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Chapter Twelve

After Ishai prayer and those that went to the mosque for prayer came back, Mama Bauchi asked everybody to gather and told each person to share what they learnt from the lecture we attended and how they plan to use that lesson to impact their respective lives.

When no one spoke up, I asked if I could go first and she agreed.
“I learnt that, I started, when asking Allah for things, do not give him an ultimatum, that is, do not tell Allah that he should do this and that for you at a certain date and time".

"Also, asking Allah for favors for yourself alone while neglecting the need of others such as your relatives, friends, acquaintances, your country and so on usually cause delay in getting your prayers answered and Allah might ignore your dua totally when you do this. So, when you supplicate to Allah, remember to include everyone you know and do not know as well as your country for better acceptance from Allah Azza wajal”. I concluded.

“That’s very good. Mama commended. Anyone else?” She asked.

Faria asked for permission as well and began in earnest. “There are some specific times when prayers are mostly accepted. One of it is, at the time of Iqamah, before the Imam begin the prayer. Another, is the time that the fasting person is about to break his fast. Another also is, during the dead of the night when everyone is asleep, If one could supplicate to Allah at this point in time, Allah immediately accepts the prayer”.

“I also learnt that the prayers of some people are never rejected, she paused and continued; the prayer of the fasting person and also the prayer of a person who was cheated. If the person that was cheated cries to Allah, his prayers will be answered before the tears on his cheeks dries off. The same applies to the fasting person, his request to Allah is immediately granted so far he fasted sincerely and avoided all evil that could be committed with the eyes, ears and hands”. Faria concluded.

“Gaskiya, I’m really amazed. Mama exclaimed. Let me hear more”.

Qoriah took over and started. “In order to get your prayers accepted, you need to have faith in Allah, believe that only He can do it.  Do not add jazz or associate partner with Him. Ensure that your life is free of Haram (forbidden) things".

She cited an example of a man that’s hungry and sickly; he’s totally wretched and could not sustain himself. Then, he raised his hands in prayer shouting, my lord! my lord! Mind you what he eats, drinks, and wears is haram. In fact his total life style is in haram ways, how then do you expect Allah to answer such prayers? She asked rhetorically. "My point here is dealing in haram things hinders the answering of prayers and a person who engages in this knowingly will get his prayers rejected over and over”. Qoriah concluded.

“May Allah increase you in Knowledge”. Mama prayed.

Amirah also contributed by talking about the tenets of Du’a. “While you’re in salah, the obligatory ones mind you, you don’t ask for personal favors from Allah, you can only chant the normal adhkaar that you’re supposed to say. But during you Sunnah salah, that is, nawaafil, you can ask for anything you desired".

"Prayers can be said every time, everywhere and anywhere except in the toilet" . She further enunciated.

"Prayer doesn’t only entail asking Allah for favours, good health and prosperity, It also include praising him by chanting Subhanallah, thanking him by saying Alhamdullilah, glorifying him with Allahu Akbar, reciting the Qunut, reading his ninety-nine names. In fact reciting a soorah from the Quran is a form of prayer. So you can ask Allah in any form you wish and not be restricted to a single method”. She finalized.

Other people contributed as well while mama Bauchi commented and complimented every speaker. Afterwards we said our prayer for sleeping and went to bed.