Al-Badi
Allah is Al-Badi, The One who created and formed the universe without any mold or preceding example. With His will he invents all that exists without any prior material. His creation is made without any similarity to anything else that has ever existed.
From the root b-d-‘a which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to introduce, originate, start, innovate to do for the first time, and not after the similitude of anything pre-existing to cause to exist, to bring into existence to devise, to uniquely contrive to be amazing, outstanding, marvelous, superlative, incomparable.
Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is. (Quran 2:117)
[He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing. (Quran 6:101)
Have they not looked at the heaven above them – how We structured it and adorned it and [how] it has no rifts? And the earth – We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah]. And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky and made grow thereby gardens and grain from the harvest And lofty palm trees having fruit arranged in layers – As provision for the servants, and We have given life thereby to a dead land. (Quran 50:6-11)
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Name: |
Al-Badi' |
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Al-Badi' in Arabic: |
البديع |
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Arabic root: |
ب د ع |
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Al-Badi' meaning in English: |
The Incomparable |
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Al-Badi' meaning in Urdu: |
(لفظاً) از سر نو پیدا کرنے والا، ایجاد کرنے والا، بے مثال چيزيں بنانے والا |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
2 |
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Tasbeeh: |
Al-Badi’ can be invoked to remain persistent in faith and hope for the Mercy of Allah. |
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Asma ul Husna with similar meaning: |
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Al Badi’ is among the all-encompassing traits of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), the depth of which can be understood by reflecting on the meaning of the trait about your surroundings. There is an ع at the end of the word Al-Badi’ pronunciation, which comes from the root ba-dal-ayn (ب د ع). The classical Arabic connotations of this resonant word used in the Quran are to introduce, originate, start, innovate, to do for the first time. These connotations also include “not after the similitude of anything pre-existing to cause to exist,” to bring into existence, devise, uniquely contrive, and be amazing, outstanding, marvelous, superlative, incomparable. Only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has the will to invent all that exists without any prior material, with His creation made without any similarity to anything else that has ever existed. He is unique in the essence of being and as the originator.
The trait Al-Badi’ is mentioned in the Quran paired along with the words Samawati wal Ardh (لسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡض) meaning “the heavens and the earth.” The complete translation of the word becomes “The Originator of the heavens and the earth,” implying how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the ultimate creator of all that is in the heavens and the earth.
بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمۡرٗا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Badeee’us samaawaati wal ardi wa izaa qadaaa amran fa innamaa yaqoolu lahoo kun fayakoon
English Translation:
"Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is." — (Qur'an 2:117)
This Ayah from Surah Baqarah depicts the essential effect of this particular trait of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as He only has to “say” for anything to “Be” and it comes into existence. This emphasizes Allah's infinite power and wisdom in a Muslim’s absolute belief in Allah. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is Al-Badi’, the original, one of one. With Him being the Creator, everything is possible if we rely on Him. He is the one who creates the sustenance of even the tiniest creation in the universe. Nothing came before Him since He is both the Original and the Originator.
There is no being that is similar to having attributes as Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has and His actions, He who can create the Heavens and the Earth from nothingness. Only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has the power to do what He has done, and in this authority, He is incomparable, matchless and unequaled as the creator of the entire universe.
Among the challenges of life on Earth, feeling hopeless or despair is a major struggle that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has acknowledged as a human character trait. To heal us of this trait, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) reassures as Al-Badi’. Reflecting on the uniqueness of Allah’s creation, beginning from your own self to all that is found in nature, from the tip of your finger to the vast, vast universe, opens to us the possibility of everything. This strengthens our faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) ability to solve problems in ways beyond human comprehension. Eventually, such persistence will manifest in getting our eyes open to the mercy in even that which Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has withheld in this world from us.
Al-Badi inspires gratitude for Allah's creations' beauty and perfection. Adding to your daily routine is a great Dhikr by mindfully reciting and reflecting upon this trait. In case you are stuck with some complicated struggle, use this name of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) in your daily invocations or your Salah as illustrated in hadith Sunan an-Nasa'i 1300 to overcome anything and everything.
This particular trait is also a great reminder to use in your daily conversations with your family or friends and inspire in them a tenacity of complete hope that everything happens for the best. It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said, "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless. If anything befalls you, do not say, "If only I had done such and such," rather say, "Qaddara Allahu wa ma sha'a fa'ala (Allah has decreed and whatever he wills, He does)." For (saying) 'If' opens (the door) to the deeds of Satan.'" (Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 79) With such resolve in the power of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), Al-Badi' benefits the believer by inspiring perseverance and persistence to vanquish whatever challenge comes their way.
Several names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) are analogous in meaning to the trait Al Badi’ (The Incomparable). The subsequent name Al-Baqi (The Everlasting) extends the meaning of Al Badi’, as His disposition of being incomparable in His originality never weakens or ends. Al-Mubdi (The Originator) is the closest in essential meanings to Al-Badi, comparable with “to bring into existence, to devise.”
Al-Wahid (The One), Al-Awwal (The First), and Al-Ahad (The Unique) are similar to Al-Badi’ in the aspect of describing the uniqueness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). In the aspect of being “the One to uniquely contrive,” Al-Khaliq (The Creator), Al-Musawwir (The Fashioner, The Shaper, The Designer), Al-Bari (The Maker), and Al-Muid (The Re-Creator) present a similar meaning. Al-Badi’ also reflects the supreme power of Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), similar in baseline meaning with Al-Qadir (The All-Powerful, He Who is able to do Everything) and As-Samad (The Eternal Refuge).
Al-Badi' (The Incomparable) appears a total of 2 times in the Quran. The following is this trait’s second appearance, mentioned as the rebuttal of the pagan belief of God having a son:
بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُۥ وَلَدٞ وَلَمۡ تَكُن لَّهُۥ صَٰحِبَةٞۖ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيۡءٖۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٞ
Badee'us samaawaati wal ardi annnaa yakoonu lahoo waladunw wa lam takul lahoo saahibatunw wa khalaqa kulla shain'inw wa Huwa bikulli shai'in 'Aleem
English Translation:
"[He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing." — (Qur'an 6:101)
In Hadith, Al-Badi' (The Incomparable) appears in a comprehensive Dua (supplication) of a man praying near the noble Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions (رضی ٱللَّٰهُ عنھم). The man asks Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) by invoking this trait among others.
“It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said "I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and a man was standing and praying. When he bowed, prostrated and recited the tashahhud, he supplicated, and in his supplication, he said:
"اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِأَنَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ الْمَنَّانُ بَدِيعُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ يَا ذَا الْجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ يَا حَىُّ يَا قَيُّومُ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ
Allahumma inni as'aluka bi-anna lakal-hamd, lailaha illa ant, al-mannanu badi'us-samawati wal-ard, ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram! Ya hayyu ya qayyum! Inni as'aluka.
English Translation:
(O Allah, indeed I ask You since all praise is due to You, there is none worthy of worship but You, the Bestower, the Creator of the heavens and earth, O Possessor of majesty and honor, O Ever-living, O-Eternal, I ask of You.)
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Do you know what he has supplicated with?' They said: "Allah (SWT) and His Messenger know best." He said: 'By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, he called upon Allah by His greatest Name, which, if He is called by it, He responds, and if He is asked by it, He gives.'” (Sunan an-Nasa'i 1300)