83. Ar - Raoof

Allah calls Himself Ar-Ra’oof—The Kind, The Compassionate — on ten occasions in the Quran. 

He is the One who bestows mercy with the utmost tenderness. 

Ar-Ra’oof has beautiful pity on us, with which He gently warns us, withholds from us, and instructs us to all that is good!

The One Who is Most Kind, the Tenderly Merciful

Ra’oof comes from the root raa-hamza-faa, which points to three main meanings. 
The first main meaning is to be gentle, kind, and forgiving  
The second is to be merciful and compassionate 
The third main meaning is to show pity and tenderness.

This root appears 13 times in the Quran in two derived forms. Examples of these forms are rafatun (pity for them) and rafatan (compassion).

The term Ra’ûf means tender affection, the highest mercy and compassion, the upper limit of ar-Rahîm. 

The meaning is similar to ar-Rahîm, but focuses on the utmost tenderness, kindness and affection, which accompanies the outpouring of mercy and compassion.

Linguistically, ra’fa refers to the tenderness, kindness, and affection with which Allah ‘azza wa jall bestows mercy on us. 

Al-Ghazali mentioned that Ar-Ra’oof has pity, and that pity is the intensification of mercy.

It has the same meaning as raheem though in a more intense form. Ar-Ra’oof is the One who bestows pity and mercy on us in many different forms, including warnings and withholding, for us to be guided to success in this world and the next!

Ar-Ra’oof Himself says:And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful [Quran, 2:143] And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allah. And Allah is kind to [His] servants [Quran, 2:207] Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful [Quran, 9:117]

The infinite kindness of Allah

Of the ten times, Allah’s Name Ar-Ra’oof is mentioned eight times with His name Ar-Raheem (The Bestower of Mercy) in the Quran. How can we understand the concept of ra’fa and the concept of rahma (mercy)? After a calamity hits us, Ar-Raheem has mercy on us. Ra’fa refers to Allah ‘azza wa jall taking care of us and warning us so that we can protect ourselves from His own punishment.

Ar-Ra’oof says: On the Day when every person will be confronted with all the good he has done, and all the evil he has done, he will wish that there were a great distance between him and his evil. And Allah warns you against Himself (His punishment) and Allah is full of kindness to (His) slaves [Quran, 3:30] How merciful is this? Ar-Ra’oof warns us how to avoid His punishment out of pure kindness and affection, by sending us prophets and messengers for advice, sending us the Quran and guiding our hearts when we turn to Him.

An example was given about ra’fa and rahma; a parent warning their child to dress warm in winter so that they won’t suffer from the cold, is the concept of ra’fa. Whereas if the child gets ill and the parent’s heart that aches for the child and they do everything to find a medicine, that’s merciful (rahma).

How can you live by this name?

1. Reflect on the ra’fa of Allah.
Do you reflect on the mercy of Ar-Ra’oof in guiding you to be a Muslim each day? And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful [Quran, 2:143] What about all the times He warned you through certain signs in your life, like that “feeling” you should not go to a certain place? Reflection is ‘ibaadah.

2. Learn from the mercy of the prophet.
Ar-Ra’oof described the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as ra’oofun raheem: There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful. [Quran, 9:128] Study the seerah to learn how the prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam dealt with His companions, family, and even his enemies!

3. Increase your heart in mercy.
Be kind to others and handle people’s feelings with tenderness. Sometimes you are so busy with your own life and your own family and friends that you forget about others. The connection you feel with the Muslim ummah is a mirror for your emaan. Read about the situation of your fellow brothers and sisters around the world and think of ways of how to support them. For example in every witr prayer, make sure you remember the ummah in your dua.

4. Be proactive.
Someone once said: All that time I was waiting for someone to do something about it. Then I realized that someone was me. Ar-Ra’oof has pity on us and He even warns us on how to avoid His punishment. If you see your brother or sister low in emaan or even going astray, feel concerned for them and advise them with kindness and care. Forbidding evil and enjoining good is a duty upon you; how seriously do you take it? You are the best community ever brought forth for mankind (in that) you command the proper and forbid the improper and believe in Allah. [Quran, 3:110] Be inspired by the ra’fa of Allah ‘azza wa jall to help warn and guide others as much as you can!

5. Open your heart to the Quran.
Allah ‘azza wa jall says: It is He who sends down upon His Servant [Muhammad] verses of clear evidence that He may bring you out from darkness into the light. And indeed, Allah is to you Kind and Merciful. Ask Ar-Ra’oof to make your heart tender for His Reminder, the Quran!

6. Ask Ar-Ra’oof.
Ar-Ra’oof mentions a beautiful supplication in the Quran, using this name: And [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful. [Quran, 59:10]
Memorize this beautiful dua’, call upon Allah ‘azza wa jall with it, and teach it to others!

O Allah, Ar-Ra’oof, we know that Your kindness encompasses us. Increase our hearts in mercy and aid us in forbidding evil and enjoining good in ways most pleasing to You. Make us reflect Your ra’fa, open our heart for the Quran and make us of those who follow Your warnings so we can avoid Your Punishment and enter Paradise safely, Ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

82. Al Afuww:

Allah calls Himself Al-‘Afuww—The Pardoner, The Eliminator of Sins, The Effacer— on five occasions in the Quran. 

He is the One who can make any sin or mistake disappear. Al-‘Afuww not only forgives but can also remove wrong actions, errors, and faults, leaving no trace of them!

The One who eliminates sins, The Pardoner
‘Afuww comes from the root ‘ayn-faa-waw, which points to three main meanings. 
The first main meaning is to forgive and pardon and 
The second is to efface and remove 
The third main meaning is to give willingly and more than what is due.

This root appears 35 times in the Quran in four derived forms. Examples of these forms are ‘afaa (forgave), al-‘afwa (the surplus, (to) forgiveness) and wal ‘aafeena (those who pardon).

Linguistically, ‘afw refers to two concepts, one of which is to remove all traces. In the Arabic language it is sometimes used with wind referring to its blowing and removing of footprints etc. The other concept is to willingly give others without constraint. 

Al-‘Afuww is the One who removes and erases someone’s sins, mistakes, errors and faults and their traces and consequently becomes pleased with one. He is the One who then grants them blessings willingly without even being asked!

Al-‘Afuww Himself says: Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving [Quran, 4:43] . . . For those it is expected that Allah will pardon them, and Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving [Quran, 4:99] and .. If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense – indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Competent. [Quran, 4:149]

Difference between pardoning and forgiving
Of the five times, Allah’s name Al-‘Afuww is mentioned four times with His name Al-Ghafoor (The Forgiving) in the Quran. Allah ‘azza wa jall might forgive some people and pardon others. Forgiving means that Allah ‘azza wa jall conceals our sins and mistakes and we will not be punished for them on the Day of Judgement. However, they are still there in our book of deeds. When Allah pardons the sins of people, the sins are completely erased from their book of deeds; He will not even remind them of their sins, nor question them, simply because their sins have been removed. Pardon is greater than forgiveness!

Grave sins and pardon in the Quran
Allah’s pardon is mentioned in the Quran along with grave sins, such as Baani Israeel who worshipped the calf: Then We forgave you after that so perhaps you would be grateful. [Quran, 2:52] And those who turned away at the battle of Uhud: Then he turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and Allah is the possessor of bounty for the believers. [Quran, 3:152] This is the beautiful pardon of Al-‘Afuww!

How can you live by this Name?

1.Pardon others.
The people who surpress anger and pardon others are the people of Paradise. Al-‘Afuww says: Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good [Quran, 3:134] Ibn Katheer mentions: They forgive those who treat them with injustice. Therefore, they do not hold any ill feelings about anyone in their hearts, and this is the most excellent conduct in this regard.
Fight against your ego and ask Al-‘Afuww to help you to not even leave a trace of bad feelings and resentment in your heart. If someone wrongs you, think about your own sins and those who you wronged. Strive to pardon others so that Allah ‘azza wa jall may pardon you!

2. Don’t remind others of their mistakes.
Al-‘Afuww is the One who pardons with no reproach. After overlooking other people’s mistakes or wrong actions towards you, try not to remind them of these bad deeds afterwards. Allah ‘azza wa jall is the One who pardons and never mentions your sins again!

3. Increase your love.
Imagine Allah ‘azza wa jall pardoned all your past sins; not a single sins would be recorded in your book of deeds. Reflect on how much you should love Al-‘Afuww! A beautiful opportunity is Laylatul Qadr, which comes once a year in Ramadhan. Value this crucial night, seek it with your best deeds, and remind yourself that night and every other night how beautiful the pardoning of Allah ‘azza wajal is!

4. Say this dua from your heart.
A beautiful dua with this name is the one the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam taught Aishah radiyallahu ‘anhaa, when she asked him: “O Messenger of Allah! If I find the Night of Al-Qadr what should I say?” He sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam replied, say:

O Allah! Verily You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me [Ahmad, At-Tirmidhee, An-Nasaa’i, Ibn Majah] Memorize this dua and beg Al-‘Afuww with is sincerely. Recognize your sins, be humble and then aim high, not only asking your Lord for forgiveness, but for Him to pardon each and every sin you committed!

O Allah, Al-‘Afuww, we know that You can erase all sins. Grant us the strength to pardon others and make us reflect on Your love and blessings upon us. Aid us to obey you and guide us in keep asking You sincerely to pardon all our sins, mistakes, neglect, errors and faults so we will not even be questioned about them on the Day of Judgement, Ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

81. Al - Muntaqim

The Avenger, The Disapprover, The Inflictor of Retribution

The One who disapproves of wrongdoers. The One who reminds us when our behavior is not right.

The One who is the avenger (such that we need not seek any personal revenge).

The One and Only One who has the right to exact vengeance.

From the root n-q-m which has the following classical Arabic connotations:
to dislike, disapprove, find fault
to punish, exact vengeance
to inflict retribution, avenge

Therefore do not think Allah (to be One) failing in His promise to His prophets; surely Allah is Mighty, Lord of retribution" (Qur’an, 14:47).

Al-Muntaqim, the Avenger, splits the spines of those who deviate from His path, Who increases the penalty of those who oppress in the land, after alerting them and repeatedly warning them, and after enabling them to amend, giving them a respite. It implies a much more severe penalty than merely an immediate one.

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

80. At - Tawwab

The Acceptor of Repentance, The Oft-Forgiving, The Acceptor of our Return

The One who beckons for our return. The One who repeatedly turns mankind toward repentance.

The One who forgives those who return to goodness. The One who restores to grace those who repent.

The One who rewards good deeds. The One who forgives those who forgive others.

From the root t-w-b which has the following classical Arabic connotations:
to return
to return to goodness, to repent
to be restored
to be rewarded for deeds
to be repeatedly summoned or called

This name is used in the Qur'ān. For example, see 49:12

Allah being At-tawwab means that he turns towards us with his mercy. He always keeps his doors open. Allah turns to us with his love and his mercy. When a person keeps repenting for his sins, Allah turns his mercy towards us. From our repentance, inshaa’Allah we can obtain Allah’s mercy and love.

“Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance (tawwab), the Merciful.” [2:128]

We have all committed sins, some of us have years and years of sins piled behind us, weighing us down on our shoulders. But Allah is At-Tawwab, he is continually willing to turn to us but we must turn to him. We spend years running away from Allah, we spend years turning away and disobeying Allah but subhanAllah just with one sorry, just with sincerity, just with repentance Allah is willing to turn to us. Even some of the worst of people, you see guided subhanAllah Allah brings them from darkness into light.

Ya Rahman, ya Tawwab, forgive us for our endless amounts of sins. We continue to sin and sin yet you forgive and keep giving. Forgive us ya Rabb, pardon our mistakes, and make us among those that you are pleased with. Ameen.

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

79. Al - Barr

Allah calls Himself Al-Barr—The Source of Goodness, the kind Benefactor— on one occasion in the Quran. 

He is the one is the most kind and courteous, the one who is gentle with His servants. 

Al-Barr is the source of all kindness and goodness, doing good to creation through all His blessings and favours!

The Kind and Gracious Benefactor, The Righteous

Barr comes from the root baa-raa-raa,which points to five main meanings. The first main meaning is to be devoted and gentle and the second is to be just, proper and honest. The third main meaning is to be have regard for someone’s circumstances and the fourth is to bestow bountiful gifts and be ample. The fifth main meaning is to do good and be righteous.

This root appears 32 times in the Quranin three derived forms. Examples of these forms are al-birra (the righteousness), al-abraari (the righteous) and al-barr (the land).

Linguistically, al-Birr is a unique word that entails all acts of righteousness and good conduct [Ibn ‘Hajar Al-Haytami] Al-Barr is the source of all righteousness, the One from whom every good deed comes. 

Al-Barr is the One who does not stop His ihsaan because of the sins and disobedience of His slaves [Imam al-Qurtubi] He is the One who is kind to the wrongdoers, pardons transgression, forgives the sinner, turns to the one who repents to Him, accepts the plea of those who ask Him. 

He has turned to His slaves with praiseworthy actions and good expectations, while He is the most deserving of them [Ar-Raazi]!

Al-Barr Himself says: Indeed, we used to supplicate Him before. Indeed, it is He who is the Beneficent, the Merciful.[Quran, 52:28]

Al-Birr versus al-‘ithm

In the sunnah we find a beautiful explanation of what al-birr is and it’s opposite: al-‘ithm. A man came asking the Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam about righteousness and sin. So the Prophet said: Righteousness (al-birr) is good behaviour, and sin (al-‘ithm) is what fluctuates in your chest, and you would hate that the people discovered it about you [At-Tirmidhee]

How Can You Live by This Name?

Allah ‘azza wa jall explains beautifully the definition of al-birr in one ayah in the Quran. This ayah is a list of characteristics for the true believer to live by[Quran 2:177]:

1. Take care of your emaan.
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets..[Quran, 2:177] The first thing is to have faith and believe in Allah Al-Barr, in the Day He will recompense you according to your good and bad deeds and in the Angels He sends of which some to write down your actions of righteousness and sin. Al-Barr revealed His message to mankind through His books and the prophets, in order to guide you on the path of al-Birr! Make sure you study the arkaan ul emaan(the pillars of faith).

2. Spend on charity.
. . . and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves . . . [Quran, 2:177] Straight after emaan Al-Birr mentions spending your money on family and those in need for it. Money sometimes gets dearer to us than anything else, Al-Barr reminds you that spending in His cause is the way to gain al-birr!

3. Purify yourself to prayer and zakah.
. . . [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah . . . [Quran, 2:177] Let your prayer purify you spiritually by learning the meanings of what you say and concentrating on your salaah, taking every moment to ask Al-Barr for goodness and righteousness. Give zakah to purify your wealth!

4. Keep your promises and speak and act upon the truth.
. . . [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise . . .[Quran, 2:177] Keep your promises, no matter how big or small, even if it’s a promise to your sibling to help with homework or promising a sweet to your child. The prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said, Truthfulness leads to Al-Birr and Al-Birr leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a Siddiq (truthful person). Falsehood leads to Al-Fujur (i.e., wickedness, evil-doing, etc.), and Al-Fujur leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man keeps on telling lies till he is written as a liar before Allah [Al-Bukharee] Don’t accept any lies from yourself, not even “white lies” or lying while joking!

5. Have sabr.
 . . and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous[Quran, 2:177] Practising patience in hard times is your best training to cultivate al-birr. Next time you go through a test, tell yourself: it’s all part of a bigger plan. Your vehicle is sabr, on the road of al-birr, leading you to Jannah in Shaa Allah!

6. Treat your parents and children well.
Ibn ‘Umar said: Allah has called them the ‘dutiful’ (al-Abrar) because they are dutiful (birr) to their parents and children. Just as you have a duty which you owe your parent, so you have a duty which you owe your child. [Al-Bukharee] Make an effort to be a good child to your parents and a good parent to your child!

7. Don’t be hasty.
On the day of `Arafat, the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam heard a great hue and cry and the beating of camels behind him. So he beckoned to the people with his lash, “O people! Be quiet. Hastening is not a sign of righteousness. [Al-Bukharee] Try to do your daily life activities in a modest manner, for example don’t walk loudly and hasty on the street in a way you are causing others inconvenience!

8. Ask Al-Barr.
Ask Al-Barr to guide you to al-birr. A supplication of the sunnah asking for al-birr, is the dua for travelling; make sure you apply it each time you travel!

O Allah, Al-Barr, we know that You are the source of all that is good. Adorn us with the characteristics of the abraar (righteous ones), guide us in good conduct in each company we are in, and make our righteousness a way to lead us to Your Paradise, Ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

78. Al - Muta'ali

Allah calls Himself Al-Muta’aali— The Supremely Exalted, The Most High— on one occasion in the Quran. He’s the One who is exalted above the whole creation. Al-Muta’aali is beyond the highest, far beyond any thoughts, limits, and ideals of mankind, He is sublime and is above everything due to His might and perfection!

The Supreme One, The Highest of All

Muta’aali comes from the root ayn-laam-waaw, which points to four main meanings. 
The first is to be high, lofty, and exalted and to ascend 
The second main meaning is to overcome and overwhelm 
The third to advance and exceed,and
The fourth main meaning is to be eminent.

This root appears 70 times in the Quranin fourteen derived forms. Examples of these forms are ‘aaliyatin (elevated),al-‘ulyaa (the highest), fata’aalayna(“then come”) and la’aali (“a tyrant”).

Linguistically, uloow points to the attribute of loftiness and a person is‘alee when he is prominent. The names Al’Muta’aali and Al-‘Alee— meaning “Allah is the highest, above any fault, above any imperfection”— are interrelated.
Al-Muta’aali is the One whose highness exceeds any limits. He is the most lofty and exalted and the One who advances, overcomes and exceeds all of creation in His being and all His attributes. He is proud and great and His glory is too high to be comprehended by us!

Al-Muta’aali Himself said: [He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Grand, the Exalted[Quran, 13:9]

Supreme Oneness – Devoting All Deeds to Him

As Muslims we should believe that Allah is One with no partner or associate in His Lordship (ruboobiyyah), divinity (‘uloohiyyah) or names and attributes (al-asma’ wa’l-sifaat).

Tawheed al-‘Uloohiyyah means devoting all acts of worship, both inward and outward, in word and deed, to Allah (Al-Muta’aali) alone, and not worshiping anything or anyone other than Allah, no matter who he is:Worship Allaah and join none with Him (in worship). [Quran, 4:36] It is calledtawheed al-uloohiyyah because it is based on ta’alluh lillaah which is worship and devotion of Allah accompanied by love and veneration.

This is the purpose for which the universe was created and laws were prescribed. Concerning this disputes arose between the Prophets and their peoples, so the stubborn were doomed and the believers were saved! [al-Hujjah fi Bayaan al-Mahajjah, 1/305;Lawaami’ al-Anwaar al-Bahiyyah, 1/57] Our goals, our will, and our actions should all be defined to seek the face of Al-Muta’aali alone!

How Can You Live by This Name?

1. Prioritize.
Is Allah really muta’aali in your life? You can find out by looking at where the deeds He lovingly wants you to carry out– like salah– are on your list. Do you fit your prayers around your daily life activities, delaying them, or do you put your prayers first, above anything else?
Do you first finish watching your favourite TV shows and then see if you have time left for the Quran? Do you start your day by checking messages on your phone or by reciting from the book of Al-Muta’aali? Test your daily schedule; if your acts of worship don’t have priority, change it and you will see how blessed, productive, and peaceful you will feel. Start and end your day by reciting the words of Al-Muta’aali!

2. Don’t place yourself above others.
You cannot do anything except through the power of Al-Muta’aali and everything that you have comes from Him. Your position with Al-Muta’aali is determined by one crucial factor: the level of your taqwa and righteousness. Mankind! We created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know each other. The noblest among you in Allah´s sight is the one with the most taqwa [Quran, 49:13] Never place yourself above others because of your wealth, intelligence, looks, or your lineage!

3. Call others to Al-Muta’aali.
You as a human being are the most honoured creation of Al-Muta’aali; live up to your purpose by not only worshiping Him yourself, but also show others who He is. Do da’wah to be successful! And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful [Quran, 3:104]

4. Know that He is high, yet close.
Sometimes you are so absorbed with stress or grief that you forget Al-Muta’aali, who is higher than and above everything, is closest to you. And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein[Quran, 50:16] In times of hardship, know that He is the supreme above the throne, but also the only One who knows exactly what you are going through, so tell Him all you feel and ask Him to help you battle your trials!

5. Never despair.
You know you should not despair in the mercy of Al-Muta’aali, however Shaytan often tricks into another kind of despair: despair in yourself. Did you ever say: “I will never change” or “I will never be able to do this, so why start?” or about someone else: “they will never change”? Indirectly you are despairing in the power of Al-Muta’aali!
When you say “Allah will never forgive me, I’m doing so many bad things”, you are actually lowering Him, exalted is He, to human standards of forgiveness! So next time you feel like you cannot change a certain habit, or you keep committing the same sin, call upon Al-Muta’aali and ask Him to assist you with unshakable belief in His Highness and abilities.

6. Ask Al-Muta’aali.
Paradise has seven levels; the highest one is Firdaws-al-‘aala, the highest level is right under the throne of Al-Muta’aali. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: When you ask of Allah, ask Him for al-Firdaws, for it is in the middle of Paradise and is the highest part of Paradise, and above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful, and from it spring forth the rivers of Paradise [Al-Bukhaari, Muslim] Call upon Al-Muta’aali!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

77. Al - Waali

The Sole Governor, The Friendly Lord, The Protective Ruler

The One who is the sole planner, implementer, governor and ruler of all things.

The One who is the supportive, helpful master of all things.

The One who is the friendly and protective ruler and governor of all of creation.

From the root w-l-y which has the following classical Arabic connotations:
to be near, close, nearby
to be a friend, helper, supporter, maintainer
to defend, guard (lit. friendly dealing)
to be in charge, to turn one toward something
to be the master, owner, lord

Waalī emphasizes the aspects of lordship, ownership and mastery of the One who is also friend and helper.

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.
.

76. Al - Baatin

Allah calls Himself Al-Baatin— The Hidden, Knower of hidden things— once in the Quran. Al-Baatin is the One who is concealed and veiled from the creation’s perception. 

He is unseen in this world, yet His existence is apparent through His signs in the creation of which He knows all inner circumstances!

The Hidden and Intimate, Knower of the all the concealed
Baatin comes from the root baa-Taa-naa which points to two main meanings. 
The first meaning is to be concealed and lie hidden, and 
The second is to be inside and penetrate into.

This root appears 25 times in the Quran in five derived forms. Examples of these forms are
batana (“is concealed”), butooni (“the wombs”), al butoona (“the bellies”) and baatinuhoo (“its interior”).

Linguistically, zhaahir and baatin are opposites where zhaahir refers to that which is manifest and apparent and baatin that which is inward and concealed. 

In Arabic, butn refers to the belly or womb, which is concealed inside the human body.

Both these opposites are united in the perfect Attributes of Allah ‘azza wa jall, who is both Azh-Zhaahir and Al-Baatin. He is the Manifest, everything becomes manifest through Him only and through His signs we know Him, yet we cannot perceive Him in this world.

Al-Baatin Himself says: . . . He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing. [Quran, 57:3]

The question of Musa
Al-Baatin says: When Musa came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show (Yourself) to me that I may look at You.’ He said: ‘You shall never see Me. But look at the mount. If it stays at its place, you will see Me.’ So when his Lord appeared to the Mount, it smashed, and Musa fell down unconscious. [Quran, 7: 143] In this ayah we find the proof that Allah ‘azza wa jall cannot be seen in this world.

Allah said that when Musa came for His appointment and spoke to Him directly, he asked to see Him, Allah said: Lan taraanee- You cannot see Me. `You cannot’ (Lan) by no means indicates that seeing Allah will never occur, as (the misguided sect of) Al-Mu`tazilah claimed. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer] The biggest blessing in the Hereafter for the believers is when they are granted the ability to see Allah! Some faces that Day shall be radiant. Looking at their Lord [Quran, 75:22-23]

In earlier Scriptures, it was reported that Allah said to Musa, O Musa! No living soul sees Me, but will perish, and no solid but will be demolished [Tafseer ibn Katheer]

Allah is Al-Baatin and told Musa ‘alayhi sallam that it was not possible to view Him with his mortal eyes. We cannot perceive things that are hidden and we also are not able to view extremely bright images with our naked eye. However, we know through His actions and signs in and around us and through revelation that Al-Baatin is there and this way we have a little knowledge of what He is like.

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Seek comfort in Al-Baatin.
Whenever you feel alone, scared and distressed know that Allah is the Knower of all hidden things, including your thoughts and inner states. He is the only One who truly knows you, so talk to Him in prayer and supplication, ask Him to help you and mend you and take comfort in the fact He is unseen yet the One who knows you best.

2. Be true inward and outward.
In surah Al-Hadeed Allah uses the word baatinuhoo, while describing the wall with a door that will be placed between the believers and hypocrites in the Hereafter, which interior contains mercy for the believers and zhaahiruhoo (its outside) is torment. And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment. The hypocrites will call to the believers, “Were we not with you?” [Quran, 57:13:14]
How come these people were locked out? What was their crime? They will say, “Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allah . And the Deceiver deceived you concerning Allah [Quran, 57:14] These people pretended to be with those who truly believed and prayed with them, but they indulged themselves in all types of temptations, they had doubts about Allah’s power and they thought easy of their sins until death came to them. This is how shaytan deceived them. The meaning here is that the believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, “You were with us in bodies which were heartless and devoid of intentions. You were cast in doubt and suspicion. You were showing off for people and remembered Allah, little.” [Tafseer ibn Katheer]
Learn from this and carefully look at your intentions, beware of showing off and remember Allah in words and deeds so you will be of those on the right side of the wall, in Paradise!

3. Remember Al-Baatin through His signs.
Even though you cannot perceive Allah ‘azza wa jall, you can remember Him and increase your love for Him by reflecting on the things He created in and around you. Jareer Bin Abdullah al-Bajali said: We were with the Prophet on a full moon night. He looked at the moon and said, You will certainly see your Lord as you see this moon, and there will be no trouble in seeing Him [Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim] Next time you see the full moon, feel the desire and think about the moment you will be able to see Al-Baatin in shaa Allah. This way reflecting on the creation will be a great emaan-boost!

4. Hide your sins.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: All of my ummah will be forgiven except those who sin openly. It is a part of sinning openly when a man does something at night, then the following morning when Allah has concealed his sin, he says, ‘O so and so, I did such and such last night,’ when all night his Lord has concealed him and the next morning he uncovers what Allah had concealed [Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
Never ‘boast’ about your bad deeds to your friends, nor try to expose the bad deeds of other people who did not sin openly and tried to conceal them!

O Allah, Al-Baatin, we know that You are the Hidden and Knower of all that is hidden. Help us to purify our intentions, protect us from hypocrisy and make both our inward and outward pleasing to You. Aid us in reflecting Your revelations and signs You placed around us, conceal our sins and protect us from exposing our sins. Make us of those able to see You in Paradise each day, Ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

75. Az - Zhaahir

Allah calls Himself Az-Zhaahir— The Apparent, The Manifest, The Evident— once in the Quran. 

Az-Zhaahir is the One who is above, yet manifest in all of the creation. 

His Existence and Oneness is apparent through all of the signs in the universe, yet He is not to be perceived by our senses in this world!

The Manifest and High, The One Who Overcomes

Zaahir comes from the root zhaa-haa-raa, which points to five main meanings. 
The first meaning is to be visible, manifest and distinct 
The second is to open or to come out 
The third meaning is to ascend and have a higher status
The fourth meaning is to subdue and overcome, and 
The fifth is to help and support others.

This root appears 59 times in the Quran in ten derived forms. Examples of these forms are zhahara (“is apparant”), yazhaahiroo (they have supported”), liyuzhhirahu (“to make it prevail”) and zhahrihi (“its, his back”).

Az-Zhaahir is the most Manifest as everything other than Him is only manifested by His Attributes. 

He is high above His creation, the One who subdues everything and everyone and He is the true Helper, while others can only provide help and support through His aid.

Az-Zhaahir Himself says: . . . He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing. [Quran, 57:3]

A Thought-provoking Discussion
Suratul Waaqi’ah contains an extremely powerful set of questions and answers forming a mind-blowing discussion by the Creator to His creation: We have created you, so why do you not believe? Have you seen that which you emit? Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator? We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone. In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know. And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember? And have you seen that [seed] which you sow? Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower? If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder, [Saying], “Indeed, we are [now] in debt; Rather, we have been deprived.” And have you seen the water that you drink? Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down? If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful? And have you seen the fire that you ignite? Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer? We have made it a reminder and provision for the travellers. So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great [Quran, 56: 57-64]

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Look after your outward and inward.

Not only nourish your body with food and drink and satisfying your senses, but also nourish your soul by the remembrance of Allah. Eg. some spend the majority of time on beautifying themselves while hardly reading the Quran. Never feign certain traits or abilities in public and never exaggerate or lie while being with others. Use this beautiful supplication in your daily life: O Allah! Make my inward better than my outward, and make my outward good [Abdullah ibn Umar radiyallaahu ‘anhu]

2. Be comforted by Az-Zhaahir

Know that He knows everything you do and what others do to you, even if no one else knows and that you will be dealt with justly by Az-Zhaahir. Let this hadith increase your love and awe of Az-Zhaahir: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ’alayhi wa sallam said that Allah, the Glorious, said: “Verily, Allah has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then He explained it clearly how (to write): He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allah records it for him as a full good deed, but if he carries out his intention, then Allah the Exalted, writes it down for him as from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed” [Al-Bukharee, Muslim]

3. Check your intention.

Everything is apparent to Az-Zhaahir, whether you make it public or not. The Prophet sallallahu ’alayhi wa sallam said: The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention.. [Al-Bukharee, Muslim]. Keep checking your intention, are you doing that deed truly for Allah? Regularly renew your intentions when you are working on the path of Allah. Remind yourself: on the Day of Judgement the smallest deeds can become big and the biggest deeds worthless depending of the intention behind them!

4. Look around to increase your praise of Az-Zhaahir

Look around you, at the plants, animals and your own self and realize it is all manifested through Him only. In times when your emaan decreases, let these signs in your enviroment revive your faith and awe for the Manifest One and let them make you more grateful and humble. Every day take time to look outside, reflect and praise Az-Zhaahir.

5. Ask Az-Zhaahir.

Even though His existence is manifest in all of the creation, we can not see Az-Zhaahir in this world. Ask Him to be able to gaze at His countenance in the Hereafter. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam made this beautiful dua’:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ

O Allah, I ask You for the delight of gazing at Your Countenance and the eagerness of meeting You [An-Nasaa’i] Commit this supplication to memory and use it as much as you can from the bottom of your heart as you are asking for the greatest delight!

O Allah, Az-Zhaahir we know that You are the Manifest and High. Make both our inward and outward good, guide us in reflecting on Your signs around us in a productive way. Bless us with sincerity and make us of those who are able to gaze at Your Countenance in the Hereafter, Ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

74. Al - Akhir

Allah calls Himself Al-Aakhir— The Last— once in the Quran. Al-Aakhir is the one who neither has an end nor beginning. 

There is nothing beyond Him; He is the Ultimate and will remain after the whole creation has passed away!

The Last One, The Ultimate

Aakhir comes from the root hamza-khaa-raa, which points to three main meanings. 
The first meaning is to be latter and to put back
The second is to postpone or to put at the end, and 
The third main meaning is to be final, last, and ultimate.

This root appears 250 times in the Quran in six derived forms. Examples of these forms are al-aakhirati (“the Hereafter”), yawmil-aakhiri (“Last Day”), yastakhiroonaa (“seek to delay, they remained behind”), ukhraa(“another”) and al-aakhareena (“the others”).

Al-Aakhir is the last without having a first. He is above any descriptions. Al-Aakhir is logically the first to give us guidance and the last to look after those whom He guides. He will remain the last One, with no one or nothing ever comparable to Him in essence or attributes!

Al-Aakhir Himself says: . . . He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing. [Quran, 57:3]

What Will Remain?

In the beautiful ayaat of Surah Ar-Rahmaan (26 and 27) Allah ‘azza wajalsays that all the residents of earth will perish and die. Even the residents of the heavens will die, except whomever Allah wills.

What will remain? Only the Honorable Face of Allah, because our Lord, the Exalted, the Blessed, is the Ever Living Who never dies. Ash-Sha`bi said, When you have recited, kullu man ‘alayhaa faa’n (Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish) do not stop, continue read: wa yabqaa wajhu rabbuka dhul jalaali wal ikraam (Only your Lord, possessed of majesty and honor, shall endure for ever). [Tafseer ibn Katheer]

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Let your desire to meet Allah motivate you to perform good deeds.
The Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him. Whoever is averse to meeting Allah, Allah is averse to meeting him [at-Tirmidhee] When you die you will be shown a glimpse of your destiny either in Paradise or in the Hellfire, this will bring about love or dislike of your meeting with Allah.

Every day think about your meeting with Allah and your standing in front of Him, and let this motivate you to do good deeds and strive against your desires so that you will be blessed with love of meeting Allah Al-Aakhir. Whoever puts Allah first will never be last!

2. Give continuous charity.
When you die you won’t be able to do any good deeds anymore and you will not receive any reward for actions anymore, except for three types of deeds. Their rewards will be lasting!
The Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); knowledge which is beneficial; or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (the deceased).[Muslim]

So read about and give sadaqah jariyah(e.g. planting a tree, building a mosque, etc). Be part of spreading Islamic knowledge, like donating to print an Islamic book, printing your own leaflets to spread knowledge, etc.; no project is too small! And teach your children from an early age to make dua’ for you!

3. Remind yourself of the Last Day.
Don’t let a day go by without remembering the day you will be accounted for each of your deeds, no matter how insignificant you thought they were. Let remembrance of death and the day of account humble you.
When the Prophet went to bed, he would put his right hand under his right cheek and say: Allahumma qinee ‘adhaabaka yawma tab’athu ‘ibaadaka (My Lord, save me from Your punishment on the Day when You resurrect Your slaves, to be recited three times) [Abu Dawood] Memorize this supplication and write it on a note next to your bed, so you never forget to say it in shaa Allah!

4. Value silence and the rights of neighbours and guests.
In the Quran and Sunnah specific good deeds are narrated directly connected to your belief in Al-Aakhir and the Last Day. Strive to fulfill all of them in your daily life! The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say what is righteous or keep silent. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him be kind to his neighbor. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him be generous to his guest. [Muslim]

5. Ask Al-Aakhir for a good ending.
Some people commit an act of kufr at the very end of their lives. May Allah protect us from this and die upon disbelief! Some lives end in a horrible, disgraceful way, like young Muslims dying in car accidents while they were drunk and speeding and other examples of the angel of death seizing believers while they were engaged in a major sin. Ask Al-Aakhir for your last deed to be your best deed and your best day the day you meet Him. You can use this beautiful supplication— say it while deeply reflecting on your own life, deeds and death:

Allahumma innee as aluka husnal khaatimah – O Allah, I ask You for a good end to my life.

اللهم إني أسألك حس الخاتمة

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

73. Al - Awwal

Allah calls Himself Al-Awwal— The First— once in the Quran.

 Al-Awwal is the one who neither has a beginning nor an end. There is none prior to Him; He is self-existent, all comes from Him, and He is the cause of all that became!

The First One, The Foremost, The Pre-existing
Awwal comes from the root hamza-waw-laam, which points to three main meanings. 
The first meaning is to be first or to be before, 
The second meaning is to come back to or to return, and 
The third main meaning is to be foremost.

This root appears 170 times in the Quran in four derived forms. Examples of these forms are al-oolaa (“the first”), yaa ulee (“Oh men”), aali (“family, people”), al-awaleena (“the forefathers”) and taweelih (“interpretation”).

Linguistically al-awwal means the one who advances or precedes others. 

The firstness of Allah Al-Awwal means: the One Whose existence has no beginning [Al-Bayhaqi] and Who existed before everything without a limit (of beginning) [Ibn Jareer At-Tabari]. Al-Awwal deserves to be the first since He existed when there was nothing before or with Him! [Al-Khattaabi] This all refers to the same meaning, as the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: O Allah! You are the First, and there is nothing before You… [Muslim]
Al-Awwal Himself says: . . . He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing [Quran 57:3]

The First of Creation
Al-Awwal says: And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds [Quran, 12:7]. Qataadah said: Your Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, is telling you how His creation began before He created the heavens and the earth [Tafseer al-Tabari, 15/246]

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: There was Allah, and there was nothing else besides Him, and His Throne was over the water. He wrote all things in the Book (in heaven) and He created the heavens and the earth [Al-Bukharee] Both the ayah and the hadeeth state that the ‘Arsh (the Throne) of Allah ‘azza wajal was over the water before the heaven and earth were created.

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Make Allah ‘awwal’ in your life.
We know Allah is the first, but do you really make him ‘awwal’ in your daily life? The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Whoever makes the Hereafter his preoccupation, then Allah places freedom from want in his heart, gathers his affairs, and the dunya (worldly life) comes to him despite being reluctant to do so. And whoever makes the dunya his preoccupation, then Allah places his poverty in front of his eyes, make his affairs scattered, and nothing of the dunya comes to him except that which has been decreed for him [At-Tirmidhee]

Do you only think about the clothes you will wear, the food you will eat, the shopping you will do and the friends you will meet that day? Or about how you will pray your prayers on time, keep yourself from back biting and how you will read your daily portion of the Quran? Fulfilling His commandments and staying away from what He forbade should be the biggest concern of your day!

2. Be of the saabiqoon.
Money perishes, positions will be lowered and people come and go, only good deeds remain. Be of the saabiqoon – those who are first and foremost in doing good deeds. Then we caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself, and among them is he who is moderate, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allah. That [inheritance] is what is the great bounty [Quran, 35:32]

3. Give priority to your prayer.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: The first thing one will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is prayer [Sunan Abu Dawud, an-Nasaa’i, Al Hakim] Contemplate this important fact and let it motivate you to fit your daily activities around your prayer instead of fitting your prayers around your daily activities! Learn how to pray properly, understand what you say in salah, push yourself to pray on time and ask Al-Awwal to help you put your prayers first!

4. Please Him first and He will beautify you.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: He who displeased Allah for seeking the pleasure of people, Allah is displeased with him and those people are also displeased..And he who pleases Allah, although by it he displeased people, Allah is pleased with him… Allah makes him splendid and his speech and acts in the eyes of others beautiful [Tibrani] You will never be able to please one person all the time. Focus on pleasing Allah ‘azza wajal first in everything you do and He will give you a beautiful position in people’s eyes insha’Allah!

5. Put the Quran first in your studies.
Ibn Taymiyyah raheemahullah said: As for seeking to memorize the Quran then this is to be given preference over many of the things that the people consider to be knowledge, but are -in reality – either totally useless, or having little benefit. It is also to be given precedence in learning especially by those who wish to acquire knowledge of the deen, its principles and its particulars. Since what is prescribed for such a person at this time is that he should begin by memorizing the Quran, as it is the foundation of the branches of knowledge of the deen [Fataawa al-kubra 2/54-55] Make understanding, reciting and interacting with the Quran should be the basis and priority of all your studies, even if it is ten minutes a day!

O Allah, Al-Awwal we know that You are the One without beginning nor end. Guide us to put You and seeking Your pleasure first and foremost in our belief and our deeds. Help us to give priority to our prayers, adorn us with love and closeness to Your Book and make us of the saabiqoon, Ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.