He, Exalted is He, is close to everybody, this closeness being of two types: 1) The general closeness which means His being close to everyone with respect to His knowledge, awareness, seeing, witnessing and encompassing. 2) The specific closeness which is specific to His worshippers, those who ask of Him and those who love Him. The reality of this type of closeness cannot be comprehended, all we can see is its resultant effects - His kindness to His servants, His aiding them and His making them to be firm upon the Straight Path. From the consequences of this closeness is His answering those who supplicate to Him and His granting them the ability to be penitent. He is the One who answers, in a general sense, those who supplicate to Him whoever they may be, wherever they may be and whatever condition they may be in as He has promised. He is the One who answers, in a specific sense, those who love Him, those who imitate and follow His Shari'ah. He is also the One who answers the one in dire need and those who have given up all hope of being answered by the creation and therefore their connection to Him has been strengthened in terms of love, hope and fear.
“And when My slaves ask you concerning Me, I am indeed near to them. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when He calls upon Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me so that they may be led aright.”
[al-Baqarah (2): 186]
“And to the Thamud We sent their brother Salih saying, 'O my people! Worship Allah besides whom there is no other deity. He brought you forth from the earth and settled you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him, and turn to Him in repentance. Certainly my Lord is Qarib, Mujib.'”
[Hud (11): 61]
From “Explanation to the Beautiful and Perfect Names of Allah” — Shaykh as-Sa’di (d.1376H)