The Meaning of God Being All-hearing and All-knowing

Samʿ (hearing) is either real and existential, or conventional. Real hearing is the perception of sound and tone, while conventional hearing is understanding the conventional meanings of words on one hand, and acting upon them on the other. When it is commonly said that “a person does not hear my words,” it means they do not act upon them. Real hearing in God means that He hears all human speech, whether it be supplication, intimate discourse, cursing, insults, or lies. However, conventional hearing is what is mentioned at the end of supplications and prayers, because when it is said “You are All-hearing,” it means “be hearing”; that is, it is a declarative sentence with the intent of request. Therefore, “You are the Hearer of prayer”(16) means: You who respond to the words of the supplicant, also answer our prayer.

On this basis, this lady says that O God, You who know Your humble servants and answer their prayers, answer my prayer too: “so accept it from me. Indeed You are the All-hearing, the All-knowing.”

The mother of Mary (a.s.) insists that her child be dedicated and pure both in origin and continuance. The divine prophets also perform their actions primarily for God and strive to maintain their purity. On this basis, Abraham and Ishmael (a.s.) raised the issue of sincerity and acceptance while building the Kaʿba: “As Abraham raised the foundations of the House with Ishmael, [they prayed]: ‘Our Lord, accept it from us!’”(17) And in purifying the Kaʿba, they were commanded to keep it pure and clean, so that just as it was pure in its origin, it would remain pure in its continuance: “Purify My House for those who go around it, [for] those who make it a retreat and [for] those who bow and prostrate.”(18)

The nominal sentence “Indeed You are the All-hearing, the All-knowing” which comes with emphasis and repetition of the pronoun of separation, shows the greatness of the vow of Mary’s mother (a.s.).