is wrong. In the holy Quran, it is said that with every difficulty there is a relief. This means that whatever difficulties or troubles are encountered by men, ALLAH always provide a solution, a way to lead to ease happiness, if we follow His path and follow our faith by patience.
Despite all efforts, there are some objectives which a person can not achieve without the grace and help of ALLAH. At such stage a person instinctively turns to his creator and seeks His help for the solutions of problems. Such supplication and invocation is called DUA or prayer. It is the most strongest and visible acknowledgment of ALLAH’s sovereignty and total dependence of person on him. It is the medium by which a person can converse with ALLAH.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said to have called Dua an essential part of worship and the weapon of a believer.
Verse 186 of Surah Baqarah says: “I listen to prayers of every supplicant when he calls on me.”
And in verse 60 of Surah Mu’min ALLAH says, “And your Lord says, call on me, I will answer.”(your prayers).
These two verses tell us that ALLAH listens to our prayers and answers them. Our supplications to ALLAH should therefore, be made with full faith and confidence that it will be accepted. The most beautiful prayer taught in the Holy Quran is Surah Fatihah. It is an essential part of all Muslims worship, public or private. Our prayers should be addressed direct to ALLAH. Who alone is able to answer them. Verse 56 of Surah Bani Israeel says that being other than ALLAH whom people call upon have neither power to remove their troubles nor to change them. Therefore praying to or asking for help from angels, prophets or a saints is strictly forbidden in Islam. An important point to remember is that we stand in need of ALLAH’s help, guidance and protection. ALLAH who is independent and absolute does not need our prayers. Prayers are for human’s own spiritual education and consolation. If the person make Dua and communicates with ALLAH in an arrogant way, complaining to ALLAH or raising voice in anger than ALLAH may not respond. A person cannot continuously engage in sinful activities and behaviour without even a second of regret at the same time he or she expects to ALLAH to answer his Duas and requests. It is also an important factor to understand that a response to a Dua may not be exactly as whatever you expect. Sometimes prayers are accepted immediately and sometimes they are answered late.