Al-Muqeet (The Overseer and All Able)

Al-Muqeet is mentioned once in the Qur’an and that is Allaah’s Statement:

مَن يَشفَع شَفاعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُن لَهُ نَصيبٌ مِنها ۖ وَمَن يَشفَع شَفاعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَكُن لَهُ كِفلٌ مِنها ۗ وَكانَ اللَّهُ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ مُقيتًا

“Whosoever intercedes for a good cause will have the reward thereof, and whosoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in its burden. And Allaah is Ever All-Able to do (and also an All-Witness to) everything.” [An-Nisa’ 4:85]

THE MEANING OF THIS BEAUTIFUL NAME:

Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) said: “The interpreters differed regarding the interpretation of Allaah’s Statement: ‘And Allaah is Muqeet over everything.‘ – Some said that it means that Allaah is All-Witnessing and a Guardian (Maintainer). Others said it means He Who disposes the affairs of everything. A third group said it means He is Al-Qadeer (All-Able to do everything).“

Then he (Ibn Jarir) added: “The most correct statement of all these is the one which says that Al-Muqeet is Al-Qadeer (the All-Able).“

It is also said that the Name means, the One who Sustains and Supports. According to the narration reported by Abu Dawoud, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever denies the right of those whom he Yuqeet (is supposed to support), is considered a sinner.“ [Abu Dawoud]

The narration reported by Muslim is that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whomever holds back the due of one whose living is in his hand is considered a sinner.” [Muslim]

Al-Qurtubi has identified the following three understandings of this Name:

1. The Master Who is Capable of anything, and Who rewards and punishes His creation.
2. The Sustainer and Supporter Who gives strength and ability to His creation.
3. The One Who maintains and witnesses over His creation.

In the book of “al-Maqsad al-Asna“, it is said that Al-Muqeet means the Creator of sustenance and provision and the One Who makes the food reach the bodies – and the One Who makes knowledge reach the hearts.

Accordingly, Al-Muqeet means Ar-Razzaq (The Sustainer, The Provider), except that Ar-Razzaq is more general because Rizq (The Sutenance) includes food and other than food while Qoot (Subsistence) is what is needed as a nutriment to strengthen the body.

Shaikh as-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said: “Al-Muqeet is the One who provides everything that is in existence with that which would strengthen it, Who provides it its nourishment, and directs it howsoever He wills, in accordance with His Wisdom and Praise.” [Tayseer al-Kareem ar-Rahman 5/302]

THE IMPACT OF BELIEVING IN THIS BEAUTIFUL NAME:

1- Indeed, Allaah is Al-Muqeet Who is Able to do everything.

2- He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) is the Provider of sustenance to all of His creation, the small and the big, the weak and the strong, the poor and the rich.

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Hud [11:6]:

وَما مِن دابَّةٍ فِي الأَرضِ إِلّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزقُها وَيَعلَمُ مُستَقَرَّها وَمُستَودَعَها ۚ كُلٌّ في كِتابٍ مُبينٍ

“And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allaah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterus, grave). All is in a Clear Book (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz – the Book of Decrees with Allaah).“

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) has decreed that for all His creation on the earth.

He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Fussilat [41:10]:

وَجَعَلَ فيها رَواسِيَ مِن فَوقِها وَبارَكَ فيها وَقَدَّرَ فيها أَقواتَها في أَربَعَةِ أَيّامٍ سَواءً لِلسّائِلينَ

“He placed therein (i.e. the earth) firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and measured therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four Days equal (i.e. all these four ‘days’ were equal in the length of time), for all those who ask (about its creation).“

Ibn Kathir (Rahimahullaah) said: “And measured therein its sustenance, means what its people need of provision and places in which to plant things and grow crops.” [Tafseer Ibn Kathir 4/93]

Al-Qurtubi said: “The meaning of ‘measured therein its sustenance,‘ is that He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) determined the sustenance of the people of one town and what formed their livelihoods by way of commerce, trees, and other benefits. In another town He did not determine the same bounties, in order for them (the creation) to benefit from each other through business and travelling from town to town.“ [Tafseer 15/342-343]

‘Ikrimah and Mujahid said concerning this verse that, “He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) placed in every land that which is not suited for any other land.“ [At-Tabari 21:436]

3- For every creation there is sustenance. The sustenance of the bodies is food and drink, the sustenance of the soul is knowledge and the sustenance of the angels is glorification.

In conclusion, Allaah He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) is the Muqeet for His slaves; the One Who protects them, witnesses them in all their states, the All-Watcher over them. This Name includes all the Attributes of Allaah He (Subhana wa Ta’ala).

It is incumbent upon every adult to know that there is no one disposing the affairs of the slaves except Allaah He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) and He is the One Who sustains and provides for them.

The best Rizq that Allaah provides His slave with is the mind. Whoever is provided with a mind is the One whom Allaah honored and whoever is deprived from that, then he is disgraced. [Al-Kitab al-Isna by al-Qurtubi]

Source:

📚  An-Nahj al-Asma Fii Sharh Asma’ Allaah ul-Husna by Shaikh Muhammad al-Humoud an-Najdi.

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