The name al-Jabbar derives from meanings such as “the One Who compels” and “the One Who enforces.” But what does this attribute signify when it is a name of our Lord? Is it truly possible for such a meaning to be among His names? When we strive to understand Him through His names, and when we mention them in remembrance and supplication, how do we comprehend the name “alJabbar” in our minds? We believe that there are surely many divine wisdoms behind the inclusion of this name one that seemingly implies compulsion among the names of our Lord, Who is the most exalted of the exalted, Whose mercy surpasses all His other attributes, and Who encompasses all things with His compassion. Whether we are aware of them or not, this wisdom is there. So come, let us pursue together the meanings and insights behind this name. As our knowledge of Him increases, so will our faith become more deeply rooted, our devotion strengthened, and the doubts that assail from both from within and without will gradually dissolve and disappear. The more we understand His names, the better we can grasp what is happening in the universe. We will come to realize that mercy sometimes manifests as grace and bestowal, and at other times as withholding and compulsion. To choose just one of these manifestations and act according to it in all circumstances is not the way of wisdom. Wisdom (and, of course, mercy) requires the ability to choose the course of action appropriate to the situation and to carry it out without hesitation or weakness.
From this perspective, when we examine the name “al-Jabbar”, we see that it carries the following meanings: to rescue someone from poverty and grant them wealth; to heal a broken bone (in this context, jabr signifies correction and restoration); to compel or force; to act with grandeur and display strength and power. Accordingly, this name signifies “the One Who sets right all that is broken or disordered, Who binds and heals wounds, Whose will prevail in all circumstances, Who is mighty, powerful, majestic, effective, superior, and sovereign”.
Allah, the Lord of all worlds, has established laws for every being in accordance with the purpose for which it was created, and He has compelled them willingly or unwillingly to abide by these laws. Al-Jabbar is the One who compels. He is the One whose will always prevails, and the One who enforces His decrees under all circumstances. No one has the right to question what He does or why He does it (Anbiya, 21:23). The reluctance or even disobedience of His creatures does not disrupt His order; rather, it is the individuals who step outside of this order that bring harm only upon themselves.
The word Jabbar appears in ten verses of the Qur’an. In only one of these (Hashr, 59:23) it is mentioned as one of the names of Allah. In the other nine verses, it is used as a human attribute, and in all instances, it carries a connotation of condemnation. This clearly demonstrates that human beings are not granted the authority to exercise compulsion over others (Yunus, 10:99). Should they attempt to do so, they would be exceeding their bounds and thereby committing injustice. Allah the Almighty has severely warned those among His servants who perceive themselves as jabbar forceful, overbearing, or tyrannical with a dreadful end (Ghafir, 40:35). In his translation of the Qur’an, Hasan Basri Cantay renders the divine names listed in Surah al-Hashr, verse 23, “al-‘aziz al-jabbar al-mutakabbir”, as “the Absolute Victor, the One Who brings the state of creation to perfect order, the One Who is unparalleled in greatness”. In doing so, he finds it appropriate to attribute the meaning of “islah” (reformation or restoration) to the name al-Jabbar. Moreover, in narrations from the Prophet (saw), we observe that he would supplicate to Allah using words derived from the root “jabr”, seeking harmony, stability, and the removal of disorder. A person who comes to know their Lord through the full scope of the name alJabbar understands that the highest authority capable of putting their scattered and troubled affairs back in order is Allah the Almighty. Such a person strives to repair their relationship with Him and does not turn to misguided paths or seek help from false sources.
The concept of “ijbar” (compulsion), which stems from the same root, expresses the reality that in every stage of creation, all beings exist under the decree of Allah, the Jabbar. In the beginning, the only being possessing true volition the freedom to choose was Allah Himself. It was only when Allah breathed into man from His own spirit and granted him a share, albeit limited, of His will that the human being attained a degree of freedom to wish and to choose within his own limited capacity. When we observe the development of humanity throughout history, we see that all inventions and discoveries that have advanced civilization were brought about under the pressure of necessity. This clearly reveals to us the constructive aspect inherent in the name “al-Jabbar”.
According to al-Ghazali, the servant who is worthy of bearing a reflection of this name is one who rises from following others to a position where others follow him. Such a person holds a position of esteem in society. Rather than benefiting from people, he is one who benefits them; he is not influenced by others, but his words influence all. He is loved by everyone, someone whose presence inspires a longing to see him again. He is admired in every aspect, to the extent that competing with him is deemed impossible. This elevated rank, in its truest and most complete form, was granted solely to the leader of all humanity, the Prophet Muhammad (saw). As we understand from al-Ghazali’s depiction, the manifestation of this name is seen in people’s mastery over their own will. The kind of influence he describes is only possible when people first gain control over their own selves. For those who cannot manage their emotions, time, inner resources, and abilities in a firm and uncompromising manner, distinct from others, are incapable of exerting any real influence over others.
When servants are unable to protect themselves from bad traits and behaviors through their own will, Allah manifests His name “al-Jabbar” by compelling them toward things that will shield them from such evils. (Can we truly grasp what a tremendous mercy this is?) Just as He may compel selfish people to act selflessly, misers to give, or humble the proud and arrogant. This, in the end, is a great favor bestowed upon those servants.
