The meaning of the name The All-Knowing
Selections from the Book The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq…
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (17)
The name "the All-Knowing" is clearly mentioned in the story of Joseph, peace be upon him, in various contexts. When we contemplate the name of Allah, the All-Knowing, we understand that all knowledge in its entirety, with all its aspects and essence, belongs to Allah alone. He knows the hidden and the manifest, the seen and the unseen, what is known to His creation and what they do not know. He knows what is obligatory or impossible, permissible or impermissible. Allah, the Exalted, knows what is beneath the lowest depths of the earth and what is above the highest heavens. He knows the details of matters, the secrets of hearts, and the hidden aspects of events that have occurred or will occur throughout the universe and the kingdom. His knowledge encompasses all things at all times, and nothing is hidden from His knowledge or forgotten. As He Almighty says in another place: {And Allah is Knowing of all things} [Al-Baqarah: 282]. And He says, exalted is He: {Indeed, Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts} [Al-Imran 119].
So, Allah's knowledge encompasses everything in the heavens and the earth, and everything that enters the earth and emerges from it, and what descends from the sky and what ascends therein. His knowledge includes the keys to the unseen and what happens, whether small or large, on land or in the sea. He knows the secrets of hearts, the thoughts that hearts conceal, and the whispers of souls. He knows everything that His servants say or do, whether openly or in secret. His knowledge extends to what is in the wombs of all females, and He knows all things before they happen, and all of this is recorded in a Book, and His wisdom is perfect in decreeing all matters. His knowledge encompasses the states of His servants, their righteousness and wickedness, their wealth and poverty, and other differences, before creating them and assigning responsibilities to them. His guidance to whom He wills and His abandonment of whom He wills is based on His knowledge of the conditions of His servants and His profound wisdom. His knowledge is all-encompassing, and He is fully aware of every conversation between two individuals, no matter how confidential. His knowledge comprehends what is revealed in the scriptures to His messengers, and He knows what is best for His servants. Allah, exalted is He, has reserved for Himself the knowledge of the unseen.
Indeed, Allah, glorified be He, with His perfect knowledge, knows what was and what will be, and what would have been if it were to be. He knows the past events that have occurred, the future events that have not yet occurred, and He knows what would happen if they were to occur. This is part of His perfect knowledge of the unseen and the consequences of events. Undoubtedly, Jacob and Joseph - peace be upon them - believed profoundly in the name of the All-Knowing, and they recognized the greatness of Almighty Allah through His beautiful names and sublime attributes. Their faith resulted in their certainty in Allah's comprehensive knowledge, His absolute power, His decisive will, and His great wisdom in placing things in their proper positions.
Belief in the name of Allah, the All-Knowing, necessitated the love of Jacob and Joseph - peace be upon them - for knowledge and their eagerness for it. They developed their intellectual abilities and tools because Almighty Allah, The All-Knowing, loves every knowledgeable person who walks on the path of learning and teaching, acquiring knowledge that reflects the truths of things and deepens the relationship with Allah and His servants on this earth. We are required to deepen our faith in our souls, achieve monotheism in our hearts, and follow the path of Allah in our lives. Reflecting on the story of Joseph, with its multiple dimensions and diverse depths, and understanding the beautiful names and sublime attributes of Allah, and striving to memorize and comprehend them, opens up broad horizons and a good life for individuals who seek to connect with the procession of prophets and messengers.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq, pp. 132-134.
- To Allah belong the most beautiful names, pp. 333-335.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Prophet Minister Joseph al-Siddiq on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
