Tafsir of Al-A'raf 7:55

Encouraging supplicating to Allah Allah commands His servants to supplicate to Him, for this will ensure their welfare in this life and the Hereafter. Allah said,

ادعوا ربكم تضرعا وخفية

Invoke your Lord Tadarru`an and Khufyah, meaning, in humbleness and humility. Allah said in a similar Ayah,

واذكر ربك في نفسك

And remember your Lord within yourself. (7:205) It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said, "The people raised their voices with supplications but the Messenger of Allah said,

أيها الناس اربعوا على أنفسكم فٳنكم ﻻ تدعون أصم وﻻ غايبا إن الذي تدعون سميع قريب

O people! Take it easy on yourselves. Verily, you are not calling one who is deaf or absent, rather, the One you are calling is All-Hearer, Near (to His servants by His knowledge). Ibn Jarir said that,

تضرعا

(Tadarru`an), means obeying Him in humility and humbleness,

وخفية

(and Khufyah), with the humbleness in your hearts and certainty of His Oneness and Lordship not supplicating loudly to show off. Forbidding Aggression in Supplications Allah's statement,

إنه ﻻ يحب المعتدين

He likes not the aggressors. Ata Al-Khurasani narrated from Ibn Abbas, who said about Allah's statement, "In the Du`a and otherwise.'' Abu Mijlaz commented on,

إنه ﻻ يحب المعتدين

(He likes not the aggressors), "Such (aggression) as asking to reach the grade of the Prophets.'' Imam Ahmad narrated that Abu Ni`amah said that Abdullah bin Mughaffal heard his son supplicating, "O Allah! I ask you for the white castle on the right side of Paradise, if I enter it.'' So Abdullah said, "O my son! Ask Allah for Paradise and seek refuge with Him from the Fire, for I heard the Messenger of Allah saying,

يكون قوم يعتدون في الدعاء والطهور

There will come some people who transgress in supplication and purification.'' Ibn Majah and Abu Dawud recorded this Hadith with a good chain that there is no harm in, and Allah knows best. The Prohibition of causing Mischief in the Land Allah said next,