The second part of a short compilation from Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen's Tafseer collection, translated by Amatullah: Hearing of Allah “Verily! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Qur'an, 49:1) The hearing that our Lord describes is divided into two types: the hearing of awareness and the hearing of response. As for the first type of hearing, it means that Allah hears every voice said secretly or openly. He said to His Prophet: “Indeed Allah has heard the statement of her that disputes with you concerning her husband, and complains to Allah. And Allah hears the argument between you both. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer.” (Qur'an, 58:1) Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) said regarding the revelation of this verse, “All praise be to Allah, Who hears all voices. ‘The woman who disputed' came to the Prophet and argued with him while I was in another part of the room, unable to hear what she said.” Allah mentions in this verse that He heard the conversation between this woman and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) – this is the hearing of awareness. Furthermore this hearing of awareness is of three types: • Firstly, to declare that Allah surrounds and is aware of everything, as mentioned in the first verse above from Surah Mujadilah. • Secondly, to admonish and threaten, as Allah says: “Indeed, Allah has heard the statement of those who say: ‘Truly, Allah is poor and we are rich!' We shall record what they have said and their killing of the Prophets unjustly, and We shall say: ‘Taste you the torment of the burning (Fire).'” (Qur'an, 3:181) Allah says, “We shall record what they have said” after their attribution of deficiency to Allah. Then He says, “and their killings of the Prophets unjustly,” this shows that attributing deficiency to Allah is greater than killing the prophets. • Thirdly, for assistance and support. Allah says to Musa and Harun (peace be upon them): “Verily I am with you both, hearing and seeing.” (Qur'an, 20:46) The goal of the hearing mentioned here is for support, as if Allah is saying: “I Hear you, I will assist you and I hear what you both say and what is said to you both.” As for the second type of hearing, the hearing of response, it means that Allah answers the one who calls upon Him. This is mentioned in the Qur'an in Prophet Ibrahim's du'a (peace be upon him): “Verily! My Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.” (Qur'an, 14:39) So, Allah is the One who responds to the supplication. We also notice this said in prayer, “Sami' Allahu liman Hamidah” (Allah heard the one who praised him), meaning He responded to the one who praised Him and He rewarded him. Allah hears the one who praises Him and the one who does not praise Him, but the meaning here is that Allah answers the one who praises Him with reward and this hearing is the kind that points to the hearing of response. Hakeem before ‘Aleem After the angels announce the good news of a son to Ibrahim and Sarah (peace be upon them), Sarah expresses her shock and amazement. The angels tell her: “Thus has said your Lord; indeed, He is Al-Hakeem (the Wise), Al-'Aleem (the Knowing).” (Qur'an, 51:30) Here the Name of Allah Al-Hakeem (The Most Wise) comes before Al-'Aleem (The All- Knowing) because Hikmah (wisdom) precedes ‘Ilm (knowledge) in this particular situation. Wisdom here is for two things: • The delaying of a child for her. Giving her a child after she reached this old age is not without an underlying wisdom. • Giving her a child after she gave up hope in having children and she thought she was barren. So here we see two pieces of wisdom: Hikmah in what has already passed and Hikmah in what is to come. Al-'Aleem comes before Al-Hakeem in most verses of the Qur'an that connect these two Blessed Names. But in this verse, the situation of Sarah necessitates that Al-Hakeem precedes Al
