Unanswered Du’a
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَيِّبًا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنْ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ وَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ
O people, Allah is pure and He accepts only what is pure. Verily, Allah has commanded the believers as He has commanded His Messengers. Allah said: O Messengers, eat from good things and act righteously, for I know what you do. (23:51) And Allah said: O you who believe, eat from good things We have provided for you. (2:172)
Abu Huraira added:
ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ
Then, the Prophet mentioned a man who traveled far, becoming disheveled and dusty and he raises his hands to the sky, saying, “O Lord! O Lord!” while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished by the unlawful, so how can he be answered?
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1015, Grade: Sahih
Hadith 10, Forty Hadith al-Nawawi
If we want our du’as to be answered we need to ensure that we are meeting the conditions set by Allah. Many are committing sins that they are not even aware of, or making excuses for it. And wonder why their du’as are not answered.