- Names of Allah
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- Allah's Names in Brief
Ar-Raqeeb is one of Allah's Beautiful Names:
Ar-Raqeeb (The Watchful) is one of Allah's Beautiful Names in which if the believer believes, his belief will be manifested clearly in his manners. So when you feel that you are watched over (by Allah), you will be disciplined.
The meanings of Ar-Raqeeb:
Linguistically Ar-Raqeeb means the All-Observing. Allah the Almighty says:
(And watch you! Verily, I too am watching with you.")
Ar-Raqeeb of a people is the guard who is responsible for watching the enemy, and in the army Ar-Raqeeb are the vanguard. Religiously, Ar-Raqeeb is Allah the All-Observing Who misses nothing. Allah the Almighty says:
(Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.)
Also, Raqeeb is the successor, so it is said, "What a good successor of your father you are!". Furthermore, Raqeeb is the observer who keeps watching something in the sense of protecting it from any harm, and it is said, "Arqeb (the verb that is derived from Raqeeb in Arabic) something (Keep a close eye on it), so that it will be protected." Moreover, the angel who is responsible for recording man's deeds is called Raqeeb (watcher). Allah the Almighty says:
(Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).)
Ar-Raqeeb is Al-Aleem (the All-Knowing), and you are a watcher of your deeds when you deeply believe that Allah watches over you, so you refrain from disobeying Him, considering His Right upon you.
Acting upon this Name could be one of the causes of man's endless happiness. In other words, when man believes that Allah the Almighty watches over him, he will be ashamed of disobeying Him, so he will keep acting upon His Order. As a result, he will gain happiness in the worldly life and in the Hereafter.
The believer feels that Allah the Almighty watches over him in his house, at work, while he is treating a patient (in the case of a doctor or nurse), when he gives the judge proofs to give his judgment (in the case of a lawyer).
Actually, acting upon the meaning of the Name Ar-Raqeeb exalts you to the rank of Ihsan (benevolence), as it is mentioned in the following Hadith:
(…The man again asked, "O Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) What is Ihsan (i.e. perfection or Benevolence)?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah sees you.")
Ar-Raqeeb in the Noble Quran:
Ar-Raqeeb is mentioned in three Ayat:
The 1st Ayah:
In the first Ayah of Surat An-Nisa', Allah the Almighty says:
(O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship) . Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.)
The 2nd Ayah:
In Surat Al-Ma'idah' our Master Iesa, peace be upon him and upon our Prophet, said as Allah the Almighty narrates:
("Never did I say to them aught except what You (Allah) did command me to say: 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things. (This is a great admonition and warning to the Christians of the whole world).)
The 3rd Ayah:
In Surat Al-Ahzab, Allah the Almighty says:
(It is not lawful for you (to marry other) women after this, nor to change them for other wives even though their beauty attracts you, except those (captives or slaves) whom your right hand possesses. And Allah is Ever a Watcher over all things.)
Conclusion:
It is narrated that Abdullah Ibn Omar may Allah be pleased with him went on a journey to Makkah . He stopped at a place where they saw a young shepherd with a flock of sheep coming down a hill. Umar wanted to test the honesty of this shepherd, so he said to him, "Sell me one of your sheep." The shepherd said, "I am a slave working for someone. These sheep are not mine they belong to my master." Umar said, "Tell your master that a wolf attacked and ate one of the sheep." The shepherd replied, "By Allah, if I say so to my master, he will believe me, since he considers me faithful and honest, but how can I escape Allah's Punishment (for the dishonesty and betraying the trust) then?"
In the blessed month of Ramadan, Allah's Name Ar-Raqeeb is manifested in man's fasting as he knows that Allah watches over him all the time, so he abstains from eating or drinking anything no matter how hungry or thirsty he is, because he feels that Allah witnesses him and He watches over Him.