وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ 186
Translations
And when My servants ask you, [O Muḥammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.
Transliteration
Wa-idha sa-alaka 'ibadi 'anni fa-inni qareeb, ujeebu da'wata ad-da'i idha da'an, falyastajiboo lee wa-lyu'minoo bee la'allahum yarshudoon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah assures believers of His nearness and responsiveness to their supplications, stating that He answers the prayer of every supplicant who calls upon Him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that Allah's proximity is not spatial but rather encompasses His perfect knowledge and immediate awareness of His servants' needs and intentions. In response to this divine mercy, believers are commanded to obey Allah and believe in Him, as adherence to His guidance leads to righteousness (rushd) and success in both worlds.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the month of Ramadan in the Medinan period, addressing questions from the Sahabah (companions) about the nature of supplication and Allah's closeness to His servants during this sacred month. It appears in the context of verses discussing fasting and the spiritual benefits of Ramadan, emphasizing that this is a period of heightened divine mercy when supplications are readily answered.
Related Hadiths
Tirmidhi reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Your Lord said: I am as My servant thinks of Me.' This hadith reinforces the ayah's theme of Allah's responsiveness based on sincere expectation. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, it is narrated that the Prophet encouraged dua (supplication), saying 'Dua is worship itself,' emphasizing the importance of direct communication with Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no distance separates a believer from Allah's hearing and response—sincere supplication reaches Him immediately, and He answers according to His infinite wisdom and mercy. Modern readers should cultivate a deep confidence in Allah's presence and responsiveness while ensuring their faith is accompanied by obedience to His commands and genuine belief in His guidance.
Related Ayahs
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ إِذْ يَرَوْنَ ٱلْعَذَابَ أَنَّ ٱلْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعَذَابِ
And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allāh as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allāh. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allāh. And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allāh and that Allāh is severe in punishment.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakāh will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ ٱلْحَرْثَ وَٱلنَّسْلَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَسَادَ
And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allāh does not like corruption.
قُلْ أَتُحَآجُّونَنَا فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ وَلَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُخْلِصُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Do you argue with us about Allāh while He is our Lord and your Lord? For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. And we are sincere [in deed and intention] to Him."