Pure Islaam

MARCH 2, 2016 · 12:44 AM

The Meaning Of The Name Ath-Thahir “‫”اﻟﻈﺎﻫﺮ‬

‫اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﻴﻢ‬ ‫ﺑﺴﻢ‬

Sheikh Ali Al Faqeehi states, Az-Zujaaj mentions that it has two meanings. So if you were
to take it on its apparent it would imply that He (Allah) is manifest by why of the intellect
due to the proofs and evidence of His existence and His oneness. However if you take its
meaning from the usage of the Arab (when they say), “So and So ascended (the verb used
َ
is َ‫)ﻇﻬﺮ‬ above the roof; (meaning) whenever he is elevated. Thus it is from being elevated
and Allah The Exalted is above everything. 

In conclusion, from Allah’s names is Ath-Thahir meaning it is He who has risen over
(ascended) everything and is above everything. [‫]ﻛﺘﺎب اﻟﺘﻮﺣﻴﺪ ﻻﺑﻦ ﻣﻨﺪه ﻣﻊ ﺗﻌﻠﻴﻘﺎت اﻟﺸﻴﺦ اﻟﻔﻘﻴﻬﻲ‬

Ibn-ul-Qayyum said, His (Allah) state of being elevated (‫)ﻇﺎﻫ ِﺮﻳﺘﻪ‬

ِ means the state of being
above everything. [‫]ﻃﺮﻳﻖ اﻟﻬﺠﺮﺗﻴﻦ‬

This interpretation that we find repeated by the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah is derived
directly from the statement of the Messenger -sallahu alayhi wa salaam- when, while
supplicating, he said “O Allah, you are Al-Awwal there is nothing before you, and You
are Al-Akhir and there is nothing after you, You are Ath-Thahir and there is nothing
above you, and You are Al-Batin and there is nothing closer than you…” Collected by
Muslim.

In this supplication the Prophet -sallahu alayhi wa salaam- explained the intent and
meanings of these names making it binding upon all to affirm.

Compiled by Najeeb ibn Yusuf Al Anjelesi