ٱدْعُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ 55
Translations
Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors.
Transliteration
Ud'oo rabbakum tadarru'an wa khufyah; innahu la yuhibbu al-mu'tadin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to invoke their Lord with humility, submissiveness, and sincerity in private supplication, emphasizing that Allah dislikes those who transgress bounds in their worship and behavior. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the phrase 'tadarru'an' (with humility and earnestness) and 'khufyah' (secretly/privately) indicates that the best form of du'a is sincere, humble, and often done in private rather than for show, as this reflects true reliance upon Allah. The concluding statement that Allah does not love 'al-mu'tadin' (transgressors/those who exceed limits) warns against arrogance, ostentation, and exceeding proper bounds in supplication and religious practice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-A'raf during a period emphasizing core Islamic principles of monotheism and proper conduct. It is part of a broader thematic section addressing the etiquette of worship and relationship with Allah, serving as guidance for believers on how to properly engage in supplication and avoid spiritual arrogance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best supplication is the one done in secret' (related to du'a etiquette in various hadith collections). Additionally, the hadith 'A person is not truly a believer until they love for their brother what they love for themselves' (Sahih Bukhari) reflects the spirit of sincere, humble devotion mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True prayer and supplication are most powerful when made with genuine humility, sincerity, and often in private rather than for external validation or show. Believers should guard against spiritual arrogance and exceeding proper bounds in their religious practices, remembering that Allah values the state of the heart over outward displays.