بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم
- The Qur’an was not revealed to the Prophet ﷺ except to teach the people who their Lord is.
- All the tests that we go through in life revolve around how much you know and deal with Allah.
Why didn’t the Prophet ﷺ enumerate the names of Allah for us? Because the names of Allah are not just words that should be counted. We should know the wisdom behind the name being mentioned.
E.g. The Qur’an tell us that such-and-such event had happened and Allah’s Name is such-and-such, Allah legislated rules and His Name is such-and-such, etc.
Learning about Allah through Tadabbur is to reflect over the reason behind mentioning the name of Allah in that particular position, or in other words to ask: Why did Allah end the verse with these particular names of His?
How do we learn about Allah?
1) تدبر القرآن و السنة - Through pondering over the Qur’an and the Sunnah
E.g.1. In the Story of Adam عليه السلام In Surah Al-Baqarah [2:37]:
فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Then Adam received from his Lord Words . And his Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily, He is the One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful.”
After Adam عليه السلام committed the sin, he repented to Allah, and Allah dealt with him with His names التواب الرحيم. The words Adam received from Allah are mentioned in Surah Al-A’raf [7:23]:
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
“They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers."
Allah mentioned how He deals with Adam and his offspring when they commit sins and repent to Allah. Allah forgave Adam because He is التواب الرحيم and if we commit a sin and repent to Allah, Allah will deal with us in the same way. Ever since Allah created the creation, He has dealt with His servants in this way.
What is the wisdom behind التواب being connected with الرحيم? Out of Allah’s mercy, He accepts our repentance.
E.g.2. In Surah Al-Baqarah [2:261]:
مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower.”
This verse is mentioned in the context of encouraging to spend. In order to encourage us to spend, Allah said that He is واسع عليم. Whatever little you spend Allah will multiply the reward up to 700 times.
Why? Because Allah is واسع عليم.
He suffices the needs for all of His creation and broadens their provision and reward for them. And He is ‘Aleem; He knows who deserves the multiplied reward.
This easily can be understood without needing to open the Tafseer. Allah said that the Qur’an is easy, but it is only for those who give it time and have a good intention.
2) Through pondering over the Universal Signs
In Surah Al-Baqarah [2:163-164]:
وَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ الرَّحِيمُ
“And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God - Allah), La ilaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.”
Surah Al-Baqarah is divided into parts. The last part of Surah Al-Baqarah, which is all about the laws, begins with this verse.
This verse tells you that He is our God who has perfect attributes which makes Him deserving of unrestricted love and magnification, and accordingly worship. He is الرحمن الرحيم. In Verse 164, Allah mentions the impacts of His mercy:
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن مَّاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
“Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs, etc.) for people of understanding.”
These are impacts of Allah’s mercy which should make us love and magnify Him. No one else is able to create the heavens and earth, alternate the day and night, send the rain, etc. But, Allah says in Verse 165:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ
“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is Severe in punishment.”
Then Allah mentioned His laws, because if you really believe Allah is One and you love and magnify Him, you will obey Him. This is why Allah mentioned this verse before telling us the laws. If you come to someone whose faith is weak and tell him to pray, fast, and spend, he will not do that. This is because obedience comes after love and glorification. Allah is preparing us to obey Him.
Before you tell your students to do this or not do that, increase the love of Allah in their hearts. This is the way of the Qur’an - to teach you who Allah is first, make you love Him, so then it is easy to obey Him.
Tracking the Name of Allah “الوكيل” in the Qur’an
The Scholars published books on the names of Allah through this method; by tracking the name throughout the Qur’an and studying the contexts it is mentioned in.
- المعجم المفهرس للألفاظ القرآن
This dictionary lists all the words in the Qur’an and the verses that are mentioned in it in chronological order.
1) The root of the name is وَكَلَ. You find this word in the dictionary and look for the entries listed under it.
If you do not have a dictionary you can collect all the verses the name is mentioned in through your reading of the entire Qur’an.
2) Know the topic of the Surah, because it has a connection with the topic.
3) Know the context (السياق) in which the name is mentioned.
4) After you have found the context, go to a concise Tafseer Book and read a brief explanation of the context.
5) Write down the benefits
Note:The verse in which the name is mentioned should be referring to Allah.
E.g. Surah az-Zukhruf [43:4]:
وَإِنَّهُ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ
“And Verily, it (this Quran) is in the Mother of the Book (i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz), before Us, indeed Exalted, full of Wisdom.”
E.g. Surah Yusuf [12:55]:
قَالَ اجْعَلْنِي عَلَىٰ خَزَائِنِ الْأَرْضِ ۖ إِنِّي حَفِيظٌ عَلِيمٌ
“[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land. Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian."
Not every verse that ends with a name of Allah refers to Allah. We have to check whether each verse that lists the name وكيل refers to Allah or not.
Position 1: Surah Aal-Imran [3:173] - Yes
Position 2: Surah Al-An’aam [6:66] - No
Position 3: Surah Al-An’aam [6:102] - Yes
Position 4: Surah Al-An’aam [6:107] - No
Position 5: Surah Yunus [10:108] - No
Position 6: Surah Hud [11:12] - Yes
Position 7: Surah Yusuf [12:66] - Yes
Position 8: Surah Al-Qasas [28:28] - Yes
Position 9: Surah Az-Zumar [39:41] - No
Position 10: Surah Az-Zumar [39:62] - Yes
Position 11: Surah Ash-Shura [42:6] - No
Position 12: Surah An-Nisaa [4:81] - Yes
Position 13: Surah an-Nisaa [4:109] - No
Position 14: Surah an-Nisaa [4:132] - Yes
Position 15: Surah an-Nisaa [4:171] - Yes
Position 16: Surah Al-Israa [17:2] - Yes
Position 17: Surah Al-Israa [17:54] - No
Position 18: Surah Al-Israa [17:65] - Yes
Position 19: Surah Al-Israa [17:68] - No
Position 20: Surah Al-Israa [17:86] - No
Position 21: Surah Al-Furqan [25:43] - No
Position 22: Surah Al-Ahzab [33:3] - Yes
Position 23: Surah Al-Ahzab [33:48] - Yes
Position 24: Surah Al-Muzzamil [73:9] - Yes
The amount of times it is mentioned in each Surah:
Surah Aal-Imran x1
Surah An-Nisaa x3
Surah Al-An’aam x1
Surah Hud x1
Surah Yusuf x1
Surah Israa x2
Surah Qasas x1
Surah Al-Ahzaab x2
Surah Zumar x1
Surah Muzzamil x1
The Conditions for a name to be one of the 99 Names of Allah:
1) The name should refer to Allah (as mentioned above).
2) The name should be a proper noun.
- It should accept ال or تنوين or يا المنادى
3) The name should not be affixed to anything.
4) The name should imply an attribute.
5) The attribute should be perfect.
E.g. In Surah an-Nahl [16:18]:
وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“And if you would count the graces of Allah, never could you be able to count them. Truly! Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
لَغَفُورٌ
Does it refer to Allah? Yes
Is it a proper noun? Yes. It has a Tanween.
Is the name affixed to anything? No
Does it imply an attribute? Yes.
Is the attribute perfect? Yes.
Therefore, it is considered one of the 99 names of Allah.
E.g. In Surah Al-Fatihah [1:1]:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).”
رب is affixed to عالمين. However it has come unrestricted in other verses, thus it is considered one of the 99 names of Allah.
Applying these conditions to the name الوكيل:
In Surah Aal-Imran [3:173]:
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
“Those (i.e. believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, "Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them." But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: "Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)."
Is it in the context about Allah? Yes.
Is it a proper noun? Yes.
Is it affixed to anything? No.
Does it imply an attribute? Yes, the attribute of الوكالة
Is the attribute perfect? Yes.
Many people do not consider Al-Wakeel a name of Allah because they believe that وكالة is a deficient attribute and can only be from people to people. When you assign a deputy or lawyer, this person is usually in a lower degree. However, the attribute of وكالة with regards to Allah is perfect. Allah is above all. He is the All-Able and All-Rich whilst the rest of creation are poor.
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