Al-Muqaddim
Allah is Al-Muqaddim, The One who promotes or brings forward. This include promoting his servants to higher ranks providing rich rewards.
From the root q-d-m which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to precede, to come before to head, to lead to offer, to bring forward to make foremost, to put at the front to advance, to promote to exist without beginning
And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for their wrongdoing, He would not have left upon the earth any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term has come, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]. (Quran 16:61)
Ali (r) reported that when the Prophet (s) prayed, the last thing he would say between the tashahud and the tasleem was, “O Allah, forgive my past and later sins, what was in private and what was in public, and what I have been extravagant in. You are more knowledgeable of it than I. You are the Promoter and the Retarder. There is no god except You.” (Related by Muslim.)
Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate. (Quran 43:32)
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Name: |
Al-Muqaddim |
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Al-Muqaddim in Arabic: |
الْمُقَدِّمُ |
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Arabic root: |
(ق د م) |
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Al-Muqaddim meaning in English: |
The Expediter or The Promoter or The One who brings something or someone Forward |
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Al-Muqaddim meaning in Urdu: |
آگے کرنے والا |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
Not specifically mentioned in the Quran. However, appears in Hadith. |
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Tasbeeh: |
Recitation of this Name is highly beneficial on the battlefield. That otherwise means it is much more beneficial to come out of difficult times. Recite Ya-Muqaddim 159 times after every prayer. It makes one submissive and obedient servant of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ |
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Asma ul Husna with similar meaning: |
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Al-Muqaddim (الْمُقَدِّمُ) is the 71st of the 99 names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. By dictionary it means “The Expediter” or “The Promoter”. The Arabic word Taqdeem is the root of the word Muqaddim. The meanings of Taqdeem can be “Promoting,” “Advancing,” or “Preferring.” Hence, Muqaddim will be the one to make this happen. The 71st name of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ Al-Muqaddim means that He is the One Who promotes or sets the preference for those who deserve to be. As Muqaddim, Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ places things and persons in the right places and per His preferences. For those who deserve a higher rank or place, Al-Muqddim promotes them accordingly. The place or rank refers to the sincerity and devotion in one's worship.
One of the meanings of Al-Muqaddim is The Promoter. Here the promotion is referred to as being close to Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. So, the one who is close to Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is “promoted”. The Promoted are those who Allahسُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ blesses with His Mercy and Guidance. These may include the Prophets, Angles, Wali (Friends of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ), and the Scholars.
Being the Expediter is another interpretation of the word Muqaddim. It means that Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ Has the Power and Will to make something happen instantly. It is a very detailed subject, including the concept of fate. It is believed that the Almighty Allah has recorded everything in the Lauh-e-Mehfooz (The Preserved Tablet).
Accordingly, everyone would get the same recorded in the preserved tablet. But Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ has the liberty, will, and power to grant anything to His believer based on his good deeds and worship. In fact, only Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ knows what a person deserves. So, when Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is pleased with the good deeds and worship of a person, He has the power to make one’s fortune come his way instantly and speedily.
This concept is elaborated in the 59th verse of Surah Al-Aa’am:
۞ وَعِندَهُۥ مَفَاتِحُ ٱلْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍۢ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍۢ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ
Translation - With Him are the keys of the unseen—no one knows them except Him. And He knows what is in the land and sea. Not even a leaf falls without His knowledge, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth or anything—green or dry—but is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record. (Quran 6:59).
All the 99 names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ describe a particular attribute associated with that name. The attributes associated with the name Al-Muqaddim reflect that Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ has the ultimate Power to Promote one’s rank and expedite his fate, based on the level of worships and good deeds. Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ favors and prefers a person over others who deserves to be preferred owing to his righteous way of life and firm belief in Islamic teachings. His rank is promoted by Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ over his fellow community members.
Like any other name of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ, reciting Al-Muqaddim is beneficial. It should be recited frequently at any time, specifically after every prayer. Per a tradition, reciting this name 159 times after every prayer enables obedience and submissiveness of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ in the reciter. It is also specifically beneficial for the reciters on the battlefield. It protects the reciter from all fears and brings confidence in emerging victorious. It can also be part of one's routine invocations and Duas.
Per some traditions, you recite it 159 times after every prayer, considered a good and beneficial routine. However, it can be read as many times as you like. The name of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ can be recited without any restrictions. Just recite any of them or, more specifically, the one that fits your needs at a particular time.
Although not restrictive, reciting this name after every regular prayer is better. Additionally, it can be recited as part of daily and routine Duas. Reciting any of the names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ brings peace of mind and heart and re-affirms one’s belief in the Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. So recite it whenever you wish to or whenever you need peace of heart and mind and whenever you need something special from your Creator, Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ.
The names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ encompass all aspects of the life of a person in this world as well as the life after here. So, in any situation, good or difficult, one or more of these 99 names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ have relevance. Hence the name Al-Muqaddim can be recited in times of difficulties, calling for the mercy of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ to promote our rank or to expedite our fate. This name should be recited together with the following name of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَى, Al-Muakhir (The delayer). These two names are highly interrelated and should be recited together.
It is a prevalent and common practice across the Muslim world to name children after any of the 99 names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. Many such names are commonly used to name our children. The purpose of doing so is the expression of love and affection with Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. However, it has a very positive impact on a person's future life. The attributes associated with a particular name of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ are supposed to reflect in the life and personality of the child. And above all, it is a source of teaching the religious norms and beliefs in the personality of the child.
Al-Muqaddim describes the ultimate Power of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. Some other names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ have be same attributes, such Al-Muakhir, Al-Qadir, Al-Muqtadir, Al-Awwal, Al-Aakhir, Malik-al-Mulk and Dhu-al-Jalal wa-al-Ikram. All these names describe the Almightiness of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَى.
There is no direct mention of the name Al-Muqaddim in the Quran. However, some verses in the Quran reflect these qualities and attributes of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. The 90th verse of Surah Al-Anbiya is about the request of Prophet Zakariah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ when Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ accepted his prayers and granted him a child in the ancient age of him and his wife. That’s a perfect example of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ being Al-Muqaddim.
فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُۥ زَوْجَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًۭا وَرَهَبًۭا ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا خَـٰشِعِينَ
Translation - So We answered his prayer, granted him John, and made his wife fertile. Indeed, they used to race in doing good, and call upon Us with hope and fear, totally humbling themselves before Us. (Quran 21:90)
96th verse of Surah Al-Ar’af describes the blessings for believers as under:
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبُوا۟ فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Translation - Had the people of those societies been faithful and mindful ˹of Allah˺, We would have overwhelmed them with blessings from heaven and earth. But they disbelieved, so We seized them for what they used to commit. (Quran 7:96)
Hadith 6398 of Sahi Al-Bukhari narrates the importance of the name Al-Muqaddim:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطِيئَتِي وَجَهْلِي وَإِسْرَافِي فِي أَمْرِي كُلِّهِ، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطَايَاىَ وَعَمْدِي وَجَهْلِي وَهَزْلِي، وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ عِنْدِي، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ، وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Translation - Narrated Abu Musa. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to invoke Allah with the following invocation: 'Rabbi-ghfir-li Khati 'ati wa jahli wa israfi fi `Amri kullihi, wa ma anta a'lamu bihi minni. Allahumma ighfirli khatayaya wa 'amdi, wa jahli wa jiddi, wa kullu dhalika'indi. Allahumma ighrifli ma qaddamtu wa ma akhartu wa ma asrartu wa ma a'lantu. Anta-l-muqaddimu wa anta-l-mu'akh-khiru, wa anta 'ala kulli shai'in qadir.
Hadith 2653b of Sahi Al-Muslim describes the Authority and Power of Allah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ as under:
قِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بِخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ - قَالَ - وَعَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ "
Translation - Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported. I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah ordained the measures (of quality) of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, as His Throne was upon water.
Another Hadith describes the Power of Allah عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, being the Creator, more elaborately, at serial number 3208 of Sahih Al-Bukhari. The hadith is:
إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يُجْمَعُ خَلْقُهُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مُضْغَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَلَكًا، فَيُؤْمَرُ بِأَرْبَعِ كَلِمَاتٍ، وَيُقَالُ لَهُ اكْتُبْ عَمَلَهُ وَرِزْقَهُ وَأَجَلَهُ وَشَقِيٌّ أَوْ سَعِيدٌ. ثُمَّ يُنْفَخُ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ، فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ مِنْكُمْ لَيَعْمَلُ حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ إِلاَّ ذِرَاعٌ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ كِتَابُهُ، فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، وَيَعْمَلُ حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ النَّارِ إِلاَّ ذِرَاعٌ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ، فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ".
Translation - Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), the true and truly inspired said, "(The matter of the Creation of) a human being is put together in the womb of the mother in forty days, and then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period, and then a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then Allah sends an angel who is ordered to write four things. He is ordered to write down his (i.e. the new creature's) deeds, his livelihood, his (date of) death, and whether he will be blessed or wretched (in religion). Then the soul is breathed into him. So, a man amongst you may do (good deeds till there is only a cubit between him and Paradise and then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of the (Hell) Fire. And similarly, a man amongst you may do (evil) deeds till there is only a cubit between him and the (Hell) Fire, and then what has been written for him decides his behavior, and he starts doing deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise.