Ar-Rafi
Allah is Ar-Rafi, The One who chooses whom will be raised in rank. He elevates mankind above worldly possessions and selfishness.
From the root r-f-‘ which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to raise or elevate something to uplift, to take it up to make high, lofty to exalt, make honorable, make eminent to bring a thing near.
O you who have believed, when you are told, “Space yourselves” in assemblies, then make space;
Allah will make space for you. And when you are told, “Arise,” then arise;
Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (Quran 58:11)
And that was Our [conclusive] argument which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise by degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing. (Quran 6:83)
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Name: |
Ar-Rafi |
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Ar-Rafi in Arabic: |
ٱلْرَّافِعُ |
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Arabic root: |
(ر ف ع) |
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Ar-Rafi meaning in English: |
The Exalter, The Elevator, The Raiser |
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Ar-Rafi meaning in Urdu: |
بلند کرنے والا |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
1 |
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Tasbeeh: |
You can recite Ar-Rafi after your daily prayers and can include it in daily supplication. |
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Asma ul Husna with similar meaning: |
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One of the many names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is known to be Ar-Rafi. Ar-Rafi’s meaning in English refers to the title of ‘the Exalter’ and the root of the word ‘rafa’a’ basically means to elevate, lift or raise. This name elaborates upon the fundamental idea that only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has the power to to raise the status of people or nations and Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has the power to lift hardship and eradicate difficulties for people.
Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has control over the entire universe and only he can control the heavens and the Earth. His role as an Exalter is reflected in this Surah:
مِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَن تَقُومَ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ بِأَمۡرِهِۦۚ ثُمَّ إِذَا دَعَاكُمۡ دَعۡوَةٗ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِذَآ أَنتُمۡ تَخۡرُجُونَ
And of His signs is that heaven and earth remain by His command. Then when He calls you with a [single] call from the earth, immediately you will come forth. (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:25)
Furthermore, Muslims who have a firm belief and faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) promises to reward them by exalting them to higher degrees and affirms his role as the Exalter in this surah:
ـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمۡ تَفَسَّحُواْ فِي ٱلۡمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفۡسَحُواْ يَفۡسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُواْ فَٱنشُزُواْ يَرۡفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ دَرَجَٰتٖۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٞ
O you who have believed, when you are told, “Space yourselves” in assemblies, then make space; Allah will make space for you. And when you are told, “Arise,” then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (Surah Al Mujaadila, 58:11)
Moreover, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is considered to be the Raiser and this may also refer to structures and buildings and the idea that nothing in this universe can be made or raised without Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s will and permission. This surah can be used when raising the structure of a building:
وَإِذۡ یَرۡفَعُ إِبۡرَ ٰهِـۧمُ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلۡبَیۡتِ وَإِسۡمَـٰعِیلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلۡ مِنَّاۤۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِیعُ ٱلۡعَلِیمُ
And when (was) raising Ibrahim the foundations of the House and Ismail, (saying), "Our Lord! Accept from us. Indeed You! [You] (are) the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (Qur’an, 2:127).
Additionally, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s status as the Exaltor is important because only he can exalt the status of individuals. He exalts the status of those leaders he deems worthy, those people who believe in him by granting them blessings and happiness and by getting closer to them. Only he can exalt and raise the status of people. This surah elaborates upon that:
هُمۡ يَقۡسِمُونَ رَحۡمَتَ رَبِّكَۚ نَحۡنُ قَسَمۡنَا بَيۡنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۚ وَرَفَعۡنَا بَعۡضَهُمۡ فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٖ دَرَجَٰتٖ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُهُم بَعۡضٗا سُخۡرِيّٗاۗ وَرَحۡمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيۡرٞ مِّمَّا يَجۡمَعُون
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)
Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s name Ar-Rafi means the Exalter, the Raiser, and the Elevator, referring to the idea that only he has the power to raise the status of his creations. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is not bound by any limitations and he has authority and command over the heavens and the Earth. By accepting this, people submit to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s authority.
Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s authority to elevate people or individuals reflects his wisdom in the functioning of this universe. By attributing this name to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), believers try to perform righteous deeds with the prospect of receiving elevated status.
The name ‘Ar-Rafi’ is considered to hold high spiritual significance in Islam because it encourages believers to perform good deeds and reaffirms their belief and faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). In order to do this, believers can include this name in their daily prayers, their duas and supplication.
Furthermore, believers can also include this name in Dhikr (which refers to the remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) in repeated prayers) and recite it repeatedly to accept Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s role as an Exaltor, seek mercy from him, express their gratitude, and seek guidance from him (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
Additionally, the name ‘Ar-Rafi’ appears only once in the Quran, but believers can repeatedly recite it as a form of supplication and reflect on its meaning. If believers want to recite this name, they should do it during the morning and evening remembrances (adhkar), which are periods of dhikr and are the best times for Muslims to supplicate.
When believers recite this name and turn more towards Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), they will start performing good deeds such as acts of charity and practicing more compassion and the more they incorporate the recitation of Ar-Rafi in their daily lives, the more they foster a deeper connection with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
If a believer names their child after this name, the name itself refers to exalted status, honor and divine guidance and is considered to be a very blessed name. This name allows a spiritual connection to be established between Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and the child and parents of the child may also seek blessings for their child by invoking Ar-Rafi in their prayers.
There are many names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) that have the same meaning as Ar-Rafi. A few of them are mentioned below:
Al-Muqaddim (The Advancer) refers to Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)power in advancing status and things.
Al-Muta'ali (The Most Exalted), which refers to the greatness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
Al-Kabir (The Great) which refers to the high status of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
Al-'Aliyy (The Most High) which refers to the elevated status of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
As we have discussed, only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has the power to raise the status of an individual and in this Surah, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) reminds Prophet Muhammad that he has raised his status as a means to comfort him. This surah reaffirms the highly elevated status of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and is as follows:
وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ
‘And raised high for you your repute.’ (Quran, 95:4)