Explanation
One of ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ names is Al-Khafid. Its meaning is “The Humiliator” or “The Abaser.” one who, by His Destruction, lowers those whom He wills. This name represents ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ ability to bring the haughty and unjust to their knees. He is the One Who humiliates all those who think of themselves as great; He humiliates entire nations of the arrogant and pompous.
From the Arabic word kha-fa-dad , which means “to lower, weaken, depress,” “to make humble, abase,” “to relax, diminish, subdue,” “to make gentle, tranquil,” “easy to deal with,” “to soften, make easy,” and “to facilitate.”
This quality explains how ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ abases the arrogant, the oppressors, and the rebels. He selects those who need to be made mild, sensitive, or modest. He makes the choice to strengthen or weaken people, to bestow or revoke honor upon them.
Both in this life and the afterlife, he degrades them. This name denigrates oppressors, but it also occasionally denigrates innocent bystanders and believers to test their tolerance. To test a person’s patience.
This name provides a reminder of the value of humility. Instead of being haughty or boastful, we should acknowledge that ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is the source of all of our blessings. In everything we do, we should give gratitude to Him and try to please Him. We should keep in mind that ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ has the right to humble anybody He so chooses, and we ought to work to appease Him.
A reminder of the importance of repentance. If we have acted haughtily or proudly, we should apologize to ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ and ask for His forgiveness. We should be aware of our mistakes and make an effort to correct them. ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is always willing to forgive those who repent and seek His forgiveness genuinely.
As for man, when his Lord tests him by exalting him and bestowing His bounties upon him, he says: “My Lord has exalted me.”
But when He tests him by straitening his sustenance, he says: “My Lord has humiliated me.” (Quran 89: 15-16)
Abul-Maududi’s Tafheem ul-Qur’an takes an unusual look at the second ayah. If a believer’s attitude to a worsening financial condition is, “My Lord has humiliated me,” this exposes a hidden message or erroneous thinking that the person may have been blinded to. In this scenario, the individual may be terrified of being perceived as a failure. Their ego was focused on achieving worldly achievement (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing), but they may have identified with it too strongly. They fail to recognize that riches are not a sign of ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ approval, nor is poverty proof of His displeasure. Both, however, are tests for the believer. The test of wealth is whether the person will forget his Lord or grow haughty and ungrateful. Or, as previously stated, in a position of power, would they become abusive, corrupt, and try to use people for personal gain?
The test is different in poverty. It could be a test of patience, finding fulfillment or contentment in lack, or whether the person can stay grateful to ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ for what they still have. Or would his faith deteriorate and his dissatisfaction with ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ grow? Will they break ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ rules and become immoral in order to change their existing situation?
This name is a reminder for us to be humble, we should not be arrogant and not think too highly of ourselves. We should always remember that everything we have is from ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ and we should be grateful for it. We should always be kind and respectful to others. May ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ guide us to the right path and help us to be humble and kind to others.
Quran References
It will bring down [some] and raise up [others]. (Quran 56:3)