Ibrahim Bin Adham was asked as to why our dua’s do not get accepted even though Allah Ta`ala has said, “And ask of me; I shall grant you…”
So Ibrahim Bin Adham answered:
Your dua’s do not get answered because your hearts are dead.
They said, ‘why are our hearts dead?’
He answered, because of 8 things….
1- You know the rights of Allah upon you but you do not fulfill them.
2- You read the Qur’an but you do not act on its commandments.
3- You claim that you love the Prophet (may peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) but you don’t follow his way.
4- You say we fear death, but you don’t prepare for it.
5- Allah says, “Indeed shaytan is your enemy, so take him as your enemy…” but you obey him in committing sins and disobeying Allah.
6- You claim that you fear the hell fire but you have thrown yourselves therein.
7- You claim that you love paradise but you don’t make an effort for it.
8- When you get up from your beds in the morning, you throw your deficiencies behind your backs and involve yourselves with other peoples’ faults.
Thus you have angered your Lord, so why would He answer your prayers?
(Taken from: Ihya Ulum al-Din; Kitab Sharh `Aja’ib al-Qalb)
