By Maliha Rahmat
Be it misery or delight, disease or health, blessing or misfortune, we are told that there is Allah’s Hikmah (wisdom) behind it because He is Al-Hakeem. It is one of the frequently occurring Names of Allah in the Holy Qur’an. Let us learn more about this Name.
Al-Hakeem occurred 94 times, Al-Hakam 114, and Al-Haakim 5 times in the Qur’an. Derived from same the root word hakama, these three Names mean the following: to prevent or restrain from falsehood and ignorance, to be Wise, to put in order, to pass judgment, to judge, and pass a verdict. It also means to put things in an appropriate place and time.
Allah (glory be to Him) completed the religion with His ultimate knowledge and wisdom. His commandments and judgments are with wisdom and equity.
{Is not Allah the most just of judges?} (Chapter 95, verse 8)
Whatever hurdles and trials we face have wisdom behind them. Behind everything is a result and wisdom. Allah mends everyone’s affairs with hikmah (wisdom).
There are two types of hikmah, or wisdom, of Allah (glory be to Him).
1. Hikmah in His creation; Allah’s creation was created with wisdom. He created a perfect structure for all creatures to live their lives. He did not leave them helpless.
{We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know.} (Chapter 44, verse 39)
Nothing has been created in vain; the creation is created for which it is qualified. Allah carries out the order of the world with His hikmah, or wisdom.
Allah (glory be to Him) created everything in the best stature, suited to their purpose. The birds have wings to fly; fish gills to breathe underwater, and humans have fingers to perform multiple tasks, etc…
2. Hikmah in His laws; Allah (glory be to Him) has revealed His laws through His messengers and the books revealed to them. The hikmah or wisdom behind the revelation is to let us know who The Creator is and how we must worship Him alone.
Allah called the Holy Qur’an as “Hakeem” in Surah Ya-Sin, {By the wise Qur’an} (Chapter 36, verse 2)
This means that the Qur’an is perfected, and falsehood cannot come to it.
In another chapter in the Holy Qur’an, Allah says, {Alif, Lam, Ra. [This is] a Book whose verses are perfected and then presented in detail from [one who is] Wise and Aware.} (Chapter 11, verse 1)
Learning about this beautiful Name of Allah surely fills the heart of the believer with faith and much more.
Having complete reliance on Allah, with of course putting effort to work for what we want, makes a believer content in this world.
The laws decreed from Allah should be accepted. For those who follow Allah’ laws and commands, there is honor and glory.
Believing in Allah’s ultimate wisdom makes a believer thankful and more patient when affliction strikes.
Allah grants wisdom to whomever He wills upon men and women. That should be one of the goals of a believer, to seek knowledge and wisdom.
{He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.} (Chapter 2, verse 262)
{And when Joseph reached maturity, We gave him judgment and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good.} (Chapter 12, verse 22)
Making right decisions at the right moments is also a part of hikmah or wisdom, and we should always try to behave and respond to those around us with wisdom.
The Prophets (peace be upon them all) were given wisdom and were commanded to call people to the religion of Allah with wisdom.
{Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.} (Chapter 16, verse 125)
Wisdom in Islamic literature was likened to a light.
In the Book of Imam Malik, Al-Muwatta, it is recorded that the righteous man, Luqman, when he counseled his son he said to him, “My son! Sit with the learned men and keep close to them. Allah gives life to the hearts with the light of wisdom as Allah gives life to the dead earth with the abundant rain of the sky.” (Muwatta Malik: Book 59, Hadith 1859)
