Al-Hakeem — The Wise One
الْحَكِيمُ
Name 46 of the ninety-nine. The Judge of Judges, The One who is correct in His doings
Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is Al-Hakeem (in Arabic: ٱلْحَكِيمُ), the most judicious and the all-wise.
The root
From the root ha-kaf-mim (ح ك م), which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to prevent or restrain from wrongdoing or corruption, to turn someone back from wrongdoing or ignorance, to be wise, knowing the true nature of things, to pass judgment, to decide, pass a verdict.
Reflection
The lesson from the story - Yusuf's life was overcoming one obstacle after another. When there seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel, he realized it was just an oncoming train. Yet, with everything that happened, he takes it in stride. He tackles each situation with resolve and never loses hope or faith. Why? He believed in Allah's attribute of being Al-Hakeem, trusting He knows what to do and with whom.
When we read about the story of Yusuf (as), we learn a crucial life lesson that it's impossible to connect the dots looking forwards. We can only connect them by looking backward. We see how Yusuf (as) endured all the pain to end up where he did. In the end, Yusuf (as) saved the people of Egypt from famine, attained immense success, and was reunited with his family.
Ultimately the vision he had in his childhood came true. It was not easy, and he kept in pursuit; he believed in Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ and knew the dots would somehow connect in the future but never exactly knew how. This also brings about another question, if we could rewind the clock, should we tell Yusuf (as) not to play with his brothers that day?
We know the answer is no, but we may still be reserved in our answer, not feeling one hundred percent confident. Our mind thinks maybe his life could've been better. Perhaps a route to the same destination with less pain? Even in our lives, we may wish things in our past may have gone differently. This goes to the idea that we will always wish for things to be better.
We rarely embrace and accept reality as it is, even though it can't be any other way. But to the one who sees Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ as Al-Hakeem, they will recognize how all things are interconnected. Sometimes we should not just endure but learn to love and say alhamdulillah for the way the All-Wise has decreed things to unfold.
كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرۡهٞ لَّكُمۡۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـٔٗا وَهُوَ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيۡـٔٗا وَهُوَ شَرّٞ لَّكُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ Kutiba alaikumulqitaalu wa huwa kurhullakum wa 'asaaa an takrahoo shai'anw wa huwa khairullakum wa 'asaaa an tuhibbo shai'anw wa huwa sharrullakum; wallaahu ya'lamu wa antum laa ta'lamoon (section 26) English Translation:"Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you.
But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you.
Where it appears
[1] Sahih Muslim 162a,[2] Sahih al-Bukhari 4141,[3] Sahih (Darussalam) Sunan Ibn Majah 3469