Knowing, the Wise. (2:32) And the sun runs [its course] to a term appointed for it; that is the
ordinance of the Mighty, the Knowing. (36:38)
This word is coined as a superlative derived from a verb meaning: "to know or to be familiar
with." The Messenger of Allah is quoted saying that one who supplicates in the morning by
thrice repeating, "In the Name of Allah with Whose Name nothing at all, be it in the earth or
in the heavens, can ever harm, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing," will not be afflicted by
any sudden calamity till evening time, and if he says so in the evening, he will not be afflicted
by any sudden calamity till daybreak.
- "Al-Qabid"
Allah has said the following in the Holy Qura'n: "... and Allah straitens and
amplifies..." (Qura'n, 2:245).
Linguistically, qabd, root verb of "al-Qabid," means: to take, hold, seize, grip, catch, handle,
and the like. It is the holding of something with the hand such as a sword's handle, etc. It is
meant as a way to forcefully take control of something or someone. Allah Almighty has said
the following in this sense: "... and Allah straitens and amplifies..." (Qura'n, 2:245), meaning
He straitens, withholds, His sustenance of some while amplifying it for others.
"Al-Qabid" means: "the One Who takes hold of the souls by subduing them, the spirits by
effecting justice in their regard, the means of sustenance by His wisdom, and the hearts by
making them fear His Glory." Al-Qabid is the One Who causes the souls to be taken away
from their bodies, their temporary homes, at the time of death. The angel who takes the souls
away (i.e. the qabid) is called in Islam "Israel." Al-Qabid is the One Who takes hold of the
hearts, Who controls them, Who isolates them through their lack of knowledge, through their
own oversights. He takes hold of some hearts, so He unveils to them His Greatness and Glory.
He pleases other hearts through the means whereby He gets closer to them out of His own
Kindness, Munificence, and Beauty. Al-Qabid is the One Who unveils His Glory to you, so
He protects you; He is the One Who makes you dread being distanced from Him.