Wahb bin Munabbih (rahimahullaah) also said, “He who supplicates without good deeds is like one who shoots an arrow without a bow.”
Some of the Pious Predecessors said, “How can the answer not be delayed when you have blocked its path with sins.”
A poet reiterated the same meaning saying:
“We pray to God in every distress,
And forget Him when our distress is lifted.
How can we hope that our prayer will be answered,
When we have blocked its paths with sins?”
Imaam Ibn Rajab | Jaami’ al ‘Uloom wal Hikam
Tawheed First 
Masha Allah. Nice Blog and very good posts. Alhamdulillah, I found yours today to fill myself more with Ilm. Jazakallah Khair for sharing the gems.
SubhanAllah. Barakillahu feek ukhti for sharing. Indeed, it should be said to all of the Muslims today who have indulged themselves in practices of shirk and innovations… that “How can the answer to your dua’s not be delayed?” when you haven fallen into the sins which are most beloved to Shaytaan and most hated by Ar-Rahmaan.
Wa iyaaki ya A Yunus; jazaakiAllahu khayr for your comment and I’m glad you found your ‘visit’ beneficial ukhtee.
Wa feek barakAllah Ibn Shahid. This is so applicable, subhaanAllah, and it most definitely should be directed to them, and indeed all the Muslimeen, when they may become dejected because the answering of a du’aa may be delayed. We should look introspectively, and ask ourselves what is causing its delay. Again, ‘how can we hope that our prayer will be answered, when we have blocked its path with sins?” SubhaanAllah, what a potent question, surely one to ponder over.
BarakAllaahu feek Akhee Tawheedfirst. This is an excellent post.
Wa feeka barakAllah. Glad you benefitted.
I’m a sister, alhamdulillah.
SubhanAllah this is a great question that has many answers. If we only ponder the question and look back to the root of our shahadah and then its conditions, applying them would bring forth a more speedy answer to our du’ah. Let’s just do that which Imam Malik Rahimullah suggested, “learn what we need for our nights and our days” implement them and be constant and then we will gain the answers of our du’ah.
Yahya ibn Brown