The Key to Answered Prayers (Part II)

Imam Ahmad, may Allah be pleased with him, was once travelling and needed to stay somewhere overnight. When he went to the masjid, the guard (not recognising Imam Ahmad) denied him entrance. Imam Ahmad tried numerous times, but the guard did not accept his requests. Frustrated, Imam Ahmad resolved to spend the night in the masjid yard. The guard became furious and dragged him away, despite the old age and weakness of Imam Ahmad. A baker, whose shop was nearby, watched this scene and took pity on Imam Ahmad. He invited the Imam to stay with him for the night. While there, Imam Ahmad noticed that the baker continually made istighfar (asking for Allah’s forgiveness) while working, and in the morning, the Imam eagerly asked his host about the latter’s continual seeking of forgiveness. The baker said it had become like second nature, and Imam Ahmad then asked whether the man had experienced any reward from this practice.

The baker answered, “By Allah! No duaa (supplication to Allah) I made except that it was answered but one.”

“And what is that duaa?” asked Imam Ahmad.

“To be able to see the famous Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal!”

Imam Ahmed interrupted, “I am Ahmad ibn Hanbal!”

He then went on to add:

“By Allah! I was dragged to your place so that you can have your duaa/wish come true.”

- Summarized from Al Jumuah magazine, vol 19, issue 7.

Aishah (radi Allahu anha) said- ‘So lucky is the one who comes on the Day of Judgment and find in his/her record a lot of astaghfurillah.’ SubhanAllah…Allah dragged Imam Ahmad to the house of the baker to answer his duaa. We need to start making istighfar and a lot of dua brothers and sisters, and not only for ourselves but also for our brothers and sisters who are suffering all over the world. Dua in itself is an act of worship, and one of the duas that quickly receives an answer is the dua that one makes for his brother/sister in their absence for the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said,

"The dua of a Muslim for his brother (in Islam) in his absence is readily accepted, an angel is appointed to his side, whenever he makes a beneficial dua for his brother the appointed angel says "aameen and may you also be blessed with the same".[Sahih Muslim)

May Allah (‘azza wajjal) guide us all and give us the ability to act upon everything that is written on this blog. May He reward all the brothers and sisters who take time out of their busy schedule to benefit us all with their knowledge and may He grant us all Imaan and Taqwa. Ameen.

p.s. please make dua for me

Wasalamu ‘alaikum warahmatullah

Muslimah