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Allahu a'alam (God Knows Best): Difference between revisions
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Allah knows best, in Arabic الله | Allah knows best, in Arabic الله أعلم (''Allahu 'alam'', literally "Allah knew"), is an Islamic phrase that finds frequent usage in Islamic literature such as the [[tafsir]]. In Arabic as a whole it is used in instances where the speaker does not know the answer to a particular question. In Islamic historical and theological writing it is often used as a reply to questions about the history of the Islamic narrative that are difficult to answer and questions that cast a doubt on the truthfulness or authenticity of Islam. | ||
==The phrase in Arabic== | ==The phrase in Arabic== | ||
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}} | }} | ||
==="Allah knows best" | ==="Allah knows best" in response to critics=== | ||
In some verses, "Allah knows best" seems to be an excuse used by the Qur'an against its critics. | In some verses, "Allah knows best" seems to be an excuse used by the Qur'an against its critics. | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran|16|101}}|And when We change (one) communication for (another) communication, and '''Allah knows best''' what He reveals, they say: You are only a forger. Nay, most of them do not know.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|16|101}}|And when We change (one) communication for (another) communication, and '''Allah knows best''' what He reveals, they say: You are only a forger. Nay, most of them do not know.}} | ||
In this example, the Jews knew some religious stories. They asked for Allah to reveal to | In this example, the Jews knew some religious stories. They asked for Allah to reveal to them those stories, so that they can compare them and if his stories are the same as theirs, and ascertain if Muhammad is the messenger of god. One part of those stories was information about how long did the companions of the cave dwell in their cave. Muhammad [[Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in the Quran|revealed 309, which was incorrect]]. So in response came the verse "Allah knows best": | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|18|26}}|Say: '''Allah knows best''' how long they remained; to Him are (known) the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; how clear His sight and how clear His hearing! There is none to be a guardian for them besides Him, and He does not make any one His associate in His Judgment.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|18|26}}|Say: '''Allah knows best''' how long they remained; to Him are (known) the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; how clear His sight and how clear His hearing! There is none to be a guardian for them besides Him, and He does not make any one His associate in His Judgment.}} | ||
The Qur'an gives a command for Muslims to use the phrase to respond to critics of Islam: | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|22|68}}|And if they contend with you, say: '''Allah best knows''' what you do.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|22|68}}|And if they contend with you, say: '''Allah best knows''' what you do.}} | ||
However that verse was abrogated, according to the scholars, as stated in Tafsir al-Jalalayn. Now Muslims shouldn't respond with "Allah knows best", rather they should respond by engaging in war: | However that verse was abrogated, according to the scholars, as stated in Tafsir al-Jalalayn. Now Muslims shouldn't respond with "Allah knows best", rather they should respond by engaging in war: | ||
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==In the tafsir== | ==In the tafsir== | ||
In the early tafsirs on the verse 68:1, we can read about [[The Islamic Whale|the whale]], called ن (Nun), which carries the Earth on its back <ref>Tanwir Al-Miqbas: "And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Nun): '(Nun) He says: Allah swears by the Nun, which is the whale that carries the earths on its back while in Water, and beneath which is the Bull and under the Bull is the Rock and..."</ref>. However in the tafsir Al-Jalalayn, from the 15th century, | In the early tafsirs on the verse 68:1, we can read about [[The Islamic Whale|the whale]], called ن (Nun), which carries the Earth on its back <ref>Tanwir Al-Miqbas: "And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Nun): '(Nun) He says: Allah swears by the Nun, which is the whale that carries the earths on its back while in Water, and beneath which is the Bull and under the Bull is the Rock and..."</ref>. However in the tafsir Al-Jalalayn, from the 15th century, apparently uncomfortable with this explanation, simply says of it "Allah knows best": | ||
{{quote|Al-Jalalayn on 68:1|Nūn is one of the letters of the alphabet. '''God knows best''' what He means by it.}} | {{quote|Al-Jalalayn on 68:1|﴿ن﴾ أحَد حُرُوف الهِجاء اللَّه أعْلَم بِمُرادِهِ بِهِ ﴿والقَلَم﴾ الَّذِي كَتَبَ بِهِ الكائِنات فِي اللَّوْح المَحْفُوظ ﴿وما يَسْطُرُونَ﴾ أيْ المَلائِكَة مِن الخَيْر والصَّلاح | ||
Nūn is one of the letters of the alphabet. '''God knows best''' what He means by it. "And the pen" which writes the (fate) of all beings on the preserved board. "and what it writes" id est the angels from goodness and soundness."}} | |||
==Comfort in Ignorance== | ==Comfort in Ignorance== | ||
Saying "Allah knows best" instead of "I don't know" or "I am not sure" makes people more comfortable in their ignorance. | On of the reasons Intelligent Design is not accepted by the community of scientific biologists is because it stifles further inquiry, according to evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins <ref>Dawkins Richard, The God Delusion, p.126, London: Bantam Press, 2006</ref>. The idea that "god did it" and "god knows the answer" smothers inquiry by taking away the impetus for further investigation. Saying "Allah knows best" instead of "I don't know" or "I am not sure" effectively makes people more comfortable in their ignorance, and is thus inimical to the scientific method which always seeks to ask questions where mysteries remain. | ||
Dawkins sums up the scientific opposition to the "allahu 'alam" culture of Islam saying: | |||
{{quote| | {{quote|1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gTYFolrpNU&t=522s God Under The Microscope]|2=“It worries me about religion that it teaches people to be satisfied with not understanding.”}} | ||
}} | |||
"Allah knows best" is sometimes used as a response to questions from the critics of Islam. | "Allah knows best" is sometimes used as a response to questions from the critics of Islam. | ||
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The phrase is also used as an "explanation" of some things in Islam which don't make sense or if they are in conflict with science. One example was already discussed, regarding the tafsir Al-Jalalayn on the verse 68:1. | The phrase is also used as an "explanation" of some things in Islam which don't make sense or if they are in conflict with science. One example was already discussed, regarding the tafsir Al-Jalalayn on the verse 68:1. | ||
==See | ==See also== | ||
*[[ | *[[Inshallah (If Allah Wills)]] | ||
*[[ | *[[Allahu Akbar (God is Greater)]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Qadr (fate)]] | [[Category:Qadr (fate)]] | ||
[[Category:Tafsir]] | [[Category:Tafsir]] | ||
[[Category:Islamic phrases]] | |||