Al-Samee’ to be read as As-Samee’ (The All-Hearing and The Hearer of all)

This beautiful Attribute of Allah came at about 50 places in the Holy Quraan. Some of them are in the following verses:

Surah Al-Mujaadalah verse 1:

Its English translation is:

(58:1) Allah*1 has surely heard the words of her who contends with you concerning her husband and complains to Allah. Allah hears what both of you say.*2 Verily Allah is All- Hearing, All-Seeing.
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Exp. note *1 and *2

*1. Here, hearing does not merely imply hearing a complaint but also redressing the grievances.

*2. The translators generally have translated these sentences in the past tense, which tends to give the meaning that the woman had left after relating her complaint and the Prophet (peace be upon him) some time later might have received this revelation. That is why Allah has said: We indeed heard what the woman said, who was pleading with you and complaining to Us, and We were at that time hearing the conversation of both of you. But in most of the traditions that have been reported in the Hadith about this incident, it has been stated that right at the time when the woman was relating the zihar pronounced by her husband and complaining to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to the effect that if she was separated from her husband, she and her children would be ruined, the state of receiving revelation appeared on the Prophet (peace be upon him) and these verses were sent down. On this basis we have preferred rendering these sentences in the present tense.

The woman concerning whom these verses were sent down was Khaulah bint-Thalabah of the Khazraj tribe, and her husband, Aus bin Samit Ansari, was brother of Ubadah bin Samit, the chief of the Aus tribe. The story of the zihar upon her is related in detail below. What is worth mentioning here is that the incident of woman’s complaint being heard by Allah All-Mighty and the coming down of the divine command immediately to redress her grievance was an event that earned her a place of honor and esteem among the companions. Ibn Abi Hatim and Baihaqi have related that once Umar rAa. was on his way out with some companions. On the way he came across a woman, who stopped him; he immediately stopped and listened to what she had to say patiently with his head bent down, and did not move till she had finished. One of the companions said: O commander of the faithful, you held back the Quraish chiefs for so long for the sake of this old woman! Umar rAa. said: Do you know who she is? She is Khaulah bint- Thalabah, the woman whose complaint was heard at the seventh heaven. By God, even if she had kept me standing till the night, I would have kept standing. I would only have excused myself at the prayer times. Ibn Abdul Barr has related in Al-Istiab this tradition from Qatadah: When Umar came across this lady, on the way, he greeted her. After answering his greeting, she said: O Umar, there was a time when I saw you at the Ukaz festival. Then you were called Umair. You tended goats with the shepherd’s staff in your hand. Then, not very long after this, you began to be called Umar. Then a time came when the people began addressing you as commander of the faithful. So, fear Allah with regard to your subjects, and remember that the one who fears Allah’s punishment, for him the stranger also is like a close kinsman, and the one who fears death, may well lose that very thing which he wants to save. At this Jarud Abdi, who was accompanying Umar, said: O woman, you have talked insolently to the commander of the faithful. Thereupon Umar said: Let her say whatever she has to say. Do you know who she is? She was heard at the seventh heaven. So, she deserves to be heard longer and with greater attention by Umar. Imam Bukhari has also related briefly a story resembling to this.
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In zihaar a husband used to say to his wife, “you are like the back of my mother to me and this was considered like divorce in the pre-Islamic time. The husband of this sahaabiah rAa used the same words and she came to Muhammad salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam, in anger, and complained against her husband. Right at that time these verses of this surah came down and brought down the LAW OF ZIHAAR. You can read the verses of this surah to know the law and other details.

Here is a very important Ijtihaadi point in this verse 1 of surah Al-Mujaadilah. In this case Allah didn’t demand the complaining woman to bring any witnesses to her words. The Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) didn’t ask her husband about the truth of the words that the wife said. So her words were accepted directly and Allah revealed the punishment for her husband. Talaaq (Divorce) is much more serious word. Now a Muslim who doesn’t fear Allah, gives 3 Talaaqs to his wife at one time and then denies it in front of people. So the wife is in a very hard situation because her staying with him will lead her to zina and she cannot go away because she has no witnesses to the saying of 3 talaaqs of her husband. (Now he is her ex-husband). In such cases proof can be given from this verse 1 of surah Al-Mujaadilah and according to this Rule the words of the wife will be accepted and she will not need any witness.

Surah Al-Shura (Ash-Shurah) verse 11 (translation only):


(42:11) The Originator of the heavens and the earth, He has appointed for you pairs of your own kind, and pairs also of cattle. Thus does He multiply you. Naught in the universe is like Him.17 He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.18


Surah Al-Baqarah 127:


وَاِذۡ يَرۡفَعُ اِبۡرٰهٖمُ الۡقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الۡبَيۡتِ وَاِسۡمٰعِيۡلُؕ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلۡ مِنَّا ​ؕ اِنَّكَ اَنۡتَ السَّمِيۡعُ الۡعَلِيۡمُ‏ 127


(2:127) Recall when Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House, praying: “Our Lord! Accept this from us; You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
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Allah almighty hears all voices /sounds in different languages and with different needs of mankind and other creatures, and provides their needs. Whether the words are said loudly or hidden in the hearts, but Allah hears them as Allah said in surah Al-Ra’d (Ar-Ra’d) 10, (its English translation is):


(13:10) It is all the same for Him whether any of you says a thing secretly, or says it loudly, and whether one hides oneself in the darkness of night, or struts about in broad daylight.
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Allah’s Hearing encompasses all calls and sayings and Allah’s Hearing is not disturbed by difference in voices or languages, one voice cannot remove HIS attention from others. Allah is not overburdened by different problems and different demands of the needy creations.


Narrated Al-Imam Ahmad from Ayishah rAa, She said, “ All praise is due for Allah WHOSE Hearing is vast on all voices. The arguing woman came to the Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) and spoke to him while I was in the house besides them but I couldn’t hear her words and Allah sent down the verses of surah Al-Mujaadilah saying,


(58:1) Allah1 has surely heard the words of her who contends with you concerning her husband and complains to Allah. Allah hears what both of you say.2 Verily Allah is All- Hearing, All-Seeing. “

and in another narration it is like she said, “

تبا رك الذي وسع سمعه كل شىء”
Its meaning is, “ Lord of Glory is The One Whose Hearing is vast on all things”

(Ibn. Maajah)
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In a Hadeth Al-Qudsee Allah said, “O my servants, if all the former and latter of you, and the mankind and jinn kind of you stand at the same place and time and ask ME (for your needs ) and I provide all of the needs, it will not decrease for ME anything as if a needle, when dipped into an ocean, decreases its water” narrated by Abi Dhar rAa in Sahee Muslim.
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(I have translated the hadeeth into English, Please correct me if I am wrong).

The hadeeth means that the Treasures of Allah are so vast that after providing the needs of all, there will be no decrease in them like a needle, when dipped into an ocean and then taken out, doesn’t decrease water from the ocean.

According to a hadeeth in Muslim and Bukhaari, narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ashaari rAa, The Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) advised the companions to say takbeer in low voice because Allah WHOM they praised is All-Hearer, all-Seer and is near. (They, while climbing on a high place, used to say takbeer loudly, so they were advised.)

The unbelievers thought that perhaps Allah didn’t hear their words, Allah revealed the verse 80 of surah Al-Zukhruf:

اَمۡ يَحۡسَبُوۡنَ اَنَّا لَا نَسۡمَعُ سِرَّهُمۡ وَنَجۡوٰٮهُمۡ​ؕ بَلٰى وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيۡهِمۡ يَكۡتُبُوۡنَ‏ 80



(43:80) Or do they think that We do not hear their secret talks and their whispering counsels? Yes, indeed We do and Our messengers [i.e., angels) are with them, writing.
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If one’s faith regarding the Attributes (Qualities) of Allah, is defective, that is, if he thinks that Allah doesn’t know what they say and do in secret, this defect in his faith will make him a looser as Allah said in Surah Fussilat 23–24, their English translation is:

23. “But this thought of yours which ye did entertain concerning your Lord, hath brought you to destruction, and (now) have ye become of those utterly lost!”


24. Then, if they have patience, yet the Fire will be a home for them, and if they beg for to be excused, yet they are not of those who will ever be excused.
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As is clear the Hearing of Allah is not like our hearing. Also Allah’s Hearing includes two meanings:

1. General meaning of hearing — so Allah hears every sound, saying and calling whether loud or whisper or calls in hearts.

2. Hearing in the meaning of accepting and answering prayers and supplications. As Ibraaheem alaihi salaam said, (see the English translation of verse 39 of surah Ibraheem):

39. Praise to Allah , who has granted to me in old age Ismael and Is-haac. Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.
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Also our saying in prayer, “sami-Allaho liman hamidah” which means Allah heard (and answered) the du’aa of the one who praised (Allah).

The Prophet (Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) told us in a hadeeth shareef that here “sami-Allaho” doesn’t merely mean that Allah heard the praises of the prayer-maker, rather it means that Allah accepted the du’aa (and ibaadah etc.).
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As compared to Allah’s great Qualities, the false gods that the idolaters worship have no such qualities. Allah Almighty explained to the kafirs and idolaters that their false gods cannot hear, or see or benefit or harm them in any way. One example of such lessons is in the verses 194–195 of surah Al-A’raaf.

Ibraheem alaihi salaam said to his idolater father the following words, their English translation is:

(Surah Maryam verses 41–42)

41. And mention in the Book (the Quran) Ibrahim (Abraham). Verily! He was a man of truth, a Prophet.


42. When he said to his father: “O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything?
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A believer’s faith that Allah is Samee (All-Hearing) will make him protect his tongue from sinful and useless words. He will use it for praising and thanking Allah and also for making good du’aas like the Prophets alaihim salaam used to do. We read many du’aas of the Prophets alaihim salaam like Ibraaheem, Zakariya and others, alaihim salaam. Also we can read the du’aa of Yousuf alaihi salaam. Allah answered his du’aa in the following verse, (surah Yousuf 34):

فَاسۡتَجَابَ لَهٗ رَبُّهٗ فَصَرَفَ عَنۡهُ كَيۡدَهُنَّ​ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيۡعُ الۡعَلِيۡمُ‏ 34

(12:34) There upon his Lord granted his prayer, and averted their guile from him.29 Surely He alone is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Exp. note 29

29. Allah warded off their guile from Prophet Joseph by strengthening his character in such a way as to make ineffective all their devices to ensnare him, This also implies that Allah opened the door of prison for him in order to keep him safe from their tricks and temptations.
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Also Allah Subhaanhu wa Ta’ala advised us to seek HIS Refuge from Satan the cursed one. See the English translation of surah Fussilat 36 as follows:

(41:36) And if you are prompted by a provocation from Satan, seek refuge with Allah.40 He, and He alone, is All-Hearing, All- Knowing.41
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