Allah commanded us to believe in Him in the Qur'an. This requires us to believe in:
1) His Existence
2) His Lordship
3) His Divinity
4) His Names and Attributes
One way we can do this is by reflecting over the impact of His Names and Attributes in the Universe. The sea, the alternation of the day and night, etc. are all signs which testify to the attributes of Allah. They testify to His greatness, His wisdom, His knowledge, etc. In fact, everything we see in this world is an impact of Allah's names and attributes.
But there are those who see and there are those who are blind. The seer relates everything he sees to the names and attributes of Allah whereas the blind sees with his eyes but not with his heart. He doesn't see the oneness of Allah, His ability, perfection, etc.
In our prayer we daily say, "انك حميد مَجِيدٌ"
حميد = The One who is worthy of all praise.
This means that all Allah's actions and attributes are praiseworthy. Whatever happens in the universe, including the events that befall us, are Allah's actions and thus are all praiseworthy. Even if it is something you don't like, you still say الحمد لله, because Allah doesn't decree anything except that there is something good in it.
We may wonder why Allah created insects, etc. but we need to remind ourselves that Allah is الحميد. He didn't create anything except there is a wisdom behind it.
Where is the effect of this phrase in our lives?
Impact of Allah's Names and Attributes on our Servitude
Allah says in (35:28):
As the person knows Allah more, as He will submit to Him more, trust Him more, rely on Him more, etc.
Knowledge of Allah has an impact on the actions of the heart.
70,000 people will enter paradise without reckoning, and one of the reasons they will do so is due to their Tawakkul. Their heart turned to Allah and no one else in seeking guidance, healing, etc.
They rely on Allah totally and do not turn here and there. They got this from the knowledge of Allah, His names and attributes.
*****
In four verses in the Qur'an, Allah informed us that to Him belong the most beautiful names.
1) In (7:180):
We have different types of Dua:
1) دعاء المسالة
This is asking Allah.
2) دعاء الثناء
This is praising Allah.
3) دعاء العبادة
Your action indicates that you are making dua.
E.g. If you wear your proper hijab, covering yourself, out of modesty, you are worshiping Allah by His name الحئ.
E.g. You find out a secret which someone doesn't want anyone else to know. You conceal it and refrain from exposing her, This is worshiping Allah by His name الستير.
E.g. Someone wronged you and you pardoned her. You are worshiping Allah by His name العفوا.
E.g. Someone wronged you and you pardoned her. You are worshiping Allah by His name العفوا.
Allah brought us in life to worship Allah by His names and attributes. This is our role on earth, otherwise our Tawheed will not be perfect.
2) In (17:110):
The Arabs at the time of the Prophet didn't know the name الرحمن was for Allah. Therefore, Allah revealed this verse.
3) In (20:8):
Allah is joining His worship with all His names. Worshiping Allah with His names and attributes is a must.
4) In (59:24):
What does it mean when we say to Allah belongs الأسماء الحسنى ?
It means that all Allah's names have reached the utmost beauty because every name of Allah implies a perfect, most beautiful attribute.
Eg. الرحمن implies رحمة
Our names are beautiful but they do not imply an attribute. I may be called رحمة yet I'm not merciful. Or I may be merciful, but my mercy is limited. I'm merciful to whom I love only.
The names of Allah are synonymous (اسماء متردفه). All the names point to one God, and that is Allah.
Ibn AlQayyim said , "If Allah's names were just words without meaning they would not be praiseworthy"
We have to take care of what each verse ended with, because it tells us who Allah is.
Therefore, when we invoke Allah, we have to be careful. We have to choose the right name which is suitable to our request. Allah teaches us in the Qur'an how to call and invoke Him.
Eg1. When Ibrahim and Ismaeel were building the Ka'bah they said, "ربنا تقبل منا انك انت السميع العليم"
Eg2. In (23:109):
They are pleading Allah with their Eeman. This is a permissible way of beseeching Allah.
The Duas of the Qur'an are the best to be used when invoking Allah.
Eg3. In (7:89):
رَبَّنَا افْتَحْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ قَوْمِنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْفَاتِحِينَ
This means:
1) Judge
2) Open
He is asking Allah to judge between Him and his people.
و انت خير الفاتحين
He used the suitable name for what he is asking. When there is a dispute between us and the people we can invoke Allah with this dua.
Knowing Allah by His names and attributes will affect our magnification of Him.
Each name requires servitude from us. For us to invoke, and worship Allah by them.
a) You are in distress, you want relief, you ask Allah by His name الرحيم.
b) You are in need of a particular thing, you ask Allah by His name الرزاق, الغني
c) You committed a sin you ask for forgiveness, you ask Allah by الغفور
d) If someone broke your heart and you are in pain, you ask Allah الجبار
The Categories of Allah's Names and Attributes
Allah's names are of four categories:
1) Single Names اسماء المنفرده
a) Names which imply essential attributes (صفه ذاتيه)
Allah is attributed with this attribute always and forever.
Eg. الحي (The Ever-Living)
Allah's life is eternal. It is not preceded with non-existence, nor does it end with death.
Eg. العليم (The All-Knowing)
His Knowledge is not preceded with ignorance, nor does it end with forgetfulness.
b) Names which imply a practical attribute (صفه فعليه)
This is related to the action of Allah. Allah does these actions when He wills or according to the action of His Slave.
Eg. "يخلق ما يشاء"
When you see "ما يشاء" know it is an action related to His will.
Eg. والله يحب المحسنين
If the servant takes the means, Allah will love Him.
c) Names which indicate sanctity (اسماء تنزيه)
These names free Allah from imperfection.
Eg. القدوس، الصبوح، السلام
Allah is free from imperfection. These names indicate that all Allah's attributes are perfect.
d) Comprehensive Names (اسماء جامعه)
This is One name which has many meanings.
Eg. الصمد
The Self Sufficient Master, who is Perfect in all His attributes, Who is sought for our needs. Every attribute and action of Allah is perfect.
Eg. الحميد
Allah is Praiseworthy in all His attributes. He is praiseworthy in all His names and attributes.
Eg. القيوم
Every action of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an is an impact of His قيوميه.
(22:65)
يمسك
(7:57)
يرسل
(28:7)
أوحينا
(28:13)
فرددناه
All these are actions of Allah and they indicate his قيوميه. Although the name of Allah AlQayoom is only mentioned thrice in the Qur'an, it's full of the impacts of His قيوميه.
People think that if a name is mentioned once it isn't important. The scholars have said that الحي القويم are the greatest names of Allah, if one calls Allah by them, his request will be granted.
2) Coupled Names (اسما مقترنة)
Eg1.
العزيز الحكيم
These are names which are joined together in the Qur'an.
Each name has a meaning and implies an attribute. When they are joined together, they give an extra noble meaning and an extra perfection.
Allah's might is joined with wisdom. When humans have power, they may transgress and do evil. Allah's might is free from injustice, evil, because it is joined with wisdom.
His wisdom is joined with might. Whenever He decided anything, it is joined with might. No one can repel or resist His decision. We may decide things for ourselves but we fail to get what we want because we don't have the power to do what we want.
Eg2. (Chapter 26)
In this Surah Allah has repeated the names العزيز، الرحيم nine times. His might is joined with his mercy.
1) Verse 9
Allah mentioned this after the sign of the earth and how Allah gives life to it.
2) Verse 68
Allah mentioned this after the story of Musa
3) Verse 104
After the story of Ibrahim
4) Verse 122
After the story of Nuh
5) Verse 140
After the Story of Ad
6) Verse 159
After the Story of Thamud
7) Verse 175
After the Story of Lot
8) Verse 191
After the Story of Shuayb
9) Verse 217
When Allah addresses the Prophet
Allah is telling us that He decrees His mercy for His Prophets and messengers and their followers. By His mercy He rescued them, and by His might He punished the disbelievers and those who opposed the Prophets.
Eg3. In (6:96):
فَالِقُ الْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ اللَّيْلَ سَكَنًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ
Allah's estimation is joined with His knowledge and might. No one has the power to subject or make these great creations to their command, except Allah, العزيز. He makes the sun and moon move in their orbits, and they never hit each other. He is العليم, He knows exactly where and how the sun and moon is. He estimates the length of the Day and Night. These are estimations done according to Allah's perfect knowledge.
Allah didn't put these names together for no reason. Allah wants to tell us something. We should be contemplating on one verse, day and night, asking ourselves the wisdom behind ending the verse with such names.
Eg4. In the Qur'an, whenever Allah tells us to seek refuge from the whispers of the Shaytan, He says, السميع العليم
In (7:200):
In (41:36):
Whenever humans do evil, we seek refuge in Allah using the name السميع البصير
In (40:56):
We know about Shaytans whisper and evil but we don't see him. This is why we ask Allah العليم. But the evil of humans is apparent and can be seen. Allah's comforting our heart; He also sees the evil of these humans.
Eg5. واسع عليم
In (2:261):
The example of those who spend in the cause of Allah is like a grain which a person puts in the ground. It sprouts and gives forth 7 ears, each ear with 100 grains.
واسع عليم
Someone may think it is impossible that one grain can give seven hundred grains, or that Allah can multiply the reward of one good deed. It is easy for him to do tent because he is vast in his ability, knowledge, gifts, etc.
He knows who deserves to be given multiple reward, and He knows who doesn't. No one knows about the intention of the person except Allah.
واسع is a comprehensive name.
3) Paired Names (اسماء مزدوجة)
You cannot use a name individually from the other because the meaning is wrong.
Eg.
المانع المعطي
المانع المعطي
الضار النافع
المعز المظل
4) اسماء الجامعه
Comments
Post a Comment