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We will pause here with Allah’s name “Al-Latīf”, taking from its light and enjoying its shade.
Allah Almighty says: {...Indeed, my Lord is All-Subtle (Most Kind) in what He wills. Indeed, it is He Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.} [Surat Yūsuf: 100]
He also says: {No vision can encompass Him, but He encompasses all vision, and He is the Most Subtle, the All-Aware.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 103]
In Arabic, “Latīf” is derived from “lutf”, which means kindness, hospitality, generosity, gentleness, and awareness of subtle things.
So, when kindness in actions comes together with subtlety in cognizance, this conveys the meaning of Allah’s name “Al-Latīf”.
Our Lord, Exalted be He, is the Most Kind. None is more kind than Him. He shows kindness to His servants and does not hasten to punish them for their sins. Nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him, no matter how small or subtle it may be.
Our Lord is the One Who is good and kind to His servants and shows them benevolence in ways not apparent to them. {Allah is Most Kind to His servants, and He provides for whomever He wills...} [Surat ash-Shūra: 19] He is the One Who provides for His servants from where they do not expect.
And our Lord is the One not perceived by senses and not seen by eyes: {Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the All-Subtle, the All-Aware.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 103]
Allah Almighty gives us more than what we need, charges us with duties below our capacity, and makes it easy for us to attain happiness in a short period of time: {...Indeed, my Lord is All-Subtle (Most Kind) in what He wills...} [Surat Yūsuf: 100]
He is the Most Kind to His servants, and He knows the secrets of the matters, and He reveals His might and shows His kindness.
His kindness is of two types: His kindness when He bestows blessings and His kindness when He pardons the heedlessness of His servants.
Your Lord, the Most Generous and the Most Kind, bestows His favors upon you in a kind and gentle manner, and He knows your situation better than you do and He is more Kind to you than your own self.
So, when the Most Kind Lord wants to show mercy to you, He sends the light of faith into your soul. As a result, your heart will radiate with its light and you will become averse to immoralities and temptations and keep away from sins. {...And He is the All-Subtle, the All-Aware.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 103]
When Allah wants to support you, He can command something, which is otherwise not a means of support, and make it one of the best means of support for you. Indeed, He is: {...the All-Subtle, the All-Aware.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 103]
And when the All-Subtle Lord wants to cure you, He causes this to happen by the most unlikely or the weakest of means. Indeed, He is: {...the All-Subtle, the All-Aware.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 103]
Also, when the All-Subtle wants to give you sustenance, He facilitates for you things probably unknown to you. For example, He may send a poor person to you and you give him. In return, he supplicates for you, and his supplication gets answered, after which abundant sustenance comes your way, according to His will, while you are not aware of all this. Indeed, He is: {...the All-Subtle, the All-Aware.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 103]
If we knew what Allah keeps in store for us, we would feel an intense desire to meet Him.
How often we fall ill and He cures us!
How often we are hit by hardships and He removes them!
How often He helps us repay our debts!
And how often He sends relief after we are in distress!
This does not happen by our strength or power, but only through His grace and kindness.
If others knock on the doors of kings, you go and knock on the door of the Almighty King.
And if they stand in the court of a ruler, you stand in the court of the Most Generous Lord.
If you suffer a severe illness or a heavy debt, grieve over the absence of someone you love, fear for your children, and get tired of poverty, remember then that Allah is: {...the All-Subtle, the All-Aware.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 103]
The keys to relief are in His hand, His storehouses are full, and He is indeed the Most Generous. {And there is not a thing but that with Us are its stores...} [Surat al-Hijr: 21]
Happiness, security, comfort, pleasure, and cure are with Him, and in His hand is the dominion of all things, and He is over everything competent.
So, do not be distressed while you are in His company no matter how hard you suffer in this world. You should know that this is the means to you being selected by Allah Almighty, just as what happened to Yūsuf (Joseph) (peace be upon him).
And if you miss things that you think were the cause of your happiness, be certain that Allah kept them away from you before they become the cause of your misery.
If you want to be in the company of Allah, the All-Subtle, adhere to His Shariah, show gratitude for His favors, reflect upon His universe and creation, enjoy His remembrance and listen to His words, and be pleased with Him as your Lord, with His Book as a way, and with Muhammad as a Messenger.
Indeed, a person can only win the company of Allah through endeavor and hard work. And if he gets it, his heart will be filled with cheerfulness and his distress will go away, and he will forget the troubles and hardships of this world.
Our Kind Lord loves kindness and loves that we treat each other kindly and compassionately.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said: “Shall I inform you of the person to whom Hellfire is forbidden, or the one who is forbidden from (entering) Hellfire? It is forbidden for everyone who is close (to people due to his modesty), lenient, and easy-going.” [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; Sahīh (authentic)]
When you need your Lord to show you kindness and remove your distress or hardship, turn to Him in weakness and total submission and show kindness to Muslims, especially the weak amongst them.
My Lord, it befits You to be Kind and Benevolent! My Lord, my heart is in distress; so grant me Your pardon and relief!
All bounty and generosity belong to You. And my condition is indeed pitiful; and I am broken and humble.
O Allah, show us kindness, give us a sense of intimacy in closeness to You, help us worship You properly, and grant us a good ending in life.