Quranic Gem from Surah Baqarah (2:186)
And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], 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.
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
In other ayat, Allah usually responds to things which people inquire about by saying to the Prophet (SAW) “Qul” or “Say” then the answer is provided. However, with this ayah, there is not “Qul”, or “Say”, I am near, it is just ‘I am Near”. What does this signify? Allah has made an exception to the pattern; by removing the “Qul”, Allah is making this statement more intimate and personal between himself and His servant.
He doesn’t even involve an intermediary to convey this saying. He tells the servant himself that He is near. This means that when we are asking Allah or making dua’a, it is a very intimate link between us and Him. It denotes closeness. The use of the first person in this ayah “I AM near” further enhances this close relationship.
Furthermore, Allah says “When” and not “If”. Consider a father’s son is fighting in the army, will he say, “IF my son comes back, I will be happy”. No, rather, he would say, ‘WHEN my son comes back, I will be happy”. Why? Because IF is hopeless. It seems to suggest the son won’t come back. WHEN, is used out of love and anticipation. Allah says, WHEN my servants ask. This means that Allah is waiting in anticipation for you to ask about him and ask from him. He is waiting for you to make dua’a.
Furthermore, consider you are working for a million dollar company with thousands of employees. Do you think the CEO would have time to talk to you if you are, for example, a janitor. You’d be lucky if you even saw him. However, in this scenario. The highest of the high, Allah and the lowest of the low – us, Allah says as low as you are (my servant), I IMMEDIATELY. Respond.“ I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me”.
The word “Astajeebu” means: I will try to answer/ will answer over time/I want to answer. But Allah did not say “Astajeebu”, He said, “Ujeebu” – I will immediately answer. And next the word is “Da’ani”, which means whenever you want. Be it night, day, or middle of the night. Whenever we want to call at our convenience, Allah says, He will respond.
Additionally, he says, “Da’wah-ta-da’ee”. This means, that which happens at a single moment. Allah is not talking about someone who makes dua'a all the time. He is saying even if there is someone who has never prayed, and wants to turn to Allah one time sincerely, He says I respond. To who? The caller. The caller could be anybody. It doesn’t have to be someone who is a saint, reads tahajjud or is pious. The use of THE denotes individuality. Allah recognizes every single one of us.
Furthermore, Allah says: “They should try to respond to me” – He didn’t say you should respond immediately just as He responds immediately. This means He does expect too much from us. We should at least try to respond and turn to him with sincerity.
Lastly, Allah speaks about this verse right after He speaks about RAMADAN and fasting in the previous verses. This signifies the important of making du’aa especially in Ramadan and taking advantage of this blessed month by asking Allah for all that want. His forgiveness, Guidance, Protection, personal needs, cure and more. There is no limit.
SUBHANALLAH
And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], 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.
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
In other ayat, Allah usually responds to things which people inquire about by saying to the Prophet (SAW) “Qul” or “Say” then the answer is provided. However, with this ayah, there is not “Qul”, or “Say”, I am near, it is just ‘I am Near”. What does this signify? Allah has made an exception to the pattern; by removing the “Qul”, Allah is making this statement more intimate and personal between himself and His servant.
He doesn’t even involve an intermediary to convey this saying. He tells the servant himself that He is near. This means that when we are asking Allah or making dua’a, it is a very intimate link between us and Him. It denotes closeness. The use of the first person in this ayah “I AM near” further enhances this close relationship.
Furthermore, Allah says “When” and not “If”. Consider a father’s son is fighting in the army, will he say, “IF my son comes back, I will be happy”. No, rather, he would say, ‘WHEN my son comes back, I will be happy”. Why? Because IF is hopeless. It seems to suggest the son won’t come back. WHEN, is used out of love and anticipation. Allah says, WHEN my servants ask. This means that Allah is waiting in anticipation for you to ask about him and ask from him. He is waiting for you to make dua’a.
Furthermore, consider you are working for a million dollar company with thousands of employees. Do you think the CEO would have time to talk to you if you are, for example, a janitor. You’d be lucky if you even saw him. However, in this scenario. The highest of the high, Allah and the lowest of the low – us, Allah says as low as you are (my servant), I IMMEDIATELY. Respond.“ I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me”.
The word “Astajeebu” means: I will try to answer/ will answer over time/I want to answer. But Allah did not say “Astajeebu”, He said, “Ujeebu” – I will immediately answer. And next the word is “Da’ani”, which means whenever you want. Be it night, day, or middle of the night. Whenever we want to call at our convenience, Allah says, He will respond.
Additionally, he says, “Da’wah-ta-da’ee”. This means, that which happens at a single moment. Allah is not talking about someone who makes dua'a all the time. He is saying even if there is someone who has never prayed, and wants to turn to Allah one time sincerely, He says I respond. To who? The caller. The caller could be anybody. It doesn’t have to be someone who is a saint, reads tahajjud or is pious. The use of THE denotes individuality. Allah recognizes every single one of us.
Furthermore, Allah says: “They should try to respond to me” – He didn’t say you should respond immediately just as He responds immediately. This means He does expect too much from us. We should at least try to respond and turn to him with sincerity.
Lastly, Allah speaks about this verse right after He speaks about RAMADAN and fasting in the previous verses. This signifies the important of making du’aa especially in Ramadan and taking advantage of this blessed month by asking Allah for all that want. His forgiveness, Guidance, Protection, personal needs, cure and more. There is no limit.
SUBHANALLAH