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ALLAH says: “He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is the Knower of all things.” (Qur’an, 57:3)
Addressing Allah in supplication, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “O Allah, Lord of the heavens, the Earth, and the Mighty Throne! Our Lord and the Lord of all things; Who splits the seed and the kernel, Who sent down the Torah, the Gospel, and the Criterion. I seek refuge with You from the evil in everything, all of which you grasp by the forelock. O Allah! You are the First, so nothing precedes You. You are the Last, so nothing comes after You. You are the Manifest, so nothing comes above You. You are the Hidden, so nothing comes below You. Fulfil our debts for us and enrich us so we will not be poor.” (Sahih Muslim, 2713)
Allah is the Manifest
Allah is the Manifest who is transcendent above all things. He is such in His essence and attributes, as well as in His power, might, and authority.
Allah declares Himself above the Throne in seven places in the Qur’an. For instance, he says: “The Beneficent is established on the Throne.” (Qur’an, 20:5)
And: “Lo! Your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the Earth in six days, then mounted He the Throne.” (Qur’an, 7:54)
The angels fear their Lord Who is above them. Likewise, we are instructed to say while prostrating in prayer: “Glory be to Allah, the Most High.” Therefore, when we are in the most humble state of worship, with our foreheads to the ground, we exalt Allah and glorify His transcendence above all deficiency and imperfection.
Another meaning of “the Manifest” is that Allah’s existence is manifest to the human mind with clear proofs and arguments. The signs of Allah’s Lordship are evident in creation.
Yet another meaning of “the Manifest” is that Allah supports His righteous servants with His might and His assistance, and establishes the truth, no matter how much those who are opposed to it strive in enmity. Allah says: “... We strengthened those who believed against their enemies, and they became the ones who prevailed.” (Qur’an, 61:14)
And He says: “He it is Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions.” (Qur’an, 9:33)
Allah’s religion is manifest. Its truth is evident, supported by sound arguments and proofs. It is also manifest by way of Allah’s will and decree, in accordance with His wisdom.
Allah’s support comes in many ways. It also comes when Allah wills it to come. People should not expect instant success for their efforts. They should not grow impatient and hasty. Allah’s support, as well as everything else that unfolds in our worldly experience, has its norms and patterns, though this support can come in ways that are subtle or utterly unexpected.
We should also know that Allah never breaks His promise, so when Allah says: “Most surely We help Our Messengers and those who believe, in this world’s life…,” we know it to be true. A believer can be strong and manifest in the world without necessarily being in a position of prominence.
Allah is the Hidden
Allah is the Hidden Who cannot be perceived by our physical senses. Allah says: “No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is the Knower of Subtleties, the All-Aware.” (Qur’an, 6:103)
Allah cannot be grasped by our imaginations. No matter how impressive we might believe our imaginative powers to be, we cannot imagine Allah. Whatever image we might concoct in our minds will be nothing at all like Allah. Understanding this will free a lot of sincere people from their misgivings, worries, misapprehensions, and doubts which put them ill at ease.
A believer should know that whatever suspicions or images their minds might present to them, they cannot possibly be Allah. Allah cannot be grasped by the imagination nor fully comprehended by the mind. We cannot hope to grasp an image of Him. Any image some of us might have in our minds is the false product of our thoughts. They have no value, no matter how beautiful or dreadful they might be.
Allah’s existence is certainly manifest. Our minds can readily grasp this, and the dictates of reason compel us to accept. Yet, at the same time, He is the Hidden regarding the true nature of His essence and attributes. He cannot be seen by our eyes, and He is not subject to the laws that govern our material existence and by which we understand our world.
Among the meanings that we understand from this name is that Allah knows all things, no matter how hidden, how subtle, or how obscure they might be. Though Allah is exalted above the Throne, beyond the heavens, He is at the same time ever near to His servants.
Allah says: “Verily, we created the human being and We know what his soul whispers to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.” (Qur’an, 50:16)
Though He is the Most High, He comprehends all of His creation. He is near to everything, intimately aware of all that transpires. Consider how Allah mentions these two meanings together in the following verses: First, He says: “We have not revealed the Qur’an to you (O Muhammad) to distress you but as a reminder to those who fear (Allah), a revelation from Him who created the Earth and the high heavens. The Beneficent is established on the Throne.” (Qur’an, 20:2-5).
This name of Allah also has significance in how Allah relates to the visible world. Everything that we see is Allah’s direct possession and under His power. Wherever we turn our faces, we gaze upon His dominion.
Indeed, these two names, The Manifest and the Hidden, are rich in meaning, though Allah only refers to Himself by these names in one verse of the Qur’an, where He says
Indeed, these two names, The Manifest and the Hidden, are rich in meaning, though Allah only refers to Himself by these names in one verse of the Qur’an, where He says
“He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is the Knower of all things.” (Qur’an, 57:3)
Allah has revealed to us through His Book and through what He has revealed to His Messenger what inspires us to worship, praise, glorify, and thank Him. Allah has taught us many of His names and attributes by which we can draw ever nearer to Him, without ever falling into the error of likening Him to created things or falling victim to the caprice of our imaginations.
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Seeing, the Hearing.” (Qur’an, 42:11)
Allah has revealed to us through His Book and through what He has revealed to His Messenger what inspires us to worship, praise, glorify, and thank Him. Allah has taught us many of His names and attributes by which we can draw ever nearer to Him, without ever falling into the error of likening Him to created things or falling victim to the caprice of our imaginations.
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Seeing, the Hearing.” (Qur’an, 42:11)
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