Al-Alim

The One who knows all things perfectly; who knows in truth; who knows what has been and what will be; whose knowledge encompasses everything; who knows our deeds and even all our intentions and feelings. Allah Almighty says: "And if you speak aloud — then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden." (Ta-Ha, 7) "Did they not know that Allah knows their secrets and their private conversations and that Allah is the Knower of the unseen?" (At-Tawbah, 78) "...Allah is Knowing and Wise." (Al-Anfal, 71) There is no limit to Allah's knowledge. He knows all things. There are many noble verses in the Qur'an stating that Allah's knowledge encompasses everything and that He knows all things in their finest detail. He knows what has happened exactly as it happened, and He knows what is to come just as clearly and distinctly. Nothing lies outside His knowledge. Created beings can possess only as much knowledge as He permits; beyond that they cannot know. Human knowledge is neither complete nor absolute; people are entirely powerless to know the future. Allah's knowledge, however, is bound neither by place nor by time. Whoever knows that Allah is aware of his condition bears his situation with patience, gives thanks for what He grants, and avoids what is ugly and wrong. Differences between Allah's knowledge and the knowledge of His servants: 1. Allah's knowledge encompasses all knowledge; the knowledge of servants is extremely limited. 2. Allah's knowledge does not change as knowledge changes; the knowledge of servants is not so. 3. His knowledge is not acquired through the senses or through thought; the knowledge of servants is acquired through the senses or through thought. 4. Allah's knowledge exists necessarily and is never lost; the knowledge of servants carries the risk of being lost. 5. Allah's items of knowledge do not obstruct or preoccupy one another; the knowledge of servants may obstruct and preoccupy. 6. Allah's knowledge is limitless; that of His servants is limited. 7. Nothing remains hidden from Allah's knowledge. He knows all things, open and hidden. Nothing is concealed from Him; the knowledge of servants is not so.

The noble name Al-Alim is recited 150 times as "Ya Alim, jalla jalaluhu" for clarity of mind and for understanding the sciences of this world and the next. Whoever persists after every prayer in the remembrance "Ya Alima'l-ghaybi wa'sh-shahada", spiritual unveiling is opened to him. Whoever persists in the noble name Al-Alim, saying "Ya Alim, jalla jalaluhu", his memory becomes strong and forgetfulness departs from him.