Meaning & Explanation
Al-Wasi' is the One whose knowledge, mercy, and provision encompass all things. His capacity is unlimited and His vastness cannot be measured. He is vast in His attributes - vast in mercy, vast in knowledge, vast in generosity, vast in forgiveness.
Quran References
2 versesContext: Allah's presence everywhere
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“Indeed, Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing”
Context: After mentioning charity and Allah's vast provision
وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing”
Exemplifying Story
hadithThe Vastness of Allah's Mercy
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah has one hundred parts of mercy. He sent down one part to the earth, and from it comes the compassion that creation shows to one another - even a mare lifting her hoof from her foal for fear of trampling it. Allah has reserved ninety-nine parts of mercy for the Day of Judgment for His servants." All the love and compassion we witness in the world - maternal love, friendship, care for the weak - is from just one percent of Al-Wasi's mercy. The remaining ninety-nine parts await the believers.
The vastness of Al-Wasi' is beyond comprehension. If one percent of His mercy creates all the love in creation, imagine the vastness of the remaining ninety-nine.