The delay in answering prayers may be due to testing the patience of believers or the inability to recognize good and bad in prayers.
In the Holy Quran, various reasons are stated for the delay in answering prayers. One reason is the test and trial of patience for the believers. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 153, Allah said, 'O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.' This indicates that prayer is one of the ways of communicating with God, and when a prayer is not answered, it may mean that our faith is being tested. Moreover, in Surah Al-Imran, verse 186, Allah declares, 'And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse.' This verse reminds us that we will face many challenges and trials in life. Therefore, our prayers may be delayed so that we can enhance our patience and resilience, remembering that Allah answers our prayers in the best manner and at the right time. Another reason for the delay in answering prayers may relate to our ability to discern what is good and what is bad for us. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 216, it is mentioned, 'Perhaps you dislike a thing while it is good for you.' Hence, Allah may delay a prayer that is not in our best interest or respond to it in a different way. Ultimately, we must remember that God always watches over us, and when our prayers remain unanswered, He never forgets us and chooses the right time for answering.
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse.
Perhaps you dislike a thing while it is good for you.
One day, a man named Rahim was praying, wanting his prayers to be answered by God. However, after a while of waiting, he fell into deep thought and felt hopeless. He decided to visit a scholar and ask why his prayers were unanswered. The scholar told him, 'God, out of love for you, sometimes delays your prayer to test you and teach you patience.' Rahim contemplated this and realized that patience is truly a divine quality, so he prayed again with hope, and eventually received the answers to his prayers.