“When My servants ask you ‘O Prophet’ about Me: I am truly near. I respond to one’s prayer when they call upon Me. (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:186)
The sun was setting over Al-Barsha, casting long shadows over the quiet café where Ayaan sat, staring at his phone.
His heart pounded as he refreshed his email inbox for the hundredth time.
“We regret to inform you that your application has not been accepted.”
Rejection. Again.
Ayaan had spent years working toward this dream of an overseas job that promised a better future. He had done everything right. Studied hard, gained experience, made all the right connections. But now, every door seemed to be closing.
Ayaan never truly believed in dua. He prayed occasionally but never felt connected.
“If Allah was listening, why are my problems still here?” he often thought.
That night, as he walked home, a message popped up on his phone from his mother:
“When was the last time you truly asked Allah?”
His mother always told him about the power of sincere dua, but he had never really tried. With nothing left to lose, he sat on his prayer mat that night. His voice trembled as he whispered:
“Ya Allah, I do not know what to do anymore. I have relied on myself for too long. Guide me. Show me what is best. I leave my affairs to You.”
For the first time, his words were not rushed. They were not empty. He spoke from his heart.
The next morning, Ayaan woke up with an unfamiliar peace. No job offer had magically appeared, but something had shifted inside him.
Days later, his phone rang. It was an old professor.
“Ayaan, there is a company looking for someone with your skills. I recommended you.”
He had not even applied for this position. Within a week, Ayaan had secured a job, better than the one he had always wanted. The doors that had once seemed shut had only been leading him to the right one.
A Moment of Reflection for You:
“Whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him and provide for him from where he never expected.” (Surah At-Talaq 65:2-3)
How many times have we prayed half-heartedly, not truly believing in Allah’s response? How often do we rely on ourselves, forgetting that the One who controls all doors is waiting for us to ask?
Dua is not just words; it is a connection. A trust in the one who never fails his believers.
Tonight, before you sleep, raise your hands. No matter how late it is, no matter how lost you feel.
