In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Allah’s name al-Mujeeb المجيب al-Qareeb القريب

By Shaykh Abdur-Razzaaq ibn Abdil-Muhsin al-Badr may Allah preserve him

The shaykh explains this beautiful Name in his book, “Fiqhul Asmaail Husnaa”. He says,

Allah combines between these two Names in His statement,

وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمۡ صَـٰلِحً۬ا‌ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُ ۥ‌ۖ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱسۡتَعۡمَرَكُمۡ فِيہَا فَٱسۡتَغۡفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى قَرِيبٌ۬ مُّجِيبٌ۬

“And to Thamud (people, We sent) their brother Salih. He said: ‘O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other ilah (god) but Him. He brought you forth from the earth and settled you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in repentance. Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His Knowledge), Responsive.’” [Surah Hud: 61]

The Name “al-Mujeeb” only appears in this part of the Qur’an.

As for “Al-Qareeb”, then it appears in two places:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ‌ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعۡوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ‌ۖ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِى وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِى لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُونَ

“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” [Surah Baqarah: 186]

and,

قُلۡ إِن ضَلَلۡتُ فَإِنَّمَآ أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِىۖ وَإِنِ ٱهۡتَدَيۡتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِىٓ إِلَىَّ رَبِّىٓۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ سَمِيعٌ۬ قَرِيبٌ۬

“Say: ‘If (even) I go astray, I shall stray only to my own loss. But if I remain guided, it is because of the Revelation of my Lord to me. Truly, He is All-Hearer, Ever Near (to all things).’” [Surah Saba: 50]

The Nearness of Allah, which these (last two) verses show, is a special closeness for those beloved worshipers who supplicate knowing that Allah will answer them.

The effects of the Name “al-Qareeb” is known through His graciousness towards His servants, through the success He grants them, and through the care He gives them.

From the effects of the Name “al-Qareeb” is that Allah answers those who call upon Him and grants them firmness. Just as Allah said,

وَقَالَ رَبُّڪُمُ ٱدۡعُونِىٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدۡخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ

“And your Lord said: ‘Invoke Me, (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!’” [Surah Ghaafir: 60]

It is affirmed in the Sunnah within numerous ahadith that shows the Closeness of Allah to His believing servants and pious awliyaa (close servants). He Hears their supplications, answers their call, and grants them their request.

In the Sahihayn (Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Abu Musaa al-Asha’ri, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

“We were with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on a journey when the people began to pronounce ‘Allahu Akbar’ in a loud voice.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ارْبَعُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَيْسَ تَدْعُونَ أَصَمَّ وَلاَ غَائِبًا إِنَّكُمْ تَدْعُونَ سَمِيعًا قَرِيبًا وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ

‘O people, show mercy to yourselves for you are not calling One who is deaf or absent. Verily, you are calling One who is All-Hearing (and) Near to you and is with you.’”

Also in the Sahihayn on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with Him, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah said,

إذا تقرب العبد إلي شبراً تقربت إليه ذراعاً، وإذا تقرب إلي ذراعاً تقربت منه باعاً، وإذا أتاني يمشي أتيته هرولة

‘When a slave of Mine draws near to Me a span, I draw near to him a cubit; and if he draws near to Me a cubit, I draw near to him a fathom. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.’”

Allah’s Name “al-Mujeeb” shows that Allah hears the supplications of those who call, answers the requests of those who ask, and does not disappoint the believer who supplicates. Allah Loves for His servants to ask for all of their religious and worldly needs and benefits. He Loves for His servants to ask Him for food, drink, clothing, and housing just as they ask for guidance, forgiveness, success, righteousness, aid in obedience, and other than that. Allah promised to respond no matter how big the request, the amount of asking and diversity of desires.

This shows the completeness of Allah’s capability and kingship. His treasures never runs out or decreases when He gives; even if He gave to the first and last of jinn and mankind. It comes in a Hadith Qudsee that Allah said,

يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ قَامُوا فِي صَعِيدٍ وَاحِدٍ فَسَأَلُونِي فَأَعْطَيْتُ كُلَّ إِنْسَانٍ مَسْأَلَتَهُ مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا عِنْدِي إِلاَّ كَمَا يَنْقُصُ الْمِخْيَطُ إِذَا أُدْخِلَ الْبَحْرَ

“O My servants, even if the first among you and the last among you and the whole human race of yours and that of jinns also all stand in one plain ground and you ask Me and I confer upon every person what he asks for, it would not. in any way, cause any loss to Me (even less) than that which is caused to the ocean by dipping the needle in it.” [Muslim]

And in the Sahihayn on the authority of Abu Huraryah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلاَ يَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ وَلَكِنْ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ وَلْيُعَظِّمِ الرَّغْبَةَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَتَعَاظَمُهُ شَىْءٌ أَعْطَاهُ

“When one of you makes a supplication (to his Lord) one should not say: ‘O Allah, grant me pardon, if You wish, but one should beg Him with a will and full devotion, for there is nothing so great to Allah which He cannot grant”

And there are numerous hadith that speak about the desirability of making supplication.

Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and other than them narrate on the authority of Salman al-Faarisi, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said,

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ حَيِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ, يَسْتَحِي مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا رَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ يَدَيْهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّهُمَا صِفَرًا

“Indeed your Lord is Modest and Generous, and would never turn the hands of a slave without gain when he raises them to Him (in supplication).”

And in the hadith of Allah’s descent, the Prophet said,

يَنْزِلُ رَبُّنَا تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا حِينَ يَبْقَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ يَدْعُونِي فَأَسْتَجِيبَ لَهُ وَمَنْ يَسْأَلُنِي فَأُعْطِيَهُ وَمَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُنِي فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ

“Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left, and says: ‘Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may forgive him?’” [Bukhari and Muslim]

This hadith is Mutawaatir on the Prophet, peace be upon him, and has been reported by 28 companions.

There comes in a Hadith Qudsee that clarifies the status of the pious Awliyaa (close servants) in which Allah said,

من عادى لي وليا فقد آذنته بالحرب‏.‏ وما تقرب إلي عبدي بشيء أحب إلي مما افترضت عليه، وما يزال عبدي يتقرب إلي بالنوافل حتى أحبه، فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به، وبصره الذي يبصر به، ويده التي يبطش بها، ورجله التي يمشي بها، وإن سألني أعطيته؛ ولئن استعاذني لأعيذنه

“I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshiper of Mine. And the most beloved thing with which My servant comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him; and My servant keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (prayer or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him. When I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (something) from Me, I give him, and if he asks My Protection (refuge), I protect him” [Bukhari]

These texts show that Allah does not reject those pious servants who ask Him, and does not disappoint whoever hopes in Him.

However, perhaps there are some who supplicate and are not answered. The answer to this is that Allah’s response in various ways:

1. Sometimes the response comes immediately
2. Sometimes the response happens but is delayed for a wisdom
3. Sometimes the response happens but not in a manner that was asked for. In reality, this response may be better than the original supplication.
4. And sometimes the response is replaced with a reward that will be received on the Day of Judgement.

Imaam Ahmad, Bukhari, Haakim, and other than them collects a hadith on the authority of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said,

ما من مسلم يدعو بدعوة ليس فيها إثم ولا قطيعة رحم إلا أعطاه الله بها إحدى ثلاث : إما أن تعجل له دعوته ، وإما أن يدخرها له في الآخرة ، وإما أن يصرف عنه من السوء مثلها . قالوا إذن تكثر . قال الله أكثر

“There is no Muslim who supplicates to Allah, with a supplication that does not contain any sin or cutting off kin relations, except that Allah will give him one of three things: either He will speedily answer his supplication, or He will save it for him until the Hereafter, or that He will repel something bad from him equal to the value of his supplication.”

The companions said: “So, we will supplicate a lot.” Thereupon, the Prophet said: “Allah will accept even more.”

From the effects of having faith in this Name of Allah, “al-Mujeeb” is that it strengthens the certainty the servant has in Allah. It increases the servant’s hope in having his supplications answered.

And how can the slave not be confident/certain in his Lord, al-Jawwaad al-Kareem, when Allah has the whole dominion in His Hand? He owns the creation, all affairs, and the dominion. He is deserving of all praise, He controls the worldly life and Hereafter, with Him is all blessings and virtue, praise and good.

يَسۡـَٔلُهُ ۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ كُلَّ يَوۡمٍ هُوَ فِى شَأۡنٍ۬

“Whosoever is in the heavens and on earth begs of Him (its needs from Him). Every day He is (engaged) in some affair (such as giving honor or disgrace to some, life or death to some, etc.)!” [Surah Rahman: 29]

Blessed be He, the Lord of everything that exists!

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله