God’s Special Sufficiencies in the Qur’an

There are instances of God’s special sufficiencies mentioned in the Qur’an, some of which will be discussed in the section on allusions and subtleties. By presenting some of the numerous examples of divine sufficiency, the objections of certain atheists are addressed. This is because the atheist group objected to the miraculous nature of the promise of sufficiency: “God will suffice you against them” (fa-sayakfīkahum Allāh), arguing that such statements are common among community leaders. They would give such promises to their followers in hope of victory over rivals(578). As Ṭabarī, Shaykh Ṭūsī, and Shaykh Ṭabarsī have also noted(579), after establishing the miraculous nature of the Wise Qur’an, there will be no doubt about the truthfulness of such a promise, which is in the form of an unseen report about a certain future. Setting aside the miraculous nature of the Qur’an, a definitive promise made under difficult and unfavorable conditions, and the fulfillment of that promise in the presence of stubborn enemies who were counting every moment to discover any falsehood, indicates a powerful awareness of an uncertain future. This knowledge of the unseen on one hand, and having overwhelming power on the other, is a sign of prophethood.

The Sufficiency of the All-Hearing, All-Knowing God

“All-Hearing” (Samīʿ) and “All-Knowing” (ʿAlīm) are among the beautiful names of God. The God who is purely All-Hearing and All-Knowing hears the words of the people of discord and hypocrisy, as well as the supplications of the Muslims, and knows what is hidden in the hearts of both groups: “And He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing” (wa-huwa l-samīʿu l-ʿalīm).

The issue of whether the All-Hearing (Samīʿ) and the All-Seeing (Baṣīr) are independent from the All-Knowing (ʿ__Alīm), or if these two are included under the title of All-Knowing, has been allocated a special discussion in the science of divine names and in philosophy and theology. Some exegetes have inferred from the mention of All-Knowing after All-Hearing that the meaning of All-Hearing is different from knowledge of audible things (580). The final judgment on this matter is the responsibility of the science of philosophy.