Beautiful Names

Al-Latif

The Subtle One

This Attribute of God implies fine subtlety, so fine and subtle as to be imperceptible to the human senses, so pure as to be incomprehensible, so perfect as to veil or reveal the finest subtleties and mysteries, so kind and extraordinarily gracious as to bestow gifts of the most refined kind.

God is the One who has knowledge of all things, subtle and hidden. He shows immense Mercy by providing very subtle ways that lead to goodness, in ways not known to anyone.

He is the One who is fully aware of all the secrets, and what is yet even more hidden.

He shows immense kindness by fulfilling our needs, in ways we do not perceive.

He is the most delicate, fine, gentle, beautiful One. He is the One who knows the finest details of beauty. The finest of His beauties are hidden in the secret of the beauties of the soul, the mind, wisdom, the divine light. He contains the minutest details of a divine puzzle where all things fit into each other.

“In the Name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy.”

‘No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision. He is ‘Al-Latif’, the All-Subtle, the Courteous, the Well–Aquainted with all things.’ (Quran 6:103)

‘Verily Allah is Subtle unto whom He wills.’ (Quran 31:16)

‘And He is the Most Kind and Courteous to His slaves, All-Aware of everything.” (Quran 67:14)

Benefits in the belief in this Name include:-
– Striving hard to achieve this excellent quality by trying our best to be gracious to others, being gentle with them, showing kindness to them, loving good for them and trying not to harm them in any way.

– Loving God and experiencing peace and tranquility in His presence for being so subtle and gracious, for not punishing us and continuing to bestow His blessings on us and fulfil our needs in ways that we do not perceive.

– Demonstrating our reliance on God, Glorified and Sublime is He, happily accepting whatever He decides for us, fully assured of God’s wise decision for us and His graciousness to us.

And God knows best.

Extracts from:- ‘The Meaning of the Names of Our Lord’ by Shaykh Muhammad Sa’id al-Jamal ar-Rifai ash-Shadhuli.
‘The Name and the Named’ by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak.