Allah, in His wisdom, knows what is best. He has made our supplications one of the influences that affects our lives, and He has promised to answer our prayers. This means that sometimes He answers us with precisely what we ask for. At other times, He might prevent a calamity from befalling us that we would otherwise have been destined to suffer from.

 

Also, He might postpone granting us the answer to that prayer until the Day of Resurrection, and reward us with the blessings of it on that day in terms of our judgment and reward in the Hereafter, through having it weigh in our favor on that day when our deeds are weighed. This is guaranteed for all who beseech Allah with sincerity and devotion. As for the answer to our prayers coming in this world with precisely what we ask for, this is usually the case.

 

When we read about the lives of the prophets, we witness many cases where Allah answered their prayers. Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, beseeched God on behalf of a number of his Companions.

 

He beseeched Allah about Ibn Abbas asking: “O Allah! Make him deeply knowledgeable about the religion.” He prayed that Anas ibn Malik would have a long life and many children. He prayed that Umar ibn al-Khattab would embrace Islam and add his strength to the Muslim community. He beseeched God on behalf of many of the tribes he interacted with, and He beseeched Allah for all of the Muslims throughout the ages.

 

We find many accounts, past and present, of how Allah answered people’s prayers. Wherever people believe in Allah, even if they might be sinful in their deeds and misguided in their religious understanding, we find them speaking about how Allah answered their prayers and removed their woes.

 

This is something that cannot be denied, a further proof attesting to Allah’s existence and His mercy. This is the reason why we scarcely find anyone, when faced with a great calamity or woe, who refrains from turning to Allah to relieve his or her distress.

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