Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The thought that Allah may have abandoned His servants or does not answer them is among the whispers of Satan and having a bad opinion of Allah. Allah تعالى is more merciful to His servants than they are to themselves, and He knows best what benefits them and what is good for them. He does only what His wisdom necessitates.
Among the most important things that should be understood are:
Allah سبحانه is not questioned about what He does. He is the Creator and the One who manages all affairs. He decrees whatever He wills, and no one can repel His decree.
Human knowledge is limited. A person may love something even though it is harmful for him, and may dislike something even though it is good for him. Allah تعالى says:
﴿Perhaps you dislike something while it is good for you, and perhaps you love something while it is bad for you. Allah knows, while you do not know﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 216].
The entire affair of the believer is good. If a blessing comes to him, he gives thanks and that is good for him; and if hardship befalls him, he is patient and that is good for him, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for all of his affair is good…” Narrated by Muslim.
Affliction does not mean that Allah is angry with His servant or has neglected him. Rather, it may be a means of expiating sins and raising a person’s ranks. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“A person is tested according to his religion. If his religion is firm, his trial becomes more severe…” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, who authenticated it.
One of the wisdoms behind trials is that they drive the servant toward humility, supplication, and drawing closer to Allah. Allah تعالى says:
﴿If only, when Our suffering came to them, they had humbled themselves﴾ [Al-An'am: 43].
Thus, hardship may be a means of increasing a servant’s connection with his Lord, not a sign that Allah has abandoned him.
Patience during affliction is part of faith. The more patiently a servant endures and seeks reward from Allah, the greater the goodness and reward he receives—something whose full extent is known only to Allah. Allah تعالى says:
﴿Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without measure﴾ [Az-Zumar: 10].
The affliction does not necessarily have to be because of a particular sin, and it is not correct to assert that a person has never committed a sin. Human beings make mistakes, and an affliction may have many purposes and wisdoms beyond mere punishment. The clearest example is Ayyub (Job), peace be upon him. His trial lasted a long time, yet Allah praised him by saying:
﴿Indeed, We found him patient. What an excellent servant! Indeed, he was ever returning to Allah﴾ [Sad: 44].
A delay in the answer to a supplication does not mean that the supplication has not been answered. Allah may grant the servant what he asks immediately, or avert from him an equivalent evil, or reserve the reward of his supplication for him in the Hereafter. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“There is no Muslim who makes a supplication that contains neither sin nor severing family ties except that Allah grants him one of three things because of it…” Narrated by Ahmad and authenticated by al-Albani.
Therefore, one should not say, “Allah has abandoned us,” nor should one think badly of Him because relief has been delayed. This is poor etiquette toward Allah and a bad opinion of Him. Rather, one should seek forgiveness, maintain a good opinion of Allah, remain patient, continue supplicating, take the lawful and appropriate means, and have certainty that Allah knows what is best for His servants and is more merciful to them than they are to themselves.
In conclusion: The prolonged nature of a trial does not indicate that Allah does not love His servants or does not hear their supplications. Rather, the trial may be good for them, an expiation for their sins, a means of raising their ranks, and a reason for increasing their closeness to Allah. Relief may be delayed for a wisdom known to Him سبحانه, but the believer’s supplication is never wasted: either its effect is seen in this world, or some harm is warded off through it, or its reward is stored for him in the Hereafter.
So remain firm upon Islam, and do not allow what you see of the severity of the trial to become a reason for doubting Allah’s mercy. Allah does not neglect His servants, nor does He allow their supplications to be lost. Relief is in His hand alone, and it may come at the time and in the circumstances that His wisdom requires.
And Allah knows best.