Allah (SwT) has said,

“He is Allah the Creator, the Evolver, the One Who bestows forms (or colours) on what He creates. To Him belong the Attributes” (Qur’an, 59:24).

There are viewpoints regarding the explanation of al-Bari: One says it refers to the One Who brings about something out of nothing, the One Who creates something which was never there before. It is said that Allah (SwT) is al-Bari of creation, the One Who brought about all things into existence out of non-existence.

The other meaning conveys the cutting off or severing of something. The root verb of this word means cutting and shaping something such as a twig or a pencil. One may say that illness has parted from him, or that he is free of a claim put forth by someone else. It can also be applied metaphorically such as one person severing his partnership with another, or a woman separating from her husband. Allah (SwT) has bara’a, created or initiated the creation without a model; bariyya means those whom He has created. Another meaning is curing or healing. A wise statement indicates that one who is cured should express gratitude to the One who cured him.

Ja’far ibn Sulayman1 is quoted as having said that he passed once by a blind old woman grieving over herself and wailing, so he asked her, “What does it take to sustain you?” She answered him saying, “Stop sticking your nose where it does not belong; I have reached this stage of life without needing you or others”. Then she added, “Have you not heard the statement made by the Friend of Allah (SwT) who said,

‘[Allah] Who created me then showed me the way” (Qur’an, 26:78).

“And He provides me with food to eat and with water to drink” (Qur’an, 26:79).

“And when I am sick, He restores my health to me’” (Qur’an, 26:80)?

One who knows the real meaning of al-Bari, therefore, is one whose heart is not affected by events, nor can momentous events overtake him by surprise. It is also said that anyone who comes to know Who al-Bari really is will dissociate himself from claiming to have anything to do with his own form or shape, fearing his Creator’s Might, knowing that he is not doing Him a favour by worshipping and obeying Him. It is also said that He is the One Who has dissociated Himself from everyone else, the One Who is never surprised by whatever events take place.

It is also said that anyone who recognizes Him as al-Bari will dissociate himself from committing anything prohibitive, seeking refuge with the King, the Most Forgiving One.

• 1. Ja’far ibn Sulayman (4 – 178 A.H./625 – 794 A.D.) was an ascetic scholar and narrator of hadith. He narrated hadith quoting Abu Imran al-Jawni, Thabit al-Banani, Yazid al-Rashk, Malik ibn Dinar, al-Ja’d”Abu Othman” and many others. He is quoted by Sayyar ibn Hatim, Abdur-Razzaq, Musaddad ibn Musarhid, Bishr ibn Hilal, Ishaq ibn Abu Isra’eel, Muhammad ibn Sulayman Laween and others. He is quoted by al-Tirmidhi, describing his hadith as”good”, and by al-Nisa’i. Muslim, too, regards him as an authority on hadith.