Meaning :
The Exalter.
In Quran :
“Allah will exalt those of you who believe and those who are granted knowledge, to high degrees“ (Quran, 58:11).
Description :
Al-Rafi` is one of the Attributes of Allah whose root word is raf`, lifting, raising, exalting, elevating, and the like.
It can be used for objects as in 2:63: “… and lifted the mountain over you,“ and in 13:2: “Allah is the One who raised the heavens without any pillars so that you may see [His might] and He is firm in power.“
It can also be used for raising the structure of a building as is the case in the verse saying, “And when Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House…“ (Quran, 2:127).
It is also used for exalting or revering someone‘s status as in this verse: “… and exalted your esteem“ (Quran, 94:4).
It is also used to exalt the status or degree of someone honored as in the verse saying, “… and we have exalted some of them above others in degrees“ (Quran, 43:32), and also, “… and exalted thrones…“ (Quran, 56:34), that is, thrones the status of which is exalted by nearness to Him.
Al-Rafi` is Allah who exalts the status of His friends, granting them victory over their foes and His, and that of the righteous, to the highest degrees. He exalts the truth; He exalts the believers by granting them happiness; He exalts His friends from among the believers by getting closer to them; He exalts the status of His friends by granting them the upper hand, and He exalts the status of those who befriend Him in truth and in equity.
Al-Rafi‘ raised the heavens without pillars, raised the clouds over the winds, and raised the birds in the air: “Have they not seen the birds above them expanding (their wings) and contracting (them)? Who withholds them save the Beneficent God? Surely He sees everything“ (Quran, 67:19).
Al-Rafi` has raised the status of His friends in the life of this world by making the believers humble themselves before them, and by making people pay homage and respect to them even if they do not wield any power, even if they have no wealth at all: “Now surely the friends of Allah shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. Those who believed and guarded (themselves against evil) shall have glad tidings in the life of this world as well as in the life hereafter; there is no alteration to the words of Allah; that is the mighty achievement“ (10:62-65). Al-Rafi` exalts the reputation of those who are regarded as weaklings among their own people, supporting the wronged against those who wrong them.
In Surat al-Baqarah, the Almighty says, “We have made some prophets excel over others; among them are those to whom Allah spoke, and some of them He exalted by (many degrees of) rank“ (Quran, 2:253).
In Surat al- Ana`m, He says, “And this was our argument which we gave to Abraham against his people; we exalt in dignity whomsoever we please; surely your Lord is Wise, Knowing“ (Quran, 6:83).
In the same chapter, the Almighty tells us that “He it is Who has made you successors in the land and raised some of you above others by (various) degrees so that He may try you by what He gives you; surely your Lord is quick to requite (evil), and He is most surely the Forgiving, the Merciful“ (Quran, 6:165).
Other references occur in the following verses:
Allah said: O Jesus! I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) and cause you to ascend to Me, to purify you from those who disbelieve, and to make those who follow you above those who disbelieve till the Day of Resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, so I will decide among you concerning that in which you differed. (3:55) and mention Idris (Enoch) in the Book; surely he was a truthful man, a prophet, and We raised him high in heaven. (19:56-57) and the heavens He raised and established the balance. (55:7)
