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
ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَـٰقُوا۟ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ظُلَلٍ مِّنَ ٱلْغَمَامِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
Do they await but that Allāh should come to them in covers of clouds and the angels [as well] and the matter is [then] decided? And to Allāh [all] matters are returned.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَيَشْتَرُونَ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ إِلَّا ٱلنَّارَ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, they who conceal what Allāh has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price - those consume not into their bellies except the Fire. And Allāh will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. And they will have a painful punishment.
وَمِنْهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّآ أَمَانِىَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ
And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except [indulgement in] wishful thinking, but they are only assuming.