Daily Ayah · Al-Baqarah 2:186

Where you would expect the usual word "Say", this ayah does not use it, and commentators draw a lesson from that choice for your du'a.

In the Quran, when people asked the Prophet ﷺ a question, the reply often began with one word: qul, meaning "Say".

That word told the Prophet ﷺ to pass the answer on. When people asked about the mountains, for example, the reply opened with Say.

Here, the ayah speaks of Allah's servants asking about Allah Himself. This time, the reply does not begin with Say.

Al-Sabuni explains that Allah answered this question Himself, to show how close He is to everyone who asks, and other scholars agree.

As this ayah says, He is near and responds to those who call Him. It asks us to respond to Him and believe in Him, so we may be guided.

Amal for today: Take a quiet moment today to ask Allah directly, in your own words, for one thing you need.

Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir); al-Sabuni (Safwat al-Tafasir); al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb); al-Biqa'i (Nazm al-Durar)

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