﷽ Al-Asmaa ul-Husna : Benefits of reciting Ya Aleem (يا عليم)

1. Name

العليم
Al-Aleem

2. Meaning

The All-Knowing
The Omniscient
The Ever-Aware
The Pansophical
The Preeminent

3. Explanation

The One who comprehends everything. The One who is intuitively aware of all things, even before they happen. The One who knows with certainty. The One whose knowledge of past, present and future is deeply rooted and complete in all respects. One from whom no knowledge is concealed. The One who is aware of the complete details of all matters. The Omniscient One.

4. Quran

وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ

And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allah is appreciative and Knowing. (2:158)

وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ

And whatever you spend - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it. (3:92)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًا

Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted [with all things]. (4:35)

وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ

And Allah is Knowing of what they do. (24:41)

وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا

And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing. (33:40)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Indeed, Allah is Knowing of all things. (8:75)

وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record. (6:59)

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not. (2:216)

قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise." (2:32)

وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

And say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." (20:114)

وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ

And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. (36:38)

هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing. (57:3)

يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا ۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ

[Allah said], "O Messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing." (23:51)

وَإِن جَنَحُوا لِلسَّلْمِ فَاجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah . Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing. (8:61)

يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ الرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَا أُجِبْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ

[Be warned of] the Day when Allah will assemble the messengers and say, "What was the response you received?" They will say, "We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen." (5:109)

تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ

The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. (40:2)

أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُونَ صُدُورَهُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوا مِنْهُ ۚ أَلَا حِينَ يَسْتَغْشُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

Unquestionably, they the disbelievers turn away their breasts to hide themselves from Him. Unquestionably, [even] when they cover themselves in their clothing, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts. (11:5)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

Indeed, Allah [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (31:34)

وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ

And He is the Knowing, the Competent. (30:54)

وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ عَلِيمًا

And sufficient is Allah as Knower. (4:70)

ۗوَسِعَ رَبِّي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا

My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge. (6:80)

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ

[He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Grand, the Exalted. (13:9)

وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do. (9:105)

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ ۗ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ

Our Lord, indeed You know what we conceal and what we declare, and nothing is hidden from Allah on the earth or in the heaven. (14:38)

وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

And Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts. (3:154)

ذَٰلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

That is so you may know that Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth and that Allah is Knowing of all things. (5:97)

وَهُوَ اللَّهُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَفِي الْأَرْضِ ۖ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّكُمْ وَجَهْرَكُمْ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُونَ

And He is Allah, [the only deity] in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secret and what you make public, and He knows that which you earn. (6:3)

ۚيَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ

He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. (2:255)

وَإِن تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى

And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden. (20:7)

ۚقُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ

Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah." (27:65)

5. Hadith

5.1 Narrated Ibn `Abbas (رضي الله عنه): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to say at the time of difficulty,

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ

'There is no god but Allah, the All-Knowing, the Tolerant. There is no god but Allah, the Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god but Allah, the Lord of the Heaven and the earth, the Lord of the Immense Throne.'

(Sahih al-Bukhari 7426)

5.2 Abu Zumayl narrated that Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضی الله عنهم) said: If you find something (doubtful) in your heart, say:

هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Immanent, and He has full knowledge of all things. (57:3)

(Sunan Abi Dawud 5110)

5.3 It was narrated from Umar bin al Khattab (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَى أُمَّتِي كُلُّ مُنَافِقٍ عَلِيمِ اللِّسَانِ

'The thing I fear most for my Ummah is every hypocrite who speaks with knowledge.'

(Musnad Ahmad 143)

5.4 'Uthman bin 'Affan (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said, "He who recites three times every morning and evening:

بسم الله الذي لا يضر مع اسمه شيء في الأرض ولا في السماء وهو السميع العليم

'In the Name of Allah with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of harm in the earth or in the heaven, and He is the All-Hearing and All- Knowing,'

nothing will harm him."

(Riyad as-Salihin 1457)

5.5 Narrated Ma'qil bin Yasar (رضي الله عنه): that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: "Whoever says three times when he gets up in the morning:

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ السَّمِيعِ الْعَلِيمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

'I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing and the All-Knowing from the accursed devil'

and he recites three Ayat from the end of Surah Al-Hashr -Allah appoints seventy-thousand angels who say Salat upon him until the evening. If he dies on that day, he dies a martyr, and whoever reaches the evening, he holds the same status."

(Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2922)

5.6 The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to say after the (opening) Takbir (for prayer),

أَعُوذُ بِاَللَّهِ اَلسَّمِيعِ اَلْعَلِيمِ مِنَ اَلشَّيْطَانِ اَلرَّجِيمِ , مِنْ هَمْزِهِ , وَنَفْخِهِ , وَنَفْثِهِ

"I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing and the All-Knowing from the accursed devil, from his madness or evil suggestion (Hamz), from his puffing up (Nafkh), and from his witchcraft (Nafth)."

(Bulugh al-Maram Book 2, Hadith 153)

5.7 Abu Sa'eeed Al Khudri (رضي الله عنه) narrated: "When Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) stood for Salat during the night, he would say the Takbir (Allahu Akbar), then say:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

'Glorious You are O Allah, and with Your praise, and blesses is Your Name, and exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped but You.'

Then he would say:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا

'Allah is undoubtedly the greatest.'

Then he would say:

‏ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ السَّمِيعِ الْعَلِيمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ مِنْ هَمْزِهِ وَنَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِهِ

'I seek refuge in Allah the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from the cursed Shaitan, from his madness, his arrogance, and his poetry.'

(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 242)

5.8 It was narrated from Abu Sukainah (رضي الله عنه), a man from among the Muharririn,that a man among the Companions of the the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

"When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) commanded them to dig the trench (Al-Khandaq), there was a rock in their way preventing them from digging. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) stood, picked up a pickaxe, put his Rida' (upper garment) at the edge of the ditch and said:

وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًا وَعَدْلًا ۚ لَّا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

'And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.' (6:115)

One-third of the rock broke off while Salman Al-Farisi was standing there watching, and there was a flash of light when the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) struck (the rock). Then he struck it again and said:

'And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. Nonce can change His Words. Ans He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.' (6:115)

And another third of the rock broke off and there was another flash of light, which Salman saw. Then he struck (the rock) a third time and said:

'And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.' (6:115)

The last third fell, and the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) came out, picked up his Rida' and sat down. Salman said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Each time you struck the rock there was a flash of light.' The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said to him: 'O Salman, did you see that?' He said: 'Yes, by the One Who sent you with the truth, O Messenger of Allah.'

He said: 'When I struck the first blow, the cities of Kisra and their environs were shown to me, and many other cities, and I saw them with my own eyes.' Those of his Companions who were present said: 'O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah to grant us victory and to give us their land as spoils of war, and to destroy their lands at our hands.' So the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) prayed for that. (Then he said:) 'Then I struck the second blow and the cities of Caesar and their environs were shown to me, and I saw them with my own eyes.' They said: 'O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah to grant us victory and to give us their lands as spoils of war, and to destroy their lands at our hands.' So the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) prayed for that. (Then he said:) 'Then I struck the third blow and the cities of Ethiopia were shown to me, and the villages around them, and I saw them with my own eyes.'

But the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said at that point: 'Leave the Ethiopians alone so long as they leave you alone, and leave the Turks alone so long as they leave you alone.'"

(Sunan an-Nasa'i 3176)

5.9 Anas (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to say,

اَللَّهُمَّ اِنْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي, وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي, وَارْزُقْنِي عِلْمًا يَنْفَعُنِي

“O Allah! Grant me benefit in what you have taught me, and teach me useful knowledge and provide me with knowledge that will benefit me.”

(Bulugh al-Maram Book 16, Hadith 1608)

5.10 Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي وَزِدْنِي عِلْمًا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ حَالِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ

“O Allah, benefit me with that which You have taught me, and teach me that which will benefit me, and increase me in knowledge. All praise is due to Allah in every condition, and I seek refuge in Allah from the condition of the people of the Fire.”

(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3599)

5.11 It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) said: "The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to say:

اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي وَزِدْنِي عِلْمًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ

'O Allah, benefit me by that which You have taught me, and teach me that which will benefit me, and increase me in knowledge. Praise is to Allah in all situations, and I seek refuge with Allah from the torment of the Fire'."

(Sunan Ibn Majah 3833)

5.12 It was narrated from Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها) that when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) performed the Subh (morning prayer), while he said the Salam, he would say:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً

‘O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision and acceptable deeds’.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 925)

5.13 It was narrated from Jabir (رضي الله عنه) that: the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

سَلُوا اللَّهَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَتَعَوَّذُوا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ

"Ask Allah for beneficial knowledge and seek refuge with Allah from knowledge that is of no benefit."

(Sunan Ibn Majah 3843)

5.14 It was narrated from Sa'eed, from Abu Hurairah (رضی الله عنهم) who said: "The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ وَمِنْ دُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ

'O Allah, I seek refuge with You from knowledge that is of no benefit, a heart that is not humble, a soul that is not satisfied and a supplication that is not heard'."

(Sunan an-Nasa'i 5536)

5.15 It was narrated that Zaid bin Arqam (رضي الله عنه) said: "I will not teach you anything but that which the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) used to teach us. He said:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْهَرَمِ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلاَهَا اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ وَعِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَدَعْوَةٍ لاَ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا

'O Allah, I seek refuge in You from incapacity, laziness, miserliness, cowardice, old age, the torment of the grave. O Allah, make my soul obedient and purify it, for You are the best One to purify it, You are its Guardian and Lord. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from a heart that is not humble, a soul that is not satisfied, knowledge that is of no benefit and a supplication that is not answered'."

(Sunan an-Nasa'i 5458)

6. Benefits of invoking (Ya Allahu) Ya Aleemu frequently