The Wisdom of Surah Al-Baqarah 186

The Wisdom of Surah Al-Baqarah 186

By: Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Marzuq ath-Thariifiy

Translation: Reza Ervani bin Asmanu

This article on the wisdom of Surah Al-Baqarah 186 falls under the category of Tadabbur al Quran in English

{وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ} [البقرة: ١٨٦]

“And when My servants ask you 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 and believe in Me that they may be rightly guided.” (Al-Baqarah, verse 186)

وفي الآية: دليل على أن إجابة الله للداعي العابد المتبع أقرب من العاصي المخالف، ولذا قال: (فليستجيبوا لي)، أي: فإن استجابوا بالطاعة أجبتهم، وكلما كان الإنسان لله أقرب، كان أحرى بإجابة الدعاء.

In this verse, there is evidence that God’s response to the supplication of a devout servant who follows His guidance is closer than the response to the supplication of a sinner who is disobedient. Therefore, Allah says: “So let them respond to Me,” meaning: if they respond with obedience, I will answer them. The closer a person is to Allah, the more likely their supplications will be answered.

وحمل بعض السلف قوله تعالى: (فليستجيبوا لي) على الدعاء، أي: فليدعوني، قاله أنس بن مالك.

Some of the Salaf scholars understood Allah’s words “So let them respond to Me” as a command to supplicate, as stated by Anas bin Malik.

التفسير والبيان (١ / ٢٣٩-٢٤٠)

Book At-Tafsir wal-Bayan (1 / 239-240)