3 Preface هُوَ الأَوَّلُ وَالآخِرُ وَالظّاهِرُ وَالباطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيءٍ عَليمٌYusuf AliHe is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Hidden:1 and He has full knowledge of all things.God is Evident insofar as there is ample evidence of His existence and providence all around us. On the other hand, God is Hidden insofar as intellect cannot grasp His essence nor can He be seen in the present world. The following tradition in Sahih Muslim is also significant for an understanding of this verse. The Prophet (peace be on him) said: “Thou art the First, so that there was nothing before Thee; and Thou art the Last, so that there is nothing after Thee; and Thou art Evident, (or Ascendant) so that there is nothing above Thee, and Thou art the Hidden, the Knower of hidden things, so that there is nothing hidden from Thee.” [Eds.].