Part of Concepts of Ahl as-Sunnah (series completed)
· Lesson 105 of 1251
Summary of Sunni concepts | Concept (103) | The name of God (Al-Latif) and its meaning
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah.
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The Supreme Name of Allah, al-Latif (The Subtle, The Gracious), and Its Meaning.
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The Linguistic Meaning of *Latif*.
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Gentleness, subtlety, and precision.
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Delivering goodness and benefit through subtle and discreet means.
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As Allah Almighty says:
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“And in like manner We awakened them that they might question one another. A speaker from among them said: How long have ye tarried? They said: We have tarried a day or some part of a day, (Others) said: Your Lord best knoweth what ye have tarried. Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city, and let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof. Let him be courteous and let no man know of you.” (18:19)
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Meaning: let him act with extreme subtlety and let no one be aware of you.
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The Divine Name *al-Latif* has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an...
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Seven times.
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Its meaning across all these occurrences revolves around these primary linguistic senses.
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Thus, Allah, the Subtle and Gracious, is gentle with His servants.
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As Allah Almighty says:
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“Allah is gracious unto His slaves. He provideth for whom He will. And He is the Strong, the Mighty.” (42:19)
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"And He is the All-Strong, the All-Mighty."
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Allah, the Subtle, possesses knowledge that is so fine and minute...
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That He perceives the most intricate matters and what lies hidden within the breasts.
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Allah Almighty says:
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“And keep your opinion secret or proclaim it, lo! He is Knower of all that is in the breasts (of men).” (67:13)
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"Indeed, He is All-Knowing of what lies within the breasts."
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“Should He not know what He created? And He is the Subtile, the Aware.” (67:14)
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And Allah Almighty says:
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"O my son, even if it be the weight of a mustard seed..."
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“O my dear son! Lo! though it be but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware.” (31:16)
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"Indeed, Allah is Subtle and All-Aware."
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Allah, the Gracious, conveys benefits to His servants with subtlety and gentleness...
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Through hidden or unconventional avenues...
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Which they neither perceive nor actively seek out.
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He may even decree for them what is ordinarily disliked and painful...
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Yet in reality, it serves as the path to their benefit in their religious or worldly affairs.
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This is precisely what happened to the Prophet of Allah, Joseph (peace be upon him)...
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From being thrown into the well...
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And separated from his parents...
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To being cast into prison...
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So that ultimately, glory and high station would be fulfilled for him...
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And he would become the Grand Vizier (*'Aziz*) of Egypt.
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This is why Joseph (peace be upon him) said at the end of his story:
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“And he placed his parents on the dais and they fell down before him prostrate, and he said: O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream of old. My Lord hath made it true, and He hath shown me kindness, since He took me out of the prison and hath brought you from the desert after Satan had made strife between me and my brethren. Lo! my Lord is tender unto whom He will. He is the Knower, the Wise.” (12:100)
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"Indeed, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."
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Subtlety in this sense is also used to describe averting an imminent, overwhelming danger...
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And escaping it through a subtle, hidden manifestation of Allah's mercy, Mighty and Majestic is He.
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Furthermore, Allah, the Subtle, does not manifest His Divine Essence directly to His creation...
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Due to their inability to behold Him in the life of this world.
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As Allah Almighty said to Moses (peace be upon him)...
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When he asked to see Him, Mighty and Majestic is He:
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"You shall not see Me, but look at the mountain..."
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“And when Moses came to Our appointed tryst and his Lord had spoken unto him, he said: My Lord! Show me (Thy Self), that I may gaze upon Thee. He said: Thou wilt not see Me, but gaze upon the mountain! If it stand still in its place, then thou wilt see Me. And when his Lord revealed (His) glory to the mountain He sent it crashing down. And Moses fell down senseless. And when he woke he said: Glory unto Thee! I turn unto Thee repentant, and I am the first of (true) believers.” (7:143)
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“And when Moses came to Our appointed tryst and his Lord had spoken unto him, he said: My Lord! Show me (Thy Self), that I may gaze upon Thee. He said: Thou wilt not see Me, but gaze upon the mountain! If it stand still in its place, then thou wilt see Me. And when his Lord revealed (His) glory to the mountain He sent it crashing down. And Moses fell down senseless. And when he woke he said: Glory unto Thee! I turn unto Thee repentant, and I am the first of (true) believers.” (7:143)
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“And when Moses came to Our appointed tryst and his Lord had spoken unto him, he said: My Lord! Show me (Thy Self), that I may gaze upon Thee. He said: Thou wilt not see Me, but gaze upon the mountain! If it stand still in its place, then thou wilt see Me. And when his Lord revealed (His) glory to the mountain He sent it crashing down. And Moses fell down senseless. And when he woke he said: Glory unto Thee! I turn unto Thee repentant, and I am the first of (true) believers.” (7:143)
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Nor is it possible for human beings to encompass Allah with their eyesight.
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As Allah Almighty says: "Vision perceives Him not..."
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“Vision comprehendeth Him not, but He comprehendeth (all) vision. He is the Subtile, the Aware.” (6:103)
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In summary, Allah, the Subtle, is veiled from His servants.
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He combines gentleness in His actions...
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With complete knowledge of the finest intricacies and the true benefits of His servants...
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And He delivers these benefits to whomever He wills among them...
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Through subtle and unconventional means.