Often when I make dua I worry that possibly it won’t be answered or even if it is answered it will be answered in a form other than what I asked for (for example I will be given reward on day of judgement instead of what I asked for in this Dunya). To help clear my mind I usually think of the verse of the 56th verse of the 15th Chapter that speaks of despairing of Allah’s mercy. I was wondering if this is what the verse is referring to? Such as don’t lose hope in dua. And if not can you refer me to verses that have such meaning. These doubts I have are very disturbing should I just try to ignore them even though I feel my dua may not be answered.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is not despairing from the Mercy of Allah if a person believes that his supplication will be answered by getting a reward in the Hereafter, because this is true. When one supplicates, he gets one of the three things as mentioned in the authentic Hadeeth; either Allah responds to him (in this worldly life), or drives evil away from him according to his supplication, or preserves it for him (as reward) on the Day of Judgment.

Hence, a slave should supplicate Allah with whatever he wishes whilst thinking good of Him, believing that whatever Allah chooses for him is better than what he chooses for his own self. One must also believe that Allah knows better what benefits the person more than the person himself, and that Allah is more merciful to him than his own mother who gave birth to him.

He should supplicate Allah while being certain that Allah will answer his supplication. He should be certain that Allah will predestine the best for him, will drive evil away from him, and will give him whatever he needs in his religion and his worldly matters. A Muslim should not lose hope in Allah or despair of His mercy.

Allah Says (what means):

• {…and despair not of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people."} [Quran 12:87]

• {He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?"} [Quran 15:56]

He should utilize the required means for his supplications to be answered, such as facing the direction of the Qiblah, beginning by praising Allah and sending blessings on the Prophet, persisting in his supplication by supplicating again and again, and not feeling that the response to his supplication is delayed and is not being answered. He should earn lawful earnings and think good of his Lord.

He should put the method of answering his supplication in the Hands of Allah, because Allah knows best what benefits people more than anyone else.

Allah Says (what means): {And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.} [Quran 2:186]

Allah knows best.