Prayers may be delayed in response for reasons of testing patience and divine wisdom.
In the Holy Quran, Allah emphasizes the importance of praying and connecting with Him. In Surah Ghafir, verse 60, it states: 'And your Lord says, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you.' This verse highlights that praying is a part of faith in God. However, delays in the answers to prayers can occur for various reasons. One reason might be to test our patience and faith. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 155, Allah mentions: 'And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.' This means that God tests us with challenges and difficulties to measure our patience and resilience. Additionally, it's possible that a prayer is better suited to be answered at a different time or in a different way according to Divine wisdom. In Surah Al-Imran, verse 186, Allah says: 'You will surely be tested in your properties and your persons, and you will hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse.' Thus, we must remember that praying and waiting for its fulfillment is part of our faith journey, and Allah wants what is best for His servants. With patience and understanding of God's wisdom, we can attain tranquility in our prayers and the waiting for their answers.
And your Lord says, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you.'
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to 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. But if you are patient and fear Allah, that is the best course.
Once upon a time, there was a young man named Hossein who loved to pray. However, when he made a big prayer and awaited an answer, he waited for weeks with no news. He felt heartbroken and impatient. One day while walking in the park, he encountered an elderly woman who was praying. Hossein approached her and asked, "Why do you pray if you don’t receive answers?" The woman smiled and said, "My son, prayers always get answered, but Allah has His own timing. Sometimes we need to wait or learn what is truly best for us." Hearing this, Hossein remembered the verses of the Quran and realized that perhaps the Divine wisdom hidden in the delay of his prayers was essential. From that day on, he prayed and learned to be patient.