Parenting Perspective 

It is natural for children to expect immediate results when they ask for something, and this expectation can easily carry over into their duas. If they do not see a quick or obvious answer to their prayers, they may begin to wonder if Allah has heard them at all. As a parent, you can gently explain to them that while Allah always listens, His timing is based on a wisdom that is perfect and far beyond our own. By framing dua as an act of trust rather than a request for instant results, you can help your child to build the beautiful qualities of patience, resilience, and hope. 

Use Simple, Relatable Analogies 

You can use a simple analogy to help your child understand this concept. For example, you could say, ‘When we plant a seed in the garden, it takes time for the flower to grow. Allah hears your dua the very moment you make it, but sometimes He makes you wait for the answer because He knows the perfect time for it to arrive.’ Using simple, visual examples like this can make an abstract spiritual idea much easier for a child to grasp. 

Explain the Three Ways a Dua Is Answered 

You can also teach your child the traditional understanding that Allah answers every dua in one of three ways: 

• By giving you what you have asked for in this life. 

• By withholding it from you in this life and saving it as a greater reward for you in the Hereafter. 

• By protecting you from some harm that would have otherwise come to you. 

This helps your child to see that every single dua is valuable and is never wasted, even if the answer looks different from what they expected. 

Share Your Own Examples of Patient Dua 

It can be very powerful to share a personal story with your child about a time you made a dua that took a long time to be answered. Your own lived experience can show them that waiting is a normal part of the process and is not a sign of rejection. 

Encourage Gratitude During the Period of Waiting 

You can help your child to remain positive while they wait by encouraging an attitude of gratitude. A gentle reminder like, ‘Even while Allah is making us wait for this one thing, look at all the other ways He is caring for us every day,’ teaches them to find comfort in the blessings that are already present in their lives. 

Praise Their Consistent Efforts in Making Dua 

It is important to praise your child’s consistency in turning to Allah. Saying, ‘Masha’Allah, Allah loves that you keep asking Him for what you need. It shows how strong your faith is in Him,’ will make them feel proud of their persistence in prayer, rather than feeling discouraged by any delay. 

By explaining the nature of dua in this gentle and consistent way, you can shift your child’s focus from the outcome to the relationship itself, showing them that Allah’s listening is constant, even when His answers take time. 

Spiritual Insight 

The Quranic Assurance of a Divine Response 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verses 186: 

‘And when My servants question you (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) about Me (Allah Almighty); then indeed, (inform them of the good news) that I (Allah Almighty) am very close to them; I (Allah Almighty) respond to the prayers of the supplicant, whenever he calls Me (Allah Almighty)…’ 

This verse beautifully affirms that Allah does indeed respond to the one who calls upon Him. His nearness is a certainty. Teaching this verse can help a child to trust that the response is guaranteed, even if it is delayed according to a wisdom that only He possesses. 

Prophetic Guidance on How Duas Are Always Answered 

It is recorded in Mishkaat Al Masaabih, Hadith 2259, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘There is no Muslim who supplicates to Allah with a supplication in which there is no sin or severing of ties of kinship, but Allah will give him one of three things: either He will answer his supplication quickly, or He will store it up for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an evil from him similar to it.’ 

This hadith provides the ultimate reassurance that no sincere dua is ever wasted. When children come to understand this profound truth, they learn that the period of waiting is not one of silence or neglect, but is a period in which the perfect wisdom of Allah is at work. Over time, they will grow to treasure dua as a source of deep comfort, not just as a list of requests.