of Nekounam, (Session 1629)
The Holy Qur'an, like a pure and boundless spring, presents divine knowledge to humanity in the form of clear and guiding verses. This celestial book is not only a source for understanding rulings and ethics but also a window towards a profound comprehension of human, social, and divine relationships. In this treatise, through reflection upon verses from the chapters Al-Baqarah, An-Naml, and An-Nisa, fundamental topics such as the acceptance of supplication, judicial rulings related to testimony in adultery, and social issues including envy, jealousy, and conditions of leadership are examined. This study, with a deep and precise perspective, endeavours to present both the apparent and esoteric meanings of the verses in a coherent and scholarly format, illuminating the path of truth-seeking like a guiding light for readers.
One of the most beautiful manifestations of divine mercy in the Holy Qur'an is the promise of responding to the prayers of the servants, which is manifested in a luminous verse from Surah Al-Baqarah:
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 guided. (2:186)
This verse, like a shining gem, emphasises the immediate proximity of God to His servants. The verb أُجِيبُ ("I respond"), expressed in the first person singular, denotes the direct and unmediated answer of the Lord to the prayers of the servants, without the need for intermediaries such as angels. This divine proximity encompasses all requests, whether material or spiritual. The address عِبَادِي ("My servants") here includes not only the believers but all creatures, as though God has opened the gates of His mercy to all His creations.
The Holy Qur'an introduces supplication as a key to opening the doors of special divine grace. Unlike general grace, which descends like rain upon all creatures, special grace is contingent upon asking and petitioning. This concept can be likened to a child who is not given his mothers milk unless he cries. The act of asking is a movement that activates the automatic doors of divine mercy, doors that only open when the servant approaches the Lord.
This condition of asking directs the human being towards an active relationship with God. Just as motion-sensitive doors in modern places open upon the approach of a person, the special divine grace flows through the prayer and request of the servant. This metaphor demonstrates the dynamism of the relationship between servant and Lord, in which the servants question serves as a catalyst for the descent of particular mercy.
Within Islamic culture, the supplicant holds a special status to the extent that in some narrations, he is likened to the Messenger of God. This expression signifies the high dignity of humanity in the process of prayer and request. The supplicant is akin to a messenger who, through his request, attracts divine revelation towards himself. This perspective encourages one to ask not merely from a material need but as a spiritual act that brings one closer to God.
The supplicant is the Messenger of God.
This narration beautifully illustrates the honour of the supplicant, as though each request is a message binding the servant to the Lord. This lofty position invites reflection on the value of prayer and its impact on both spiritual and material life.
At intermediate stages of spiritual progress, a human is recognised as a supplicant and God as the responder. Yet, at the highest levels, the saints transcend these determinations, reaching the station of essence determinacy, where neither supplicant nor responder exists, but rather an intrinsic unity between servant and Lord. This station is like a summit attained after traversing the spiritual path, where desire for creation, self, and even the Truth itself vanishes.
This distinction between intermediate and exalted stages reveals the profundity of the Islamic spiritual system. In intermediate stages, through prayer and request, the human attains special divine grace; however, at exalted levels, one reaches such proximity that asking becomes unnecessary, for in unity with the Truth all needs are fulfilled within the Divine Essence.
Another verse from the Holy Qur'an that emphasises the acceptance of prayer is found in Surah An-Naml:
Or [is there] one who responds to the distressed one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember! (27:62)
This verse elucidates the acceptance of the distressed supplicant within the universal and unrestricted divine scope. God alone is capable of responding absolutely and without limitation to the calls of the distressed. This response is immediate and direct, in contrast to human acceptance which is bound by temporal and spatial restrictions. This distinction draws a clear line between divine capability and human limitations.
The distinction between divine and human acceptance resembles the difference between a boundless ocean and a limited stream. Human acceptance, such as giving water to the thirsty or financial aid to the needy, occurs within restricted means and circumstances, whereas divine acceptance flows like unceasing rain without delay or limitation towards the servants. This verse, by posing the question Is there a deity with Allah?, challenges the notion that any entity other than God is capable of such acceptance.
The verses concerning the acceptance of prayer in the Holy Qur'an, including verse 186 of Surah Al-Baqarah and verse 62 of Surah An-Naml, serve as illuminating guidance toward divine proximity and reception of special grace. These verses, by stressing Gods nearness to His servants and His direct response to their invocation, encourage human beings to supplicate and petition. The distinction between universality and restriction, the levels of supplicant and responder, and the exalted status of the supplicant as a divine messenger all demonstrate the depth of Qur'anic knowledge in this field. This section invites contemplation on ones relationship with the Lord and the value of prayer as a bridge between the servant and the Truth.
