Allah addresses Him as As Samīʿ " ٱلْسَّمِيعُ " (pronounced As Samee') on 45 occasions in the Quran. The All-Hearing or The Hearer of Invocation, The One who listens to everything, perfectly, eternally, without limitations.
The first mention of As Samīʿ appears in the `27th verse of Surah II Al Baqarah, along with Al Aleem (All Knowing), another attribute of Allah:
وَاِذۡ يَرۡفَعُ اِبۡرٰهٖمُ الۡقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الۡبَيۡتِ وَاِسۡمٰعِيۡلُؕ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلۡ مِنَّا ؕ اِنَّكَ اَنۡتَ السَّمِيۡعُ الۡعَلِيۡمُ
(2:127) Recall when Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House, praying: “Our Lord! Accept this from us; You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
In the same Surah, the attribute is again used in verse 257:
لَاۤ اِكۡرَاهَ فِى الدِّيۡنِۙ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشۡدُ مِنَ الۡغَىِّۚ فَمَنۡ يَّكۡفُرۡ بِالطَّاغُوۡتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۡۢ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ اسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِالۡعُرۡوَةِ الۡوُثۡقٰى لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ
(2:256) There is no compulsion in religion. The Right Way stands clearly distinguished from the wrong. Hence he who rejects the evil ones and believes in Allah has indeed taken hold of the firm, unbreakable handle. And Allah (Whom he has held for support) is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
As Sami thus means that Allah is the One who listens to anyone and everyone in whatever language He is been addressed with complete attentiveness for He alone is the One who can listen, comprehend and solve the difficulties being faced by His servants.
In fact Allah hears each and every sound and voice even if it is hidden from us. That is He listens to our secret desires even if these have yet not been addressed to Him vocally.
Samee’ comes from the root seen-meem-‘ayn, which in classical Arabic connotates (1) to hear, to listen, (2) to accept, to receive, to be told, (3) to pay attention to, pay regard (4) to understand the meaning. This root appears 185 times in the Quran in 10 derived forms. Examples of these forms are sami’a (to hear, to listen), tusmi’u (to make hear), and as-sam’a (the hearing).
قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآ اِنَّنِىۡ مَعَكُمَاۤ اَسۡمَعُ وَاَرٰى
(Surah 20 Ta Ha: 46) He said: "Have no fear. I am with you, hearing and seeing all.
It conveys the fact that Allah realizes the truth about each and every sound even if it is, to our limited ability, quite silent. He realizes and distinguishes sounds as well as colors just as He realizes and distinguishes everything else.
It will not be out of place to quote here one of the famous verse revealed on the eve of Battle of Badr:
فَلَمۡ تَقۡتُلُوۡهُمۡ وَلٰـكِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَتَلَهُمۡ وَمَا رَمَيۡتَ اِذۡ رَمَيۡتَ وَ لٰـكِنَّ اللّٰهَ رَمٰى ۚ وَلِيُبۡلِىَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ مِنۡهُ بَلَاۤءً حَسَنًاؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ
(Surah 8 Anfal: 17) So the fact is that it was not you, but it was Allah Who killed them; and it was not you when you threw [sand at them], but it was Allah Who threw it,14 (and the believers were employed for the task) that He might cause the believers to successfully pass through this test. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
This refers to the occasion when the armies of the Muslims and the unbelievers stood face to face in the Battle of Badr and were on the verge of actual fighting. At that moment, the Prophet (peace be on him) threw a handful of dust at the enemy saying: 'May, their faces be scorched.' So saying the Prophet (peace be on him) made a gesture and the Muslims started their charge.
We must have faith that since Allah is As Sami and hears everything, all our invocations and prayers must be made with the firm belief that Allah will listen to us and will redress our grievances and will alleviate our sufferings. There may be delays but one should understand that it is not only us who are suffering or are in need of Allah's help. In time all ends well. May Allah always listen to us and help us. Aameen.
You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.
You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran
You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran
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