The Names of Allah are Tawqeefi (meaning: it is not permissible to explore their meanings or reflections unless it is explained in Sharia texts (the Quran and Sunnah). Therefore, when we call upon Allah, we call Him by His Names and Attributes, which are mentioned in the Quran or revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). In addition, the human mind is incapable of perceiving His Attributes and counting His Praise, so we praise Him as He has praised Himself. Understanding the Names and Attributes of Allah has numerous benefits, loving Allah, yearning for His presence, fearing Him, finding peace in Him, and hoping for His mercy. Undoubtedly, experiencing these benefits and their consequences, which purify the self and the pages of deeds, leads to paradise, the end of any Muslim, and the purpose of this life. In this article, we will explore the two Names of Allah, the All-Hearing (ٱلْسَّمِيعُ) and the All-Seeing (ٱلْبَصِيرُ).
The All-Hearing (ٱلْسَّمِيعُ)
He is the One Who Hears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing without an ear, instrument, or organ. He is the perpetual Hearer. He hears every supplication, listening to all who reach out to Him. Whether spoken in any language, by living beings, or even by inanimate objects. The Name of Allah ”All-Hearing (ٱلْسَّمِيعُ)” was mentioned in the Quran 45 times. Allah hears everything, He says in Surah Ar-Rad: 9 and 10
[He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Grand, the Exalted.
(عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ)
It is the same [to Him] concerning you whether one conceals [his] speech or one publicizes it and whether one is hidden by night or conspicuous [among others] by.
(سَوَاءٌ مِّنكُم مَّنْ أَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَمَن جَهَرَ بِهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ بِاللَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ)
His Might to hear is beyond our ability. He hears our whispers and our silent pleas. He hears what we express loudly or what we keep silent deep in our hearts. Al-Imam al-Ghazali says ” As-Samī means that He hears even that which is subtler than whispers or secrets. Allah even hears the thoughts that remain trapped in your mind, those that you have not even articulated. He says,
“Surely Allah knows best what is hidden in the heart” (Qur’an 5:7).
( إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ)
To be heard by Allah is to be responded to; one of the meanings of Allah’s Name ”As-Sami” is He is the One who responds to people’s supplications when they call upon Allah. As the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) made Dua, he said:
“O Allah, I seek refuge with You from knowledge that benefits not, from a heart that does not humble, from a soul that is not satisfied, and from a supplication that is not heard.“
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ وَمِنْ دُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ
When Duas (supplications) are not heard, it implies they are neither responded to nor accepted. A powerful reminder of Allah’s responsiveness is found in Salah, when Muslims say:
“Allah hears whoever praises Him.“
سَمِـعَ اللهُ لِمَـنْ حَمِـدَه
In our weakness and need, we feel the comfort of knowing that we are heard. This connection fosters a deeper bond with Allah, especially when we recognize that Al-Sami’, the All-Hearing, is always present to respond. Allah says in Surah Saba (34:50):
“Say, ‘If I should err, I would only err against myself. But if I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me. Indeed, He is Hearing and Near.’“
قُلْ إِن ضَلَلْتُ فَإِنَّمَا أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِي ۖ وَإِنِ اهْتَدَيْتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِي إِلَيَّ رَبِّي ۚ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ قَرِيبٌ
When Allah says He is Hearing and Near, it brings immense tranquility to the heart. It assures us that, no matter our circumstances, He is always attentive to our calls. This realization strengthens our connection with Allah, motivating us to seek His help with love, trust, and hope.
The All-Seeing (ٱلْبَصِيرُ)
The All-Noticing. The one who sees all things by His Eternal Seeing without a pupil or any other instrument. He is the One Who sees all things that are seen by His eternal Sight without a pupil or any other instrument. The Name of Allah was mentioned in the Quran more than 40 times, in Surah Al-Hadid, Ayah 4,
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.
(هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ)
This Ayah speaks about the Might of Allah and His ability to create. The Ayah ends with ”And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.” Al-Baseer sees everything, the apparent and the hidden, without using the faculty of vision. When applied to the Almighty, Glory to Him, His vision embodies the perfection that reveals the true qualities of anything that can be seen. Al-Basir is the complementary name to As-Sami, which means “The All Hearing.” The two meanings were gathered and mentioned in the story of the Prophet Musa when he was receiving the message from Allah to speak to Pharaoh and guide him to the worship of Allah. Allah said to His messenger Musa, in Surah Taha:46,
[Allah] said, “Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.
(قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا ۖ إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ)
The reason for not feeling scared is that Allah sees and hears. If we keep this meaning in mind, it spares us from committing sins. When the Prophet Muhammad was asked by Sayyiduna Jibril about what perfection is, he said
“To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you.” (أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ)
Ultimately, the concept of studying the Names and Qualities of Allah is to worship Him with the power of knowledge; when the faith is shielded by knowledge, nothing can easily shake it. Even in the scenario of sinning, the spiritual knowledge can enlighten our way back to Allah and guide us toward repentance and a renewed connection with Him!
