Prerequisite for Prayers to Be Answered
The name of the 40th chapter of the Quran is Ghafir. It is in the 24th Juz and has 85 verses. Surah Ghafir is Makki and the 60 chapter revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Ghafir means “the Forgiving one”. It is an attribute of God and comes in verse three of the Surah, giving the chapter its name.
The main theme of Surah Ghafir is showing that the attempts by disbelievers to destroy a truth (the Quran) that has been sent to them are invalid and useless. God reminds everyone of the fate of those who denied divine prophets and divine verses and how they received divine punishments that had been promised.
The content of the Surah can be divided into several main subjects. The beginning verses draw attention to God and some of His beautiful names. Then there are warnings to disbelievers about punishments in this world and the next. Afterwards, there are references to the story of Moses (AS) and pharaoh and the story of the believer among the companions of pharaoh.
Other issues discussed in this chapter include signs of Tawheed (monotheism), rejection of Shirk (polytheism), inviting the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to be patient, and reminding people of some of God’s blessings. There is also an emphasis on traveling to different lands to learn lesson from the fates of those who lived in the past.
Verses 28 to 45 of Surah Ghafir are about the believer among the companions of pharaoh. He was a cousin of pharaoh and his treasurer. He had kept his faith in God a secret until Moses (AS) started his mission. After he disclosed his faith, he was killed by pharaoh. While his hands and fingers had been paralyzed on the cross, he talked to the people and told them “Follow me. I guide you to the path of righteousness and perfection”.
Among other topics mentioned in Surah Ghafir is answering prayers. God says in verse 60: “Call upon Me and I will answer you.”
In interpretations of the Quran, it has been said that the prayers of four groups of people are not answered: One who stays at home and prays for sustenance. A man who is angry with his wife and prayers to get rid of her. One who has lost his possessions by wasting them and now asks God for sustenance. And one who has given money to someone as a loan without having a witness (and now prays for having his money back).
