Abu Is’haaq Ebrahim Ibne Ad’ham was once passing through a
bazaar in Basrah. It ws said unto him: “O Abu Is’haaq, verily Allah
has declared ‘Ask Me, I will grant you your request.’ Why is it that
we make du’aa and He does not accept?” Abu Ishaaq replied:
“Surely it is because your hearts have become dead, due to ten
things:
1 You have known who Allah is, yet you have not fulfilled His
duties;
2 You have recited the Qur’aan, yet you have not practiced upon
it;
3 You have proclaimed the love of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi
wasallam, yet you have not practiced upon his sunnah;
4 You have pronounced that the shaytaan is your enemy, yet you
have stood with him;
5 You have pronounced your desire for jannah, yet you have
done nothing to achieve it;
6 You have pronounced your fear for jahannam, yet you have
done nothing to escape it;
7 You have proclaimed that there surely is no escape from death,
yet you do not prepare for it;
8 You have indulged in seeking the faults of others, and have left
looking into your own faults;
9 You have enjoyed all the Blessings and Bounties of Allah, yet
you do not give Him due praise for it;
10 You have buried your dead, but you have taken no
admonition.
How then will your du’aa be accepted?