ALLAH AZ-ZAAHIR
The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah has ninety-nine names (each describing an attribute), one hundred less one. Whoever ‘ahsaaha’ (enumerates them, believes in them, ponders their meanings, supplicates with them, and acts according to belief in them) will enter Paradise.” [Saheeh Muslim]
One of Allah’s names is Az-Zaahir. Zaahir means “manifest” and is the opposite of Baatin (hidden), while Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is both manifest and hidden. Allah’s own self is hidden from us but His existence is manifest by the clear signs that point to Him and none but Him, and through them some of His attributes become evident. He is known to us through His deeds and creation that we see around us. All of His creation is actually pointing to Him.
Once, a Bedouin was asked what made an unsophisticated man like him believe in Allah.
Bedouin: “Do you see these marks in the sand?”
Man: “Yes.”
Bedouin: “What do they tell you?”
Man: “A camel went by.”
Bedouin: “Did you see the camel?”
Man: “No, but these footprints in the sand suggest that a camel made them.”
Bedouin: “Do you see these mountains?”
Man: “Yes.”
Bedouin: “They are indicative to me that Allah made them.” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
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