This is an excerpt from an article by Sheikh Suhaib Webb.
This is so beautiful.
One of the most common phrases found in the Qur'an is, "My lord" or "Our Lord." However, if you pay attention you will notice that there is something missing in these phrases? What's missing is what is known has, harf nida, a word[6] which signifies a call. Usually, but not always, it is done with the letter ya. For example, Allah calls on the believers:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
"Oh you who profess faith."
The Prophets:
وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنْتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ (35)
"And We said, Oh Adam reside with you wife in Paradise.[7]"
In addition Allah (swt) uses this form of address with the Prophet (sa), His wives (ra), the hypocrites and people of other faiths. However, when the believer is calling on Allah one finds that the harf, word, ya is missing?
Let's Partake Of The Fruit
As we said, the word ya, oh, is used to call someone. For example, if you were in one room and your friend, let's say his name is Wassim, was in the next room, how would you call him? You would say, "Ya, oh, Wassim!" However, if our dear Wassim was on the other side of a large field and you wanted to call him, how would you do it? You would raise your voice and yell, "YA WASSIM!" However, if Wassim was sitting right next to you, extremely close to you, how would you call him? Of course you would just turn to him and say, "Wassim." There would be no need for the ya because Wassim was so close to you.
The scholars of Balagha say that, "The Ya used for the calling of Allah by the servant is hidden on purpose in order to illustrate the intense closeness Allah shares with them, by His knowledge. In fact, if you were to look at every single supplication made to Allah (swt) in the Qur'an you would only find the word ya, oh, used twice! Thus a believer should never feel alone once he has comprehended this.[8]
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ (186)
"And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am close. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he cries unto Me[9]."
[8]For an amazing discussion on this see Khasais Al-T'abir Al-Quran wa Samatuhu Al-Balagha by Dr. Abdul Matin Al-Mut'i Al-Azhari, vol.2 pg. 7
[9]Surah Al-Baqarah verse 186