<strong>The</strong> Holy Qura'n has <strong>in</strong>dicated that <strong>Allah</strong>'s knowledge is vast and endless; <strong>in</strong> Surat al-Ana`m,the Almighty says, "And his people disputed with him. He said: Do you dispute with meregard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Allah</strong>, and He has, <strong>in</strong>deed, guided me? And I do not fear <strong>in</strong> any way those that youset up with Him unless my Lord pleases; my Lord comprehends all th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> His knowledge;will you not then m<strong>in</strong>d" (Qura'n, 6:80)? <strong>The</strong> Holy Qura'n has described <strong>Allah</strong>'s mercy as vast;<strong>in</strong> Surat al-A`raf it is stated that, "And orda<strong>in</strong> for us good <strong>in</strong> this world's life and <strong>in</strong> the lifehereafter, for surely we turn to You. He said: (As for) My chastisement, I will afflict with itwhomsoever I please, and My mercy encompasses all th<strong>in</strong>gs; so I will orda<strong>in</strong> it (especially)for those who guard (themselves aga<strong>in</strong>st evil) and pay the zakat and those who believe <strong>in</strong> Oursigns" (Qura'n, 7:156). In Surat Taha, His knowledge is described as vast: "Your only God is<strong>Allah</strong>; there is no god but He; He comprehends all th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> (His) knowledge" (Qura'n,20:98). Other references to the vastness <strong>of</strong> His knowledge, to His mercy and might, are asfollows:Our Lord comprehends all th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> His knowledge; <strong>in</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> do we trust: Lord! Decidebetween us and our people with the truth, and You are the best <strong>of</strong> those who decide. (7:89)Those who bear the Throne and those around Him celebrate the praise <strong>of</strong> their Lord andbelieve <strong>in</strong> Him and ask protection for those who believe (say<strong>in</strong>g): Lord! You encompass allth<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> mercy and knowledge; therefore, grant protection to those who turn (to You) andfollow Your way, and save them from the punishment <strong>of</strong> hell. (40:7) And the heavens Weraised high with power, and most surely We make th<strong>in</strong>gs ample. (51:47)We ought to ponder on <strong>Allah</strong>'s vast knowledge, for He is the Absolute al-Wasi` Whose Gracehas encompassed everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> existence, <strong>in</strong> fact, even prior to their existence, and evenbefore the existence <strong>of</strong> time itself, s<strong>in</strong>ce He has always been for all eternity. His knowledgeencompasses everyth<strong>in</strong>g. Noth<strong>in</strong>g He knows distracts Him from know<strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g else. Hismight overwhelms everyth<strong>in</strong>g; no issue distracts Him from another. His Hear<strong>in</strong>g encompasseseveryth<strong>in</strong>g; no person's supplication can distract Him from hear<strong>in</strong>g the supplication <strong>of</strong>another. His benevolence <strong>in</strong>cludes all His creation; His help<strong>in</strong>g one particular needy persondoes not prohibit Him from help<strong>in</strong>g another.One <strong>of</strong> the ways for learn<strong>in</strong>g a code <strong>of</strong> ethics derived from this Attribute, "al-Wasi`," is thatyou should <strong>in</strong>clude all servants <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> <strong>in</strong> your good treatment and k<strong>in</strong>dness at all times; begracious to all people. Help them when they seek your help, and treat all <strong>of</strong> them with the besttreatment. A servant <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> ought to remember and seek wisdom from the conduct <strong>of</strong> theMessenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> who was say<strong>in</strong>g his prayers once when he overheard a bedou<strong>in</strong>supplicat<strong>in</strong>g to his Lord say<strong>in</strong>g, "O <strong>Allah</strong>! Have mercy on me and on Muhammed, and do notbe merciful to anyone else besides us." <strong>The</strong> Prophet said to him, "You have prayed Him to
limit what is limitless," mean<strong>in</strong>g the mercy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong>. <strong>The</strong> Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> has also said,"If <strong>Allah</strong> grants you an <strong>in</strong>crease [<strong>of</strong> His bless<strong>in</strong>gs], do give your own self an <strong>in</strong>crease."47. "Al-Hakeem"<strong>Allah</strong> has said, "... and if You forgive them, then surely You are the Mighty, theWise" (Qura'n, 5:118)."Hakeem" is a superlative form, a form for the glorification <strong>of</strong> the One Who has all thewisdom; hence, al-Hakeem is the very greatest <strong>in</strong> His wisdom. <strong>Allah</strong> is the most wise <strong>in</strong>creat<strong>in</strong>g everyth<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong> perfect<strong>in</strong>g such a creation. His wisdom means His prior knowledge<strong>of</strong> everyth<strong>in</strong>g and His br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to existence most wisely and most perfectly.Wisdom means: the best way <strong>of</strong> know<strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g utiliz<strong>in</strong>g the very best <strong>of</strong> means. "Al-Hakeem" carries the same mean<strong>in</strong>g as that <strong>of</strong> "al-`Aleem." Nobody knows <strong>Allah</strong> except <strong>Allah</strong>;therefore, al-Hakeem cannot be anyone but <strong>Allah</strong>: He knows the orig<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> all th<strong>in</strong>gs throughHis eternal and perpetual knowledge which nobody can ever conceive as be<strong>in</strong>g liable toext<strong>in</strong>ction."Al-Hakeem" may also mean His be<strong>in</strong>g Holy, too Holy to do anyth<strong>in</strong>g which does not beseemHim. In Surat al-Mom<strong>in</strong>oon, <strong>Allah</strong> says, "What?! Did you then th<strong>in</strong>k that We had created you<strong>in</strong> va<strong>in</strong> and that you will not be returned to Us?!" (Qura'n, 23:115). Some scholars have saidthat al-Hakeem is equitable <strong>in</strong> His assessment, benevolent <strong>in</strong> His management <strong>of</strong> affairs, theOne Who has determ<strong>in</strong>ed the measure <strong>of</strong> everyth<strong>in</strong>g, the One Whose wisdom is the veryultimate end, the One Who places everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> its right place. Nobody can really appreciate<strong>Allah</strong>'s wisdom other than <strong>Allah</strong> Himself.Al-Hakeem is free from seek<strong>in</strong>g any self-<strong>in</strong>terest, nor can anyone object to anyth<strong>in</strong>g He does.Al-Hakeem is adorned with wisdom, and wisdom is know<strong>in</strong>g the best <strong>of</strong> th<strong>in</strong>gs through thebest means. <strong>The</strong> best <strong>of</strong> everyth<strong>in</strong>g is <strong>Allah</strong>; so, He is the Absolute al-Hakeem; He knowseveryth<strong>in</strong>g by the very best means <strong>of</strong> eternal and everlast<strong>in</strong>g knowledge, the knowledgewhich nobody can conceive as ever com<strong>in</strong>g to naught, nor can there be any doubt about it,and nobody can be described as such except <strong>Allah</strong>.Some scholars say that wisdom means gett<strong>in</strong>g to know the truth for its own sake, and to knowgoodness <strong>in</strong> order to act upon it. A servant <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong>, though his portion <strong>of</strong> knowledge andpotential may be little, such a shortcom<strong>in</strong>g is evident <strong>in</strong> him when compared to <strong>Allah</strong>'sknowledge and might and to the knowledge and ability <strong>of</strong> the angels. Yet whatever amounthuman be<strong>in</strong>gs have been given is quite significant by the token that <strong>Allah</strong> Himself hasdeemed it great when he said, "... and whoever is granted wisdom is <strong>in</strong>deed granted a greatdeal <strong>of</strong> goodness" (Qura'n, 2:269). Abraham prayed his Lord for wisdom say<strong>in</strong>g, "Lord! Grantme wisdom" (Qura'n, 26:83). <strong>Allah</strong> said the follow<strong>in</strong>g about David (prophet David): "We
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AllahThe Concept of God in Islam (a
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IntroductionIn any theistic religio
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eminded him of the bloody and shame
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Knowing AllahMuhammed, the Messenge
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All Praise is due to Allah, the One
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The Praised One has said, He is the
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you then made you complete, then He
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The Ninety Nine Attributesof AllahI
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The Almighty is Endless regarding H
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produce it. They will also realize
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Who grants mercy beyond which there
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Unity of Allah (Tawhid)Islam falls
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is Allah, your Lord; so, worship Hi
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keep closing their eyes to the fact
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Abu Abdullah Imam Ja`fer al-Sadiq h
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descends during the night of the mi
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and the Exalted One, whereby He des
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perfected their design and computed
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[14] Ibid., p. 59.[15] al-Tusi, Al-
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How to Supplicate to AllahBefore ad
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me, and if I try to amend my steps,
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Al-Qudds is the One Who is above ne
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finished his prayers, he would seek
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"Wait, therefore; surely they (too)
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The Messenger of Allah used to say,
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taken account in a clear Book. (36:
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ing the dead to life, and He shows
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Al-Mumeet causes your heart to die
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thoroughly" (Qura'n, 27:88).The roo