Welcome to Ahmadiyyat, The True Islam — Page 136
−. . . It is a pity that Muslims of this age have turned away from this attribute of Allah and have practically rejected it. What a huge favor have − they lost! Some have openly said that prayer is merely a means to satisfy oneself and that it does not have an external influence. The Promised Messiah and Mahdi strongly rejected this and repeatedly wrote, inviting as − people, who did not have a belief in the effect of prayer, to visit him to see the signs of acceptance of prayer. So he declared: O, You who question the effects of prayers! Come to me! I shall provide you its proof like the shining sun. Do not reject the secrets of God's Power! Cut short this talk. Come to me, and witness yourself the acceptance of prayer. (Letter to a Dear One, Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, pp 25-27) ± ± − Regarding acceptance of (prayer) the Promised Messiah and Du‘a’ − Mahdi writes: as − "When the blessings of Allah are near at hand, He provides the − pre-requisites for the acceptance of prayer. The heart is stirred, warms up and begins to glow. When, however, the moment is not opportune for the acceptance of prayer, the heart lacks that tranquillity which results in turning towards God. However much one exerts one's self, the heart does not respond by exhibiting willingness. It is so because at times God exerts His decree so that His Will be done, and at other times He concedes to the prayer of His servant. That is why as long as I do not perceive the signs of God's willingness, I do not entertain much hope for the acceptance of prayer. At such times, I submit to the Will of my Lord with greater pleasure than that which I derive from the acceptance of prayer. Indeed, I know that the blessings and fruits of his submission to the Will of God are greater by far. " (Malfuzat Vol. 1: p 460) − − 136