Al-Lateef
اللطيف
Al-Lateef
It has two meanings:
1. One meaning is the same as Al-Khabeer, i.e. Allah knows the finest mysteries and details about everything and every being. This meaning is already explained.
2. The 2nd meaning is that Allah is very kind and helps HIS servants and HIS awliyaa (friends), and makes their things right, their difficulties solved with great kindness through ways that they can’t imagine.
As an example, think about the story of Yousuf alaihi salaam. He was thrown in a well by his brothers and thus his father Yaqoub (Jacob) alaihi salaam lost him. Both of them fell into terrible grief and difficult situation. Allah, the Al-Lateef, informed Yousuf alaihi salaam in the well that one day he would remind them this action of theirs and they would be unaware ….
Here is the translation of verse 15 of the surah Yousuf which is telling us that in the depth of the well Allah was with Yousuf alaihi salaam through inspiration and gave him the glad tidings with the future news that he would meet his family safely. Allaho Akbar.
ٍSurah Yousuf verse 15 (translation only)
15. So when they took him [out] and agreed to put him into the bottom of the well… But We inspired to him,”You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your identity].”
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Hadrat Yousuf alaihi salaam didn’t know that Allah was going to give him the kingdom of Egypt! His brothers, due to jealousy, threw him into well but they could not imagine that in fact they pushed him a step forward on the way of progress! Zulekha put him in prison but she couldn’t realize that she pushed him another step on the way to success. Allah’s Help was with him everywhere and the Al-Lateef wa Al-Khabeer made every trouble given by the people not only easy but also good for his mission to reach the high level that Allah All-Mighty had destined for him. Surely’ there is great lesson of tawakkal ala-Allah (trust on Allah) in this story of Yousuf and Yaqoub alaihima salaam.
Another beautiful story is that of the mother of Musa alaihi salaam as mentioned in surah Taha verses 38,39 and 40; and in surah Al-Qasas verses 7 — -13. It is really very beautiful, that Allah promised with the mother of Musa alaihi salaam through inspiration that in case of danger from the Pharaoh, she should put him in a box and put the box in the river and that Allah will restore him to her again and will make him from the Mursaleen (Allah’s Massengers). He was taken out from the river near Pharaoh’s palace and he took him but Allah made him not to accept the milk of any woman except his mother and thus Allah restored the son to his mother so that her eyes remain cool!!! What a LOVE of Allah is reflecting from this story, Allaho Akbar!!!
This is Allah’s Lutuf (kindness) that Allah takes out mu’mineen (believers) from the darkness of ignorance and unbelief to the light of knowledge, faith and obedience (to Allah).
For Allah there are unlimited extensive ways of HIS Grace and it is upon us to seek HIS Grace by sincere obedience to HIM, devotion to HIS Deen and sincere wishes and service to HIS servants. Allah puts the servants in hard trials and then makes the trials easy for them. Thus Allah cleans them from sins, makes their nafs amaarah to remain away from evil, makes him strong and steadfast on the Straight Path and provides them high ranks Here and in the Here-After. There are many details,but at present this may be enough.
