Divine Names of Allah Series: As-Salam, The Giver of Peace, Free of Imperfections
To be at peace, tranquil, and safe are some of the meanings of the word سلم, the root word of Allah’s Divine name, السلام – Giver of Peace and free of all defects.
If we think about what we desire we will find that the motivation of all we do is to reach a state of peace. We want to be safe and whole. If we seek companionship, we are likely to select those who bring us peace. If you strive academically or in your career, you’re trying to secure a stable future. Monetary desires are the same.
The bottom line is that our goals and deepest desires come from a place of longing for peace and tranquility. Disturbance is a result of chaos, and chaos is the lack of safety. Our fitra (natural inclination) is to live in peace, and that is no coincidence. Our Creator, the One our souls are constantly seeking, is Peace itself. It then becomes only logical for our stress to increase the further we become from As-Salam.
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
Truly it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts find peace (13:28)
It is the people who are deeply connected to Allah, remembering Him through dhikr, prayer, and God consciousness that share this trait of contentment. They may not have material wealth or what others consider the ‘source’ of peace, yet they remain ease. Whereas those with more wealth may live a life submitting to their desires and feeling a void nothing seems to fill.
Everything other than Allah is short lived.
The human being is forgetful, and we seek our peace in contradictory ways when we forget that He is As-Salam. Allah calls Heaven ‘Dar al-Salam’ and it makes perfect sense. This world isn’t meant to be your peace. Yet we can taste it as we release ourselves from the shackles of this world. You choose the well that quenches your thirst in this world. But you cannot expect to attain peace from any source other than Allah.
Understanding the meaning of this name makes you critically reflect. You internalize that this world is not worth your peace. The weight of sinning is heavier because you understand what’s really at stake.
It’s not just your peace, it’s Allah.
Speaking of freeing ourselves from the poisons of the heart, one of the meanings of سلم is free of faults. This meaning is the key to purifying ourselves of negative feelings towards others. Because our fitra is one that desires Allah’s Attributes, it’s inevitable that we try to perfect things in this dunya. It is also inevitable that we expect near perfection from others sometimes.
But seeking perfection in an imperfect world is only bound to reap disappointment and pain. We are more merciful to ourselves and others around us when we remind ourselves that the only perfection we will be sure of constantly, is Allah’s.
We set ourselves up for better relationships, ones that are successful when we do not set that expectation for others. Flawlessness is only within Allah. Therefore, we strive to be perfect in our worship, in our treatment of others, in our work, etc. But simultaneously, we are aware that we are bound to fall short of perfection — and that’s okay. Because to Allah, that is enough.
Who else is there to impress? Who is the One that controls your affairs and how you are perceived? Keep this reminder close. For you, and for your own perception of others.
I am currently progressing with this series on instagram, at @pharowagdy. I do post them here eventually, but for those who would like to read them as I make them, that’s where you can find them inshAllah.
