Allahu a'alam (God Knows Best)

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Allah knows best, in Arabic الله اعلم (Allahu A'alam), is an Islamic phrase used by Muslims.

The phrase in Arabic

Allahu A'alam is grammatically similar to Allahu Akbar. In the word A'alam the root is not كبر k-b-r (big), but علم 'a-l-m (knowing). In both phrases, "A" (alif) is added to the beginning of the word and also a short "a" (fatha) after the second root letter. So from 'a-l-m become A'alam, just like from k-b-r became Akbar.

In the Qur'an

The Qur'an uses Allahu A'alam a lot. It is often used as "wa-Allahu A'alam" meaning "and Allah knows best" (conjunctions are prefixed to words in Arabic).

Allah knows things

He knows difference between the two genders:

So when she brought forth, she said: My Lord! Surely I have brought it forth a female-- and Allah knew best what she brought forth-- and the male is not like the female, and I have named it Marium, and I commend her and her offspring into Thy protection from the accursed Shaitan.
Quran 3:36

He knows that hypocritical Muslims refuse to kill non-Muslims, because they secretly don't believe in Islam:

And that He might know the hypocrites; and it was said to them: Come, fight in Allah´s way, or defend yourselves. They said: If we knew fighting, we would certainly have followed you. They were on that day much nearer to unbelief than to belief. They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts, and Allah best knows what they conceal.
Quran 3:167

He knows that some Muslims secretly disbelieve and commit sins [1]:

And Allah knows best what they hide,
Quran 84:23

He knows who are the bad people:

Say: If that which you desire to hasten were with me, the matter would have certainly been decided between you and me; and Allah best knows the unjust.
Quran 6:58

Allah in the Qur'an doesn't describe any scientific facts, which were not known to the Arabs in the 7th century. It seems that his knowledge is limited by the knowledge of Muhammad.

Allah knows better then people

He knows that Ibrahim, Ismail and Jacob were not Jews nor Christians:

Nay! do you say that Ibrahim and Ismail and Yaqoub and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Are you better knowing or Allah? And who is more unjust than he who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah? And Allah is not at all heedless of what you do.
Quran 2:140

You might think that some people (Jews) are your friends, but they are your enemies:

Have you not considered those to whom a portion of the Book has been given? They buy error and desire that you should go astray from the way.

And Allah best knows your enemies; and Allah suffices as a Guardian, and Allah suffices as a Helper.
Quran 4:44-45

A lot of times the Qur'an says just "Allah knows" (Allahu ya'alamu):

Fighting is enjoined on you, and it is an object of dislike to you; and it may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you, and Allah knows, while you do not know.
Quran 2:216

So the message seems to be: Stop thinking and blindly believe in Islam.

People say "Allah knows best"

Jesus says he doesn't know what Allah knows:

And when Allah will say: O Isa son of Marium! did you say to men, Take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah he will say: Glory be to Thee, it did not befit me that I should say what I had no right to (say); if I had said it, Thou wouldst indeed have known it; Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I do not know what is in Thy mind, surely Thou art the great Knower of the unseen things.
Quran 5:116

Joseph thinks, that Allah knows that what some people said is false:

They said: If he steal, a brother of his did indeed steal before; but Yusuf kept it secret in his heart and did not disclose it to them. He said: You are in an evil condition and Allah knows best what you state.
Quran 12:77

"Allah knows best" excuses

In some verses, "Allah knows best" seems to be an excuse used by Muhammad against the critics of his religion.

People wanted to get some message directly from Allah, not via Muhammad, to be sure that Muhammad is not making it all up. But Muhammad reveals, that "Allah knows best" and then threatens the people with punishment.

And when a communication comes to them they say: We will not believe till we are given the like of what Allah´s messengers are given. Allah best knows where He places His message. There shall befall those who are guilty humiliation from Allah and severe chastisement because of what they planned.
Quran 6:124

People wondered why the Qur'an is full of contradictions and why it needs an abrogation principle. Muhammad responds by revealing that "Allah knows best and you don't".

And when We change (one) communication for (another) communication, and Allah knows best what He reveals, they say: You are only a forger. Nay, most of them do not know.
Quran 16:101

Jews knew some religious stories. They asked Muhammad to ask Allah to reveal to him those stories, so that they can compare them and if his stories are the same as theirs, then Muhammad is the messenger of god. One part of those stories was information about how long did dwellers of Ephesus in a cave dwell. Muhammad revealed 309, which was wrong. So then he revealed that "Allah knows best":

Say: Allah knows best how long they remained; to Him are (known) the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; how clear His sight and how clear His hearing! There is none to be a guardian for them besides Him, and He does not make any one His associate in His Judgment.
Quran 18:26

Muhammad revealed a command for Muslims to use the same excuse (instead of arguments) to defend their religion:

And if they contend with you, say: Allah best knows what you do.
Quran 22:68

However that verse was abrogated, according to the scholars. Now Muslims shouldn't respond by "Allah knows best" excuse, but they should respond by killing:

And if they dispute with you in the matter of religion say ‘God knows best what you do and will requite you for it — this was revealed before the command to fight them.
Al-Jalalayn on 22:68

In the hadith

Polytheist dead children go to hell:

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah was asked about the children of the idolators and he said: 'Allah knows best what they would have done."'
Sunan an-Nasa'i 3:21:1951

Muslims should say "Allah knows best" whenever they don't know something:

...For indeed, it is part of a man's knowledge, that when he is asked about something he does not know, he says: "Allah knows best." ...
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 5:44:3254

In the tafsir

In the early tafsirs on the verse 68:1, we can read about a whale, called ن (Nun), which carries the Earth on its back [2]. However in the tafsir Al-Jalalayn, from the 15th century, the interpretation changed (for some reason) to "Allah knows best":

Nūn is one of the letters of the alphabet. God knows best what He means by it.
Al-Jalalayn on 68:1

Comfort in Ignorance

Saying "Allah knows best" instead of "I don't know" or "I am not sure" makes people more comfortable in their ignorance.

One of the most notable atheists in the 21th century said:

“I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.”
Richard Dawkins

"Allah knows best" is sometimes used as a response to questions from the critics of Islam. This Allah-knows-best-ing technique strengthens the close-mindedness of Muslims, who blindly believe that Allah has all the answers and don't bother to find the answers themselves. This way they are not able to realize, that there is no answer, or that the answer proves Islam to be false.

The phrase is also used as an "explanation" of some things in Islam which don't make sense or if they are in conflict with science. One example was already discussed, regarding the tafsir Al-Jalalayn on the verse 68:1.

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Al-Jalalayn commentary on the verse 84:23 "and God knows best what they are amassing accumulating in their scrolls in the way of disbelief denial and evil deeds."
  2. ↑ Tanwir Al-Miqbas: "And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Nun): '(Nun) He says: Allah swears by the Nun, which is the whale that carries the earths on its back while in Water, and beneath which is the Bull and under the Bull is the Rock and..."
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