- Names of Allah
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- Names of Allah- 1996
Allâh’s Beautiful Name: Al-Wadoud:
In this lecture, we will be dealing with the twenty-sixth of Allah’s Beautiful Names, “Al-Wadoud” (The All-Loving), as Allah, Al Mighty, says
“And He (Allah) is the All-Forgiving, the All-Loving.”
Yes, indeed! Allah, All Mighty, is “Wadoud” (All-Loving); and His Divine Name “Al-Wadoud” is an emphatic Name derived from the Arabic word “Woudd”, which means “Houbb” (Love). Also, the Arabic word “Houbb” is, in turn, derived from “Habab Al-Asnan”, which means “whiteness, cleanliness and purity of teeth”. This means that those who love Allah, Most Gracious, are pure, chaste, sincere, and faithful.
The word “Houbb” also indicates submission and obedience to the beloved. Hence, those who love Allah, Most Gracious, are dutiful and obedient to Him. They are modest, humble and submissive to the Lord, Exalted and All-High.
The word “Houbb” also means “instability”, which, in turn, means that those who love Allah, All Mighty, are in constant instability as regards their relationship with their Beloved Lord, Allah, Glory to Him. In one single day, they undergo twenty or even forty different conditions that range between feelings of hope, fear, worry, tranquility, delight, pleasure …etc; while hypocrites remain in one stable condition with their Lord, because their hearts are dead. True believers, who really love their Lord, undergo constantly changing feelings as regards their relationship with Him; while hypocrites, whose hears are dead and, hence, emotionless, remain stable and unchangeable.
Also, the word “Houbb” or “Habb” refers to a seed from which we get good fruits. This means that those who love the Lord, their love is like a seed that produces a shady tree that, in turn, yields good fruits.
In fact, the word “Houbb” (love) embraces all of the foregoing meanings: purity, chastity, submission, humbleness, instability, growth and good, …etc. However, there is still an accurate question: Is “Al-Woudd” the same as “AL-Houbb”?
Undoubtedly, there is a delicate difference between both words. “Al-Houbb” means “love as a noble feeling dwelling in the heart”; while “Al-Woudd” means “love substantiated by action”. In other words, if you love someone, your inner feelings towards him are called “Houbb” (i.e. love that exists in your heart), but when you translate such love into action by smiling to him, for example, or doing him a favor, this is “Woudd” (i.e. love that you put into action). If you offer him a present, it is “Woudd”. If you help him out of a problem, it is “Woudd”. If you visit him when he is ill, it is “Woudd”. If you offer him a present when he gets married, it is “Woudd”. In short, inner feelings of love are “Houbb”; while ostensible substantial acts of love are “Woudd”. All those who have “Woudd” must necessarily have “Houbb”, but not vice versa. This means that someone might love another but does not show that in his behavior, but if someone shows love to another, this means that he loves him.
In His Divine Book, the Holy Quran, Allah, Most Gracious, says
“And He (Allah) is the All-Forgiving, the All-Loving.”
This means that the whole universe is but a substantiation of Allah’s “Woudd” (Love) for man. In other words, the entire universe, with its heavens, stars, planets, galaxies, the Sun, the Moon, rain, fishes, birds, animals, plants, flowers, is but a substantiation of Allah’s “Woudd” for mankind. Children, who fill the home with life and movement, are of Allah’s “Woudd”. The great many kinds of fruits are of Allah’s “Woudd”. Wives, whom Allah created especially for men’s psychological and physical comfort, are of Allah’s “Woudd”. Husbands, whom Allah created especially for women’s comfort, are out of Allah’s “Woudd”. Wool, which Allah created to protect us from cold is out of Allah’s “Woudd”. All things that Allah has subjected for mankind are out of Allah’s “Woudd”. The whole universe is subjugated for man as a kind of “Woudd” from the Lord, All Mighty. Therefore, “Al-Wadoud” is someone who translates his love into action.
Here we have another crystal clear fact: When man loves, he becomes inclined towards the one he loves. If the one he loves goes away, he feels painful. That is why lovers feel painful and cry sorrowfully when they leave one another; and that is why msh3er cry sadly when their children leave them or are separated from tem. But does this apply to Allah, All Mighty?
Islamic theology says, “No, this does not apply to the Almighty Allah. Inclination that entails pain or sorrow does not befit Allah, All Mighty, but it befits human beings who show submission and humbleness when they love. When Allah, All Mighty, loves someone, He honors and mercies him/her, because He is All Mighty, All Majestic. However, Allah’s Love for true believers is confirmed in His Book, the Holy Quran. To this effect, Allah, Most Gracious, says
“O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom He loves and who love Him, (who are) humble towards believers, stern towards disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah and never feeling fear of the blame of a blamer. Such is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He wills; and Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.”
Allah’s Divine Love for man is manifested by His Divine Protection, Help, Victory, Success, sending down Mercy upon his heart, sending down peace and Tranquility upon him, providing him with all the things he needs. This is Allah’s Divine Love for man. But man’s love for Allah is substantiated by inclination and attachment, because if Allah forsakes him, or deprives him of His Divine Light, he feels unbearable pain and sorrow.
Our Love is not easy; and he who claims it is easy:
We tell him, “You know Us not.”
The easiest thing in love, for one enamored, is to get killed;
But harder than killing a man is the Day of Our forsaking him.
Once man loves Allah, All Mighty, he gets inclined to Him, seeks refuge in His Divine Shade, Light, Holy Manifestations, Peace and Tranquility, and he feels that Allah is always protecting and helping him. But Allah’s Divine Love for man means protection, help, support,...etc. And “Al-Woudd” is the practical substantiation of both kinds of love.
After the foregoing necessary introduction, let us try to elaborate the delicate meanings of Allah’s Name “Al-Wadoud” (The All-Loving).
In His Divine Book, the Holy Quran, Allah, Most Gracious, says
“And He (Allah) is the All-Forgiving, Al-Wadoud (the All-Loving).”
The word “Al-Wadoud” here means that Allah loves and honors His righteous slaves. It also means that His Favors and Blessings are but substantiations and manifestations of His Divine Love for them. To make things clear, let us have the following examples: If you see a dangerous insect on the back of someone you love, you act readily to remove such insect. If you see someone you love shivering with cold, you hastily offer him your coat to wear. If you find someone you love in need of something, you quickly offer it to him. Hence, “Al-Woudd” is substantial manifestation of love. And our Lord, Allah, All Mighty, is “Al-Wadoud” (The All-Loving).
The whole universe is but a substantiation of Allah’s Divine Love, i.e. His “Woudd” for us. Let us not stray from the main point of this topic. Animals, for example, remain all their lives eating one kind of food, perhaps barley or anything else, which is for them (as it were) appetizer, main meal, sweats, and fruits. They eat nothing but barley or herbs. But man has a lot of different kinds of foods, sweats and fruits to eat.
In a perfume shop, you find thousands of fascinating perfumes, which are all of Allah’s Magnificent creation: jasmine, violet, lavender, …etc, are all manifestations of Allah’s Divine Grace and Bounty. It is Allah, Who created such perfumes and scents, just as He created the sense of smell that enables man to enjoy such sweat perfumes. He, Glory to Him, creates Favors and the senses that enable man to feel and enjoy them. This is Allah’s Divine “Woudd”!
Hence, one meaning of Allah’s Beautiful Name “Al-Wadoud” is that He endears Himself to His slaves by bestowing His Divine Favors upon them. Therefore, logic and good reason show that the entire universe is nothing but a manifestation and substantiation of Allah’s Divine “Woudd” (i.e. Love) for mankind.
Now, when you offer prayers, observe the fast, and perform the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), and when you lower you gaze at indecent or unlawful things, give charities, try to be honest and trustworthy, bid to good things and forbid evil ones, expend of your wealth, all such righteous good deeds are in fact real manifestations of your love for Allah, All Mighty. By such good righteous deeds of worships, transactions, and manners, you express your love for your Lord, Allah, Most Gracious. He, Glory to Him, shows His Divine Love for us by creating this universe for us, by being our Creator and Maker, by subjecting the entire universe for our benefit and pleasure, and by preparing for us Paradise, whose width is as great as the heavens and the earth. While we show our love for Allah by believing in Him, by worshipping Him, by showing adequate obedience to Him, and by following His Messenger’s good model of noble traits and generosity. In other words, the entire universe is a manifestation of Allah’s Divine Love for man, just as all of man’s righteous good deeds are substantiation of his love for his Great Creator, Allah, All Mighty:
“And He (Allah) is the All-Forgiving, the All-Loving.”
Yes, indeed! Allah is “Wadoud” (All-Loving) for His slaves; and He displays His Divine Love for them through His Favors that He bestows upon them.
I would like to ask you, dear reader: If someone invites you to his home, and when you get there, you find the house already warmed for you, the most delicious foods and drinks already prepared for your pleasure, and the most beautiful flowers and roses put everywhere for your entertainment, don’t you feel most grateful and loving to such a host, and don’t you thank him profoundly and from the depth of your heart? Of course, you do! Don’t you say to him, “By Allah! I can’t be grateful and thankful enough!” Of course, you do! This is because man is enslaved by good favors. If someone pays for you the fare of a public vehicle, don’t you feel grateful? Of course you do! All such gratitude is for only an invitation or a certain favor, so what should your gratitude be to Allah, your Lord and Maker, Who created you from nothing? Does not such Great Creator and Provider deserve from you all gratitude and thankfulness? Of course He does! In this context, Allah, All Mighty, Most Gracious, says
“Has there not been over man a period of time when he was not a thing worth mentioning?”
But unfortunately, Allah’s Divine Grace and Bounty are often met with ingratitude and even denial on the part of the majority of people. You should extol, from the depth of your heart: “O my Lord! All Praises to you because you have created me and brought me into existence! O Lord! All Praises to You because You have helped me know You! O Lord! All Praises to You because You have helped me obey You! O Lord! All Praises to You because You have enlightened my heart with Your Divine Guidance! O Lord! All Praises to You because You have inspired me to do good righteous deeds! Allah says to you: “I hear you. So, speak out!” You say, “O Allah! All Praises and Thanks to You!” Some righteous people invoke: “O Lord! All thanks and Praises, all Favors and Graces, belong to You!” Others say: “O Lord! All pure and perfect Praises and thanks to You, as many as Your creatures are.” Just remember! The whole universe is but a manifestation and substantiation of Allah’s Divine Love for you!
When I once traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj (pilgrimage), a friend of mine received me at the airport. He took me to his home and singled out a special driver for me, and then he had a very luxurious room reserved for me at one of the most expensive hotels in Mecca and Medina. During my stay there, he invited me two or three times to big parties to which he invited tens of good people in my honor, and he did me a great many favors that I shall never forget as long as I live. Whenever this man comes to Damascus, I don’t know how to honor him and serve him enough for his great favors. All such feeling of gratitude on my part is only for the favors he did to me during the ten days that I spent in Mecca during time of the Hajj.
The Never-Ending Favors and Graces of Allah, Most Gracious, are Infinite! When you go to the toilet, you answer the call of nature without any pains or problems. This is one of Allah’s Innumerable Great Divine Favors, of which lots of people are heedless. So, this is just a reminder for those who will get admonished!
When your heart and all other parts of your body work properly, this is one of Allah’s uncountable Divine Favors and Graces.
In short, the entire universe is but a manifestation and substantiation of Allah’s Love for mankind. Therefore, true believers should say what Allah’s holy Prophets taught us to say:
“Say: ‘Truly, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, Lord of all worlds.”
Yes, indeed! You should say, “All my life, all my time, all my power, all my wealth, all my abilities, all my knowledge, all my children and family, and all my work, are for Allah, All Mighty, and for His slaves, my fellow humans.” Is good recompensed with anything but good?! Yes, indeed:
“Truly, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, Lord of all worlds.”
Before Allah, All Mighty and Most Gracious, created you and brought you into existence, you were nothing at all. But from the moment He brought you into existence, He bestowed on you a couple of Priceless Divine Favors:
“Have We not made for him (Man) a pair of eyes, a tongue and a pair of lips, and shown him the two Ways (of good and evil)?”
The first Divine Gift man that receives from his Lord upon his birth is a very complicated operation, namely the so-called “Suck reflex”, which enables him, from the moment of birth, to take his mother’s breast tightly with his small mouth and start sucking. Without such reflex, human life would be impossible!
The second Divine Gift is your mother! Yes, indeed, your mother! But who is this creature? In fact, she is one of Allah’s Great Divine Signs and Favors, for she is naturally pre-disposed to consecrate, and even sacrifice, all her existence for her baby. She devotes all herself, her nerves, her feelings and emotions, her powers, and her efforts, for the sake of her baby. She reacts with it most amazingly, as if it is still part of her. Even If she is out on a visit to the neighbors, she sill feels it, and, readily enough, says, “My baby has waken up!” and milk begins coming out of her breast!
Your mother is a Divine Gift, and so is your father! A father once told me: “I am but a sincere servant who works for gratis. I need nothing from this world except simple food and clothing. I labor and toil only for my children.” A father is a mere servant for his children, and so is a mother. They work hard to make them happy and help them make their way through life. Once again: Fathers, msh3er and children should be looked upon as Divine Gifts from the Lord, Most Gracious.
Air that we breathe, and water that we drink are great Divine Favors. Purification of one liter of salt water needs more than seventy pounds in some countries. When you turn on the tap and get fresh pure water, you should remember that it is a great Divine Favor from the Lord. The spring of Feejeh provides Damascus city with 16 cubic meters of fresh pure water per second.
What would you say about the different kinds of fruits?! Even more, the Lord, Most Gracious, has endued you with an intelligent mind with which you think and take up a certain vocation or profession and do it properly. This is another great Divine Favor. Your income that is sufficient for your needs is another Priceless Divine Favor.
Once again, the whole universe is a miraculous Divine Favor from the Lord, Allah, All Mighty. Therefore, all your living, dying, prayer, sacrifice, wealth and worship should be for your Lord, Allah, Glory to Him. A man once asked a holy religious scholar, “O master! How much is the Zakat (Alms) tax?” The scholar asked the man, “For you or for us?” The man said, “What do you mean by ‘you’ and ‘us’?” The holy scholar answered, “For you (i.e. ordinary Muslims) the Zakat is only 2.5%, but for us (i.e. knowledgeable holy scholars who know their Lord very well), the slave and his wealth are all for the Lord!”
Do you understand these words by which you begin your Muslim prayer:
“Say: ‘Truly, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, Lord of all worlds. Thus I have been commanded; and I am the first of those who surrender (to the Lord with Islam).”
This is the first meaning of Allah’s Beautiful Name, “Al-Wadoud” (The All-Loving).
The second meaning is that Allah, All Mighty, is “Wadoud” (All-Loving) for His slaves in the sense that He, Glory to Him, creates love and casts it among His slaves. Who casts love for children in the hearts of msh3er? If you go to an infant-hospital, you see something really amazing: different msh3er from all walks of life. Bedouin msh3er cry for their babies; msh3er who practice Hijab (Islamic veil), and those who do not, cry for their babies; educated and uneducated msh3er cry for their babies; believing and disbelieving msh3er cry for their babies; Muslim and non-Muslim msh3er cry for their babies. In fact, all msh3er, without any exception, cry for their babies if anything goes wrong with them. Who has cast such love for children in the hearts of msh3er? It is undoubtedly Allah, All Mighty, Most Gracious!
Therefore, one of the meanings of Allah’s Beautiful Name, “Al-Wadoud” (the All-Loving), is that He, Glory to Him, creates love and casts it among His slaves: fathers, msh3er, husbands, msh3er, siblings, and friends. They all enjoy love among them. To the same effect, Allah, Most Gracious, says
“And among His Signs is that He has created for you wives from among yourselves that you may find repose in them; and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed Signs for a people who reflect.”
Who creates such affection and mercy? It is Allah, Most Gracious!
A relative of mine was abroad for four or five years. Every year, he used to come here for one-month holiday in order to look for a good wife. But every year, he failed to find a suitable wife, his holiday ended and he had to go back to work for another year. After several years of search, he got nervous and wondered what the matter was. Anyway, on the last-but-one day of his holiday one year, he found a suitable wife and got married to her after a quick wedding party. The relationship between the young man and his wife lasted only for twenty-four hours, after which he had to go back to work abroad. The next day, when the just-married husband and wife had to say good-bye to each other, the wife cried sorrowfully, although her relationship with her husband lasted only for twenty-four hours. Who made such newly married wife so compassionate and loving for her young husband? I would like you to remember Allah’s foregoing Words:
“And among His Signs is that He has created for you wives from among yourselves that you may find repose in them; and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed Signs for a people who reflect.”
Therefore, the first meaning of Allah’s Beautiful Name “Al-Wadoud” (The All-Loving) is that He favors you with His Innumerable Divine Favors: good health, fresh water, delicious food and drink, fruits, fishes, birds,...etc. Some kinds of fishes are only for entertainment and not for eating. Why does Allah create them? Just for your pleasure and entertainment! Beautiful birds with their charming singing: why does He create them? Just for your pleasure and entertainment! Nice perfumes and beautiful flowers and roses: why does Allah create them? Just for you! In this context, I read an encyclopedia of 18 books about flowers. Each page contained one or more pictures of too many kinds of flowers. Who are flowers for? They are for you! If you give a rose to an animal, it eats it. This is because an animal does not know that a rose is for smelling and not for eating. A rose is meant to be for humans not for animals.
In winter, you may enjoy some indoor plants in your living room. Such indoor plants do not need a lot of sunshine. There are also other kinds of plants that grow outdoors and in water.
There are 300 kinds of grapes and many kinds of apples. One of our brother, who was in Africa, brought me a couple of bananas from Guinea. I asked, “What kind of bananas are these?” “They are especially for frying.” He answered. I was amazed because in our country bananas are fruit, but there in Guinea this kind of banana is for cooking. When I tasted the bananas, I found out that they could not be eaten without cooking. When I fried them, just as we do with potatoes, they tasted good. So, how many kinds of bananas did Allah create? There are also 3500 kinds of wheat.
Also, there are many kinds of oranges, some of which are juicy, while some are dry; some are sweet while some are sour, some are small while some are big, …etc. They are all but a manifestation of Allah’s Divine Love for man.
Hence, the first meaning of Allah’s Beautiful Name “Al-Wadoud” is that He loves His slaves; and the second meaning is that He creates love and casts it among His slaves. When you attend a family meeting, you notice how loving and compassionate they are for one another. This is because man is a social creature. But who has made him as such? People of the same profession sit for long hours talking pleasantly about their profession: doctors, teachers, engineers, merchants, workers, …etc. They all enjoy sitting together talking delightfully about their jobs, professions and vocations. This is but a manifestation of love and compassion that Allah casts into their hearts towards one another.
The third meaning of Allah’s Beautiful Name “Al-Wadoud” is that Allah, All-Loving in the sense that He, Most Gracious, seeks love of His slaves, just as they seek His Divine Love. And He casts love into their heart for one another and for Him. In this sense, this Divine Name has three meanings: love from the Lord for His slaves, love from slaves to their Lord, and love among slaves for one another. That is why Allah’s Messenger, (PBUH), says
“The zenith of wisdom, after belief in Allah, is to seek people’s love.”
Therefore, the wisest, cleverest and best thing a believer can do, after having believed in Allah, is to seek people’s love and friendship, in order to help them know the truth. To this effect, Allah, Most Gracious, All-Loving, says
“And by a Mercy from Allah you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from around you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allah’s) Forgiveness for them, and consult them in the affairs. Then, when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah. Certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).”
A Caliph once asked a scholar to admonish him, so the scholar said, “I shall admonish you harshly.” The Caliph asked in amazement, “And why harshly, my brother? Allah sent those who were much better than you to someone who was much worse than me: He sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh. Nevertheless, Allah bade Moses and Aaron to admonish Pharaoh gently. So, why should you be harsh with me?! Who told you that admonition requires harshness?!”
Imam Al-Fakhr Ar-Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, was one of the greatest religious scholars of his time. He used to have a great prestige and grand procession. One day, after having delivered his usual speech in a mosque, he went out with his disciples. He was neatly dressed and had a bright good-looking face. He came across a poor miserable Jew. The Jew looked at the Imam saying, “Hey you! You claim that your Prophet says that this present world is a mere prison for a true believer but Paradise for a disbeliever. So what prison you are in, and what Paradise am I in?!” The Imam looked at the Jew and said, “What I am in now is a mere prison if compared to that which Allah has prepared (of Bliss in the Hereafter) for His believing slaves; and what you are in now is Paradise if compared to that which Allah has prepared (of Punishment in the Hereafter) for disbelievers!” It is said that the Jew gave the Imam’s words a second thought and said, “I bear witness that no one has the right to be worshipped except Allah.” The Imam’s answer was indeed irrefutable. He wanted to say that all the glory and honor that he had due to his great knowledge and wisdom was a mere prison if compared to the Paradise, whose vastness is as great as the heavens and the earth, which Allah has prepared for him in the Hereafter.
This is exactly what Allah’s Messenger, (PBUH) says. A true believer’s transfer from the life of this present world to that of the Hereafter resembles the transfer of a newborn baby from its mother’s tiny womb to the extremely vast world. In this context it is worth mentioning that an embryo lives in its mother’s womb, which is not more than 750 cubic centimeters big. This is because before pregnancy, the mother’s womb is only about 2 cubic centimeters big, but after pregnancy it expands until it becomes about 750 cubic centimeters big in the end. Therefore, when man is born, he is transferred from his mother’s tiny womb to the vast world. The same thing happens to a true believer when he/she is transferred from the narrowness of this present world to the vastness of the world to come. In the Hereafter, a true believer will have whatever he desires and pleases. Allah, Most Gracious, addresses this issue:
“Verily, the dwellers of the Garden (of Paradise), that Day, will be busy with joyful things. They and their mates will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones. They will have therein fruits and all that they ask for. (It will be said to them): ‘Peace be upon you’ – a Saying from the Lord, Most Gracious. (It will be said to disbelievers): ‘Get you apart, this Day, criminals!’”
Such is real heroism: to be safe on the Day of Judgment, to be of the dwellers of Paradise. We all strive, we attend religious lectures, we lower our gaze, we show obedience to the Lord, we watch our tongues and steps, we read the Holy Quran, and we serve one another until the Day on which we shall be happy and prosperous.
In fact, man’s share of this Divine Name is to seek love of other fellow humans. Therefore, you should be loving and friendly to young children, old people, poor people, …etc. In short, you should deal with all people with mercy and respect, irrespective of their age or social status. This is the way a true believer behaves: he does well to all people in order to call them to Allah and His Religion.
Now, we still have another question: Is “Al-Woudd” (love) the same as “Ar-Rahmah” (mercy)? The answer is: “Al-Woudd” is love as manifested by practical behavior. In fact “Al-Mahabbah” (love as an inner feeling) and “Al-Woudd” (love as practical behavior) are two sides of the same coin, just like “Al-Ikhlass” (devotion, i.e. inner feeling) and “Al-‘Ibadah” (worship, i.e. practical obedience). In other words, when we speak of the inner feelings of inclination and attachment, this is “Mahabbah” love; but when we speak of practical manifestation and substantiation of love, this is “Woudd”.
Now, is there any difference between “Al-Woudd” (Practical love) and “Ar-Rahmah” (mercy)? Yes, of course. There is a great difference. “Ar-Rahmah” (mercy) is offered to a weak, helpless, miserable, ill, suffering person who is inferior to you, and, hence deserves your mercy; while “Al-Woudd” (love) is offered to sh3er not because they are inferior to you or are in need of your help. You offer your love gratis, i.e. without being asked or implored to do. Sometimes, someone asks you eagerly and earnestly to help him, to rescue him, to take him to hospital, or to lend him, or give him, some money. This person is in fact seeking your help; and if you do help him, this means that you are “Raheem” i.e. merciful. But when you visit a friend who is healthy and wealthy, so to speak, and you offer him a present out of your own free will, this is “Woudd” i.e. love. In other words, “Al-Woudd” is offered without request or imploration, but “Ar-Rahmah” is offered upon request, imploration or inferiority. When Allah, Most Gracious, created us, He was “Wadoud”, i.e. Loving. We were nothing, but He created us, honored us, and bestowed His Innumerable Divine Favors and Graces upon us. His “Woudd”, i.e. Love is Paramount.
One of the Abbasid Wali's (governors) of Damascus was forced to flee away with some of his men due to certain conspiracy against him. He took refuge in the house of a bighearted man who put him up most generously for more than four months although he did not know, or ask, who he was. When the fugitive governor wanted to travel to Baghdad, the host apologized profoundly, saying, “Perhaps we have not been generous enough!” although he did not know that he was the governor of Damascus.
Sometime later, the fugitive governor arrived in Baghdad and became a highly placed person in the Caliph’s palace, sp to speak, the Caliph’s Minister of the Interior. At the time, the Caliph’s name was Al-Mansour. When the newly appointed Minister of the Interior was in the Caliph’s palace, the police brought in someone, who was handcuffed and almost dead of torture, and laid him before the Caliph. The Caliph bade his Minister to put the man under his own personal custody, for he was very dangerous, until the next day, when he was to be executed. Due to the Minister’s great care, he took the man to his home and kept him there for the night. He asked him, “Where are you from?” The Minister asked. “I am from Damascus.” The man replied. “What’s the matter?” asked the Minister. “There was a great trouble and civil strife in Damascus, and I was falsely accused, severely tortured and brought here to be executed. I am innocent. I have done nothing.” Said the man. When the Minister heard that the man was from Damascus, he sympathized with him and said, “May Allah bless people of Damascus.” And the Minister began to tell the man his own story when he was governor of Damascus. He said, “I pray to Allah that one day I’ll be able to meet that generous noble man so that I may repay him.” The man said in great amazement, “I am the man you hope to meet. It was I who put you up in my home.” Of course neither the Minister nor the man was able to recognize each other because of the horrible condition the man was in and because of the great torture that he was made to suffer. Anyway, as soon as the Minister recognized the man, he hurriedly ordered to have his handcuffs removed, took him to his bathroom, gave him of his best clothes and set him free, saying, “You are free to do whatever you like. You can go if you like. I‘ll take responsibility of your whole matter before the Caliph. This is the least I can do to repay you.” The man said, “I can do nothing! Wherever I go, I’m sure the Caliph will get me!” The Minister said “I’ll go to the Caliph myself!” The next day, the Minister kept the man in his own home, and went to the Caliph on his own. When he saw the Minister coming alone, the Caliph thought than the prisoner had escaped. So, he addressed the Minister angrily, “Where is the prisoner? By Allah! If you tell me that he escaped, I’ll chop your head off!” “I have my own death-shroud with me. You can kill me if you like; but first listen to my story!” Said the Minister, and he told the Caliph about the man’s generosity and hospitality and how he helped him most generously although he did not know that he was the governor of Damascus. In great amazement, the Caliph said, “May Allah honor you! The man was generous to you although he did not know who you were, and now you would like to repay him, after you knew who he was. I’ll repay him for you! Fetch him to me and tell him that he is safe and secure!” The Caliph did not only receive the man warmly in his palace but also appointed him governor of Damascus. Notice how the man’s generosity and hospitality availed him a lot in time of distress: instead of being executed, he was appointed governor of Damascus! What good work!
The remarkable thing about this story is the Caliph’s words, “He was generous to know although he did not know who you were.” Such is real “Woudd” (love)! The Minister’s later repay was generous, but not as generous as that of the man. The Minister owed the man his life, and whatever he did to him, he would not repay him enough. Although the man did not know the man was the governor, he gave him shelter, welcomed him most generously and put him up for more than four months. This is real generosity! This is real “Woudd” (love)!
By the way, the man did not accept the Caliph’s offer of making him governor of Damascus; therefore, the Caliph sent a message to the governor of Damascus bidding him to take good care of the man and be very generous to him. Good work is never wasted, sinful work is never forgotten, and the Judge, Allah, is Ever-Living! Do whatever you like, because as you pay, you shall be repaid!
Man should always feel Allah’s Divine Favors and Graces to him:
“Have We not made for him (man) a pair of eyes.”
“O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the Generous, Who created you and made you in due measures? In whatever shape He desires He constructs you.”
“Be cursed (the disbelieving) man! How ungrateful he is! From what thing did He (Allah) create him? From a semen He created him and then set him in due proportion. Then He made the Path easy for him. Then He caused him to die and caused him to be put in a grave. Then, when He wills, He will resurrect him. Nay! But he (man) has not done what He (Allah) commanded him.”
Why should we wait? What prevents us from repentance and reform? What prevents us from offering prayers to the Lord, All-Loving? What prevents us from remembering Allah, Most Gracious, and doing well to other fellow humans?
Only those who are bounteous know what bounty is, and only those who are generous know what generosity is. The venerable Companion and Caliph, Omar Bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, was once walking in the roads of Medina, accompanied by the venerable Companion, Abdurrahman Bin ‘Aouf, may Allah be pleased with him, when they saw a caravan whose people were asleep. Omar said to Abdurrahman, “Let’s guard the caravan for the sake of Allah, for its people must be tired. They must be travelers who have valuable goods.” Suddenly, they heard the sound of a baby crying. Omar shouted to the baby’s mother, “Why don’t you nurse it?” The sound ceased for some time, but then the baby began to cry again. Omar went to the woman, saying, “Nurse the baby!” and again the woman managed to make the baby silent but did not nurse it. Then the baby began to cry again, which made Omar address the woman angrily, “You evil woman! I told you to nurse the baby!” The woman turned to Omar and said irritably, “This is none of your business, man! I’m trying to wean my baby because Omar doesn’t give us the “’Ata’” (i.e. special financial donation for children) except after weaning.” Omar was greatly shocked by the mother’s answer, so he hit his head regretfully and cried out, “Woe to you, Omar! What an awful suffering you have done to Muslim children!” The next day, Omar issued a command to begin the “’Ata’” donation once babies were born. When he stood to lead people in offering the Dawn Prayer, Muslims could not recognize the Quranic Verses he was reciting because of his sorrowful weeping; and in the night he was heard invoking Allah, All Mighty, “O my Lord! Have you accepted my repentance, so that I may congratulate myself, or have you rejected it, so that I may console myself?”
To wrap up, a good-doer is the happiest of all mankind. In a magazine, I once read a wise saying that goes: “If you desire to be happy, strive to make sh3er happy.”
Dear reader! Remember that Allah is Beneficent, and He, likes you to be beneficent.
