Al-Bari'
Al Baari is the one who decreed things to exist out of nothing in a specific manner. Creates shape from nothing that has no model or similarity. He manifests his creations in perfect harmony and in perfect proportions without any faults.
From the root b-r-‘ which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to create, to form out of nothing, to manifest to create using pre-existing matter, evolve, to be individual free and clear of another thing, to be free and clear of fault or blemish.
He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner;
to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Quran 59:24)
Behold, everything we have created in due measure and proportion (Quran 54:49)
[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky];
do you see any breaks? (Quran 3:4)
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Name: |
Al-Bari' |
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Al-Bari' in Arabic: |
البَارِی |
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Arabic root: |
(ب ر أ) |
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Al-Bari' meaning in English: |
The Originator |
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Al-Bari' meaning in Urdu: |
پیدا کرنے والا |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
91 times |
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Tasbeeh: |
Reciting Al-Bari’ is praising Allah that he created this Universe and created everything with perfection. |
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Asma ul Husna with similar meaning: |
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Al-Bari defines the attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as being The Maker, The Evolver, or the Creator. He is the one who brought this universe into existence, and it is only He (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) who has this power. He is the real Maker who does not need any ideas or models to create anything; instead, He is the one who creates and is far above the attributes of being a creation.
In the Quran, a term that describes Allah’s power to create things is mentioned. In Surah Yasin, it is mentioned, كُن فَيَكُونُ’, which translates as, “Be, and it is.” We can elaborate on this term as, when Allah wants something to happen, He just says ‘Be’ and it appears right away. These words are a command from Al-Bari showcasing His power and all authority to create anything from scratch in a blink of an eye belongs to Him alone. In Surah Hashr, Allah says:
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
“He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belongs the best names. Whatever is in the Heavens and Earth is exalting Him. And He is Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (Quran 59:24)
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), “The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: ‘Allah has 99 names, one-hundred less one; and he who memorized them all by heart will enter Paradise.’ To count something means to know by heart.” (Sahih Bukhari 7392)
Al-Bari’ is among the names in Asma ul Husna and it highlights Allah’s power to create a life or evolve a living being. He is the one who created mankind and all the living beings on Earth and the entire Universe and whatever is within it and beyond.
The word Bari has Arabic root letters (ب ر أ) which means to create, to manifest, evolve, or to be free of faults or imperfections. This means He is the One who creates and recreates without any flaws. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) says in Surah Al-A’raf:
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنٰكُمۡ ثُمَّ صَوَّرۡنٰكُمۡ ثُمَّ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلٰۤـئِكَةِ اسۡجُدُوۡا لِاٰدَمَ ۖ فَسَجَدُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اِبۡلِيۡسَؕ لَمۡ يَكُنۡ مِّنَ السّٰجِدِيۡنَ
"We initiated your creation, then We gave you each a shape, and then We said to the angels: ‘Prostrate before Adam.’ They all prostrated except Iblis: he was not one of those who fell Prostrate.”
This verse clearly defines Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as the Creator of man as it is said ‘We initiated’ and later ‘gave you each a shape.’ This Verse also reflects that Allah is the Lord of angels and He commanded them to prostrate before Adam.
So, if sometimes you feel insecure about your looks or body, remember this verse and understand that Allah created you and He is the one who shaped you according to His will. Can a creation of Allah be not beautiful? So, we are all beautiful because we are all created by our Lord. In the Quran, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) tells us that it is He who created mankind meaning He is Al-Bari. In Surah Teen, Allah says;
لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِيٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٖ
Translation: “Verily, We created man of the best stature (mould).” (Quran 95:4)
As the creation of our Lord, who is Al-Bari and Al-Musawwir, we should praise Him with His beautiful names to receive the blessings of Allah. Doing Dhikr with Al-Bari’ can help you elevate in spirituality. Calling upon your Lord as the Maker will bring you the mercy of Allah. Doing tasbeeh and dhikr means we glorify our Creator using his different names that describe His attributes that belong only to the Lord. You can do dhikr of Al-Bari first thing in the morning and last thing in the night, to connect with the Divine.
Reciting Al-Bari will serve as a reminder that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the One who created you and everything that is around you. It is said that reciting Al-Bari frequently saves one from the torment of the grave and his body will be preserved from any harm and danger.
There are no specified times to recite the names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) . You can read Al-Bari after your salah as tasbeeh to receive the blessings of Allah. Doing it after Fajr salah can be considered the best time, to start your day by glorifying your Lord with his name that reflects His greatest attribute of being The Originator. You can also read Al-Bari before bedtime, remembering the Al-Khaliq and Al-Bari and praising Him for His creations and also His mercy that He bestows upon His creations.
Incorporating Al-Bari’ into your daily life is a great way to receive the blessings of Allah. You can recite this name during challenging times to receive guidance and solutions from the Creator. Make it a habit to recite the name of your Lord that helps you remember His power and divine attributes.
You can also incorporate this name in the stories of your children to help them understand the meaning of Al-Bari’ and His role as the Creator of this Universe. Tell them how it is only our Maker who should be worshipped and asked for help. As mentioned in Surah Al-Fatiha:
“It is You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help.” (Quran 1:5)
Al-bari is a trait that belongs to Allah alone. It is only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) who can be the Maker and the Originator, so naming a child after Al-Bari is not permissible according to scholars of Islam. Keeping the names of Allah for your child is allowed if that attribute can be used for humans, such as Rasheed, which means wise.
Keeping names that only reflect the attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) can be kept for the boys using the word Abdul before the name. Abdul means Servant, and if one names their child Abdul-Bari, it means Servant of the Originator.
Allah has 99 names, and a few of them have similar meanings. For Al-Bari, there are a few names from Asma ul Husna that reflect Allah's trait of being the Creator:
Al-Khaliq (The Creator)
Al-Musawwir (The Flawless Shaper)
Al-Mubdi (The Originator)
Al-Wahid (The Only One)
Al-Quddus (The Most Sacred)
Al-Muhyi (The Giver of Life)
All these names define the attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) of being the Creator of the entire universe and that which is beyond.