In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Imploring God and why some prayers are not answered
The Quran informs us that we attain value at our Lord only through our worship (25:77), and supplication is a form of worship. Your Lord says,
[40:60] Your Lord says, "Implore Me, and I will respond to you. Surely, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Gehenna, forcibly."
When you implore God, you are doing the right thing (13:14), and He gives you what you implore Him for (14:34). God is hearer of prayers (3:38). He rescues the needy, relieves adversity (27:62), and answers prayers if He so wills (6:41, 14:39). He is with you wherever you may be (57:4, 58:7). Thus, implore your Lord to shower you with His grace (4:32) and His Mercy (7:155), and never despair (15:55). God is Possessor of Infinite Grace (57:21).
The Importance of Imploring
God willing, we all know that we must implore only God (25:68, 7:37), and the Quran teaches us that God tests people with adversity and hardship that they may implore (6:42, 7:94). It also points out: "If only they implored when the tests came to them! " (6:43)
Throughout the Quran we see many examples. When Noah called upon God, He responded to him by saving him and his family from the great disaster (21:76, 26:117,118). When the devil afflicted Job with hardship and pain, he called upon His Lord and He answered his prayer (38:41, 21:84). When the youth took refuge in the cave, they implored God to bless their affairs with His guidance (18:10). The wife of Pharaoh implored God to build a home for her at Him in Paradise (66:11).
When Jonah implored God, He saved him from misery (21:87-88). When Zachariah implored his Lord, God responded to him and granted him John (21:90). When Moses and Aaron asked God to wipe out the wealth of Pharaoh and his elders, their prayers were answered (10:88-89). God answered the prayer of Joseph and protected him from the women's schemes (12:34). Lot implored God for victory (29:30), so did Saleh, Shuaib, Hood, Abraham and others.
You may even implore God for material things just as Solomon did (38:35), as long as you do not neglect your share in the Hereafter. But never implore God on behalf of those who have transgressed (11:37, 60:4), and remember that God rewards people for what they say (5:84-85). On the Day of Resurrection, He will point out that a group of His servants used to implore Him (52:28), and used to say "our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and shower us with mercy" (23:109,118); and they prayed at dawn for forgiveness (51:18).
Why Are Some Prayers Not Answered?
The Quran informs us that the human being often prays for something that may hurt him, thinking that he is praying for something good. The human being is impatient (17:11). He may dislike something which is good for him, and he may like something which is bad for him (2:216, 4:19). God knows while we do not know. God answers the prayers of His servants. On the other hand, the supplications of the disbelievers are in vain (2:186, 13:14, 40:50).
What Are the Best Prayers?
Since God did not leave anything out of the Quran (6:38), let us use the Quran as a source to find the best prayers which will help us grow our souls, and maintain our righteousness.
Implore God With the Best Prayers
[2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.
[23:97] Say, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the whispers of the devils.
[23:98] "And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they come near me."
[113:1] Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak.
[113:2] "From the evils among His creations.
[113:3] "From the evils of darkness as it falls.
[113:4] "From the evils of the troublemakers.
[113:5] "From the evils of the envious when they envy."
[114:1] Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of the people.
[114:2] "The King of the people.
[114:3] "The god of the people.
[114:4] "From the evils of sneaky whisperers.
[114:5] "Who whisper into the chests of the people.
[114:6] "Be they of the jinns, or the people."
[1:1] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[1:2] Praise be to God, Lord of the universe.
[1:3] Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[1:4] Master of the Day of Judgment.
[1:5] You alone we worship. You alone we ask for help.
[1:6] Guide us in the right path;
[1:7] the path of those whom You blessed; not of those who have deserved wrath, nor of the strayers.
[59:10] ..."Our Lord, forgive us and our brethren who preceded us to the faith, and keep our hearts from harboring any hatred towards those who believed. Our Lord, You are Compassionate, Most Merciful."
[3:16] ..."Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us our sins, and spare us the agony of the hellfire."
[23:109] ...`Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us and shower us with mercy. Of all the merciful ones, You are the Most Merciful.'
[40:7] ..."Our Lord, Your mercy and Your knowledge encompass all things. Forgive those who repent and follow Your path, and spare them the retribution of Hell.
[40:8] "Our Lord, and admit them into the gardens of Eden that You promised for them and for the righteous among their parents, spouses, and children. You are the Almighty, Most Wise.
[60:5] "Our Lord, let us not be oppressed by those who disbelieved, and forgive us. You are the Almighty, Most Wise."
[2:126] ..."My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and provide its people with fruits. Provide for those who believe in God and the Last Day." (God) said, "I will also provide for those who disbelieve. I will let them enjoy, temporarily, then commit them to the retribution of Hell, and a miserable destiny."
[14:35] ..."My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and protect me and my children from worshiping idols.
[25:74] ..."Our Lord, let our spouses and children be a source of joy for us, and keep us in the forefront of the righteous."
[2:128] "Our Lord, make us submitters to You, and from our descendants let there be a community of submitters to You. Teach us the rites of our religion, and redeem us. You are the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
[18:10] ..."Our Lord, shower us with Your mercy, and bless our affairs with Your guidance."
[66:8] ..."Our Lord, perfect our light for us, and forgive us; You are Omnipotent."
[2:250] ..."Our Lord, grant us steadfastness, strengthen our foothold, and support us against the disbelieving people."
[3:8] "Our Lord, let not our hearts waver, now that You have guided us. Shower us with Your mercy; You are the Grantor.
[7:126] ..."Our Lord, grant us steadfastness, and let us die as submitters."
[2:286] ..."Our Lord, do not condemn us if we forget or make mistakes. Our Lord, and protect us from blaspheming against You, like those before us have done. Our Lord, protect us from sinning until it becomes too late for us to repent. Pardon us, forgive us, [and have mercy on us]. You are our Lord and Master. Grant us victory over the disbelieving people."
[3:53] "Our Lord, we have believed in what You have sent down, and we have followed the messenger; count us among the witnesses."
[14:40] "My Lord, make me one who consistently observes the Contact Prayers (Salat), and also my children. Our Lord, please answer my prayers.
[46:15] ..."My Lord, direct me to appreciate the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do the righteous works that please You. Let my children be righteous as well. I have repented to You; I am a submitter."
[3:193] "Our Lord, we have heard a caller calling to faith and proclaiming: `You shall believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord, forgive us our transgressions, remit our sins, and let us die as righteous believers.
[3:194] "Our Lord, shower us with the blessings you promised us through Your messengers, and do not forsake us on the Day of Resurrection. You never break a promise."
[27:19] ..."My Lord, direct me to be appreciative of the blessings You have bestowed upon me and my parents, and to do the righteous works that please You. Admit me by Your mercy into the company of Your righteous servants."
[2:201] ..."Our Lord, grant us righteousness in this world, and righteousness in the Hereafter, and spare us the retribution of Hell."
[28:21] ..."My Lord, save me from the oppressive people."
[29:30] ..."My Lord, grant me victory over these wicked people."
[20:25] ..."My Lord, cool my temper.
[28:22] ..."May my Lord guide me in the right path."
[20:114] ..."My Lord, increase my knowledge."
[37:100] "My Lord, grant me righteous children."
[23:94] "My Lord, let me not be one of the transgressing people."
[26:83] "My Lord, grant me wisdom, and include me with the righteous.
[26:84] "Let the example I set for the future generations be a good one.
[26:85] "Make me one of the inheritors of the blissful Paradise.
[26:87] "And do not forsake me on the Day of Resurrection."
[17:80] ..."My Lord, admit me an honorable admittance, and let me depart an honorable departure, and grant me from You a powerful support."
[2:127] ..."Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient.
[60:4] ..."Our Lord, we trust in You, and submit to You; to You is the final destiny.