Al-Wahhab (The Bestower)

 Source:

An-Nahj Al-Asma fii Sharh Asma’u Allah-ul-Husna, by Shaikh Muhammad Al-Humood Al-Najdi.

The Name Al-Wahhab is mentioned three times in the Qur’an. Once in Surat Al-Imran (3:8), Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) says:

رَّبنا لا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بعد إن هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لنا من لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إنّك أنت الوهّاب

رحمةِ ربِّكَ العزيزِ الوَهّاب

“Or have they the Treasures of the Mercy of your Lord, the All-Mighty, the Real Bestower?”

  And twice in Surat Saad. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) says in verse (38:9):

أَمْ عِندَهُم خَزَائِن رحْمَةِ رَبكَ العَزيزِ الوَهابِ

““Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.””

 and also in Surat Saad verse (38:35):

 The meaning of this Beautiful Name:

 Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) said in the interpretation of Allah’s statement:

إنّك أنتّ الوهّاب

“Verily, You are the Bestower.”(Saad 38:35) 

“That verily, You are the One Who grants Your slaves the guidance and firmness in the religion to believe in Your Books and Messengers.” 

He added, “Al-Wahhab (The Bestower) is He who bestows kingdom, power and prophet hood to whomever He wills of His creation. In Your Hand the Treasures of everything. You give whatever You will (from that treasure) to whomever You will (among Your creation).” [At-Tabari 3/125]

Al-Khattabi (Rahimahullaah) said: “Al-Wahhab is the One who generously gives without asking or waiting for something in return from anyone.” [Sha’n Ad-Du’a]

 The impact of believing in this Name:

1-    The real Bestower is Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) Alone. All the treasures are in His hands and to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and  the earth.

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) says in Surat Ash-Shura (42:49-50):

لِلّهِ مُلْكُ السموات والأرض يَخْلُقُ مايشاءُ يَهَبُ لمن يَشَاءُ إِناثاً ويَهَبُ لمن يشاءُ الذّكور

أو يُزَوّجُهم ذُكْراناً وإناثاً ويَجعَلُ من يشاء عقيماً إنّه عليم قدير

“To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows females upon whom He wills and males upon whom He wills. Or He bestows both males and females, and He renders barren whom He wills. Verily, he is the All-Knower and is Able to do all things.”

Ibn Kathir (Rahimahullaah) said: “Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) tells us that He is the Creator, Sovereign and controller of the heavens and the earth. Whatever He wills will happen, and whatever He does not will does not happen. He gives to whomever He wills and withholds from whomsoever He wills; none can withhold what He gives, and none can give what He withholds, and He creates whatever He wills.”

Then he (Ibn Kathir (Rahimahullaah)) added: “So people are divided into four categories; some are given daughters, some are given sons, some are  given both sons and daughters, and some are given neither sons nor daughters, but they are rendered barren, with no offspring. “Verily, He is the All-Knower,” meaning He knows who deserves to be in which of these categories, “and He is Able (to do all things),” meaning, He does whatever He wills and differentiates between people in this manner.” [Tafseer Ibn Kathir 4/121]

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) bestows upon whomever He wills whatever He wills because He is the Owner of the Kingdom. While the slaves are owned by Him (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala). In fact, the slaves own nothing.

 Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) says in Surat An-Nahl (16:75):

ضَرَبَ اللّهُ مَثَلاً عبداً مملوكا لَّا يَقِدْرُ على شيءٍ

      “Allah puts for ward the examples; a slave under the possession of another, he has no power of any sort.”

2-    The difference between the granting of the Creator and the created (human being):

 Al-Khattab (Rahimahullaah) said: “Whoever gives anything of worldly matters to another person is considered Wahib (a giver), but he doesn’t deserve to be called Wahhab (a Bestower) except if he gives abundant blessings perpetually. The created (humans) give money or gifts in certain cases, but other than that they do not have the power to grant healing to a sick person, nor a son to a barren person, or guidance for a lost (or strayed) person, nor can they grant well-being for an afflicted person. And Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala), Al-Wahhab, has the power to grant all that. His generosity envelops and extend the whole creation His granting of blessings is abundant and continuous.” [Sha’n ad-Du’a]

 Most of the creation give for something in return. Such as a man who gives to be praised by the people or to gain the reward in the hereafter. While Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) gives all who are in need, for nothing in return. He gives in this life, to the deserving and undeserving, to the good and the evil.

 3-    Prophet hood and the Books were gifts from Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) which He confers upon whomever He wills of the His  slaves. Many people denied this matter upon their Messengers. As Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) has mentioned about the people of Prophet Salih (‘Alayhissalam) that they said:

 أَءُلْقِيَ الذِّكْرُ عليه من بيننا بل هو كذّابٌ أَشِر

“Is it that the Reminder is sent to him alone from among us? Nay, he is an insolent liar!” [Al-Qamar 54:25]

 And Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) said in regards to the disbelievers of Quraish:

.أَءُنزِلَ عليه الذكر من بيننا بل هم في شكٍّ مِنّ ذِكري بل لّمَّا يذوقوا عذاب

 .أم عندهم خَزَائنُ رحمةِ ربّكَ العزيزِ الوهّاب

 “Has the Reminder been sent down to him (alone) from among us?” Nay! But they are in doubt about My reminder (this Qur’an)! Nay, but they have not tasted (My) Torment! Or have they the Treasures of the Mercy of your Lord, the All-Mighty, the Real Bestower?” [Saad 38:8-9]

Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) said:“Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) says, ‘do these disbelievers (polytheists), who deny Allah’s inspiration to Muhammad (Salla Allaahu alaihi wa sallam), have the Treasures of the Mercy of Your Lord (i.e. the Keys of the Treasures) your Lord who is Mighty in Power, the Bestower of whatever He wills of kingdom, power and prophet hood to whomever He wills, such that they stop (prevent) what Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) has bestowed upon you of honor and favored you with messenger ship.” [Jamie’ al-Bayan]

 Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) also said about Ibrahim (Abraham) (‘Alayhissalam) in Surat Al-Ankabut (29:27):

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسحاقَ ويعقوبَ وجعلنا في ذُرِّيَّنِهِ الّنبُوّة والكتاب

“And we bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and ordained among his offspring prophet hood and the Book.”

 And He (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) said about Musu (Moses) (‘Alayhissalam) in Surat Ash-Shua’ra’ (26:21):

فَوَهَبَ لي رَبِّي حُكْماً وجعلني من المُرْسَلين

  “My Lord has granted me “Hukman” (i.e. Religious knowledge, wisdom, and prophet hood), and appointed me as one of the messengers.”

 4-    Kingdom and authority are also gifts from Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala).

 Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Al-Baqarah (2:247):

والله يُؤْتيِ مُلْكَهُ من يشاءُ واللّهُ واسعٌ عليم

     “And Allah grants His Kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.”

 Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) also said in Surat An-Nisa’ (4:54):

فقد آتينا ألَ إِبراهيمَ الكتاب والحكمةَ وآتيناهم مُلْكاً عظيماً

    “Then we had already given the family of Abraham the Book and Al-Hikmah (Prophetic teachings) and conferred upon Him a great kingdom.”

 Solomon (‘Alayhissalam) invoked his Lord (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) and said:

قال رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لي وَهَبْ لي مُلْكاً لاينبغى لأحد من بعدي إنّك أنت الوهاب

     “He said: ‘My Lord! Forgive me, and bestow upon me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me: verily, You are the Bestower.” (Saad 38:35)

 Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) ,Al-Wahhab, responded to his request:

.فَسَخّرْنا له الرّيحَ تَجْري بأمِرِهِ رُخَاءً حيث أصاب.و الشياطين كُلٌ بَنّاءٍ و غَواصٍ

 .وآخرين مُقَرنين في الأصفاد هذا عطاؤُنا فامنُنْ أَو أَمْسِكْ بغير حساب.

 “So, we subjected to him the wind; it blew gently by his order whither soever he willed. And also the Shaytin ( devils from the Jinn including) every kind of builder and diver. And also others bound in fetters. (Saying of Allah to Solomon): ‘This is Our gift, so spend you or with hold, no account will be asked (i.e. without account).” (Saad 38:36-39)

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) subjected the wind to him to carry him wherever he willed. And (also) the devils (of jinn) made for him what he willed of elevated chambers, status, bowls like reservoirs and stationary battles. They also dived in the sea to bring out pearls for him. Indeed, it was a great kingdom, the richest and most powerful human fails to grant something like it. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) said, “This is Our gift,” to whomever He wills of His creation.

 Note: Solomon (‘Alayhissalam) asked Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) to grant him a kingdom that will not belong to anyone after him, not to show his eagerness or desire for this worldly life, but for the sake of knowing his position with Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) in responding to what he asked for and to know if his repentance was accepted by Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) or not.

Him asking for a kingdom that will not belong to anyone after him, means grant me a kingdom that you specify me with as an honor from you to me, to show my position with you and distinguish me from others. [Jamie’ Al-Bayan]

 5-    The offspring is also a gift from Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala).

 Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) says in Surat Ash-Shura (42:49-50):

 .لله مُلْكُ السموات والأرض يخلُقُ ما يشاءُ يَهَبُ لمن يشاءُ إناثاً ويَهَبُ لمن يشاء الذّكور

أو يُزَوجهم ذُكْراناً وإناثاً ويجعلُ من يشاء عقيماً إنه عليم قدير

“To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female (offspring) upon whom He wills, and bestows male (offspring) upon whom He wills. Or He bestows both males and females, and renders barren whom He wills. Verily, He is All-Knower and is Able to do all things.”

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) granted some of His prophets with offspring after they had reached an old age and their bones had grown feeble.

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) said about Ibrahim (Abraham) (‘Alayhissalam) in Surat Ibrahim (14:39):

الحَمْدُ لِلّهِ الّذي وَهَبَ لي على الكِبَرِ إسماعيل وإسحاق إنّ ربِّي لَسميعُ الدُّعاء

“All the praises and thanks be to Allah, who has given me in old age Ishmael and Isaac. Verily! My Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) also granted Zacharia (‘Alayhissalam) the son after becoming very old and his wife was barren too as  mentioned in the beginning of Surat Maryam, but this did not prevent Zacharia (‘Alayhissalam) to hope for Allah’s granting who is Al-Wahhab.

 So he (‘Alayhissalam) invoked his Lord (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) saying:

رَبِّ هب لي من لَدُنكَ ذريةً طَيّبةٍ إنك سميع الدُّعاء

“O My Lord! Grant me from You, a good offspring. You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation.” (Al-Imran 3:38)

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) responded to his Du’aa (invocation):

فاسْتَجَبْنَا له ووهبنا له يحيى وأَصْلَحْنَا له زَوْجَهُ

“So we answered his call, and we bestowed upon him Yahya (John), and cured his wife (to bear a child) for him.”  (Al-Anbiya’ 21:90)