Abu Musa, one of the companions of Imam Hadi (PBUH) has narrated the following story:
One day I went to Imam Hadi (PBUH) and told him: “Mutawakkil oppresses me and has taken away some of my properties because of my love for you. If possible, I would like you to ask him to stop such acts against me”. Imam Hadi (PBUH) replied: “If Allah wills, your request will be granted”.
That night, I received several messages from Mutawakkil, calling me to him. When I entered his palace, his vizier, Fat’h ibn Khaqan, said to me: “O Abu Musa! What have you done that the king has constantly pressured me into bringing you here?!”
I went to Mutawakkil. When he saw me, he began to address me as such: “O Abu Musa! We have ignored you and you have forgotten us also. Which of your properties are with us?” Being astonished, I replied: “Some property and some money”. He ordered (his servants) to give me twice as much as what I had with him. As I was exiting the palace, I asked Fat’h: “Was Ali ibn Muhammad here?” He replied: “No”. I continued to ask, “Did he write a letter to you?” Again he replied: “No”. Then, he followed me and said, “You have definitely asked him to pray for you. So ask him to pray for me, too…”
The next day, I went to Imam Hadi (PBUH) and said, “O my Master! I was told that you neither went to Mutawakkil nor wrote him a letter. So how is it that…”
Imam Hadi (PBUH) said, “The Almighty Allah knows that we only seek refuge in Him; we do not rely on anyone except Him; He has accustomed us to pray to Him, so that He would grant our prayer …”
Then I said, “O my Master! Fath ibn Khaqan has asked you to pray for him…”
Imam Hadi (PBUH) replied: “It seems that he loves us; yet, he stays away from us at heart. Prayer is for those who call their Lord. Once you have devoted yourself to Allah’s obedience and acknowledged the rights of the Messenger of Allah and us, the Ahl al-Bayt, then if you pray to the Almighty Allah, he would not leave your requests ungranted (1)”.
(Selection taken from, “The Life and Character of Imam Ali ibn Muhammad Naqi (PBUH)”, by Ayatullah Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Mudarrisi, translated by Muhammad Sadiq Shariat)
Roshd Website offers its condolences to you dear friend upon the 3rd of Rajab, the anniversary of the martyrdom of the 10th chosen argument of Allah (SWT), Imam Ali al-Naqi al-Hadi (PBUH).
Footnote:
1- In this statement Imam Hadi (PBUH) names the following states as the main and best conditions for granting of prayer: having faith in Allah (SWT), being devoted, and acknowledging the right of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT). It is also obvious that if one tries to achieve a goal in life, he/she should move directly in the main path leading to that goal. (For more information about granting of prayer, click here).
Suppose you want to reach the top of a mountain. There are main paths as well as minor paths for getting to the top. If one chooses not to follow the main path, he/she is supposed to bear the hardships of minor paths which are more distant from the target. Thus, if one does not possess such characteristics that Imam mentioned (faith in Allah (SWT), etc), due to the extensive mercy of Allah (SWT), he/she is not permanently deprived from having his/her prayers granted. There are some other conditions (like being in distress, etc) which may lead to the granting of prayer. Nevertheless, those conditions are difficult to be fulfilled, and they form a longer path towards the granting of prayer.