The Secret of Prayer’s Response: Why the World Answers and Why Sometimes It Does Not?

A Philosophical System Based on the Quran, Torah, Bible, Avesta, Vedas, Dao, Iranian Wisdom, and Contemporary Metaphysics
Author: Dr. Pooyan Ghamari

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The Silence of the World Is Not Silence

All sacred traditions—from the Quran to the Torah, from the Avesta to Vedic texts, from the Bible to the Dao De Jing—express a shared truth:
The world responds to humans. However, this response is not always heard.

The question is not why God doesn’t give; the question is why humans do not receive.
To hear the response, one must understand the language of the world. This article is an attempt to decode that language.

In all sacred texts, the world engages in dialogue with humans. Yet humans ask: If these promises are true, why does the world that promised to respond remain silent at the moment of need?

This question is not merely religious; it is philosophical, psychological, metaphysical, and even quantum-physical.

The answer can be summarized in a single sentence:
The world does not respond to words. The world responds to the existential structure of the human being.

This principle forms the foundation of all wisdom traditions.

Part One: The Language of Prayer Is Not the Language of Words

1. Quran: Light, the Primary Language of the Universe

Verse:
«اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ» (Surah An-Nur, 24:35)
Translation: God is the Light of the heavens and the earth.

Deep Analysis:
In Islamic metaphysics, light signifies an existential frequency. This verse implies that the universe operates through light, waves, vibration—not through words, cries, or pleas, but through the inner vibration of humans. God, as light, communicates with human consciousness, not merely through words.

The Quran connects prayer to light. Light is the language of the cosmos—not words, not sound.

Verse:
«ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ» (Surah Ghafir, 40:60)
Translation: Call upon Me, and I will respond to you.

Analysis:
This is not an absolute promise but an invitation to resonate. In Islamic exegesis, “calling” includes not only verbal invocation but also heartfelt attention and inner certainty. Prayer must align with the level of human consciousness.

German philosopher Nietzsche also emphasizes this point:
Nietzsche:
„Der Mensch hört nur, was er ist.”
Translation: A person hears only what their being allows.

Analysis:
This precisely explains why many prayers are never heard. If you pray from a frequency of lack, you are injecting “lack” into reality, and the universe returns exactly that.

2. Torah: Prayer Is Heard Only When Arising from “Identity”

Verse:
«וַיִּקְרָא אֶל־יְהוָה וַיַּעֲנֵהוּ» (Vayikra el-Adonai vaya’anehu) (Psalms 120:1)
Translation: And he called upon the Lord, and He [the Lord] answered him.

Analysis:
In Hebrew tradition, the verb קרא (qara) means to call with one’s entire being. Prayer is not merely spoken verbally; it must arise from the depth of the soul.

Verse:
«אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה» (Ehyeh asher ehyeh) (Exodus 3:14)
Translation: I am that I am (or: I will be what I will be).

Deep Analysis:
God introduces Himself through the act of being. This is the deepest divine definition in the Torah. Its message to humans: before asking for anything, you must become someone.

Before asking, there must be becoming.
In Hebrew wisdom, “becoming” precedes “receiving.” Our identity determines our destiny. Being precedes having.

From the Babylonian Talmud:
«מעשה רב» (Ma’aseh rav)
Translation: Action is greater.

Analysis:
In Jewish tradition, action is more important than knowledge or even faith. God responds to those who act, not just those who pray.

3. Bible: Faith in the Present Moment, Not Future Hope

Verse:
«αἰτεῖτε καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν» (Aiteite kai dothēsetai hymin) (Matthew 7:7)
Translation: Ask, and it shall be given to you.

Analysis:
Christ emphasizes faith and certainty. In Christian interpretation, asking must be accompanied by complete faith, not doubt.

Verse:
«διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν, πάντα ὅσα προσεύχεσθε καὶ αἰτεῖσθε, πιστεύετε ὅτι ἐλάβετε» (Dia touto legō hymin, panta hosa proseuchesthe kai aiteisthe, pisteuete hoti elabete) (Mark 11:24)
Translation: Therefore I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it.

Deep Analysis:
Christ emphasizes faith in the present. Not in the future, but the inner state now. True faith is faith in receiving now, not hoping for later.

This aligns with modern psychology concepts such as creative visualization or self-image alignment.

4. Vedas: The Structure of the World Mirrors the Human

From the Vedic texts (Rig Veda):
«यद् भावं तद् भवति» (Yad bhāvaṁ tad bhavati)
Translation: What is within manifests outside / what you are, you attract.

Analysis:
This is a fundamental principle in Hindu philosophy. Bhāva signifies inner state, feeling, and intention. Reality emerges directly from our inner state.

From the Vedic texts:
«यथा दृष्टि तथा सृष्टि» (Yathā dṛṣṭi tathā sṛṣṭi)
Translation: As you see, so you create / the world creates what you perceive.

Deep Analysis:
This is the precise philosophical definition of prayer. It emphasizes inner vision. Dṛṣṭi means insight. What we clearly visualize in the mind manifests in reality. Prayer is active consciousness, not a word. A clear image is half of the response.

From the Bhagavad Gita:
«योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्» (Yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam) (Chapter 2, Verse 50)
Translation: Yoga is skill in action.

Analysis:
Krishna teaches Arjuna that prayer and meditation (Yoga) must be accompanied by skillful action. Without action, no transformation occurs.

5. Daoism: The World Gives Silent, Not Verbal, Responses

From the Dao De Jing:
「為學日益，為道日損」 (Wèi xué rì yì, wèi dào rì sǔn) (Chapter 48)
Translation: For knowledge, add daily; for Dao, reduce daily.

Analysis:
Laozi teaches that attaining truth is about removing excess—mental, emotional, and conceptual clutter. True prayer arises from simplicity and purity, not complexity.

From the Dao De Jing:
「千里之行，始於足下」 (Qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià) (Chapter 64)
Translation: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Analysis:
Laozi emphasizes the importance of initial action. Movement is the language of the universe. Prayer without movement has no frequency. Prayer without action is like an unplanted seed. Dao responds to those moving along the path.

From Chinese wisdom:
「心明則道明」
Translation: When the heart/mind is clear, the path becomes clear.

Analysis:
Vague and formless prayer lacks creative power. Ambiguous intention has no frequency. Prayer without a clear image is like a letter without an address.

From Chinese wisdom:
「意到氣到」
Translation: Wherever intention goes, energy follows.

Analysis:
A precise, clear image of your desire is half of its realization.

6. Nietzsche: The World Hears Only the Real Part of You

Nietzsche:
„Werde, der du bist.”
Translation: Become who you are / Be the one you are—referring to the actualization of inner potential.

Analysis:
Nietzsche points to the law of self-realization. Realizing your true self is a prerequisite for any transformation.

7. Pythagoras and the Law of Resonance

Pythagoras:
„Πάντα ἀριθμός ἐστι” (Panta arithmos esti)
Translation: Everything is number.

Analysis:
Pythagoras believed the universe operates through vibration and harmony. Number here signifies proportion, ratio, and frequency.

8. Shams and Rumi: Prayer Means Transformation, Not Asking

Shams Tabrizi:
«دعا آن‌گاه اجابت شود که تو دیگر همان آدم پیشین نباشی.»
Translation: Prayer is answered when you are no longer the person you were before.

Analysis:
Shams expresses the clearest truth: a prayer that doesn’t change you will not be answered. The response lies in your transformation, not God’s reply. In Iranian mysticism, prayer is a structure for personal transformation.

Rumi (Masnavi):
«تو پای در راه بنه، خود راه بگویدت.»
Translation: Set your foot on the path, and the path will show you the way.

Analysis:
Rumi beautifully states: wanting means creating, not complaining. To realize a wish, you must elevate your consciousness—this is inner transformation.

Rumi:
«گر تو می‌خواهی که گردد کار راستکار خود را بر سر بالا گذاست»
Analysis:
To achieve a goal, one must elevate consciousness—again emphasizing inner transformation.

9. Avesta and Ferdowsi: The Three Levels of Prayer Frequency

From the Avesta (Gathas):
«هومته، هوخته، هورشته» (Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta)
Translation: Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.

Analysis:
Zoroaster introduces three layers of human existence. Prayer (speech) is effective only when aligned with pure thought and righteous action. These three must resonate together; if thought, word, and deed are not in harmony, prayer cannot resonate.

Ferdowsi (Shahnameh):
«بدان که مرد دانا گفت راستکه دولت از خرد آید بدست»
Analysis:
Ferdowsi points to the law of wisdom: grace (or answered prayer) comes through consciousness, not mere desire.

10. Heraclitus: The World Reflects You

Heraclitus:
„Ψυχῆς πείρατα ἰὼν οὐκ ἂν ἐξεύροιο”

Analysis:
Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, believed the world’s response reflects our being, not our wish. If you do not change, no doors open because the world contracts to your current version, not the version you haven’t become.

11. Buddha: To Receive, You Must Become

Buddha:
„To receive, you must become.”
Translation: To receive, one must undergo becoming.

Analysis:
Buddha teaches that to receive, one must experience transformation—becoming is necessary before reception.

12. Carl Jung: Image Is the Mother of Reality

Carl Jung:
„The image is the mother of reality.”
Translation: The image is the mother of reality.

Analysis:
Jung, the prominent psychologist, calls the mental image the “mother of reality.” Vague or formless prayer lacks creative power.

Part Two: Why God “Doesn’t Give” – The Silence of the World Is Law, Not Neglect

1. Prayers Born of Fear or Lack Have No Voice
   Many prayers merely describe pain rather than create solutions. Humans suffer not because they want, but because they resist not-wanting. These are not prayers—they are statements of state.
   A prayer born of lack tells the universe: “I have nothing,” and the universe responds: “Exactly.”

2. Prayer Is Ineffective if Human Identity Remains Fixed
   Quran:
   «إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ» (Surah Ar-Ra’d, 13:11)
   Translation: God does not change the condition of a people until they change themselves.

Deep Analysis:
This is neither a warning nor a threat. It is a metaphysical law: outer reality mirrors inner reality. Without inner transformation, outer transformation is impossible. Your prayer is an “old version” until you change; the world only responds to the “new version.” This principle aligns with the law of causality and karma in Eastern traditions.

3. Vague Prayer Has No Energy
   Prayer without a clear image lacks power. Prayer without form is like a letter without an address.

4. Most Prayers Describe Pain Rather Than Create a Path
   Quran:
   «وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَانِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ» (Surah An-Najm, 53:39)
   Translation: And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for.

Analysis:
This verse emphasizes cause and effect. Prayer without effort is ineffective. Striving (sa‘ya) implies conscious, purposeful action.

Quran:
«إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ» (Surah Fatir, 35:10)
Translation: Pure words ascend to Him, and righteous deeds lift them higher.

Deep Analysis:
This refers to one of the finest laws of metaphysics: the law of vibration. Kalima Tayyiba (pure word) has a high frequency and moves toward the source of light, but only righteous action truly elevates it.
Prayer without action carries no weight; action is the weight of prayer. Only prayers accompanied by high frequency and positive energy are heard.

Part Three: The Architecture of the Universe – How Prayer Is Truly Heard

Across major traditions, the law is the same:
The universe first “measures” the human and then responds to their request.
This is the “code” of the universe explained by religions and philosophies.

Code 1: Law of Inner Transformation (Transformation Principle)
Three traditions, one law:

• Quran: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ»

• Vedas: «यद् भावं तद् भवति»

• Nietzsche: „Werde, der du bist.”

• Shams: «آن دعا که تو را تغییر ندهد، اجابت نمی‌شود.»

Meaning: Answer lies in your transformation, not in God’s reply.

Code 2: Law of Orientation (Vector Principle)

• Dao De Jing: 「行之則至」 – Stay on the path to arrive.

• Rumi: «تو پای در راه بنه، خود راه بگویدت.»

• Talmud: «خط نخست تو، خط نخست جهان است.»

Meaning: The world reacts to your direction, not your words. If you don’t spin, the world doesn’t spin.

Code 3: Law of Existential Clarity (Clarity Principle)

• Shams: «وقتی خواسته‌ات شکل نداشته باشد، دعا نیست؛ خیال است.»

• Chinese: 「意到氣到」

Meaning: A clear image is half of the response.

Code 4: Law of Resonance (Resonance Principle)

• Pythagoras: «Everything is number; number means vibration.»

• Torah: The word קול is both voice and frequency.

• Quran: «إليه يصعد الكلم الطيب» – Only high-frequency prayers are heard.

Part Four: Mechanism of Response – When You Change, the World Responds

Prayer’s answer is not an event; it is an alignment. It has three mechanisms:

1. Mind Sees the Path (Cognitive Activation): A clear vision creates reality.

2. Behavior Changes (Neurobehavioral Shift): The Reticular Activating System aligns the world to your signals.

3. Reality Responds (Metaphysical Alignment):

   • Quran: Qadr

   • Buddha: Karma

   • Hindu: Dharma

   • Chinese: Dao

   • Nietzsche: Necessity

The world resonates with you. At these three levels, prayer transforms from words to reality.

Part Five: Real Prayer Hacks – Not Magic, Not Superstition, But According to the Law of Existence

1. Pray from a point of power, not weakness:
   Instead of “God help me,” say: “I am ready to receive.” From being, not lack.

2. Visualize your desire precisely: Build the image, don’t just wish.
   Vedas: «यथा दृष्टि तथा सृष्टि» – The world creates what you see.

3. Take at least one step:
   Dao: 「千里之行，始於足下」 – Take a small step.

4. Align three elements:

   • Water: Flow

   • Wind: Continuity

   • Air: Conscious presence

These three layers of human vibration must harmonize for prayer frequency to complete.

God doesn’t “give” because He doesn’t break the law—but when you align with the law, the universe responds instantly.
The universe always responds, but to who you are, not to what you say.

All world traditions—from the Quran and Torah to the Vedas and Dao, from Nietzsche to Shams and Ferdowsi—shout one truth:
You never change the world with prayer. You change yourself with prayer, and the universe responds to your new version.
Prayer doesn’t change the world; prayer changes you. And when you change, the universe responds simultaneously, resonating at your new frequency.

This is the secret of answered prayer: not an external miracle, but the architecture of human consciousness.
The true secret of prayer is not in the silence of the world, but in our awakening.

References

Sacred Texts:

• Quran (with authentic translation and commentary)

• Torah (Hebrew Old Testament)

• Bible (Greek New Testament)

• Avesta (Gathas, Avestan text)

• Vedic texts (Rig Veda, Upanishads, Sanskrit)

• Dao De Jing (Laozi, classical Chinese text)

• Bhagavad Gita (Sanskrit)

• Babylonian Talmud (Hebrew and Aramaic)

Iranian Mystical and Literary Texts:

• Masnavi (Jalal al-Din Rumi)

• Divan of Shams (Shams Tabrizi)

• Shahnameh (Hakim Ferdowsi)

Classical Philosophy:

• Heraclitus (pre-Socratic Greek philosopher)

• Pythagoras (Greek mathematician and philosopher)

• Friedrich Nietzsche (German texts)

Contemporary Psychology and Metaphysics:

• Carl Jung (Analytical Psychology)

• Comparative Metaphysics (Interdisciplinary studies)

Note: This article is intended to present a philosophical and cross-cultural perspective on prayer, without allegiance to any single spiritual tradition. Its aim is to discover the common threads of universal wisdom regarding humanity’s relationship with the cosmos.

About the Author: Dr. Pooyan Ghamari, researcher of Philosophia Perennis and inter-traditional studies.