Al-Muhsin (The Benevolent)
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:“If you judge, judge justly, and if you kill, kill benevolently; indeed, Allah is Benevolent and He loves benevolence.”[Narrated by Al-Tabarāni in Al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat; Hasan (sound)]In another Hadīth, Shaddād ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Indeed, Allah Almighty is Benevolent and He loves benevolence.”[Al-Jāmi‘ al-Saghīr; Sahīh (authentic)]Our Lord, Exalted be He, is Perfect in His essence, attributes, and actions.{Allah has the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them…}[Surat al-A‘rāf: 180]No one is more excellent or perfect than He is!It is our Lord:{Who perfected everything He created…}[Surat as-Sajdah: 7]
“If you judge, judge justly, and if you kill, kill benevolently; indeed, Allah is Benevolent and He loves benevolence.”
[Narrated by Al-Tabarāni in Al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat; Hasan (sound)]
In another Hadīth, Shaddād ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Indeed, Allah Almighty is Benevolent and He loves benevolence.”
[Al-Jāmi‘ al-Saghīr; Sahīh (authentic)]
Our Lord, Exalted be He, is Perfect in His essence, attributes, and actions.
{Allah has the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them…}
[Surat al-A‘rāf: 180]
No one is more excellent or perfect than He is!
It is our Lord:
{Who perfected everything He created…}
[Surat as-Sajdah: 7]
Benevolence is an inseparable attribute of Him. Nothing in existence is spared of His benevolence for a while. Indeed, He encompasses all creatures in His benevolence and bounty, including the pious and the wicked, the believers and the disbelievers. They cannot exist or continue to live without His bounty and favors.
Allah’s benevolence towards His servants first manifests as He brought them out of nothing into existence.{Was there not a period of time when man was not a thing [even] mentioned?} [Surat al-Insān: 1] {…And initiated the creation of man from clay.}[Surat as-Sajdah: 7]Then, He fashioned them in the best form:{…He shaped you and perfected your form…}[Surat Ghāfir: 64]Then, He gave them minds that distinguish between the truth and falsehood:{And shown him the two ways [of right and wrong]?}[Surat al-Balad: 10]And He subjected to them the heavens and the earth and what is between them:{Do you not see that Allah has made subservient to you all that is in the heavens and on earth, and has abundantly bestowed upon you His favors, both apparent and hidden?…}[Surat Luqmān: 20]And He bestowed His countless favors upon them:{…If you try to count the blessings of Allah, you cannot count them. Indeed, mankind is highly unjust and ungrateful.}[Surat Ibrāhim: 34]
{Was there not a period of time when man was not a thing [even] mentioned?} [Surat al-Insān: 1] {…And initiated the creation of man from clay.}
[Surat as-Sajdah: 7]
Then, He fashioned them in the best form:
{…He shaped you and perfected your form…}
[Surat Ghāfir: 64]
Then, He gave them minds that distinguish between the truth and falsehood:
{And shown him the two ways [of right and wrong]?}
[Surat al-Balad: 10]
And He subjected to them the heavens and the earth and what is between them:
{Do you not see that Allah has made subservient to you all that is in the heavens and on earth, and has abundantly bestowed upon you His favors, both apparent and hidden?…}
[Surat Luqmān: 20]
And He bestowed His countless favors upon them:
{…If you try to count the blessings of Allah, you cannot count them. Indeed, mankind is highly unjust and ungrateful.}
[Surat Ibrāhim: 34]
Complete benevolence:
The greatest benevolence Allah bestows upon His servants is guiding them to this religion and making them inclined and steadfast on it till death.{Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good.}[Surat an-Nahl: 128]Leading His close servants to a good and safe life:{Whoever does righteous deeds, male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant him a good life, and We will surely reward them according to the best of their deeds.}[Surat an-Nahl: 97]Removing the distress of His close servants and saving them from adversities. Yūsuf (Joseph) (peace be upon him) is quoted in the Qur’an as saying:{…My Lord is gracious to whom He wills…}[Surat Yūsuf: 100]Then, His perfect benevolence towards His close servants will be displayed in the Hereafter. That is the highest benevolence, and even more. Allah Almighty says:{For those who do good there will be the best reward and more…}[Surat Yūnus: 26]
{Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good.}
[Surat an-Nahl: 128]
Leading His close servants to a good and safe life:
{Whoever does righteous deeds, male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant him a good life, and We will surely reward them according to the best of their deeds.}
[Surat an-Nahl: 97]
Removing the distress of His close servants and saving them from adversities. Yūsuf (Joseph) (peace be upon him) is quoted in the Qur’an as saying:
{…My Lord is gracious to whom He wills…}
[Surat Yūsuf: 100]
Then, His perfect benevolence towards His close servants will be displayed in the Hereafter. That is the highest benevolence, and even more. Allah Almighty says:
{For those who do good there will be the best reward and more…}
[Surat Yūnus: 26]
The best reward for them is Paradise.
And what is more: is looking at the Face of their Exalted Lord. Indeed, there is nothing better, more beautiful, more perfect, or more sublime than His noble Face.
Moreover, He combines for them the two kinds of reward, of this world and of the Hereafter. He says:{So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the best reward of the Hereafter, for Allah loves those who do good.}[Surat Ᾱl ‘Imrān: 148]Our Lord, Exalted be He, is the Owner of great benevolence and perfection. Hence, He perfected His Shariah and included in it the good outcomes and lofty objectives, which are beneficial for all humanity.{…Who could be better than Allah in judgment for people who are certain in faith?}[Surat al-Mā’idah: 50]
{So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the best reward of the Hereafter, for Allah loves those who do good.}
[Surat Ᾱl ‘Imrān: 148]
Our Lord, Exalted be He, is the Owner of great benevolence and perfection. Hence, He perfected His Shariah and included in it the good outcomes and lofty objectives, which are beneficial for all humanity.
{…Who could be better than Allah in judgment for people who are certain in faith?}
[Surat al-Mā’idah: 50]
Ihsān (perfection/benevolence) is of two kinds:
- Ihsān in worshiping Allah Almighty:
This is the highest and most sublime position as mentioned in the well-known long Hadīth involving Jibrīl (Gabriel), where the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) interpreted Ihsān as follows:“It is to worship Allah as if you could see Him; if you do not see Him, He sees you.”[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
“It is to worship Allah as if you could see Him; if you do not see Him, He sees you.”
[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
- Ihsān towards the servants of Allah Almighty:
This is to bring to them all kinds of goodness and refrain from harming them. Allah Almighty says:{…Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to go to waste.}[Surat at-Tawbah: 120]Our Lord, Exalted be He, loves His names and loves that His servants draw close to Him by actions entailed by the meanings of His names. He is Merciful and loves those who are merciful, Generous and loves those who are generous, and Benevolent and loves those who act benevolently. In the Qur’an, He says:{…For Allah loves those who do good.}[Surat al-Baqarah: 195]The most entitled to one’s benevolence and kindness are his parents, as Allah Almighty says:{We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents…}[Surat al-Ahqāf: 15]He also says:{…And do good as Allah has done good to you…}[Surat al-Qasas: 77]
{…Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to go to waste.}
[Surat at-Tawbah: 120]
Our Lord, Exalted be He, loves His names and loves that His servants draw close to Him by actions entailed by the meanings of His names. He is Merciful and loves those who are merciful, Generous and loves those who are generous, and Benevolent and loves those who act benevolently. In the Qur’an, He says:
{…For Allah loves those who do good.}
[Surat al-Baqarah: 195]
The most entitled to one’s benevolence and kindness are his parents, as Allah Almighty says:
{We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents…}
[Surat al-Ahqāf: 15]
He also says:
{…And do good as Allah has done good to you…}
[Surat al-Qasas: 77]
To You, Lord of the Throne, I complain.
And I supplicate You during hardships.
My Lord, fulfill our wishes
and be Merciful to us and answer our supplications.
O You Who always show benevolence,
O You Who always show forgiveness,
we seek refuge in You, our Lord, from our evil actions.
We hope for Your forgiveness and pardon.
Help us, help us, and remove our hardships
and save us from trouble and harm.
Bestow Your bounty, benevolence, forgiveness, and pardon.
Indeed, You are worthy of doing that.
O Allah, make us among the benevolent and show benevolence to us and accept from us, from our parents, and from all Muslims.