own affairs, He will beautifully save him the hardship <strong>of</strong> any task and will grant him morethan He grants others; He gives sufficiently to those who rely on Him. He takes care <strong>of</strong> theaffairs <strong>of</strong> His servants. He <strong>in</strong>itiated the giv<strong>in</strong>g to man without the latter hav<strong>in</strong>g asked Him,and He gave man everyth<strong>in</strong>g he needed. Whenever man pleads to Him, He directs Hisattention to him and beautifully looks after him. If he rema<strong>in</strong>s on the straight path, He willseal his deeds with the beauty <strong>of</strong> His guardianship.L<strong>in</strong>guistically, a wakeel is one upon whom one relies; so, this is why it is said that one whorelies on <strong>Allah</strong> will come to know that <strong>Allah</strong> suffices him <strong>in</strong> as far as his sustenance andaffairs are concerned, so he relies on Him and only Him and depends on none but Him. <strong>The</strong>wakeel <strong>of</strong> someone else is the person who efficiently represents him or does on his behalfwhat he is <strong>in</strong>capable <strong>of</strong> do<strong>in</strong>g.In Surat Hud, <strong>Allah</strong> addresses His Messenger Muhammed say<strong>in</strong>g, "You are only a warner,and <strong>Allah</strong> is Custodian over all th<strong>in</strong>gs" (Qura'n, 11:12), that is, "Your responsibility is simplyto convey the Message, to warn aga<strong>in</strong>st the dire consequences <strong>of</strong> reject<strong>in</strong>g it, to <strong>in</strong>vite peopleto accept it, while <strong>Allah</strong> manages the affairs <strong>of</strong> His servants and watches over them,someth<strong>in</strong>g which you do not have to do, s<strong>in</strong>ce it is the responsibility <strong>of</strong> the Creator towardsHis creatures, and it is not a subject to be taught or conveyed."Narrat<strong>in</strong>g the tale <strong>of</strong> Ya`qoob (Jacob) and his sons, the Almighty says <strong>in</strong> Surat Yousuf(Joseph), "And when they gave him their pledge, he said: <strong>Allah</strong> is the One <strong>in</strong> Whom trust isplaced as regard<strong>in</strong>g what we say" (Qura'n, 12:66). In Surat al-Ahzab, the Almighty addressesHis Messenger Muhammed say<strong>in</strong>g, "<strong>The</strong> Lord <strong>of</strong> the east and the west; there is no god butHe; therefore, take Him for Protector" (Qura'n, 73:9). <strong>The</strong> address here is repeated twice tothe Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong>; therefore, the Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> used to quite <strong>of</strong>ten remember hisLord, al-Wakeel al-Hafiz, rem<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g his companions and followers never to neglectmention<strong>in</strong>g this Gracious Attribute dur<strong>in</strong>g the time <strong>of</strong> trouble, hardship and affliction. <strong>The</strong>Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> once said, "How can I feel happy know<strong>in</strong>g that the one charged withblow<strong>in</strong>g the horn (i.e. archangel Israfil) has picked the horn and bent his forehead listen<strong>in</strong>g tothe order to blow it?" His companions asked him, "<strong>The</strong>n what are we supposed to say, OMessenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong>?" He said, "Say: `Hasbuna <strong>Allah</strong> wa ni`mal-Wakeel (<strong>Allah</strong> suffices us,and Great is the Guardian)!'"<strong>The</strong> Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> used to plead to his Lord, al-Wakeel, on every occasion, say<strong>in</strong>g,"Lord! I implore You not to permit me to rely on my own self even for the tw<strong>in</strong>kl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> aneye else I should surely perish." Accord<strong>in</strong>g to one qudsi tradition, the Almighty, address<strong>in</strong>gHis Messenger, says, "You are My servant and Messenger, and I have named you al-Mutawakkil [one who trusts <strong>in</strong> and relies on his Lord];" therefore, the Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> wasordered by his Lord to do so; i.e. to always rely on Him. In Surat Ali-`Imran, He says, "... soonce you have made up your m<strong>in</strong>d, place your trust <strong>in</strong> <strong>Allah</strong>; surely <strong>Allah</strong> loves those whotrust (<strong>in</strong> Him)" (Qura'n, 3:159), that is, "Hav<strong>in</strong>g consulted your companions regard<strong>in</strong>g amatter, you must rely on <strong>Allah</strong> <strong>in</strong> effect<strong>in</strong>g it, and have confidence <strong>in</strong> His assistance and help,
for He is al-Wakeel, and He is your Guardian." <strong>Allah</strong> loves His servants who turn to Him andrely on Him provided they exert some effort and exhaust the means available to them.<strong>Allah</strong> has made His Messenger a role model to emulate <strong>in</strong> the reliance upon his Lord, for<strong>Allah</strong> has ordered His believ<strong>in</strong>g servants to be among those who rely on Him. In SuratYousuf, He says, "Judgment is only <strong>Allah</strong>'s; on Him do I rely, and on Him let those who arereliant rely" (Qura'n, 12:67). In another verse <strong>of</strong> the same chapter, He says, "And what reasondo we have not to rely on <strong>Allah</strong>, and He has, <strong>in</strong>deed, guided us <strong>in</strong> our ways? And certa<strong>in</strong>ly wewould bear with patience your persecution <strong>of</strong> us, and on <strong>Allah</strong> should the reliantrely" (Qura'n, 14:12). In 39:38 we read, "Say: <strong>Allah</strong> suffices me; on Him do the reliantrely" (Qura'n, 39:38).One who chooses <strong>Allah</strong> as his Guardian is one who has also to guard <strong>Allah</strong>'s <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> hisown self by observ<strong>in</strong>g His rights and obligations and whatever He has required him to do, sohe should be the opponent <strong>of</strong> his own evil-<strong>in</strong>s<strong>in</strong>uat<strong>in</strong>g self day and night, without lax<strong>in</strong>g for amoment, nor fall<strong>in</strong>g short even for the tw<strong>in</strong>kl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> an eye.54. "Al-Qawiyy" and 55. "Al-Mateen"<strong>The</strong> Almighty has said, "Surely <strong>Allah</strong> bestows sustenance, the Lord <strong>of</strong> Power, the StrongOne" (Qura'n, 51:58)."Al-Qawiyy" and "al-Mateen" are two <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong>'s Attributes and are mentioned <strong>in</strong> such anorder. <strong>The</strong>y share the same basic mean<strong>in</strong>g.L<strong>in</strong>guistically, "al-Qawiyy" is derived from quwwa, strength, power, might, ability, etc. It is<strong>in</strong> lexicons <strong>in</strong>dicative <strong>of</strong> strength versus weakness. Strength <strong>in</strong> this sense describes a completeand perfect might. S<strong>in</strong>ce He is very Strong, <strong>Allah</strong> has the most perfect and absolute might andperfection; He has said, "... surely your Lord is the Strong, the Mighty" (Qura'n, 11:66). "Al-Qawiyy" means: the One Whose strength is unlimited and before Whom the strength <strong>of</strong> Hisfoe dwarves, and so does the greatness <strong>of</strong> anyone held as great. <strong>Allah</strong> has granted the angels amighty power whereby one angel, for example, can uproot a mounta<strong>in</strong> or turn cities upsidedown. Yet such an angel, or his like, fears <strong>Allah</strong> and His Might, shakes <strong>in</strong> awe for fear <strong>of</strong> HisGreatness. Al-Qawiyy is the One Whose Might and Greatness are perfect: He subdues and isnot subdued; He helps and is not helped; His Might is superior to the might <strong>of</strong> anyone else. Itis also said that He never suffers any weakness <strong>in</strong> Himself, <strong>in</strong> His qualities, or <strong>in</strong> His actions,and His strength is <strong>in</strong>dicative <strong>of</strong> His complete Might.<strong>The</strong>re are many Qura'nic verses that describe <strong>Allah</strong> as the Strong One; among them are thefollow<strong>in</strong>g,O had only those who are unjust seen when they witness the chastisement that power is
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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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e overcome or in any way harmed, th
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Holy Qura'n bestows the Attribute o
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stage of life without needing you o
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They desire to put out the light of
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e called badee' at all; so, this At
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