Az-Zahir

The Manifest, whose existence is evident. Allah Almighty says: "He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate." (Al-Hadid, 3) Az-Zahir means the One whose existence is plainly seen in all things, for everything is evidence of His existence. There is nothing that, in coming forth into existence, has not already proved His existence beforehand. Even so, one should not imagine that everything visible is He — for although He is manifest, He is also hidden. Just as He cannot be perceived by the senses or grasped by imagination, so too the reality of His existence is far above being contained in the comprehension and grasp of minds. Therefore one should not judge Him to be only Manifest or only Hidden, but should defer the judgement and say "the Manifest and the Hidden." He is the unseen Manifest and the unconcealed Hidden. He is Manifest in giving help and provision, and Hidden in bringing about the formation of beings. Allah's being Manifest requires that He be superior to all things. The benefit of knowing this name: Knowing this name of Allah causes the heart to turn to a single God and to worship Him. This name enables a person to understand that there exists a true God, in need of nothing, to whom he turns with complete sincerity, to whom he conveys his needs, and in whom he takes refuge and finds support in moments of distress. When this meaning settles in the servant's heart and the servant knows his Lord by the name Az-Zahir, his acts of worship take on order and regularity. These acts of worship become for him a refuge, a shelter and a place of protection. Whenever he wishes he enters this refuge and finds peace.

The noble name Az-Zahir is recited 1,106 times as "Ya Zahir, jalla jalaluhu" so that secrets and hidden things may be made known to one. When it is recited at the time of sunrise, the heart is illumined with the lights of sainthood and hidden things become manifest.