Al-Laṭīf - The One Who is Extremely Subtle and Unfathomable
The one worthy of this name is the one who knows the fine points of those things that are beneficial, (as well as) their obscurities, niceties and subtleties, and who then makes them available to the deserving one in a gentle rather than a harsh manner. The (real) meaning of Al-Lutf results from the joining of gentleness in action with subtlety in knowledge. The perfection of that (i.e. Al-Lutf) in respect of knowledge and activity is inconceivable except for God Most High.
A detailed exposition of His comprehension of the fine points and the secrets is (quite) impossible. Suffice it to say that the hidden (object) is as open to His knowledge as is the exposed one. There is (absolutely) no distinction (between them). His gentleness and subtlety in His deeds are also boundless. The only one who knows the subtlety in respect of His work is the one who knows the details of His deeds and the fine points of His gentleness in respect of them. One’s knowledge of the meaning of the name Al-Laṭīf is commensurate with one’s knowledge of these things.
The explanation of (all) this is necessarily lengthy. Moreover, it is (quite) inconceivable that (even) many volumes could do justice to one-tenth of one-tenth of it. However, it is possible to draw attention to some generalities (concerning this subject). A part of His kindness is His creation of the foetus in the womb of the mother in a three-fold darkness, His preservation of it and His feeding it through the umbilical cord until the time that it is separated and becomes independent by taking food through the mouth. At that time God prompts the child to take the mother’s breast into its mouth and suck it, and to do this even during the darkness of night and in spite of the fact that the child has not been taught to do so nor has seen it done.
If only one would remember God’s subtlety in preparing the morsel (of food) which man eats without experiencing any inconvenience (on his part), when innumerable people have collaborated in preparing it, including those who prepare the earth, sow it, water it, reap it, separate the grain from extraneous matter, grind it, mix it into dough, bake it, etcetera! The explanation of this subject is so detailed that there actually is no end to it. But generally speaking, God is wise in respect of His planning these things; He is generous in respect of bringing them into being; He is a fashioner in respect of the manner in which He arranges them; He is just in respect of His placing each thing in its (correct) place; and He is subtle in respect of the fact that not a single one of the fine points of gentleness is omitted (in this entire structure). The one who does not understand the real nature of these deeds will never understand the real nature of these names.
A part of His subtlety over against His creatures lies in the fact that He gives them more than they need and demands of them less than they can do. Another portion of (that same) subtlety lies in His making the attainment of the happiness of eternity easy for them by means of (only) a little effort over a (comparatively) brief period of time which is his life-span. Certainly that period cannot be compared with eternity.
The production of pure milk from the nursing mother’s stomach and blood, the production of precious gems from hard stones, and the production of honey from the bee, silk from the worm and a pearl from the sea-shell are (also) the result of His subtlety. (But) the most wonderful subject of all is God’s creation of man from the impure semen and His making him the repository of His knowledge, the bearer of His trust and the witness of the kingdoms of His heavens. This, too, is gentleness that simply defies definition.
Man’s portion of this characterization lies in his gentleness over against the people of God Most High and his graciousness shown in calling them to God and guiding them to the happiness of the life to come without (exhibiting any evidence of) contempt, harshness, contention and fanatical enthusiasm. The best way in which man can manifest his portion of subtlety is by drawing (others) to the acceptance of the truth through the instrumentality of one’s good qualities, satisfying behaviour and pious actions. For certainly they are more effective and more subtle than embellished expressions (which one might utter).
