Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Al-Azhar Grand Imam (GI), said that the name of Allah Al-Khabir is established in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and Muslim scholars unanimously acknowledge it as one of His Names. Al-Khabir means one who is well aware of something because he has acquired much knowledge about it. His Eminence showed that the difference between Al-‘Alim (knower) and Al-Khabir (virtuoso, expert) consists in the latter’s deep knowledge. When we say, for example, an expert engineer, we mean that he has acquired a lot of knowledge, which he had not possessed previously. However, such description does not apply to Allah Al-Khabir because Allah’s knowledge is eternal; it is not acquired, it is not subject to change, and it is not preceded by ignorance, which is a deficiency that can never be attributed to Allah, the Exalted. 

 

During the 9th episode of his TV program, Imam Al-Tayyeb Talk, the Grand Imam indicated that human knowledge is preceded by ignorance, and it is always incomplete and subject to change. Allah’s knowledge, however, is eternal and is never alterable. He knows what is, what was, what will be and how it is going to be or take form. This is divine knowledge, which encompasses everything. Some Muslim intellectuals however strayed from the right path when they thought that since Allah already knew what people would do in the future, then this would mean injustice to them. So, if Allah – they argued - knows that such and such people will drink alcohol at a specific time, then they cannot help committing such sins. Well, Allah’s knowledge reveals the deed but does not drive it; it does not impact or create a servant’s act.

 

His Eminence noted that Divine Omnipotence and Divine Will are two attributes that can impact things. Divine Omnipotence refers to Allah’s power of creation whereas Divine Will refers to Allah’s ability to determine matters related to His creatures. When we say Allah Almighty knows that a certain person will be born on such and such a day, we refer to revealing knowledge. Then, Omnipotence brings the act of birth into existence. Divine Will determines matters related to the newborn such as the time of existence, the shape, etc. Allah is indeed Ever Kind to His creatures, and every creature – including inanimate objects - has a share of this kindness. All creatures, even inanimate ones, have feelings and senses, and they glorify the Creator; “Indeed, We granted David a privilege from Us, ‘O mountains! Echo his hymns!’ And the birds as well” (Qur’an, 34:10). Allah orders the mountains, and orders are not given to something dead!

 

In response to a question about how such a Beautiful Divine Name reflect in a person’s life and deeds, the Grand Imam said that a person can benefit from this name if he/she redresses spiritual ills or heart diseases, like hatred, envy, anger, etc. One should consciously beware of those many ills and work on overcoming them. In this sense, one will be aware or expert. Otherwise, one will be completely deprived. Those who train to redress such ills and to curb them demonstrate a deep awareness of their own shortcomings. Such people become experts in this field, knowing that people in general do not pay heed to these ills or spiritual sins. It is even rare to find a person who practices self-reckoning or tries to combat these diseases