The Linguistic meaning:
At-Tawl in the Arabic language means favor and gift.
Az-Zajjaji (Rahimahullaah) said: “At-Tawl means Fadl (i.e. bounty and favor).
This Name is mentioned in the Qur’an only once and that is in Surat Ghaafir (40:3):
غَافِرِ الذَّنْبِ وَقَابِلِ التَّوْبِ شَدِيدِ الْعِقَابِ ذِي الطَّوْلِ ۖ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ إِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ
“The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment, the Bestower (of favors), La ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), to Him is the final return.”
The meaning of the Name with regards to Allaah:
Qatadah (Rahimahullaah) said: “Dhut-Tawl means the Owner and Bestower of blessings and favors.
Abu ‘Ubaidah Ma’mar ibn al-Muthanna said: “Dhut-Tawl means the One Who is Gracious. The Arabs say that the man who confers or does good (favor) to his people is Dhut Tawl upon his people.”
Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) said: “Dhut-Tawl means the Bestower of abundant bounties and favors upon whomever He wills of His creation. If it is said so-and-so is Dhu Tawl upon his companions, it means that he is bountiful to them or is superior to them. Some others said that Tawl means ability and strength, as Ibn Zaid quoted.” [Jami’ul-Bayaan]
Al-Khattabi (Rahimahullaah) said: “Dhut-Tawl and Dhul-Fadl mean the Owner of Tawl and Fadl and the word Dhu is a letter/ word of attribution, like the Statement of Allaah in Surat ar-Rahmaan (55:27):
ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
“…Owner of Majesty and Honor.” [Sha’n ad-Du’aa]
Al-Hulaimee (Rahimahullaah) said: “Dhut-Tawl means the Owner of abundant good, Who is not in need of any type of goodness when He wills to honor His slave with something. It is not like the owner of Tawl from among His servants, who might love to give something as a favor and he does not have it.” [Al-Minhaaj]
After mentioning the statements of the commentators, Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullaah) said: “Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) said: ‘This means He is Generous and Rich (independent of means). The meaning is that He (Ta’ala) is Most Generous to His servants, granting ongoing (continuous) blessings for which they can never sufficiently thank Him.’
وَإِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا
“And if you would count the graces of Allaah, never could you be able to count them…” [16:18]
لا إله إلا هو
‘La ilaaha illa Huwa’ means there is none equal to Him in any of His Attributes; there is no god or lord besides Him.” [Tafseer al-Qur’an al-‘Adheem]
The impact of belief in this Name is the same as the impact of belief in the Name “Dhul-Fadl”.
Explanation of the Name of Allaah Dhul-Fadl – ذو الفضل
The Noble Name “Dhul-Fadl” is mentioned twelve times in the Noble Qur’an, for example: Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Baqarah (2:105):
وَاللَّهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
“…But Allaah chooses for His Mercy whom He wills. And Allaah is the Owner of the Great Bounty.”
In Surat al-Anfaal (8:29), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
“O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allaah, He will grant you Furqaan, a criterion [(to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. making a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allaah is the Owner of the Great Bounty.”
Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) said: “As for His Statement (interpretation of meaning): ‘and Allaah is the Owner of the Great Bounty,’ it is information from Allaah (Ta’ala) that every good the servants attain in their religion or their worldly affairs is from Him initially and as a favor from Him upon them, without them deserving that. And in His Statement in Surat al-Baqarah (2:105) (interpretation of meaning): ‘But Allaah chooses His Mercy for whom He wills, And Allaah is the Owner of the Great Bounty,’ it is a hint (indication or indirect reference) from Allaah the Exalted, to the people of the Scriptures that what He favored Prophet Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the believers with of guidance is a favor from Him, and that His favors are not obtained (attained) by mere wishes, but they (the favors) are gifts from Him for which He confers and particularizes (selects) whomever He wills of His creation.” [Jami’ul-Bayaan]
Al-Hulaimee (Rahimahullaah) said: “Dhul-Fadl is the Bestower of that which is not obligatory upon Him.” [Al-Minhaaj]
The impact of belief in these two Names: Dhut-Tawl and Dhul-Fadl:
1- Allaah (Ta’ala) is attributed with Tawl and Fadl (bestowing favors and graciousness), and doing good to His servants and having the ability and the strength for No hindrance or obstacle prevents Him from making His Grace and Bounties reach whomever He wills.
وَإِنْ يُرِدْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَلَا رَادَّ لِفَضْلِهِ ۚ يُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
“…and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His Favor which He causes to reach whomsoever He wills of His slaves. And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[Surat Yunus 10:107]
And He (Ta’ala) says in Surat Faatir (35:2):
مَا يَفْتَحِ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ رَحْمَةٍ فَلَا مُمْسِكَ لَهَا ۖ وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلَا مُرْسِلَ لَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
“Whatever of mercy (i.e. of good), Allaah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it, and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”
Rather, all the Grace is in His Hand, He grants it to whomever He wills as a favor from Him, and He withholds from whomever He wills as a justice from Him. He (Ta’ala) says in Surat Aal-‘Imraan (3:73-74):
قُلْ إِنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ.
يختص برحمته من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم.
“…Say [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)]: ‘All the Bounty is in the Hand of Allaah; He grants to whom He wills. And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, the All-Knower.
He selects for His Mercy (Islam and the Qur’an with Prophethood) whom He wills and Allaah is the Owner of the Great Bounty.”
In Surat al-Hadeed (57:29), Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
لِئَلَّا يَعْلَمَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ أَلَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ ۙ وَأَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
“So that the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) may know that they have no power whatsoever over the Grace of Allaah, and that (His) Grace is (entirely) in His Hand to bestow on whomsoever He wills. And Allaah is the Owner of the Great Bounty.”
2- Allaah, the Blessed, the Most High is the One Who confers His favors upon His servants, without them asking Him, nor them deserving of it/them. Rather, all what they have and own of the religious and worldly favors are out of Allaah’s Grace, Generosity and Beneficence. Even the disbeliever’s free disposal and affluence throughout the land is out of Allaah’s Mercy and Bounty.
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Baqarah (2:251):
وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ
“..And Allaah is full of Bounty to the ‘Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists).”
a- Of His Bounty bestowed upon the believers is that He rescues them from their enemies and their plots, when they (the believers) put their trust in Allaah and rely on Him, and they are sure of His power, ability and giving support.
This is what happened to the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions when some people (hypocrites) frightened them concerning the army of the polytheists (pagans of the Quraish) and their forces; they said:
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
“..Allaah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).”
[Surat Aal-‘Imraan (3:173)]
Then, Allaah (Ta’ala) said:
فَانْقَلَبُوا بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ وَاتَّبَعُوا رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ
“So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allaah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allaah. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty.”
[Surat Aal-‘Imraan 3:174]
b- Of Allaah’s Grace and Bounty upon His servants is His keeping them firm (steady) on the religion and protecting them from misguidance, going astray and following the Shaytaan.
He (Ta’ala) says in Surat an-Nisaa’ (4:83):
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَاتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
“..Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allaah upon you, you would have followed Shaytaan (Satan), save a few of you.”
And He (Ta’ala) told His Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in Surat an-Nisaa’ (4:113):
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَهَمَّتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُضِلُّوكَ
“And if it was not for the favor of Allaah upon you [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)], and His Mercy, a group of them would have been determined to mislead you.”
And Allaah reminded him of what He (Ta’ala) sent down and bestowed upon him, saying:
وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُ ۚ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا
“Allaah has sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an), and al-Hikmah (Islamic laws, knowledge of legal and illegal things i.e. the Prophet’s Sunnah – legal ways), and taught you that which you knew not. And Ever Great is the Grace of Allaah unto you.”
c- Of Allaah’s Grace and Bounty upon His servants is His not hastening the punishment in this world on the sinners, disbelievers and hypocrites; He (Ta’ala) gives them respite till the Day of Resurrection. This was the interpretation of Ibn Jarir (Rahimahullaah) for the following verse in Surat Yunus (10:60):
وَمَا ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
“And what will be the supposition (thoughts) of those who invent lies against Allaah, on the Day of Resurrection? [i.e. what do they think He will do with them? Do they think that they will be forgiven and excused! Nay, they will have an eternal punishment in the Fire of Hell]. Truly, Allaah is full of Bounty to mankind, but most of them are ungrateful.”
He (Ta’ala) also said about those who indulged in the slander against our mother ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) in Surat an-Noor (24:14):
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِي مَا أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
“Had it not been for the Grace of Allaah and His Mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter, a great torment would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken.”
d- Of His Grace, is enlightening the insight of those who fear Him, expiating their evil deeds, forgiving their sins and purifying their souls. Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat al-Anfaal (8:29):
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
“O you who have believed, if you obey and fear Allaah, He will grant you Furqaan, a criterion [to judge between right and wrong], and will expiate for you your sins and forgive you. And Allaah is the Possessor of the Great Bounty.”
In Surat an-Noor (24:21), He (Ta’ala) says:
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُزَكِّي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“And had it not been for the Grace of Allaah and His Mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure from sins. But Allaah purifies (guides to Islam) whom He wills, and Allaah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.”
He gives them more than they deserve of reward as an increase and a favor from Him. He (Ta’ala) says in Surat an-Nisaa’ (4:173):
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ
“So, as for those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah- Islamic Monotheism) and did deeds of righteousness, He will give their (due) rewards, and more out of His Bounty.”
And He (Ta’ala) says in Surat an-Noor (24:38):
لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَيَزِيدَهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ
“That Allaah may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His Bounty.”
Source:
📚 An-Nahj al-Asmaa fee Sharh Asmaa Allaahul-Husnaby Shaikh Muhammad Humood an-Najdi
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