Eight Reasons Why Prayers Are Not Answered

A person once, complaining to Amirul Mu’mineen Imam Ali Ibn Abi-Talib (as) about his prayers not being answered, said: Despite the fact that God has said “Call upon Me, I will answer you”, why is it that when we supplicate to Him, He does not answer our prayers?

The first holy Imam (as) from the Ahlul-Bayt (as) replied: إنَّ قُلُوبُکُم خاَنٍ بِثَلاَثَةِ خِصاَلٍ Your hearts (and thoughts) have been unfaithful with respect to eight things (and this is the reason your prayers go unanswered)

1. You have acquired the cognizance of God but you do not fulfill what is due to Him; consequently your cognizance of Him has not benefited your state!

2. You have brought faith upon His Messenger but (later) went on to oppose his customs; where then is the yield of your faith?

3. You have read His book but have not acted upon it; you stated: “We have heard and we obey”, but then rose up in opposition to it!

4. You say: “We fear God’s punishment”, but perpetually perform acts that lead you closer to it.

5. You claim to be covetous of God’s reward, however you continue to perform acts that lead you away from it.

6. You consume God’s bounties but do not extend thanksgivings to Him.

7. You have been ordered to be Shaitaan’s enemy; you claim to be his enemy but, in practice, you do not oppose him.

8. You place into great scrutiny the faults of others but conveniently disregard your own.

With such a state of affairs, how do you expect your prayers to be answered when you yourself have shut its doors? Be pious, rectify your deeds, and enjoin the good and forbid the evil so that your prayers are answered.

Safinah al-Bihaar, vol. 1, pg. 448.