بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Allah says:
وإذا سألك عبادي عني فإني قريب أُجيب دعوة الداعِ إذا دعانِ
“And if My servants ask you about me, then undoubtedly I am Qareeb (close/near), I respond to the invocation of the caller when he invokes Me…” [Al-Baqarah: 186]
وإلى ثمود أخاهم صالحًا قال يا قومِ اعبدوا الله ما لكم من إلاهٍ غيره هو أنشأكم من الأرض واستعمركم فيها فاستغفِروه و توبوا إليه إنّ ربي قريبٌ مجيبٌ
“And -sent- to Thamud was there brother Saalih, he said O my people! Worship Allah, you have no deity besides Him. He brought you forth -into being- from the earth and settled you therein, so seek forgiveness from Him and repent to Him. Indeed my Lord is Qareeb (close/near) Mujeeb (responsive).” [Hud: 61]
قل إن ضللت فإنما أضل على نفسي وإن اهتديت فبما يوحى إلىّ ربي إنه سميعٌ قريبٌ
“Say: If I go astray, I only stray -and lose- against my own self. If I am guided it is due to what is revealed to me from my Lord, truly He is Samee’a (All-Hearing) Qareeb (close/near).” [Saba: 50]
Sheikh Abdur Rahman ibn Naasir As-Sa’di said: The nearness has two types. (The first) Nearness, by way of His knowledge, to all of His creation, (the second) nearness to His servants and those who call on Him by way of responding to their invocation, assistance, and the granting of success (to them).
So whoever invokes his Lord with an attentive heart alone with a legislated supplication, and there is nothing preventing the answering of the supplication, e.g. eating the prohibited or whatever is similar to that (from what is reported to prevent the answering of supplication), then truly Allah promised to respond. Specifically if he -the caller- comes with the means to obtain a response to the invocation. It being the responding to Allah by willful compliance to His commands and prohibitions as it relates to speech, action, and faith in Him.
تيسير الكريم الرحمن في تفسير كلام المنان
Sheikh Abdur Razzaq Al Badr said: The nearness of Allah indicated in these verses is a specific nearness to the beloved servants and those whose supplications are answered. A nearness -concerning Allah- in which its true reality is not comprehended; however, its traces are known by His kindness towards them, His granting of success to them, and His concern for them. Also from its traces are His answering their supplication and rewarding the servants. Just as Allah says:
و قال ربكم ادْعوني أستجب لكم إنّ الذين يستكبرون عن عبادتي سيدخلون جهنم داخرين
“And your Lord said: Invoke Me and I will respond to you. Surely those who scorn My worship (arrogantly out of sheer pride), they will enter Hell disgraced/humiliated.” [Ghafir: 60]
It is firmly established within the Sunnah an abundance of narrations that indicate Allah’s nearness to His believing servants and pious allies. He hears and answers their invocations, and gives them what they ask. Within the two authentic collections (Bukhari and Muslim) is -a narration- upon the authority of Abu Musa Al-Ashari where he said, “We were with the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- on a journey, where the people were caused to say Allahu akbar audibly. On account of that the Prophet said, ‘Do not trouble yourselves! You are not calling on one who is neither deaf nor absent, on the contrary you are calling on One Who is All Hearing and Near, and He is with you.’ ” فقه الأسماء الحسنى
Compiled by Najeeb ibn Yusuf Al Anjelesi