- Al-‘Alim: The All-Knowing
Symbol: An owl
God says, “I know the secrets of your heart, and I love you.”
Dear God, You are The All-Knowing.
Allah, If You know all, answer me this.
Do You know the past, the present, and the future?
Does Your knowing my future make me not free?
Does Your heart break knowing all the sadness in the world?
Why do You not prevent evil when You know it is approaching?
Perhaps You know everything only from the inside as it is happening.
Perhaps You know my future only as the numberless paths that I may choose or reject.
Thank You for knowing me better than anyone else knows me, and still loving me.
I am sorry for the times when I presume that I know everything.
Help me get to know You better.
- Al-Qabid: The Restrainer, The Straightener
Symbol: Arms closed in an embrace
God says, “My embrace will soften your twisted heart.”
Dear God, You are The Restrainer and The Straightener.
Babies love to be wrapped warm, secure, and tight in a blanket.
By knowing limits and restraints,
I become free to grow, rather than to dissipate my energy.
I can only become unrestrained by becoming one with You, the Limitless.
The bent tool is restored by straightening, sometimes in the fire.
When a room or a life is straightened up, it becomes expansive.
To become straightened is to become trued.
Straighten me and true me to Your way and truth.
Thank You for limiting my freedom so I can become who I am meant to be.
I am sorry for the times I have not been straight with you or with other people.
Help me restrain myself more than I restrain others.
- Al-Basit: The Extender, The Expander
Symbol: Outstretched, open arms
God says, “Open your wings and fly.”
Dear God, You are The Extender and The Expander.
God, You both restrain and extend.
You do not just hold me in the palm of Your hand, You toss me into the wind to fly.
Where I am constricted, You open me up.
You encourage me to reach beyond my grasp,
To see beyond my vision,
To dream beyond my hopes.
Let Your love fill me, stretch me, expand me.
You are my only limit.
Thank You for drawing me beyond myself.
I am sorry for the times I have held back from You.
Help me embrace what you open up before me.
bridgingthegaplessgap 