So Said The Promised Messiah (as) — Page 90
ACCEPTANCE OF PRAYER Prayer (Supplication) is a great thing. Alas! the people do not know what it really is. Some of them think that what- ever is asked for, must be given (i. e. the prayer must be accepted as it is offered). That is why whenever they ask for something and it is not given to them by God they are des- paired and begin to think evil of God. Whereas what behoves a believer is that even if he is not. given what he asks for, thrut:. ;h his prayer, he should not be despaired, fer, he has not been given because the Mercy of God has not found it useful for him. Behold! if a child wishes to hold a burning charcoal, the mother would run and hold his hand back and may be she will slap him for this act of his. When I ponder over the philosophy of the prayer and realise that the All-knowing God knows what is good and bad for the people, it really affords me very great pleasure. (Malfoozat Vol. II, p. 195) GET NEARER TO GOD You should remember that it is only when a man aban- dons nP-gligence and evil deeds that his prayer is accepted by God. The closer he is to God the more he will have his prayers accepted. That is why God says: 90 Wa i:za sa-alaka ibadee annee fa-innee qareeb "And when My servants ask you about Me, say: I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe i. 1 Me, that they may follow the right way. .