A young man once said “I have so many problems! I keep praying to God to have them solved but my prayers are never accepted. I’ve spent many years supplicating to God, but not a single problem of mine has been solved. I have really no idea as to what I should do now.”

He is one of many who pray to God for material things or for a solution to their economic problems. And when their problems are not solved the way they want them to be, they lose hope.

Supplication to God (dua) is a form of worship. The acceptance of these supplications depends on God’s will, not our desire.

Material things are like examination question papers. God decides who will be tested with which examination paper. Our preference makes no difference whatsoever. A student appearing for an examination cannot demand that the examination paper should be as he wants it to be. The paper is set not by him, but, rather, by the educational authorities. Likewise, the examinations that God sets for us to face in this world are decided by Him. We can’t expect them to be as we like them.

The right thing would be to continue beseeching God, and leave the matter entirely to Him. If our supplications are not accepted, this is what God wills. God knows better what is good for His servants. We are concerned only with our desires and do not know what is truly good for us.

The ideal prayer would be “O God! Please grant me whatever is best for me!” and then to willingly accept whatever is given.

Source: Spirit of Islam, December 2013