Answer

Salam Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for sending your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.

This topic is very important specifically for mothers who have the instinctual desire of nurturing children especially of their own

To answer your question, first of all, nobody knows how things will end up as we do not have knowledge of the future or the unseen. We cannot and must not say that somebody’s dua and supplication of having children will not be answered.

Allah Almighty taught us this lesson very clearly in the Quran.

We see in the Quran how Zechariah (peace be upon him) supplicated to Allah to grant him a child, even though his wife was barren.

“[This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah. When he called to his Lord a private supplication. He said, “My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy. And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir. Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You].” (Quran 19: 2-6)

Allah responded to his supplication of having a child despite his wife being barren…

“O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name.” He said, “My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?” [An angel] said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.’” (Quran 19: 7-9)

Also we see in the Quran how Allah granted the wife of Prophet Ibrahim a child after the two of them have become very old.

“And his Wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob. She said, “Woe to me! Shall I give birth while I am an old woman and this, my husband, is an old man? Indeed, this is an amazing thing!” They said, “Are you amazed at the decree of Allah? May the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you, people of the house. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable.” (Quran 11: 71: 73)

So, even if the woman is old or barren, she should not give up on supplicating to Allah and taking the means because Allah can always answer supplications despite circumstances, and if He knows that answering the supplication will have goodness for His righteous slaves.

This brings us to another essential point which is trusting Allah in knowing what’s best for us. One might supplicate wholeheartedly for something, but with Allah’s knowledge of the unseen, He knows that this thing will not be good to them:

“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not,” (Quran: 2:216)

We see this example in Surat Al-Kahf when the son of the two righteous people was killed and the knowledgeable slave of Allah explained:

“And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and we feared that he would overburden them by transgression and disbelief.” (Quran 18: 80)

So, one might wish for something, but it could actually end up being a source of misery, frustration and burden.

That’s why we should trust Allah, keep supplicating and taking the means. And ask Allah that if something has khair (goodness) that He brings it to us, and if not, that He replaces it with what’s best for us in this life and the next.

And always work on your heart and your faith in Allah because this is what we will get out of this worldly life with: our iman and sincerity of faith to Allah.

“The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.” (Quran 26: 88-89)

“Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one’s] hope.” (Quran 18: 46)

“And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward.” (Quran 8: 28)

So remember that your relationship with Allah is the most important thing. Allah will never neglect those who truly have faith in Him and He will reward them in this life and the next with the khair that He knows within His Infinite knowledge.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Salam and please keep in touch.