Names of God (9): al-Qadeer, "the All-Powerful"

Adnan and Marc return with a discussion of a name or attribute, al-Qadeer or "the Powerful" or "All-Powerful", identified by `Afīf al-Dīn al-Tilimsānī in his work translated as "The Divine Names: A Mystical Theology of the Names of God in the Qur'an" by Yousef Casewit. Notably, the name al-Qadeer is not often included in the devotional tradition listing the "99 Names". As a result, we relied greatly on interpreting his discussion as the starting points for a conversation about understanding the sources of power and agency spiritually, theologically, psychically and, especially, phenomenologically. The discussion of al-Tilimsani was remarkably wide-ranging on different aspects of this issue of the nature of power and agency, including the varieties of forms of agency. We also explored how agency might manifest through the seeker's recognition and experience of "the Powerful" in a fascinating parable of the Sufi catching their cloak (presumably patched!) on a twig or branch as a metaphor for challenges, obstacles, the force of power upon us. Finally, we reflected on two different Qur'anic statements al-Tilimsani cites that opened a deeper consideration of the nature and meaning of power and its source. Whether we grasped the subtle distinction between the statement "All power belongs to God" (or as we also proposed, "power belongs to God wholly/completely/all together") on the one hand and "There is no power except through God," we must leave to listeners to ponder further. Every exploration of a distinguished name led us back to consideration of the unity of the Named, this time through a final suggestion of al-Tilimsani that apprehending and experience the unity and essence, "witnessing" it, the Names disappear and the witnesser is rendered "speechless." We were enriched by and grateful again for an opportunity to reflect together on the Names. Inshallah, you found something beneficial or resonant in our shared exploration. Again, we welcome your comments, queries, corrections in discussion of the video!

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