An-Nu’man bin al-Bashir (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Verily supplication is worship.” The fact that the human being was created in a state of need to God makes him seek all the possibilities to connect to the creator of this world. Allah knows the son of Adam’s nature and He designated some worships to shorten the distance between Allah and the Man, Dua is one of these ways, and what a beautiful and most responded dua that starts with praising and glorifying Allah with His Names. This article will explore the explanation of names of Allah, The Exalter (ٱلْرَّافِعُ), The Honourer-Bestower (الْمُعِزِّ), and The Humiliator (ٱلْمُذِلُّ), and their reflections on believer’s faith.
ٱلْرَّافِعُ
The Exalter
He is the One Who lowers whomever He willed by His Destruction and raises whomever He wills by His Endowment. This name is contrasted with Al-Khafid, meaning The Reducer. He raises some of His believers to the rank He wills like the prophets, and He disgraced whomever He wishes as a way of punishment. Allah’s power to uplift those who are righteous, knowledgeable, and humble before Him in this life and the Hereafter. Allah said in Surah Al-Mujadilah, Ayah 11 ”Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.” (يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ). All the ranks, positions, and statues are controlled by the Hands of Allah. This modern world convinces you that it is ruled by the principles of materialism, but Allah is telling us that it is ruled by Him. The heart of the believer is able to face the speed of this world by the protection of Allah, to know deep in the heart that no one can uplift you if Allah wills the opposite. The job or the position you seek is destined by Allah. What is with Allah can only be attained by obeying Him. Also, the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) reflect the significance of Allah’s Name, The Exalter (ٱلْرَّافِعُ) when he said ”No one will humble himself for God’s sake without God exalting him.” Your position among people is ruled by the will of Allah, as Allah controls the love and hatred among people. Your strength is inspired by the fact that everything is in the Hand of Allah, as it makes you only rely upon Him, seek His Pleasure, and reject sins and wrong-doings.
الْمُعِزِّ ٱلْمُذِلُّ
The Honourer-Bestower and The Humiliator
He is the Giver of Honor and the Humiliator. He is the One who grants power and honor. Power means strength, might, and victory. He decreed power to whomever He wills, and all the world shall follow His orders. All the obstacles shall be removed paving the way to the glory of His believers. Glory can be only obtained from Allah, He said in Surah Al-Nisaa:139 ”Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely.” (الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ الْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ الْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا). This meaning has two reflections, the personal aspect and the global aspect. Your honor, respect, and dignity can be only obtained by Allah, even if life seems like a chain of action, all of these loops are made by Allah. He controls the beginning and the end. People fight to gain power and they forget in the middle of their challenges that this world is created and ruled by His Creator. Your source of honor among people is from Allah. Allah said in Surah Al-Imran:26 ”Say, “O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”(قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ). This Ayah explains the global aspect of the two Names of Allah The Honourer-Bestower and The Humiliator. Sovereignty and ruling are granted or taken away by Allah.
The opposite action of honoring is disgracing, as Allah honors people, He also disgraces. The Humiliator is the One Who gives esteem to whomever He willed; and there is no one to degrade him. The One Who degrades whomever He willed; and there is no one to give him esteem. The prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to repeat ”O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from poverty, lack and abasement, and I seek refuge in Thee lest I cause or suffer wrong”. The teachings of the prophet Muhammad recommended us to supplicate to Allah seeking refuge against lack, abasement and disgrace. The disgrace in this life and the hereafter is by Allah, and we are required to consider reasons and ways to be save from disgrace. The Ayah in Surah Fatir:10 manifests the mechanism of how people are honored or disgraced, ”Whoever desires honor [through power] – then to Allah belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those – it will perish. (مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَمَكْرُ أُولَٰئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ). May Allah make peace between us and guide us on the path of Islam. Save us from the darkness (and bring us) to the light. Remove acts of deviance from us, both open and hidden. Bless us in our ears, our eyes, our hearts, our wives and our children. Turn to us. You are the Ever-Turning back (to his slaves), Most Merciful. Make us thankful for Your blessing and make us among those who give praise for it and proclaim it. Perfect it for us.
