Az-Zahir, the Manifest.

Az-Zahir (الظَّاهِرُ) means The Manifest. It is name 75 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Aẓ-Ẓāhir is the Manifest: His signs are clear in all creation, and He is above everything. The Prophet ﷺ explained it as "nothing is above You".

The root and its meaning

Az-Zahir comes from the Arabic root ظ ه ر (ẓ-h-r), which carries the sense of being apparent, and being above.

Where it is in the Quran

It comes once, in 57:3.

Surah Al-Hadid 57:3

هُوَ ٱلْأَوَّلُ وَٱلْءَاخِرُ وَٱلظَّٰهِرُ وَٱلْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Huwal Awwalu wal'Aakhiru waz Zaahiru wal Baatinu wa huwa bikulli shai'in Aleem

He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing.

Quran 57:3. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.

Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:190

إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

Inna fee khalqis samaawati wal ardi wakhtilaafil laili wannahaari la Aayaatil liulil albaab

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.

Quran 3:190. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.

Calling on Allah by this Name

Allah says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Begin your dua with يَا ظَاهِرُ (Yā Ẓāhir) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "Yā Ẓāhir, let me see Your signs around me."

From the Sunnah

وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ

Wa antaẓ-ẓāhiru fa-laysa fawqaka shayʾ

And You are the Manifest, and there is nothing above You.

Sahih Muslim 2713

1. Quran 57:3, translation by Sahih International.
2. Quran 3:190, translation by Sahih International.
3. Sahih Muslim 2713.

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