Is it permissible to describe someone as "the All-Knowing, the Omniscient" (al-ʿAlīm, al-ʿAlīm)?
There is no harm in describing a scholar as "the knowing one" (al-ʿālim) or "the omniscient one" (al-ʿalīm), whether defined with "al-" (the definite article) or indefinite; because these are attributes derived from knowledge. Allah has described prophets with them, as He says about Abraham: "with a boy of knowledge" (Quran 51:28). It is mentioned in books of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) that it is permissible to use Allah's names that are shared between Him and His creation, such as Al-ʿAlī (the Most High), Al-Kabīr (the Most Great), and Ar-Rashīd (the Guide), as what is intended by them concerning a created being differs from what is intended concerning Allah the Almighty.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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