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Allahu a'alam (God Knows Best): Difference between revisions
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Allah knows best, in Arabic الله اعلم (''Allahu A'alam''), is an Islamic phrase | Allah knows best, in Arabic الله اعلم (''Allahu A'alam''), is an Islamic phrase that finds frequent use among Muslim apologists. It is often used as a reply to questions about Islam 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== | ||
Allahu A'alam is grammatically similar to [[Allahu Akbar]]. In the word A'alam the root is not كبر k-b-r (big), but علم 'a-l-m (knowing). In both phrases, "A" (alif) is added to the beginning of the word and also a short "a" (fatha) after the second root letter. So from 'a-l-m become <b>A</b>'al'''a'''m, just like from k-b-r became '''A'''kb'''a'''r. | Allahu A'alam is grammatically similar to [[Allahu Akbar]]. In the word A'alam the root is not كبر k-b-r (big), but علم 'a-l-m (knowing). In both phrases, "A" (alif) is added to the beginning of the word and also a short "a" (fatha) after the second root letter. So from 'a-l-m become <b>A</b><nowiki/>'al'''a'''m, just like from k-b-r became '''A'''kb'''a'''r. | ||
'a stands for the [[Arabic letters and diacritics|Arabic letter]] ع (ain), which cannot be properly transliterated using the English alphabet. | 'a stands for the [[Arabic letters and diacritics|Arabic letter]] ع (ain), which cannot be properly transliterated using the English alphabet. | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran|3|36}}|So when she brought forth, she said: My Lord! Surely I have brought it forth a female-- and '''Allah knew best''' what she brought forth-- and the male is not like the female, and I have named it Marium, and I commend her and her offspring into Thy protection from the accursed Shaitan.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|3|36}}|So when she brought forth, she said: My Lord! Surely I have brought it forth a female-- and '''Allah knew best''' what she brought forth-- and the male is not like the female, and I have named it Marium, and I commend her and her offspring into Thy protection from the accursed Shaitan.}} | ||
He knows | He knows of the hypocrites who refuse to engage in jihad: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|3|167}}|And that He might know the hypocrites; and it was said to them: Come, fight in Allah´s way, or defend yourselves. They said: If we knew fighting, we would certainly have followed you. They were on that day much nearer to unbelief than to belief. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts, and '''Allah best knows''' what they conceal.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|3|167}}|And that He might know the hypocrites; and it was said to them: Come, fight in Allah´s way, or defend yourselves. They said: If we knew fighting, we would certainly have followed you. They were on that day much nearer to unbelief than to belief. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts, and '''Allah best knows''' what they conceal.}} | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran|6|58}}|Say: If that which you desire to hasten were with me, the matter would have certainly been decided between you and me; and '''Allah best knows''' the unjust.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|6|58}}|Say: If that which you desire to hasten were with me, the matter would have certainly been decided between you and me; and '''Allah best knows''' the unjust.}} | ||
Interestingly, this phrase does not find use when it comes to scientific realities that would have been unknown to 7th century Arabs, a domain in which one would think God could have provided insight. | |||
===Allah knows better than people=== | ===Allah knows better than people=== | ||
He knows that Abraham, Ishmael and Jacob were neither Jews nor Christians (though scholars | He knows that Abraham, Ishmael and Jacob were neither Jews nor Christians (though scholars Judaism consider them to have been Jews): | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|2|140}}|Nay! do you say that Ibrahim and Ismail and Yaqoub and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Are you better knowing or Allah? And who is more unjust than he who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah? And Allah is not at all heedless of what you do.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|2|140}}|Nay! do you say that Ibrahim and Ismail and Yaqoub and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Are you better knowing or Allah? And who is more unjust than he who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah? And Allah is not at all heedless of what you do.}} | ||
You might think that some people (Jews) are your friends, but they are your enemies: | You might think that some people (Jews and Christians, in this case) are your friends, but they are your enemies: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|44-45}}| | {{Quote|{{Quran|4|44-45}}| | ||
Have you not considered those to whom a portion of the Book has been given? They buy error and desire that you should go astray from the way. | Have you not considered those to whom a portion of the Book has been given? They buy error and desire that you should go astray from the way. | ||
And '''Allah best knows''' your enemies; and Allah suffices as a Guardian, and Allah suffices as a Helper.}} | And '''Allah best knows''' your enemies; and Allah suffices as a Guardian, and Allah suffices as a Helper.}} | ||
Allah knows what is good for humans better than they can themselves know what is good for themselves: | |||
{{quote|{{Quran|2|216}}|Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and '''Allah knows''', while you do not know.}} | {{quote|{{Quran|2|216}}|Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and '''Allah knows''', while you do not know.}} | ||
===People say "Allah knows best"=== | ===People say "Allah knows best"=== | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran|5|116}}|And when Allah will say: O Isa son of Marium! did you say to men, Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah he will say: Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); if I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it; Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|5|116}}|And when Allah will say: O Isa son of Marium! did you say to men, Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah he will say: Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); if I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it; Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things.}} | ||
Joseph | Joseph believes that Allah knows that what some people said is false: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|12|77}}|They said: If he steal, a brother of his did indeed steal before; but Yusuf kept it secret in his heart and did not disclose it to them. He said: You are in an evil condition and Allah knows best what you state.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|12|77}}|They said: If he steal, a brother of his did indeed steal before; but Yusuf kept it secret in his heart and did not disclose it to them. He said: You are in an evil condition and Allah knows best what you state.}} | ||
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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.}} | ||
Jews knew some religious stories. They asked Muhammad to ask Allah to reveal to him those stories, so that they can compare them and if his stories are the same as theirs, then Muhammad is the messenger of god. One part of those stories was information about how long did dwellers of Ephesus in a cave dwell. Muhammad [[Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in the Quran|revealed 309, which was | Jews knew some religious stories. They asked Muhammad to ask Allah to reveal to him those stories, so that they can compare them and if his stories are the same as theirs, then Muhammad is the messenger of god. One part of those stories was information about how long did dwellers of Ephesus in a cave dwell. Muhammad [[Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in the Quran|revealed 309, which was incorrect]]. So then he revealed that "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.}} | ||
Muhammad revealed a command for Muslims to use the | Muhammad revealed 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. Now Muslims shouldn't respond | 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: | ||
{{Quote|Al-Jalalayn on 22:68|And if they dispute with you in the matter of religion say ‘God knows best what you do and will requite you for it — '''this was revealed before the command to fight them.''' | {{Quote|Al-Jalalayn on 22:68|And if they dispute with you in the matter of religion say ‘God knows best what you do and will requite you for it — '''this was revealed before the command to fight them.''' | ||
}} | }} | ||
==In the hadith== | ==In the hadith== | ||
Polytheists' dead children may go to hell: | |||
{{Quote|{{Al Nasai||3|21|1951}}|It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: | {{Quote|{{Al Nasai||3|21|1951}}|It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: | ||
"The Messenger of Allah was asked about the children of the idolators and he said: 'Allah knows best what they would have done."'}} | "The Messenger of Allah was asked about the children of the idolators and he said: 'Allah knows best what they would have done."'}} | ||
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}} | }} | ||
"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. | ||
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 Also== | ==See Also== | ||
* [[Allahu Akbar]] | |||
* [[In Sha Allah]] | *[[Allahu Akbar]] | ||
*[[In Sha Allah]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | |||