Continuation: What are the impacts of Allah's عزة in my life / How can I worship Allah by His name العزيز?
7) The connection between the name of Allah العزيز and الرحيم
Ruling: Every name of Allah has a meaning. Whenever two names of Allah are joined together, they give an extra, more beautiful meaning:
Allah is عزيز in His mercy and He is merciful in His عزة
Allah doesn't show mercy out of need for His servants or humiliation.
The Impact: Allah has control over His creation. No one can escape His power. At the same time, He is also merciful with His creation. He doesn't hasten the punishment for them, rather He gives them respite in order for them to repent. But if the servant doesn't desist from committing the sin, Allah, by His عزة, will take him with severe punishment.
This should put fear in your heart. Don't be like the people who rely totally on the mercy of Allah. Allah is also العزيز; His punishment is severe.
In سورة الشعراء Allah mentioned two verses 9 times:
Allah saved Musa and Bani Israeel by splitting the sea, and by that same sea He drowned Pharoah and His people.
Allah saved the believers with the same punishment with which He punished the disbelievers. Through this He shows us His power, strength, and ability. No one can do this but Allah.
Although Allah gave Ad physical strength, the WIND destroyed them. Their physical strength didn't avail them. This is a sign for the believers; Allah is able.
Thamud were also physically strong. They built their houses in mountains. They were killed with a cry.
Notice Allah's عزة and رحمة. The disbelievers and believers were in the same place, but Allah made the punishment touch the disbelievers alone; and by His mercy He rescued the believers.
He rescued the believers with His mercy and punished the disbelievers by His عزة.
Allah left their monuments to show us that they were stronger than us in strength. But none of them remain. Be afraid of Allah's punishment.
E.g. The Tsunamis in 2004. People were heedless, enjoying, swimming. They didn't even fathom that that same sea they were playing in would destroy them and their houses in a few minutes.
E.g. We hear of many earthquakes nowadays. Allah is showing us His عزة.
Don't feel secure from the punishment of Allah. Just because you are far away from what's happening in the world, doesn't mean Allah can't or won't punish you. And when His punishment comes, no one will be able to escape.
At the end of the سورة Allah says in (26:217):
Allah is addressing the Prophet ﷺ. You have heard about Allah العزيز الرحيم and you have seen how Allah, العزيز الرحيم, rescued the believers by His mercy and punished the people who disbelieved in their Prophets. Just rely on Him, and He will show you His mercy with you, and His عزة in dealing with the people who call you a poet, liar, and magician.
Always rely on Allah. If you feel that someone is oppressing you, or there is injustice happening, then توكل على العزيز الرحيم. He will help and support you. And if Allah's help comes, no one can repel it.
After I know that Allah is العزيز الرحيم, What should my attitude be? I should have fear in Allah's punishment and hope in His mercy.
Another example of Allah's ability to take us in punishment by His عزة:
In (2:208-209):
Allah is calling the believers to enter Islam.
How, when they're already Muslim?
This verse could refer to the believers amongst the Jews and Christians who believed in their Prophets, to embrace Islam or a call to those already Muslim to act upon all the laws and legislations of Islam as opposed to leaving those which don't conform with their desires.
If you truly are a believer you should accept and act upon all the Islamic laws.
While we try to act upon the law, Shaytan will try to stop us. Don't follow his footsteps.
If you transgress, deviate, relapse, cease to act after all the clear evidences have come to you فاعلموا ان الله عزيز حكيم.
Allah didn't specify a punishment.
It's as if Allah is telling you to imagine the severity of the punishment which will come to you from العزيز. And because people vary in their degree of transgression and deviation, Allah is الحكيم, and will deal with them accordingly. The punishment will come to in accordance to the sin you commit.
Reflect over what happened to the previous nations; every nation had a different punishment, suitable to their transgression.
Sinners can be of four categories:
1) The sinner who is knowledgeable with regards to the prohibitions and commands of Allah. He knows what he's doing is wrong. But he doesn't care.
What made him not care? Lack of magnification of Allah. No respect for His Messenger ﷺ.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The adulterer is not a believer at the moment when he is committing adultery; the wine-drinker is not a believer at the moment when he is drinking wine; the thief is not a believer at the moment when he is stealing; the robber is not a believer at the moment when he is robbing and the people are looking on.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2475; Muslim, 57).
There is no تعظيم of Allah in his heart while he commits Zina, steals, drinks wine. His belief in Allah's greatness is removed at that moment; no fear that Allah will take him with punishment.
He may even know many evidences which prove what he's doing is حرام but continues to persist in the sin anyway.
2) The sinner who has knowledge that what he is doing is prohibited by Allah, but sins with his excuse being that he has a doubt.
He says there are many views and opinions regarding this matter. The solution for this is to clarify the doubt; don't remain in that state.
Yet, for some, clear proofs may come to them but the person will say, "This doesn't apply to me, I'm in a different situation". He exempts himself and makes excuses.
3) The sinner who knows he's committing a sin but belittles it. To him the sin is minor, and he fails to realize that when the minor sins gather it will kindle a big fire and destroy him.
4) The sinner who knows that he's committing a sin but relies completely on the mercy of Allah.
The common ground between these sinners is that all of them have knowledge. But they all have different excuses to try and justify their sin.
Those who commit sins in ignorance may be forgiven by Allah:
The Remedy:
1) Find out the punishments which Allah mentioned in the Qur'an and the Prophet ﷺ said in the Sunnah about that particular sin.
Why? Nowadays people commit sins and take it lightly because they've forgotten the punishments for them. They say "It's normal" because no one talks about the consequences of sins anymore.
2) Be aware of Allah's observation and watchfulness. Allah sees you while you disobey Him. He may give you respite and not take you with punishment. One year or two years goes by, but when Allah's seizes you with punishment, you will never be able to escape it.
Feel shyness towards Allah. How, after establishing your whole night in prayer, do you have the audacity to go and commit sin? This is contradictory. You want to come close to Allah by doing good deeds and then destroy all your good deeds by committing sins. Fear for your status with Allah.
Even if no one sees you while you commit the sin, know that Allah can see you. And this should be enough to make you desist.
3) Know Allah. Know His greatness; His عزة. No one can escape Allah. Fear His punishment.
Remember this when your self or the Shaytan tries to adorn evil and make you belittle the sin. Look at whom you are disobeying. It's not just anyone. It's Allah عز و جل.
E.g. Backbiting, Gossiping. People backbite as if it's nothing and don't even regret their speech. They have forgotten the punishment.
In (49:12):
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed by two graves and said, “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for anything that was difficult to avoid. One of them used to walk about spreading malicious gossip (nameemah), and the other used not to take precautions to avoid getting urine on himself when he urinated.” Then he called for a green branch, which he split in two and planted a piece on each grave, and said, “May their torment be reduced so long as these do not dry out.” [al-Bukhaari, Muslim]
Knowing Allah helps us explain what's happening around us in the world.
Q. People ask, "If Islam is really true and Muslims are on the right path, why doesn't Allah support Islam and the Muslims against their enemies?
A. The answer can be found when we contemplate on سورة البروج.
This Surah begins with three oaths:
البروج -> The stations of the sun, stars, moon.
This is the Day of Judgement
Then Allah says:
After the boy (in the story of the boy and the monk) was killed by the King, the people believed in Allah. The King, being a disbeliever, dug a ditch and kindled that ditch with fire. He then threatened every believer who refused to apostate to be thrown in this fire. After he did that, he and his men sat watching them.
What was their crime?
In Verse 8:
Their fault was that they believed in Allah. العزيز الحميد.
What is the relationship between all this with the name of Allah العزيز الحميد? What does Allah want to tell us?
Whenever Allah swears by something it is to draw our attention to a very great matter. Look into the sky; you see the sun, moon, and stars. The sun has twelve positions, settling in one every month. The moon has 28 بروج. Every day the moon settles in one position. The Stars have their own positions as well.
Who is moving these great creation? Allah is the Creator of these great creations, and He is the one controlling them.
Allah says in (16:12):
He is the One commanding them to move in their orbits without collision. They have been working in that system since Allah created them without precedence nor delay. The people have been able to make calanders years into the future due to this.
These creations teach us many attributes of Allah:
1) Allah's ability
No one makes the sun set and rise except Allah
2) Allah's mercy
Without it the day and night wouldn't be alternated, we wouldn't have seasons, know the times for cultivation, the stars are guides for us, etc.
Allah is merciful with His creation.
3) Allah's vast knowledge
Allah knows what benefits His creation. He knows what reforms their lives and bodies.
4) Allah's حكمة
Allah placed the sun in its place and the moon in its orbit such that there is no collision. Allah puts everything in its right place. He is perfect. Everything has worked in an organized system for thousands of years until the establishment of the Day of Judgement.
What is the relation of this between the Day of the Judgement and the People of the Ditch? In this is the answer to why Allah allowed what He allowed to happen to the believers. ->
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