Allah (swt) calls
Himself Al-Wahhaab— The Giver of Gifts, The Most Liberal Bestower— three times
in the Quran. Al-Wahhaab is the All-Giver and gives gifts constantly,
generously, and without expecting anything in return! According to the scholars
this divine name is related to love.
Or do they have the
depositories of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower? [Quran,
38:9]
Wahhaab comes
from the root waw-haa-baa, which points to the attribute of
gifting or bestowing something. The word hiba means gift.
Waw-haa-baa (و ه ب) occurs 25 times in the Quran, in two derived forms: 22 times as the verb wahaba (وَهَبَ), three times as the nominal wahhāb (وَهَّاب).
The Arabic word Al-Wahhaab has the structure of intensification and is the intense form of Al Wahib, the giver.
This beautiful name illustrates the amazing way in which Allah ‘azza wajal bestows gifts on His creation.
Your
Heart and Mind
With your mind you
get to know Allah (swt) and with your heart you love Him. The purpose of
knowing Allah’s name Al-Wahhaab is to love Allah, and love is
the essence of your faith.
Our deen is not
only facts to understand and learn about but also emotions to live. What
motivates you is more your love than your mind. By using the mind we might be
certain and believe, but driven by love we sacrifice everything. That’s why if
you call people to Islam, you should call their minds and hearts at the same
time. If somebody is convinced mentally and they reach an
attitude of love, the success is complete!
How
Can You Recognize a Gift From Allah (swt)?
Rizq (provision)
is something that’s written for you, but you have to work for it; it depends in
part on your efforts. A gift (hiba) is what the name says— it’s not
something directly related to your efforts. When you meet an amazing person
“just at the right moment,” or you’re able to go on ‘umrah without any
planning, or you miss a loved one and they call you, these are gifts.
Sometimes you give gifts to someone you love and sometimes you give gifts to draw someone closer to you. What does it mean when Al-Wahhaab gives you a gift? It might mean that He gives you a gift so that you can come closer to Him, even though you were going astray.
The
Art of Giving: Are You a True Giver?
When was the last
time you gave someone a gift? What was your motivation? SubhanAllah,
remembering Al-Wahhaab we as mankind can strive to give in a
beautiful way, with a sincere intention, for Allah’s sake only. This way our
giving becomes ‘ibaadah!
Abû Hâmid al-Ghazâlî said: Whoever bestows gifts with an eye to some interest to be realized by it sooner or later, either appreciation, affection or release from blame, or acquiring distinction of mention— he is neither a giver nor generous, but rather engaged in transaction and recompense . . . But the one who sacrifices all he owns, even his life, for the sake of God alone— such a one is worthy of being named giver and generous.
Learn
From the Love of the Companions
How could the sahabah do
the impossible? Why did they purchase themselves for the cause of Allah? Why
did they sacrifice everything? If the finger of one of us is wounded, we cry
out, bandage it, and excuse ourselves from meetings. Look at what Ja’far,
may Allah be pleased with him, did. A sword chopped off his right hand, so he
held the Islamic flag with his left hand.
Another blow
chopped off his left hand, so he held the flag up with his upper arms and held
it there until he died. What love could drive him to sacrifice his life? Let’s
learn from these great role models and cultivate our love and sacrifice for Al-Wahhaab!
How
Can You Live by This Name?
1.Remember Al-Wahhaab.
Imagine that someone pays your bus ticket for you— wouldn’t you rush to thank him? Think of the last time you received a gift. How did you feel? Happy, humbled, shy? Did you rush to thank him or her? And only because this person gave you a gift!
Al-Wahhaab gives
us so many gifts, each day, again and again whether we are close to Him or
further astray, His Ultimate way of Giving is with the most detailed wisdom.
His gifts come in the form of moments you experience, scenes you
see, things you hear, and as material blessings.
This is the
difference between a believer and a disbeliever. The disbeliever lives with the
gifts of Allah ‘azza wajal but doesn’t remember Him, while a
true believer knows the Giver through the gifts. Be someone who is always
thankful to His Maker for everything you get.
2.Use
the gifts of Al-Wahhaab in the right way.
Another way how we can thank Al-Wahhaab for His gifts to us is by using them in His way and in His cause. If Al-Wahhaab has given you a gift, do not use it for what He dislikes. A good example is the mobile phone. He gave you this technology, use it for sharing knowledge and not for wasting time!
He also might give
you the chance to have a beautiful afternoon with friends; don’t use it for
backbiting. Or He gave you the opportunity to go to a certain place— don’t use
it by disobeying Him while you’re there. Our limbs, our minds, our wealth, and
our belongings should be used to please Al-Wahhaab.
It is said that
there are three things to always remember: 1). Your purpose: to worship
Allah alone. 2). Your goal: Jannatul Firdaws, The Highest Paradise.
Your plan: following the Quran and Sunnah sincerely
and with excellence.
3.
Love Al-Wahhaab.
If you use your mind to contemplate the universe, you get to know Allah, the Almighty. If you realize the great gifts Al-Wahhaab bestows upon you, you love Him with all of your heart. It is said, if you knew how Allah ‘azza wajal manages your affairs, your heart would melt out of love for Him.
As soon as our
heart is filled with love for Allah, we find out our Lord’s beautiful care,
love, help, and guidance to us, and we feel ultimate happiness.
4.
Ask al-Wahhaab.
Use the prayer that He Himself taught us! Amazingly, using this ism (Name), there are more than one du’aa mentioned in the Quran. Here you may find the prophets asking Al-Wahhaab, by asking for mercy, offspring etc, ending with ‘ innaka anta al-Wahhaab’.
5.
Don’t praise yourself.
Sometimes we say, I got married, worked hard, and got a beautiful house. Or we say, I gave my child a good upbringing, that’s why he is so good-mannered— I made my son like that!
We say all such
things, forgetting the One Who bestowed all those favors upon us. Your
good spouse or child is given to you as a gift from Al-Wahhaab. It
is as Al-Wahhaab says in the Quran: And
We granted him (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, each of whom did We guide; and before
him, We did guide Noah, and among his progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph,
Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the good-doers.
6.
Ponder what Al-Wahhaab has given you.
First of all, He gave you your existence. Then think of the greatest gift Al-Wahhaab gave you: guidance. Think about water, which is scentless, colorless, etc. Imagine if water were sticky— how could you wash yourself? Look at your memory and how Allah gave foods a nice smell. All of these are gifts of Al-Wahhaab; ponder them!
7.
Give gifts to others
The Prophet (saws) said, Give gifts, for this will increase your mutual love. [Muslim].
SubhanAllah, no human being gives anything for nothing, even if it’s that we give to gain the reward of Allah ‘azza wajal by it. The only One Who gives asking for nothing in return is Al-Wahhaab.
If a human being
gives you a gift who is the real donor? It is Al-Wahhaab, Who
inspired him to give you what he has given you! So first thank Allah ‘azza
wajal for inspiring people to help you and then be grateful to the
people by doing a favor for them, or, if you can’t, by saying jazaakAllahu
khayr or baraakAllaahu feek(i)!
Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.
O Allah, Al-Wahhaab, make us of those who are grateful for Your gifts and use them to please You, adorn us with love for You. Make us ponder Your gifts, inspire us to give gifts to others, give us from Your mercy that overwhelms us in this present world and the world to come, verily, You are the Best Giver of Gifts, ameen!
