“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.” Quran 2:186

Recently, I have drawn really close to this ayah (sign, verse) of the Quran, just knowing that Allah is near brings comfort and assurance to the heart. Reflecting and pondering over this verse opens up some amazing insights into the relationship we were designed to have with our creator. It highlights the beautiful balance and closeness of this relationship between us and Allah.

At any moment in your life when you feel alone, and your heart seeks closeness to Allah remember that Allah is near as he says, “And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near.” He is close; he sees and hears everything; he is aware of every situation and everything that goes on around us and inside us. For the believer, this is enough assurance but Allah out of his mercy continues, he tells us “I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.” He responds to us whenever we call him, how much peace does this bring to our hearts knowing that we are not alone, that the one creator of everything the exists is with us and always there to help us! Not only is our lord close, but he responds to us and our specific requests; this knowledge envelops our hearts with comfort and divine love.

If this glorious ayah was to be split in half almost down the middle; you would see a beautiful balance highlighting the relationship between man and his creator. In the first part of the verse a need is highlighted and responded to, interestingly in the second part of this verse, a response is evoked, Allah says, “So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me” Allah is reminding us that we are in need of him, and we need to turn to him and submit ourselves to him alone. Knowing that he is the one that responds to us when we call upon him, he is the one that sustains us, even if we turn away from him, he is the one that takes care of us; even those that outright deny him, does not such a creator deserve all our love and worship?

The way this verse ends is even more beautiful, Allah says, “that they may be [rightly] guided.” Allah glory be to him reminds us that he is free of need, even this response he evokes is for us and our benefit and not for him. If this isn’t beautiful enough then think about this, the greatest thing we can ask for is to be guided, In the opening chapter of the Quran which we recite in the five daily prayers, Allah teaches us to ask for guidance “Guide us to the straight path,” Allah out of his mercy in the closing words of this ayah lets us in on the secret to guidance, just in case we forget to ask. In this ayah not only, does Allah tell us that he will give when we ask, but he gives us the greatest gift without asking! The gift of guidance.

Reflecting over and spending time with the book of Allah is one of the most beneficial things we can do for ourselves. As Allah says in the Quran “Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?.”
This is only my tadabbur (pondering) over this beautiful ayah and Allah knows best.