Again, Allah (swt) mentions the issue of supplication. In the previous verse Allah (swt) orders us to supplicate Him humbly and privately and in this verse, He (swt) tells us to (invoke Him in fear and aspiration). Hence, the manner of supplication is now made clear in the two verses and in between, Allah (swt) says: (And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation). Corruption is a very dangerous issue that Messengers were sent to prevent it on earth, for Allah (swt) created the earth and upon it the fundamentals for human life. Allah (swt) says:

  ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

(Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].) (Ar-Rum: 41)

Humans corrupt the environment with pollution, they pollute the sea and cause damage to the Ozon layer, they corrupt social relationships by breaking social ties, slander, hatred and envy…etc. There is also financial, social, and ethical corruption, and this is the worst type of corruption because a person who is ethically corrupt lives his life in deviation as he commits adultery, steals, and other types of atrocities and immoralities. Allah (swt) tells us about supplication and the requirements needed for it to be accepted by Him (swt), such as having lawful (halal) source of food and drinks. The Prophet (saws) mentioned a person:

“Who travels for a long period of time, his hair is disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky and thus makes the supplication: ‘My Lord! My Lord!’ But his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful, how can, then his supplication be accepted?”[1]

Thus, corruption hinders it that Allah (swt) answers our supplication.

( إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ) (Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good): When the Prophet (saws) was asked about kindness (Ihnsan), he (saws) said:

“Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you.”[2]

To worship Allah (swt) means to obey Him (swt) and abide by His (swt) commandments. Allah (swt) describes the doers of good with:

 إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ (15) آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ (16) كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ (17) وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ (18) وَفِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ لِّلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ (19)

((15) Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs (16) Accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good (17) They used to sleep but little of the night (18) And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness (19) And from their properties was [given] the right of the [needy] petitioner and the deprived.) (Adh-Dhaariyat)

They Mercy of Allah (swt) will be close to the doers of good. It is worthy to note that the verse says: (Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good). The Arabic text of the verse uses a masculine adjective in (near), although the noun it describes is a feminine word in the Arabic language, so the adjective should have also used the feminine form (neaar). There are two reasons for using the masculine form (near). The first reason could be that Allah (swt) is near to the doers of good, so this adjective is used for Allah (swt). The second reason could be that the word (near) in the Arabic language is used for both masculine and feminine. For example, the Arabic word (qateel), which means (victim), is used for both male and female victims, so we say a female victim (qateel), the same is used for a male victim (qateel).

Allah’s (swt) bestowments upon us, His Forgiveness of bad deeds, and His near Mercy to the doers of good, all means that Allah’s (swt) Mercy encompasses us, and as long as it surrounds us, then our supplications will be answered. Just like the Prophet (saws) stated, supplication is the pith of worship. It is our duty to invoke Allah (swt) and He (swt) guarantees the answer. Invoking Allah (swt) should be done in humility, privately, submissiveness, fear of Allah’s (swt) Anger, and with aspiration of His (swt) Mercy. These are the requirements of supplication as are mentioned in the Holy Quran.

[1] Sahih Muslim, the Book of Zakah, Hadith No. 1015.

[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari, the Book of Faith, Hadith No. 50.