Four conditions for the acceptance of prayer

Yusuf Fazakkir Nuhu, Jamia Ahmadiyya International Ghana

For several years now, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa has been delivering a profound and continuous series of sermons on the blessed Companions of the Holy Prophet^sa. Week after week, year after year, Huzoor^aa has illuminated their lives, character and sacrifices, urging members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat to mould their lives according to the example of these noble souls.

This emphasis also finds deep roots in the Holy Quran itself. When Allah the Almighty foretold the coming of the Promised Messiah^as in Surah al-Jumuah, He declared:

وَآخَرِينَ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

“And among others from among them who have not yet joined them – He is the Mighty, the Wise.” (Surah al-Jumuah, Ch.62: V.4)

Explaining who these “others” referred to, the Holy Prophet^sa stated: “If faith were to ascend to the Pleiades, it would be brought back by a man from among these people.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab at-Tafsir, Hadith 4897)

This prophecy found its perfect fulfilment in the advent of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as, and in his Jamaat – a spiritual revival of the original Companions. It means that the final Jamaat of the true believers would be formed under the spiritual tutelage of the Holy Prophet^sa, animated by his love and strengthened by the same heavenly bond that linked him with his earliest followers.

One of the most striking characteristics of the Companions was their constant turning to Allah in prayer. Their victories were not to be born of worldly strength, but from the tears they shed in solitude before their Lord. The Holy Prophet^sa himself was the fountainhead of this spirit of supplication. He prayed at every stage of his mission and his Companions followed his example with absolute sincerity.

In one prophetic narration describing the era of the Promised Messiah^as, the Holy Prophet^sa said: “Then Jesus, son of Mary, and his companions shall pray to Allah, and Allah will respond to their supplications and destroy the Dajjal.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-fitan wa ashrat al-sa‘ah, Hadith 2937a)

We now turn to the conditions necessary for the acceptance of prayer. The Promised Messiah^as has outlined numerous conditions in his writings; however, four primary ones have been emphasised by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh in his speeches. It is these four key conditions that we shall focus on, drawing upon the guidance of the Promised Messiah^as.

Certainty in the efficacy of prayer

The first condition for the acceptance of prayer is certainty – an unwavering belief in the power of Allah to respond to supplication. Until a person is fully convinced of God’s unbounded power and possesses absolute certainty, the prayer itself remains powerless. In accordance with this principle, the Promised Messiah^as explains:

“When you stand up in prayer, it is necessary for you to have firm faith that your God has power over all things. Only then will your prayer be accepted and you will behold the wonders of God’s power that we have beheld. Our testimony is based on observation and not on hearsay. How should the supplication of a person be accepted and how should he have the courage to pray at times of great difficulty, when according to him he is opposed by the law of nature, unless he believes that God has power over everything?” (Noah’s Ark, p. 34)

This unwavering certainty and excellent trust in one’s Lord is beautifully exemplified in the Holy Quran in the form of the prayer of Hazrat Zakariya^as. Allah the Almighty says:

ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ نِدَاءً خَفِيًّا قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا

“[This is] an account of the mercy of thy Lord [shown] to His servant, Zachariah. When he called upon his Lord, a secret calling, He said, ‘My Lord, the bones have indeed waxed feeble in me, and the head glistens with hoariness, but never, my Lord, have I been unblessed in my prayer to Thee.’” (Surah Maryam, Ch.19: V.3-5)

This is a striking example of an accepted prayer by a most remarkable prophet of God. All the physical circumstances of nature seemed to oppose the fulfilment of his supplication. Yet, his unwavering certainty in Allah overcame every doubt presented by the material world. It was this steadfast trust and complete conviction in his Lord that enabled his prayer to be answered. The prayer was so significant that Allah the Almighty preserved it in the Holy Quran, so that the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa and his followers could learn from it and adopt it as a model of sincere and unwavering supplication.

Patience and perseverance in prayer

The second essential condition for the acceptance of prayer, as emphasised in the writings of the Promised Messiah^as, is the proper etiquette and patience in supplication. Prayer is not merely a verbal expression; it requires patience, perseverance and steadfastness. A person lacking patience, unable to endure difficulties or delays, cannot attain the highest level necessary for the acceptance of prayer. The Promised Messiah^as elucidates this principle beautifully in the following words:

“Between the period of prayer and its acceptance, trials and tribulations often occur, and sometimes such severe trials come that they are backbreaking. Yet a person of steadfast and fortunate disposition, even amidst these trials and difficulties, perceives the fragrance of his Lord’s blessings and with foresight, recognises that victory and assistance follow thereafter.” (Malfuzat, 2022, Vol. 4, p. 91)

The Promised Messiah^as compares a believer’s certainty in prayer to a farmer’s certainty in sowing a good seed. Although it is difficult for an ignorant mind to comprehend how a plant will grow from that seed, the farmer remains firmly convinced that in a few days, his hard work will pay off. Huzoor^as states:

“So too is the case with prayer; it is nurtured in the same way and bears fruit. Those who are hasty tire quickly and give up, and those who are steadfast persevere and arrive at their objective.” Those who are farsighted, patient in waiting for the outcome, who are steadfast in their work and continue to pray “arrive at their objective.” (Malfuzat, 2022, Vol. 4, p. 75)

Humility and meekness

The third condition for the acceptance of prayer is profound humility before Allah the Almighty. True prayer demands that a believer approach their Lord with complete submission, recognising their own weakness and total dependence on Divine mercy. In elaborating upon this principle, the Promised Messiah^as explains it in the following words:

“Therefore, one should engage in prayer and seek forgiveness in the presence of Allah Almighty, for Allah is Self-Sufficient and free of need. No one has dominion over Him. If a person does not approach Him with humility and lowliness, how can he expect Allah to care for him? To demand from Allah while setting conditions upon one’s faith is a grave mistake and leads to spiritual stumbling.” (Malfuzat, 2022, Vol. 3, p. 182)

In our worldly lives, we often see people employing every form of flattery and self-interest to gain the favour of their leaders or to secure promotions. Yet, when it comes to Allah Almighty – Whom we often neglect in the pursuit of worldly gains – some of us approach Him with conditions, as if challenging the Divine will. The Promised Messiah^as instructs us instead to approach Allah with complete humility, seeking His grace solely and earnestly.

With respect to this condition as well, Allah the Almighty has provided us with vivid examples from the lives of the earlier Prophets in the Holy Quran. Consider the prayer of Hazrat Moses^as when he arrived in the deserts of Midian as a helpless and solitary traveller. Calling upon his Lord, he supplicated:

رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ

“My Lord, I am in need of whatever good Thou mayest send down to me.” (Surah al-Qasas, Ch.28: V.25)

Here, we observe that Hazrat Moses^as made no demands and imposed no conditions. He did not prescribe what Allah should give him. Instead, with complete humility and self-effacement, he presented himself before his Lord like a beggar with an empty bowl, ready to receive whatever his Master deemed best.

This is the attitude we, too, must adopt in our prayers: pure humility, surrender and trust. When we approach Allah in this state, He approaches us with His protection and grace. Allah the Almighty presents yet another prayer of Hazrat Moses^as where he declares:

رَبِّ إِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا نَفْسِي وَأَخِي فَافْرُقْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ

“My Lord, I have power over none but myself and my brother; therefore make Thou a distinction between us and the rebellious people.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.26)

Here again, Hazrat Moses^as expresses utter submission. He acknowledges his own powerlessness and affirms that any success, any victory and any protection can only come from Allah. His prayer embodies the deepest humility, recognising that without divine support, he possesses no strength of his own.

This is precisely the spirit that the Promised Messiah^as wants us to develop in our supplications. If we pray with such humility, acknowledging our incapacity and Allah’s limitless power, then – as the Promised Messiah^as explained – our prayers gain access to the divine court and receive the blessings of acceptance.

Weep earnestly

The fourth and final condition for the acceptance of prayer is to weep earnestly before Allah the Almighty. When a believer has fulfilled the first three etiquette – certainty, patience and deep humility – a profound inner state is produced. The heart becomes awakened, softened and drawn irresistibly toward its Creator. At that moment, true prayer naturally flows in the form of intense, heartfelt crying.

This weeping is not merely emotional; it is the soul melting in the presence of its Lord. It is the moment when one feels utterly dependent on Allah and the eyes express what the tongue cannot articulate. Such tears cleanse the heart, strengthen faith and unlock the doors of divine mercy.

Regarding this lofty station of supplication, the Promised Messiah^as states:

“Do not think that we already pray everyday, and that the Salat we offer is also prayer; for the prayer which follows true knowledge and is born of Divine grace is of an altogether different colour and complexion. Such prayer is a thing that consumes, it is a fire that melts, it is a magnetic force that draws Divine mercy, it is a death but ultimately gives life, it is a raging flood but finally turns into a boat. Through it every wrong is redressed and every poison finally becomes an antidote.

“Blessed are the prisoners who never tire of supplication, for they shall one day be freed.” (Lecture Sialkot, p. 31)

With this fourth and final condition explained, the Promised Messiah^as turns our attention to the special divine grace that descends upon a servant when such tears begin to flow. When a believer has truthfully cultivated the first three conditions – certainty, steadfast patience and profound humility – and then seeks his Lord with a heart fully awakened, these tears become the natural outpouring of the soul. At that moment, a powerful assurance arises within the servant that Allah the Almighty will surely come to his aid.

In this age of darkness, when humanity rushes toward destruction and stands at the very brink of a blazing abyss, it is once again only through prayer that salvation can dawn. Today, the divinely guided Jamaat of the Holy Prophet’s^sa spiritual heir must combine its humble entreaties with the blessed prayers of its Khalifatul Masih.