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Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “The more a person is knowledgeable of Allah and His names, attributes, actions, and rulings, the more fearful and heedful of Him he becomes. Indeed, fear of Allah decreases as much as knowledge of Him decreases.
When a person knows that Allah is the Encompassing, he feels reassured, his grief goes away, and his heart gets attached to his Encompassing Lord.”
Allah Almighty informs His servants that He is the Encompassing. He says: {And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And Allah is ever Encompassing of all things.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 126]
Nothing whatsoever escapes the knowledge of our Lord, Exalted and Glorified be He, be it great or small, outward or inward. He describes Himself saying: {Surely He is Encompassing of all things.} [Surat Fussilat: 54]
His encompassing includes His knowledge and His watchfulness of all things, as it includes His power and the fact that nothing can escape Him. He also encompasses things by His authority and judgment.
It is stated in Sharh Al-Tahāwiyyah, “As for Him being Encompassing, Allah Almighty says: {And Allah encompasses them from all sides.} [Surat al-Burūj: 20] {Surely He is Encompassing of all things.} [Surat Fussilat: 54] This, however, does not mean that the creatures are inside the Holy Self of Allah - far Exalted is He above that saying!
Yet, it means that He encompasses everything by His greatness, knowledge, and power. Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘The seven heavens and the seven earths and what exists therein and between them are in the Hand of the Most Merciful, like a mustard seed in the hand of anyone of you.’”
He encompasses His servants in a complete and perfect manner. None can escape His knowledge or power. He encompasses their selves, words, and deeds. In the Qur’an, He says: {And that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.} [Surat at-Talāq: 12]
This is the general encompassing of the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, which is the encompassing of mercy.
As for His specific encompassing, that is of power and vanquishing, which includes His threat to the sinful and obstinate people.
This name more often comes along with threats to the disbelievers and hypocrites. Allah Almighty knows their cunning plots and their lies, and He encompasses them from all sides, and is Ever-Watchful over them. To Him they will all return ultimately, and none of them can escape!
About the disbelievers, Allah Almighty says: {But Allah is Encompassing of the disbelievers.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 19]
And about people who show off and act boastfully, He says: {And do not be like those who came forth from their homes boastfully and to be seen by people and avert [them] from the way of Allah. And Allah is All-Encompassing of what they do.} [Surat al-Anfāl: 47]
And Allah Almighty says about the people who gloat and devise evil plots from among the disbelievers and the hypocrites: {If good touches you, it distresses them; but if harm strikes you, they rejoice at it. And if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is All-Encompassing of what they do.} [Surat Āl-‘Imrān: 120]
When the punishment of Allah descends upon some people, it encompasses them: {Verily I fear for you the torment of an encompassing Day.} [Surat Hūd: 84]
On the Day of Judgment, Hellfire will encompass the disbelievers: {Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will encompass them.} [Surat al-Kahf: 29]
As the believer knows that Allah Almighty is the Encompassing, he feels reassured and relies upon his Lord and fears Him. He does not think that Allah’s support will come late, nor does he despair of His mercy or lose hope for relief. Indeed, relief will come to him without any doubt!
He knows that the scuttling of the ship is an act of complete kindness, the killing of the boy is an act of perfect mercy, and the concealment of the treasure of the two orphans is an act of utmost loyalty. {And how can you have patience in something about which you have no knowledge?} [Surat al-Kahf: 68]
Yet all matters are predestined and happen at certain times, not before or after. Indeed, everything with Allah has a determined term: {And if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is Encompassing of what they do.} [Surat Āl-‘Imrān: 120]
However, Allah Almighty set a certain measure for everything. It has a specific time, which it cannot miss. So, when something is predestined to happen, none can delay it or bring it forward even for a single hour.
Any distress has its specific term after which it goes away. So, we should not be in rush to get what we want and get rid of unpleasant things. This is not our decision or responsibility. What we are required to do is to pursue the proper means and display patience. Indeed, help and relief from Allah Almighty reach those who seek it everywhere!
Ibrāhīm (Abraham) (peace be upon him) was surrounded and thrown into the fire. And then it was nothing but coolness and peace for him!
Likewise, Yūsuf (Joseph) (peace be upon him) was surrounded by his siblings, who threw him into the well. And he was surrounded another time by the governor’s wife and other women with her. And he was put in jail. But Allah, the Encompassing, dispelled the plots of the enemies and granted victory and support to Yūsuf, putting him in charge of the treasures of the country at the time.
The household of the mother of Mūsa (Moses) (peace be upon him) was surrounded, and she had to throw him into the river. Yet, this turned out favorably for her and him, and he returned to her while she was reassured.
Pharaoh surrounded Moses (peace be upon him) and his followers, yet this ended up in destruction for Pharaoh and victory for Moses!
The disbelievers surrounded the Prophet’s house, and he left Makkah, expelled and sorrowful. Then, Allah Almighty encompassed his enemies and he later came back to the city, victorious!
As the believer recalls that Allah is the Encompassing, he increases in faith and pleasure about his Lord and he flees to Him, being humbly submissive to His greatness and commands, in line with the verse that says: {Therefore flee to Allah. Surely I am a clear warner to you from Him.} [Surat adh-Dhāriyāt: 50]
To You I seek refuge, and who else can grant refuge!
Give refuge to a weak servant who needs Your protection!
I have tried every refuge in my life but found no refuge
more mighty and honorable than Your refuge!
So, answer my supplication and respond to my earnest request.
Indeed, whoever supplicates You and turns to You in hope is never disappointed!
O Allah, we implore You by Your Name "the Encompassing" to encompass our enemies with punishment and give us relief from every distress and a way out from every hardship!