What is the explanation of the statement of Allah the Exalted: "Those are the ones who invoke, seeking to their Lord the means of approach; which of them is nearest"?
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The questioner : The statement of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Isra 17:57] The explanation of His statement: Is this an interpretation of the verse?
The Shaykh : Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: "Those are the ones who invoke." These people themselves seek from Allah the means of approach. "Which of them is nearest" means: they do what brings them closer to Allah. For example, the prophets: some people associated partners with Allah. For example, 'Isa (peace be upon him) was taken as a god. We say: this one whom you have taken as a god, and he is 'Isa, is himself seeking from Allah the means of approach and nearness to Allah. So he is in need of Allah. How can you invoke him when he himself is in need of Allah? This is the meaning of the verse.
Those whom they invoke seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest
أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُWhich of them is nearest
أيهم أقربThe Shaykh : Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: "Those are the ones who invoke." These people themselves seek from Allah the means of approach. "Which of them is nearest" means: they do what brings them closer to Allah. For example, the prophets: some people associated partners with Allah. For example, 'Isa (peace be upon him) was taken as a god. We say: this one whom you have taken as a god, and he is 'Isa, is himself seeking from Allah the means of approach and nearness to Allah. So he is in need of Allah. How can you invoke him when he himself is in need of Allah? This is the meaning of the verse.