Reflections on the Name of Allah: Al-Awwal The First, The One whose Existence is without a beginning. Tawhid & Tawakkul:The understanding and belief in the name establishes tawheed (oneness of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ). Al-Awwal means He was first or is the first. But this does not mean that there was nothing before. Rather the beginning […]
Reflections on the Name of Allah: Az-Zaahir The Manifest. The Conspicuous. The Evident (هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ) ) الحديد 57 : 3 (He is the First and the Last, the Most High and Most Near,1 and He has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.) Al-Hadid 57:3 The four names in this verse are […]
Reflections on the Name of Allah: Al-Baatin The Hidden, The Secret One, The Inner One, The Knower of Hidden Things Allah is the hidden one, but knows every in and out of everything in the world. (هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ) الحديد 57 : 3 (He is the First and the Last, […]
Reflections on the Name of Allah: Al-Wali The Ruler. The one planner of everything is Al-Waali (Wali), the only one. He is very supportive. To be a ruler…This name is also not to be confused with Al-Wali (ٱلْوَلِيُّ) – The Protecting Associate. Here Al-Wali (ٱلْوَالِي) refers to being the ruler or guardian, and this encompasses three […]
Reflections on the Name of Allah: At-Tawwaab The One who beckons for our return. He repeatedly turns mankind towards repentance should they journey temporarily on the wrong path. Allah is lenient and restores grace to those who repent and forgives those who seek forgiveness. The name “Al-Tawwab” beautifully illustrates the concept of Allah’s mercy and […]
Reflections on the Name of Allah: Al-Afuww The Oft-Pardoning, The Effacer of Sins, The Eliminator of Sins. The One who pardons sins and leaves no trace of any fault. The difference between forgiving and effacing is there will be no trace or record of the offense being committed. It will be as if it had […]