The Question of Unanswered Prayers

Description

Why Are Some Prayers Left Unanswered?
Why do sincere prayers sometimes go unanswered—even when offered in the holiest places and at the most sacred times? In this profound work, The Question of Unanswered Prayers, by Ayatollah Sayyed Murtada al-Shirazi examines this timeless concern with clarity, depth, and scholarly precision, offering answers grounded in Qur’anic principles, authentic hadiths, and deep rational analysis.

Over 25 Conditions for Accepted Supplication
The author identifies 25 critical conditions that influence the fulfillment of prayers—ranging from inner sincerity, pure sustenance, and consistent remembrance of God to deeper matters like not sinning after prayer, praying with a heart free of jealousy, and maintaining devotion in times of ease. Each condition is supported with narrations from the Prophet (s) and the Imams (‘a), making the book not only informative but also spiritually transformative.

When and Why Prayers Are Delayed or Transformed
One of the key insights in this book is the explanation that prayers may be answered in different forms or times, often out of divine mercy and wisdom. Through powerful examples and hadiths, Ayatollah al-Shirazi explores how unanswered prayers may actually be rechanneled toward better outcomes, either in this life or the hereafter.

Answering Common Doubts and Modern Concerns
The book addresses seven major theological questions, including:
– Are only the most pious granted answered prayers?
– How do sins and social injustice block divine response?
– What role do catastrophes like wars or pandemics play in the logic of unanswered prayer?

A Fusion of Spiritual Insight and Scholarly Rigor
Ayatollah al-Shirazi uses an usuli analytical method and draws on major classical sources like Nahj al-Balagha, al-Kafi, and Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, offering a study that is both intellectually rich and accessible. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of how dua (supplication) functions in Islam—not as a transactional request, but as a path to self-purification and nearness to God.