Subject: [Masjid Tucson] Submission weekly reminder

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

     Supplication: A Form of Worship*
[Quran 40:60] Your Lord says, "Implore Me, and I will respond to you. Surely, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Gehenna, forcibly."
*40:60 Supplication, imploring God for anything, even material luxuries, is a form of worship. Hence the commandment to implore God whenever we have any need. An atheist will never implore God for anything.


When God says, "Implore Me" (Quran 40:60), it is a command from our Lord. The rest of this sentence contains a truthful fact: "And I will respond to you." So God is teaching us how to ask for responses from Him. This creates a cause and effect: imploring God leads to Him responding to us. So if you want God to respond to you, implore Him. Sometimes the answer to our prayer is "no", because God knows what is good for us, while we may not know (Quran 17:11). But we can be sure that God is always near His servants and hears the prayers (Quran 2:186, 3:38).

     God Answers the Prayers of "His Servants"
[Quran 2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.


As we implore God alone each day (Quran 1:5), let us remember the importance of praying for guidance (Quran 1:6). And remember to thank Him for answered prayers and blessings (with the same earnestness as we implore).

[Quran 1:5-6] You alone we worship; You alone we ask for help. Guide us in the right path;


References:
Imploring GOD, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/2016/aug/page1.html
Implore God With the Best Prayers, http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/sp/1996/jan/page3.html

Peace.