Muslims who fast, God hears your pleas

God will always respond to the request of a Muslim who is fasting, the sermon will tell mosque-goers on Friday.

Less than a week before Ramadan begins, worshippers will be told that Prophet Mohammed listed three people whose pleas would not be rejected by God.

Among them he mentioned “the fasting person when they break their fast”. During this time, God is near and responds to requests as is indicated throughout the Quran, for example, when Prophet Saleh says “indeed, my Lord is near me and responsive”. (Hood: 61)

Al Mujeeb, Arabic for “The Responsive”, is one of God’s 99 names. It means “He who answers prayers and gives them what they asked for”.

There are many stories in the Quran of Allah responding to and helping the Prophets. The holy book tells of Prophet Ayoub (Job) – who was suffering for a long time but never lost his faith in God – “When he called to his Lord, ‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.’ So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity.” (Al-Anbiyaa: 83-84)

Prophet Mohammed would always encourage his companions to perform Duaa (supplication) for all that is good. The Prophet also recommended they be repeated three times. Performing good and kind acts is another factor that will lead to prayers being answered, the sermon will say.

The Messenger of God also guided Muslims as to the times at which supplications are most likely to be answered. One such time is the “last third of the night”. Prophet Mohammed said, “When half of the night or two thirds of it is over, Allah, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven and says, ‘Is there any beggar, so that he be given? Is there any supplicant so that he be answered? Is there any seeker of forgiveness so that he be forgiven? (And Allah continues saying it) till it is daybreak.”

Many lessons can be drawn from the name Al Mujeeb. It tells Muslims that God is close to His believers and hears their prayers. Muslims should not be worried about God’s response, rather strive to supplicate to Him often. By trusting The Responsive, a Muslim becomes assured. Prophet Mohammed said: “O people! When you ask Allah, the Exalted is He, do that while trusting that He will answer your call.”