Al-Azim
Allah is Al-Azeem, The Supreme Glory and The Greatest. His reality is too great to be fully understood under the capacity of the human mind. He is infinitely greater than his creation. It is said his throne (symbolic of his knowledge and authority) extends over the heavens and the earth, and the care of them burdens Him not, He is the Supreme, the Greatest.
From the root ‘a-z-m which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to be great, large, big to be vast, huge, enormous to be great in rank, importance or dignity to be imposing, powerful, superior to be magnificent, honored, revered, sublime to be immense, stupendous, lofty to be above imperfection.
So, exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great. (Quran 56:96)
He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. (Quran 2:255)
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great. (Quran 42:4)
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Name: |
Al-Azim (The Magnificent One) |
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Al-Azim in Arabic: |
العظيم |
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Arabic root: |
(ع ظ م) |
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Al-Azim meaning in English: |
The Great One, The Mighty, The Tremendous |
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Al-Azim meaning in Urdu: |
بڑی عظمت والا ۔ بڑی شان والا |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
9 times |
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Tasbeeh: |
Recite Al-Azim anytime during the day to incorporate remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) into your daily routine. |
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Asma-Ul-Husna with similar meaning: |
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Al-Azim is one of the 99 Asma-Ul-Husna, often described as The Most Beautiful Names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). These are also used to describe His Attributes. The name “Al-Azim” literally translates to The Magnificent, describing Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Magnificence, Mightiness, and Glory.
The name has its roots in ayn-za-mim in Arabic, which translates to being huge, vast, and large. These roots also refer to being great in ranking and importance, superior, and immense, all of which are attributes describing Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
Al-Azim appears in the Quran 9 times and explains Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s Glory and Greatness via this name. As The Magnificent, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His reality is far too complicated for a mere human brain to comprehend. This highlights Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s complexity and His Infinite Existence. As The Magnificent, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has no restrictions or limitations whatsoever. He remains the most Tremendous One in His knowledge, strength, mercy, and power throughout all affairs, seen or unseen. Nothing in existence can challenge The Tremendous and be placed next to His attributes. He is Unique in His attributes and names. As The Mighty, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is magnificent in His personality as well as His Names and Attributes.
As mentioned previously, al-Azim has a personality that is too complex to understand. Human brains are far too simple to understand the world's workings and how He manages it all. Everything that seems too big or great to a human remains small to The Almighty, for He is The Greatest One. The greatness a human brain can accept comes with its limitations. A human can accept that there is more than a single Universe in existence, but perceiving Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s Greatness and Glory is something out of our reach as a mere human. He is beyond our comprehension, for how can we understand someone who created the Heavens and the Earth out of nothing?
The Quran highlights Al-Azim in Surah Al-Haqqah,
فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
“So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Greatest.” (Surah Al-Haqqah, 69:52)
The name Al-Azim is considered significant for the believers to recite in remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Since the name translates to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) being Glorius, The Greatest and The Most Magnificent, recitation of this name can lead to believers asking for help from their Lord. It serves as a reminder of Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Power and how He possesses the ability to fulfill our desires, resolve our affairs, bring ease in our lives, and make life blossom. It is He who can remove any obstacles from our path in this world and the next. There is nothing hidden from Him, He is aware of all that is in our hearts and hence, He possesses the Power to take our life from bottom to top.
Al-Azim is a reminder of how there is no limit to what Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) can do, therefore when asking for something from the Lord, believers are encouraged to ask for the impossible, for there is nothing impossible for The Mighty. He remains limitless and unmatchable in all His abilities.
Remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as Al-Azim also helps a believer remain humble. Once we believe that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is The Great One and holds everything in His Ultimate Power, we understand and accept that all our successes are from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It is all a blessing from our Lord and that is likely to bring humility to an individual.
Al-Azim assists a believer in accepting all the decisions, outcomes, and consequences as Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s decree for him in all affairs. As humans, we have weak control over even ourselves and Al-Azim helps us remember that no one else holds any control or power over us besides The Great One. We can get carried away by worldly desires and powerful people in the world, however, recitation of Al-Azim can help us always remember that any power that is lent to a human for any dealings comes from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It is Him who can provide and take back what is His. This brings about submission to our Lord for all believers.
A believer submitting to Al-Azim serves as complete acceptance of dependence on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), for we are always dependent on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for every minute thing in our lives. When we understand the importance of believing in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as The Greatest because He indeed is The Most Magnificent, we are less prone to going astray. We are more likely to remember just how Mighty Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is and how He has everything under His control. If He can make things work in our favor, He also has the Authority over restricting things for us as punishment. However, with that control, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is also the Only One with immense Mercy. We remain accountable to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), The Magnificent. With Glory in all other aspects, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) possesses The Greatest Mercy and forgiveness as well, which should serve as a reminder to always have good intentions, ask for forgiveness, and try to do well in life.
While AL-Azim signifies Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) being the Greatest One and The Magnificent One with all the Power, Knowledge, Glory, and Mercy, there are other names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) with similar meanings as that of Al-Azim. One such attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is explained by Al-Kabir that translates to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) being Great in all aspects. It implies how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is vast, beyond comprehension, and the One who provides for the Universe in abundance.
Another name, Al-Jabbar, signifies Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s Power. He is described as the Ultimate force with the Power to remove obstacles and hurdles from paths. He has the Power, He is The Magnificent who can make anything happen any time, as and when He pleases.
Al-Mutakabbir and Al-Qahhar are other attributes of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) highlighting His Glory and All-Conquering Power. While these other names focus on particular aspects of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s attributes, such as His Power and Glory, the name Al-Azim emphasizes Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s Majesty overall.
Apart from its mention in the Quran several, the name AL-Azim also appears in ahadith. Holy Prophet (ﷺ) has been reported to make this dua in times of distress that includes the two names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), AL-Azim and Al-Haleem,
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ
"There is no God but Allah, the Magnificent, the Forbearing. There is no God but Allah, Lord of the magnificent Throne. There is no God but Allah, Lord of the heavens and Earth, Lord of the generous Throne."
The dua also highlights Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s attribute of being The Magnificent. He is the most Generous and can provide us believers with everything we ask for, given that it is in our favor.
Another mention of Al-Azim is in the dua advised by the Holy Prophet (ﷺ). He was asked how one can gain maximum good deeds, so he advised the following dua,
سبحان الله وبحمده سبحان الله العظيم
“Glory be to Allah and He is the praise, (and) Allah, the Greatest is free from imperfection.”
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said this dua is dear to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It is light on the tongue but holds immense weight in terms of deeds.
The Holy Quran reiterates Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s Greatness in chapter 42, Verse 4,
لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
“To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And He is the Most High, the Greatest.” (Surah Ash-Shuraa, 42:4)
Surah Al-Baqarah in Quran also emphasizes on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s attribute of being The Greatest in the following verse,
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
“Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who could intercede with Him without His permission? He fully knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but no one can grasp any of His knowledge—except what He wills to reveal. His Seat1 encompasses the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not tire Him. For He is the Most High, the Greatest.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255)