Allah commands His servants to supplicate to Him, for this will ensure their welfare in this life and the Hereafter.
Allah said, Invoke your Lord Tadarru`an and Khufyah, meaning in humbleness and humility.
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 Sallalahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“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 Tadarru`an means obeying Him in humility and humbleness, and Khufyah, with the humbleness in your hearts and certainty of His Oneness and Lordship not supplicating loudly to show off.
Allah’s statement: He likes not the aggressors.
Abu Mijlaz commented on- 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, ‘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.
[ Entirely taken from the book ‘Tafsir Ibn Kathir’ ]