Interpretation of the Almighty’s saying:
﴿And when My servants ask you about Me, then I am near and answer the call of the supplicant…﴾
God Almighty saying:And when My servants ask you about Me, then I am near. I answer the call of the supplicant when he calls upon me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, so that they may be guided.﴾ [البقرة: 186].
Meanings of the words contained in the verse[1]:
God Almighty says: ﴿And if he asks you ﴾ O Muhammad, ﴿My devotionals ﴾; That is: the believers, ﴿About me ﴾ That is: from their deity, so tell them that I am close to them and nothing is hidden from me, so I know what the servant does of fasting, prayer, and other things, and God is closer to the servant than his jugular vein, and closer to the heart than the owner of the heart.﴿I answer ﴾ That is: I hear ﴿The supplication of the supplicant when he supplicates ﴾ That is: inviting the questioner if he asks. ﴿Let them answer me ﴾ That is, let them invite me. ﴿And let them believe in me ﴾ That is, let them believe in me that I answer their prayers. ﴿Perhaps they will be guided ﴾ That is, perhaps they will be guided to the interests of their religion and their world, and the other meaning of the Almighty’s saying: ﴿I answer ﴾ That is: I accept, ﴿The supplication of the supplicant when he supplicates ﴾ That is: the worship of the worshiper if he worships Me, then supplication is worship, as stated in the hadith: Supplication is worship[2], ﴿Let them answer me ﴾That is: let them obey me; That is: let them respond to me with obedience. ﴿And let them believe in me﴾ That is, let them believe in me – if they respond to me with obedience – that I will reward them for their obedience to me and reward them with honor.
Among the benefits of the verse[3]:
1- Fasting is believed to be an answer to supplication; Because God Almighty mentioned this verse during the verses of fasting, and this is supported by what came from the hadith of Abu Hurairah – may God be pleased with him – in which “ There are three whose supplications will not be rejected: the just imam, and the fasting person until he breaks his fast… »[4].
Some scholars said: Another benefit can be gained from it: the supplication should be made at the end of the fasting day, that is, when breaking the fast.
2 – Among them: The mercy of God Almighty; Because God Almighty says: ﴿And when My servants ask you﴾; He added them to himself as an honor and sympathy for them.
Among the benefits of the verse: The closeness of the Lord, Glory be to Him, to His guardians and those who obey Him. He is close to His servant, aware of His remembrance and thanks, so He hears His call, answers His supplication, and does not disappoint Him.
And from her: The obligation to respond to God Almighty, by obeying Him by obeying His commands, avoiding His prohibitions, and believing in His promises.
Among them: The call is answered: with complete obedience to His divinity, and with sound belief in His lordship. So whoever responds to his Lord by obeying His commands and prohibitions, his purpose of supplication will be achieved, and his supplication will be answered. As God Almighty said: And He will respond to those who believe and do righteous deeds, and He will increase them of His bounty. ﴾ [الشورى: 26]; That is, he responds to them, it is said: he responded to him and he responded to him.
Among its benefits Whoever calls upon God, certain that He will answer his prayer, if he calls upon him, He will answer him, and he may be a polytheist or a sinner, for it is He, Glory be to Him, who says: And when harm befalls a person, he calls upon Us to lie beside him, or sitting, or standing, but when We remove his harm from him, he passes by as if he had not called Us to harm that befell him. Thus has been made pleasing to the transgressors what they used to do. ﴾ [يونس: 12].
Among its benefits: Whoever is inspired to pray, he is intended to be answered.
And from her: The servant does not reach the light and strength of faith except by performing acts of obedience and worship.
Among them: Al-Rashid is someone whom God has guided for the interests of his religion and world.
[1] See: Tafsir Al-Tabari, (3/226), Al-Tafsir Al-Basit, by Al-Wahidi, (3/592), Zad al-Masir by Ibn al-Jawzi, (1/146). Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, (2/308).
[2] It was included by Ahmad in his Musnad, No. (18352), from the hadith of Al-Nu’man bin Bashir – may God be pleased with him – that the Messenger of God – may God bless him and grant him peace – said: “Supplication is worship,” and then he recited: ﴿ Call upon Me, and I will respond to you. Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell, humiliated. ﴾ [غافر: 60]; Ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Bari (1/49): It was included by the Sunan authors with a good chain of transmission.
[3] Tafsir al-Razi, (5/87), Tafsir al-Basit by al-Wahidi, (3/591), Iqtidha al-Sirat al-Mustaqim by Ibn Taymiyyah, (2/314), Al-Jawaba al-Kafi by Ibn al-Qayyim, (p. 17), Tafsir al-Uthaymeen: Al-Fatihah and Al-Baqarah (2/344).
[4] It was included by Ahmad in his Musnad, No. (8043), and Ahmad Shaker said about it: An authentic hadith with its methods and evidence., Musnad Ahmad, Al-Risala Edition, (13/410).