Al-Jabbār (The Compeller)
If life turns its back on you, people leave you, everything becomes dark and tough, and you are in severe distress, then call out: O Allah, O You Who console the distressed and comfort their hearts, comfort and strengthen me. Indeed, your Lord will hear your supplication.
Allah Almighty says about Himself:{He is Allah, there is no god except Him, the King, the Most Holy, the Source of Peace, the Giver of Belief, the All-Controller, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.}[Surat al-Hashr: 23]
Al-Jabbār is the One Who comforts broken hearts, enriches the poor, facilitates what is difficult, and provides those submissive to His majesty and magnificence with special consolation.
Al-Jabbār is also the Vanquisher of all things, to Whom everything is submissive and obedient.
Al-Jabbār is the Most High and Exalted above His creation. He has established Himself above His Throne.
All might belongs to Him alone and He is the Vanquisher of tyrants with His power. Indeed, He is far exalted above them with His greatness.
Allah Almighty praises Himself using this name as He says:{…the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme…}[Surat al-Hashr: 23]The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to supplicate Allah in his bowing and prostration saying:“Subhān dhil-jabarūt wa al-malakūt wa al-kibriyā’ wa al-‘azhamah (Glory be to the Owner of might, dominion, pride, and greatness).”[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Sahīh (authentic)]
Do not dispute with Him!
When it comes to Allah Almighty, the name “Al-Jabbār” is that of praise and perfection. But when people are described by this name or attribute, it mostly denotes dispraise, imperfection, and defects. Do we not see that the so-called compellers among people can actually be hurt by the weakest of things, like bugs and worms, get distracted by flies, and become agitated by hunger and lazy when full?!
Hence, the messengers warned their people against the attributes of “tyranny and arrogance” without right. Allah Almighty says:{And when you strike, you strike as tyrants.}[Surat ash-Shu‘arā’: 130]
Whoever acts tyrannically, Allah puts a seal upon his heart:
{…Thus does Allah seal over every heart of an arrogant tyrant.}
[Surat Ghāfir: 35]
Allah Almighty threatens tyrants with punishment:
{And they requested victory from Allah, and disappointed, [therefore], was every obstinate tyrant.
Before him is Hell, and he will be given a drink of purulent water.}
[Surat Ibrāhim: 15-16]
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:“A neck will come out of Hellfire on the Day of Judgment. It will have two eyes which can see, two ears which can hear, and a tongue which can speak. It will say: ‘I have been left in charge of three: Every obstinate tyrant, everyone who called upon a deity besides Allah, and the image makers.’”[Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; Sahīh (authentic)]The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is also authentically reported to have said:“Hellfire and the Paradise fell into dispute; Hellfire said: ‘I have been distinguished by the arrogant, tyrants…’”[Narrated by Muslim]So, where are the arrogant, where are the tyrants?
Where are kings and their sons, and those to whom
people would lower their heads in submission?
They were ruined by time and its events
and left to different homes other than their previous ones.
Knock on the door of heaven!
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to supplicate Allah saying:“Allāhumma ighfirli warhamni wajburni wahdini warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy upon me, console me, guide me, and provide for me).”[Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; Sahīh (authentic)]
In life, we go through numerous tough incidents and circumstances. Every day, we get broken by distress and trouble and so we need our Lord at all times to console our hearts and give us strength.
Everyone needs Him, young and old, rich and poor. Indeed, life and what it contains belongs to Him.
An ill person lies in his bed, weak and broken, struggling against his illness. At this point, he calls out: “O Allah!” And behold! He consoles his heart and cures him.
A destitute person, who possesses nothing at all, suffers from misery, weeps out of need, looks up to the sky and calls out: “O Allah!” And behold! He consoles his heart, fulfills his need, and removes his poverty.
A downtrodden man, who feels broken and hides his deep pain, wipes off his tears, stands at the door of his Lord and calls out: “O Allah!” And behold! Allah, the Compeller, takes revenge for him, by sending His soldiers and granting victory.
A prisoner, who languishes in prison, fettered and weak, calls out: “O Allah!” And all of a sudden, Allah comforts his heart and opens His doors for him. Relief comes and the fetters are untied.
And that a sterile man, who is gripped by sadness and loses hope, turns to prayer, in which he weeps for long and calls out: “My Lord, grant me good offspring.” And behold! Comfort and relief come and Allah issues His command and sends His help. Thereupon, the unattainable becomes a reality and the smile comes back as his wife becomes pregnant.
He is the Compeller. He sends relief, comfort, and hope and He removes afflictions and distress.
Everyone calls Him: “O Allah, console us and give us strength!”{Whoever is in the heavens and earth asks Him; every day He is upon some affair.}[Surat ar-Rahmān: 29]
If you are encompassed by Allah’s care, then rest assured; you are safe.
Everything hard Allah puts you through is, indeed, for your benefit even if it is painful for you.
Allah Almighty says:{And there is not a thing but with Us are their treasures. And We do not send it down except in a known measure.}[Surat al-Hijr: 21]The keys to relief are in His Hands. So, if you are in pain and distress, turn to the All-Knowing King, the Compeller, the One Who consoles hearts and sends comfort, and call out: “O Allah, the comfort of the broken, comfort my heart, give me strength, and remove my distress.”{Is He [not best] Who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil…}[Surat an-Naml: 62]
Indeed, for the afflictions and hardships we may face,
there is relief and a way out from our Lord.
When things get too hard and we think there is no hope,
we actually find relief coming unexpectedly.
Be kind and tender!
Remember that distress breaks hearts. So, when you see a person in anguish, be the means by which Allah consoles him. In fact, you will get the great reward on the Day of Judgment when everyone will be seeking comfort and consolation.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:“Whoever removes the distress of a Muslim, Allah will remove from him one of the distresses on the Day of Judgment.”[Narrated by Muslim]{…And do good as Allah has done good to you…}[Surat al-Qasas: 77]{…And Allah loves the doers of good.}[Surat Ᾱl-‘Imrān: 134]
Be gentle with people when things around them get tough.
O Allah, the One Who consoles hearts, console our hearts, strengthen us, and pardon us, O the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!