by Umm Isam – Content Writer
“Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive.” (Al Hud 11:61)
Al-Mujeeb, one of Allah’s (swt) beautiful names, is mentioned once in the Quran.
Who is Al-Mujeeb?
He is the Ever Responsive. Allah (swt) favourably responds to the supplications and requests of all His slaves.
Allah Al-Mujeeb ensures the humanity through this divine attribute of His that, whenever His creation calls out to Him, Allah Al-Mujeeb responds. It is to encourage all to ask Him. Allah Al-Mujeeb unlike humans, is not bothered by the nature or number of their requests, the state in which they call out to Him, or their repeated supplications.
Allah-Al Mujeeb doesn’t have a limitation where He can only take one request at a time that’s queued up. He responds to the entire creation simultaneously. He never ignores or is agitated by their questions. In fact Allah Al-Mujeeb as our Creator always responds with care, love and mercy. He also has the power to respond and take action, even if that means to punish someone in the world to better his reward in the hereafter.
If Allah (swt) responds to the entire creation with what they ask for, it would be as if he dipped a needle in the vast ocean and retrieved it. Will it lessen the water in the sea?
Why cannot humans respond to our call and needs always?
- Humans are incapable and become overwhelmed.
- They cannot be always available due to their weakness and limitations.
- Humans do not have the power, authority or control to do so.
- Sometimes they are biased, arrogant or neglectful towards other’s needs.
- They don’t understand the importance or urgency to respond.
How does Allah Al-Mujeeb respond?
1, General response to all (Ijabah tu Aamma)
- Response through Quran
When the disbelievers of Makkah used to ask Prophet Muhammad (sa) varied questions, Allah (swt) responded to His messenger in the form of Quranic revelation. For e.g. Allah Al-Mujeeb explained about crescent in the sky, war booty, menstruation, etc. Allah (swt) removed the ignorance by granting them knowledge.
When the Mushrikeen of Makkah (the disbelievers) used to ask the Prophet Muhammad (sa) repeatedly when the final hour will strike, Allah (swt) guided them regarding their irrelevant and non-beneficial questions to straighten their perception.
- Response in Salah
Allah Al-Mujeeb responds individually to every believer when he recites Surah al Fatihah in his Salah. This has been deemed as a conversation between the Master and His slave in a famous Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurairah (rta).
“Allah Almighty said: ‘I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves and My servant shall have what he has asked for. When the servant says ‘All praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted Me. When he says, ‘The Master of the day of judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified Me and My servant has submitted to Me. When he says, ‘You alone we worship, You alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: This is between Me and My servant and My servant will have what he has asked for. When he says, ‘Guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favoured, not those who earned wrath and went astray,’ Allah says: This is for My servant and My servant will have what he has asked for.” (Muslim)
- Response to Tasbeeh
Allah Al-Mujeeb responds to a believer’s Tasbeeh. Anas ibn Malik (rta) narrated: “A Bedouin came to the prophet (sa) and said: ‘O messenger of Allah, teach me good.’ So the prophet (sa) took him by the hand and said: ‘Say Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), Wal Hamdulillah (And praise be to Allah), Wa La ilaha illallah (And there is no deity but Allah), Wallahu Akbar (And Allah is the greatest).’
The Bedouin counted them on his fingers and then left either to contemplate over the words or to memorize them, then he returned. When the prophet (sa) saw him, he smiled.
The Bedouin, who was a simple man asked, ‘This is for Allah, what is for me?’
The prophet (sa) still smiling replied: ‘O Bedouin, when you say Subhan Allah, Allah says: ‘You have spoken the truth.’ When you say Alhamdulillah, Allah says: ‘You have spoken the truth.’ When you say La ilaha illallah, Allah says: ‘You have spoken the truth.’ When you say Allahu Akbar, Allah says: ‘You have spoken the truth.’
And then you say, ‘Aghfirli’ (O Allah forgive me), Allah says: ‘I have done so.’ Next you say, ‘Ar Hamni’ (O Allah have mercy on me), Allah says: ‘I have done so.’ Next you say, ‘Ar Zuqni’ (O Allah give me Rizq), Allah says: ‘I have done so.’ (Al Bahaiqui)
- Response that may not include Allah’s (swt) pleasure
We are Allah’s (swt) creation hence He takes it upon Himself to care for every man, woman, old, young, believer or disbeliever to respond to them. But that does not ensure that Allah (swt) is pleased with their conduct.
When we witness evil doers being granted what they asked for, it must remind us that it’s not because they are being favoured. They may be under Allah’s (swt) wrath as Dunya is not the place of justice and reward. Hence Allah (swt) gives it to anyone.
- Response when the creation asks for it’s own destruction
In Surah Sabah we learn how the people of a thriving city fell into ingratitude and resorted to disbelief. They started to ask Allah (swt) of a path that finally destroyed them. Allah (swt) granted their pitiful wishes.
Similarly Iblees asked Allah (swt) for respite until the day of judgment. His request was granted too. But will it save him from the hellfire?
2, Exclusive response to the believer (Ijabah tu Khaassa)
Let’s analyze how Allah Al-Mujeeb responds to His special slaves, who worship, love, obey and fear Him.
“And when My servants ask you, (O Muhammad sa) concerning Me – Indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when He calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me (by obedience) and believe in Me that they may be (rightly guided).” (Al Baqarah 2:186)
Whose Dua is accepted and responded?
There are specific times, actions, situations that draw a believer closer to Allah (swt) due to his obedience. They are:
- A pilgrim pursuing Hajj or Umrah as he is worshipping Allah (swt).
- An oppressed one whose rights have been usurped and he stands defeated.
- A traveler who is away from home’s comforts.
- A father who prays for his children, hence he should be loved and served.
- An offspring who prays for his parents. It can even raise their levels in the grave.
- A believer’s prayer for another one in his absence.
- A believer when he breaks his fast.
- A slave of Allah (swt) who has a habit of calling out to Allah (swt).
- A just ruler.
- A just Imam.
- A person who performs ablution and prepares to go to bed.
How does Allah Al-Mujeeb respond to His prophets?
- Nuh (as) asked for deliverance from his people and Allah (swt) sent His punishment.
- Musa (as) repeatedly asked Allah’s (swt) help dealing with Firoun and was aided.
- Yusuf (as) called out to Allah Al-Mujeeb from the prison and was responded.
- Yunus (as) repented to Allah (swt) from the belly of the whale.
- Ayub (as) invoked Allah Al-Mujeeb when he was suffering from a disease.
Allah (swt) states: “And Noah had certainly called us, and (We are) the best of responders.” (As Saffat 37:75)
Why does Allah (swt) hold or delay?
We must ask ourselves that how many times has Allah Al-Mujeeb not responded to us? What we have today, did we ask for each and every thing or was it granted to us without asking? Instead of resenting, we must understand the grand plan. Allah (swt) responds to His creation with His absolute wisdom, knowledge, care and mercy. That might even mean not granting them what they asked for or granting to them when Allah (swt) deems right for them. That could be in Dunya or in Jannah or in both places. As slaves they just have to trust Allah’s (swt) decree.
Allah Al-Mujeeb deserves our thanks, praise and devotion for being Ever Responsive in spite of His high and noble majesty. He doesn’t need to hear our requests let alone oblige us. It also fulfills us to know that our requests are not lost or go unheard. As slaves of Allah Al-Mujeeb we must respond to Him with our sincere worship and actions.
Partially adapted from a class taught by Safiyah Khan.
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