Knowledge about Allah is the most Noble Knowledge one should seek. What indicates this?
-> When the Prophet ﷺ asked Ubayy Ibn Ka'b رضي الله عنه what the greatest verse in the Quran, he replied Ayat Al-Kursi. Ayat Al-Kursi speaks about Allah's Names and Attributes.
-> Surah Al-Ikhlas is equal to 1/3rd of the Quran, although it is one of the shortest Surahs. It talks about Allah.
As Ibn Taymiyah رحمة الله mentioned, the Quran mainly consists of three parts:
1) Commandments and Prohibitions (الأحكام)
2) Information about Allah (خبر عن الله) / Belief (عقائد)
3) The Stories of Ancient People; Promises and Warnings from Allah.
Surah Al-Ikhlas is equal to one third, because it tells us about Allah.
Although knowledge about Allah is the most important knowledge we should spend our lives seeking, many peoples concern is away from this knowledge. They may have many Dunya related degrees and certificates, but have no knowledge about Allah.
Allah created us for the purpose of knowing Him. Our tests throughout our life are about our belief in Allah, until the last test, which is in our grave, where the Angels will ask us: Who is your Lord? What is your Religion? Who is your Prophet ﷺ?
We will not be asked about our certificates nor the position we had in this world whilst we are in our graves. Your level in Paradise is not according to your job experience nor your nobility in the Dunya; It is according to your Belief and Taqwa of Allah.
Those who are excessively engaged in their worldly affairs while ignoring learning about Allah will realize the truth at the time of death. His wife, his children, his job, his properties, will all be left behind, and he will go alone in his grave. Nothing will accompany him except his deeds and his belief.
When death comes, a person will not be given a second or a minute to go back to the Dunya. Allah said in Surah Al-Fajr [89:24]:
"He will say: "Alas! Would that I had sent forth (good deeds) for (this) my life!"
At that moment he will regret, because he spent his life in worldly things, forgetting the most important purpose we are here in this life for - to know Allah.
On the other hand, when the person who knows about Allah is placed in his grave, he will answer the questions of the Angels, saying, "My Lord is Allah. My Religion is Islam. My Prophet is Muhammad ﷺ." Because he lived in this knowing Allah and living upon what pleases Allah.
The Effect of the Knowledge of Allah on the Creation of Allah:
-> In Surah Al-Hashr [59:21]:
"Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allah. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect."
متصدعا = يتشقق
What made the Quran have that effect on the Mountain?
In the next verses, [59:22-24], Allah introduces His Noble Self to us:
"He is Allah, than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen (open). He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful."
"He is Allah than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him."
"He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names . All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise."
These false deities you worship besides Allah;- Do they have these attributes?
الخالق = The Creator
البارئ = The Inventor; He is the One who invented everything into existence from nothing
المصور = He is the One who gives the form and picture to His creation
Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies Allah, but we do not comprehend their glorification.
After Allah sets forth the parable on the effect of the Quran on the mountain, He says, "He is Allah, He is Allah, He is Allah". This is to tell us - What made the Quran have that great effect on the mountain? Because of what it consists of Knowledge of Allah.
-> In Surah Ar-Ra'd [13:31]:
"And if there had been a Quran with which mountains could be moved (from their places), or the earth could be cloven asunder, or the dead could be made to speak (it would not have been other than this Quran). But the decision of all things is certainly with Allah. Have not then those who believe yet known that had Allah willed, He could have guided all mankind? And a disaster will not cease to strike those who disbelieve because of their (evil) deeds or it (i.e. the disaster) settle close to their homes, until the Promise of Allah comes to pass. Certainly, Allah does not fail in His Promise."
This is the effect of the Quran on inanimate, lifeless beings, because of what it consists of knowledge about Allah.
Non-Arabs were made to hear the Quran, and they showed humility and humbleness to it, although they did not understand it. This is the effect of the Quran - it causes humility and submissiveness on the hearts - even if it is read to a dead heart, as long as the person is listening attentively.
If the servant knows Allah by His Names and Attributes, which the Mountain humbled itself for, it will surely have an effect on his heart.
->
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقُومُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلَى شَجَرَةٍ أَوْ نَخْلَةٍ، فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ ـ أَوْ رَجُلٌ ـ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلاَ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ مِنْبَرًا قَالَ " إِنْ شِئْتُمْ ". فَجَعَلُوا لَهُ مِنْبَرًا، فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ دُفِعَ إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، فَصَاحَتِ النَّخْلَةُ صِيَاحَ الصَّبِيِّ، ثُمَّ نَزَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَضَمَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تَئِنُّ أَنِينَ الصَّبِيِّ، الَّذِي يُسَكَّنُ، قَالَ " كَانَتْ تَبْكِي عَلَى مَا كَانَتْ تَسْمَعُ مِنَ الذِّكْرِ عِنْدَهَا
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: The Prophet ﷺ used to stand by a tree or a date-palm on Friday. Then an Ansari woman or man said. "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! Shall we make a pulpit for you?" He replied, "If you wish." So they made a pulpit for him and when it was Friday, he proceeded towards the pulpit (for delivering the sermon). The datepalm cried like a child! The Prophet ﷺ descended (the pulpit) and embraced it while it continued moaning like a child being quietened. The Prophet ﷺ said, "It was crying for (missing) what it used to hear of religious knowledge given near to it." [Bukhari #3584]
What is the problem with us? The Quran has an effect on the mountains, on the earth, on the dead. It will definitely have an effect on us, if we contemplate over it.
As-Sa'di رحمه الله mentioned this point in his Tafseer of this verse, when he said:
فإن التفكر فيها يفتح للعبد خزائن العلم، و يُبين له طرق الخير و الشر، و يحثه على مكارم الأخلاق و محاسن الشيم، و يزجره عن مساوىء الأخلاق، فلا أنفع للعبد من التفكر في القرآن و التدبر لمعانيه
Contemplating the Ayaat of the Quran opens treasures of knowledge for the slave and clarifies the path to good and evil. It encourages good manners and excellent conduct, and discourages bad conduct. Therefore, nothing is more beneficial for the slave than contemplating over the Quran and pondering over its meanings.
If we recite the Quran with contemplation, reflection, and understanding, it will have an effect on us.
The Name of Allah As-Salaam (السلام)
Back to Surah Al-Hashr [59:22]:
""He is Allah than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him."
This Name of Allah is only mentioned once in the Quran, in the aforementioned verse. We cannot study As-Salaam until we know the meaning of الملك and القدوس.
الملك، المالك; The King, The Owner
The Scholars said that in the Dunya, a ملك may judge but not own, and a مالك owns, but does not judge. Allah Judges and Owns; He is الملك، المالك. None in the Dunya owns or possess except what Allah made them possess. And we possess, but we may not benefit from everything we possess. And we may possess and benefit from what we own, but after our deaths, it will go to someone else.
Allah owns the upper world and the lower world. He owns all the residents in the heavens and earth. All those in the dominion of Allah are in need of Allah and are subjugated by Allah. They are in need of Allah in their existence, in their provision, in their protection, in their guidance, etc. Allah is the One disposing their affairs with His perfect Ability, Wisdom, Knowledge, Mercy, Kindness.
In the end of the Dunya, everything will go back to Allah. Allah said in Surah Al-Hadid [57:10]:
"...to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth...."
When we purchase something, it will go back to someone else in the end. But Allah is the True Owner; He owns everything, and everything will go back to Him.
Allah is the King, and the King should judge. Allah is الملك, whose decision and تدبير is executive. If He wills something all He says is "Be" and it is. No one can repel the command of Allah, no one can say no to Allah. What He wills will happen.
There are three types of Commands of Allah:
1) Legal Commands (أحكام شرعية) - Laws
2) Decreed Commands (أحكام قدرية) - Allah decreed all the events that happen to us. No one can repel it.
E.g. The weather. Allah gave the power to the wind and commanded it to blow. And Allah's Commands are all perfect and full of wisdom.
3) Commands of Recompense - If you, as a slave of Allah deal with the legal commands and decreed commands in the way He wants (I.e. Patient when afflicted with a calamity, Grateful for blessings), Allah, الملك will recompense you.
The First Description of الملك in the verse is:
The Name of Allah القدوس; The Pure
Al-Qudoos is the One who is free of defects and shortcomings. His Attributes are Perfect.
E.g. The Knowledge of Allah. Allah is Qudoos from forgetfulness, heedlessness, anything escaping His Knowledge. His Knowledge is Perfect.
We forget, become heedless and need reminders, etc. while Allah is free of all these defects.
E.g. The Life of Allah. Allah is Qudoos from tiredness, death, slumber overtaking him, weakness, incapacity, etc. The Life of Allah is Perfect.
E.g. The Ability of Allah. Allah is Qudoos from weakness, tiredness, fatigue, etc. His Ability is Perfect.
If you want to understand the meaning of Al-Qudoos, look at humans. Humans have good characteristics and bad, while Allah is Perfect; free of all needs and deficiencies. He is Purified from all defects.
Allah, Al-Qudoos, is free of resemblance to the creation. When Allah says He has Eyes, never think that the Eyes of Allah is like your eyes. When Allah says He has Hands, do not imagine the Hands of Allah like your Hands. He does not resemble His creation in any aspect; He is Perfect.
Even if you meet someone who excels in a certain attribute, know that he will never reach the degree of Allah in Perfection. And Allah is the One who perfected his creation; granted him intelligence, strength, good manners, etc.
When you want to praise someone, it is not enough for you to say, "You never lie" for example. It is more beautiful and complete to say, "You never lie; You always say the truth". So when you praise Allah, free Him from defects and attribute perfection to Him.
E.g. "Allah is the Ever-Living; never dies"
E.g. If you want to praise His oneness (وحدية), then say what is mentioned in Surah Al-Ikhlas.
We will be tested on this knowledge.
Allah is the King; He Owns and Judges. And He is not like the Kings of this world; He is Qudoos - Free of flaws and defects. To Him belongs absolute richness. He is Self-Sufficient, in no need of anything. Even if the Kings of this world own what they own, they are in need of air to breathe, of clothes, of shoes, of people to tell them what is happening in their Kingdom. Allah is the True King.
The Second Description of الملك:
The Name of Allah السلام
Never allow the Shaytan to make you imagine how Allah looks like, because Allah is سلام for all we can imagine.
A man for example is afflicted with a serious sickness, which is considered evil. He did not choose it for himself. Allah, the King, decreed it for that person. Because we know that Allah is القدوس and السلام, and all His actions are free of being void of wisdom, then we believe that there is a wisdom behind it, even though we do not know it. This is how we face every decree in our life. There is a wisdom behind destruction, violent winds, etc.
If you submit yourself at that moment in this way, Allah will show you the wisdom to calm and comfort your heart. Because one of His Names is الجبار.
How many people have loved their jobs and lost it or had to leave it? Later on they came to know the wisdom, and say الحمد لله that they left. Because Allah's actions are سلام from all evil, oppression, injustice.
This is very similar to the Name of Allah القدوس, but with a difference. If you want to know the difference, compare our good attributes with Allah.
We have good and bad attributes. Allah is قدوس; He only has good attributes.
We may have good attributes like generosity, but our generosity is not perfect. We may be generous with some people, and not be generous with others. Our good attributes are defective. We may be soft hearted and kind, but have a short temper. She may be merciful, but at the same time her mercy may only be limited to her husband and family. Allah is السلام; His good attributes are free from all defects.
So القدوس = The One who is free from all defects
السلام = Allah's Good Attributes are free from defects
We have to go to every attribute of Allah and free it from defects, then apply it in our lives.
E.g. The Laws of Allah. Allah is the King and legislates laws. Allah's legal commands are perfect, full of wisdom, because Allah is القدوس and السلام. If someone criticizes the law of Allah and says it is not applicable to the 21st Century or says it oppresses the woman, it means he does not sanctify Allah; القدوس, السلام. He is defaming Allah;الملك، القدوس. Allah is القدوس, and His laws are free of defects.
It is not enough to know, we need to apply it in our lives. It is a مصيبة (calamity) to say I know, and then argue about the laws of Allah.
Learning about Allah will make our life a good, peaceful life. Knowing Allah gives a person صلاح البال.
These meanings are other differences between the Name of Allah السلام and القدوس.
Allah says in Surah Ar-Ra'd [13:28]:
"Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest."
This is one of the impacts of the Name of Allah السلام. He gives peace and rest in the heart of the believers who believe in the Name of Allah السلام.
Many people rely on their accounts in the bank to give them reassurance and security. Nothing can assure for you your life nor give you peace of mind except Allah; السلام.
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