Al-Muqaddim -Al-Mu’akhkhir (The Advancer -the Delayer)
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:“A person is moving, not standing still. He is either going up or down, moving forward or backwards.
“A person is moving, not standing still. He is either going up or down, moving forward or backwards.
There is nothing stand still at all, neither in nature nor in the Shariah. There are only stages that pass by so quickly and lead to Paradise or Hellfire. One may go fast or slowly and may advance or lag behind.
No one ever remains standing on this path. People may only go in different directions and move at varying speeds.
{Hellfire is indeed one of the greatest matters,a warning to mankind,to whoever among you chooses to advance or regress.}
[Surat al-Muddaththir: 35-37]
He does not mention anyone standing still, for there will be no abode other than Paradise and Hellfire and no path whatsoever that leads to other than them.
{Hellfire is indeed one of the greatest matters, a warning to mankind, to whoever among you chooses to advance or regress.}
[Surat al-Muddaththir: 35-37]
He does not mention anyone standing still, for there will be no abode other than Paradise and Hellfire and no path whatsoever that leads to other than them.
So, he who is not advancing towards this one by good deeds is necessarily lagging behind toward that one on account of evil deeds.”
Advancing and delaying are in the Hand of Allah Almighty. That is why His beautiful names include: The Advancer and the Delayer.
He does not mention anyone standing still, for there will be no abode other than Paradise and Hellfire and no path whatsoever that leads to other than them.
So, he who is not advancing towards this one by good deeds is necessarily lagging behind toward that one on account of evil deeds.”
Advancing and delaying are in the Hand of Allah Almighty. That is why His beautiful names include:
The Advancer and the Delayer.
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: “When the Proph et (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) got up to perform prayer during the night, he would supplicat e saying:‘Faghfir li mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhartu wa mā asrartu wa mā a‘lantu anta Al - Muqaddim wa anta Al - Mu’akhkhir lā ilāha illā anta - or lā ilā ha ghayruk (So, forgive me my future and past faults and those faults I commit secretly or openly. Indeed, You are the Advancer and You are the Delayer. There is no god but You - or there is no god other than You).”
[Narrated by Al - Bukhāri and Muslim]
Faghfir li mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhartu wa mā asrartu wa mā a‘lantu anta Al-Muqaddim wa anta Al-Mu’akhkhir lā ilāha illā anta -or lā ilāha ghayruk (So, forgive me my future and past faults and those faults I commit secretly or openly. Indeed, You are the Adva ncer and You are the Delayer. There is no god but You -or there is no god other than You).”
[Narrated by Al - Bukhāri and Muslim]
Our Lord is the Advancer and the Delayer. He puts things in their proper place and position, advancing some and delaying others, as He wishes.
He had predestined measures before He created the creation.
And He prefers whomever He wishes among His pious servants to others and puts His servants in varying ranks and degrees, some above others.
He also advances those He wills to the ranks of the forerunners and delays those He wills and prevents them from reaching them. And He may delay things beyond their expected time for His knowledge and wisdom about the good consequences resulting from that. Indeed, no one can advance what He delays or delay what He advances.
Our Lord, Exalted be He, advances whomever He wills among His servants to His mercy by helping him, and delays whomever He wills and holds him from reaching that by way of disappointment.
As dictated by politeness and courtesy, we should use both names together, not separately, because perfection lies in using them together.
Our Lord is the Advancer and the Delayer, and these two names
describe His essence as well as His actions.
