Wahi - Revelation

BOOKS OF ALLAH

Q.   It has been mentioned under discussion about Islamic faith and beliefs that the Qur-an took twenty-three years to be revealed. On the other hand, Al-lah says in Qur-an:

SHAHRU RAMADANAL-LAZI UNZILA FIHIL-QUR-AN

(Ramadhaan is the month in which the Holy Qur-an was revealed.)

This shows that the Qur-an was revealed in the month of Ramadhaan. At another place the Qur-an says:

IN-NA ANZALNAHU FI-LAILATIL-QADR

(We revealed it [the Qur-an]  in the night if ‘”Qadr”)

This shows that the Holy Qur-an was revealed in the night of “Qadr”.

These three statements seem to be mutually contradictory. Which one of these is to be taken as correct?

  All the three statements are correct. The fact is that the revelation of the Holy Qur-an is of two kinds. First, the whole of the Qur-an was at one stroke sent down from the Preserved Tablet to the Sky of the earth (the first sky). Secondly, it was sent down in installments and bit y bit into the world as and when necessity arose. Thus, the meaning of the two verses of the Holy Qur-an is that it was sent down in a certain night (Qadr) of the holy Ramadhaan from the Preserved Tablet to the Sky of the earth. Reference to twenty-three years means that it continued to be revealed on the holy Prophet (peace be on him) for twenty-three years. Thus, the three propositions are not contradictory, but complementary.

Q.   Where did the Qur-an start being revealed or more appropriately, which is the place where Qur-an started being revealed?

  The Holy Qur-an started being revealed in Hira. Hira is the name of a mountain in the holly city of Makka. The mountain had a cave. The Prophet (peace be on him) frequented the cave for the worship of Al-lah. Sometimes, he lived there for days on end. Whenever he ran short of food supply, he went home and brought fresh supplies to last several days and thus, busied himself in the worship of Al-lah in loneliness. It was in this cave (Hira) that the Holy Qur-an started being revealed.

ATTRIBUTES OF ALLAH

Q.   Name the various perfect Attributes of Al-lah?

  They are:

                                                              i.      Oneness;

                                                           ii.      Eternity or Self-existence;

                                                         iii.      Life;

                                                          iv.      Omnipotence;

                                                            v.      Omniscience;

                                                          vi.      Free will;

                                                       vii.      Knowledge;

                                                     viii.      Sight;

                                                          ix.      Speech;

                                                            x.      Creation;

                                                          xi.      Bringing into existence, etc.

Q.   What do we mean by Oneness as an Attribute?

  It means being One. It is a unique prerogative of Al-lah to be One in person as well as in Attributes. Faith in Oneness means faith in the Oneness of Al-lah.

Q.   What do we mean by the Attribute of Eternity or Self-existence?

  Eternity means being eternal with no beginning and no end. Self-existence means to be existent in one’s own right.

Q.   What do we mean by something being eternal?

  An Eternal Being is both azali and abadi. Azali means is what has no beginning and abadi means what is without end. Al-lah is both azali and abadi. This is what we mean by the term “Eternal”.

Q.   What do we mean by “Life” in this context?

  The Attribute means to be living. Thus, Al-lah is alive. The Attribute of “Life” is inalienable from Him.

Q.   What do we mean by the term Attribute of “Power”?

  The Attribute of Power in this context means the power to create, sustain, destroy and resurrect the universe.

Q.   What does the Attribute of “Knowledge” mean?

  It means that Al-lah is the knower of all things. Nothing big or small is outside his knowledge. He has knowledge of the smallest particle. He knows everything from before it comes into being and after it has disappeared. He knows full well and sees clearly how an ant moves its feet in a dark night. Whatever transpires inside a man is too evident to Him. Knowledge of the Unseen is the special Attribute of  Al-lah.

Q.   What is Free Will (Iradah)?

  Free will means doing things of one’s own will. It means that Al-lah creates whatever He wills and destroys whatever He desires. All things in the world flow from His might. Nothing in the universe is beyond His power. He is not helpless in anything.

Q.   What do the Attributes of Hearing and Seeing imply?

  They mean that Al-lah hears and sees everything. But He does not have ears and eyes like His creation. Nor have His ears and eyes of any shape. He hears the lowest of sounds and sees the smallest of objects. All things, far and near, bright or dark are equally evident to Him.

Q.   What do we mean by the Attribute of Speech?

  The Attribute signifies power to speak and talk. This Attribute is also inherent in Al-lah. He has however no tongue like us.

Q.   How can Al-lah talk if he has no tongue?

  We, the creatures will be unable to talk without tongue. This is because the entire creation bound by the law of cause and effect. But Al-lah, because He is not dependent on anything for any purpose, does not need the tongue to do the speaking. If even He were in need of the tongue to speak, He would not be Al-lah the Self-existent.

Q.   What do we mean by the Attribute of Creation?

  It means that it is Al-lah who creates things and brings them into being. This Attribute is also the exclusive prerogative of Al-lah.

Q.   Are there any other Attributes of Al-lah?

  Yes, He has other Attriutes too e.g., the Attributes of causing death; bringing into life; giving food, honour, dishonour, etc. All His Attributes are eternal. They neither admit of increase and decrease nor of change.

Sifat - Attributes

Q.   What do we mean by Sifat Kamaliyah (perfect Attributes)?

  Since the Almighty Al-lah is self-existent and since a self-existent must necessarily be perfect in all respects, the Attributes necessary for the perfect Being must be present in Him. Such Attributes are known as Sifat Kamaliyah (perfect Attributes).

Q.   What do we call a Being that exists from eternity to eternity?

  Such a Being is called Qadim (eternal).

Q.   What other objects besides Al-lah are eternal?

  The Almighty Al-lah and all His Attributes are eternal. Nothing else is eternal.

Q.   How did the Almighty Al-lah create the heaven, the earth and other things when nothing else besides Him existed?

  Al-lah created the whole universe by His word and might. He did not need anything to make the universe or to create the sky and earth. He could not have been self-existence had He been in need of other things to create the universe. Remember that Al-lah is self-existent cannot be dependent on other things or persons.

Noorani Qaida - 17

ONENESS OF AL-LAH (TAUHID)

LESSONS IN ISLAM

(Ta’limul-Islam)

BOOK IV

SECTION I

BISMIL-LAHIR-RAHMANIR-RAHIM

(In the name of Al-lah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

ONENESS OF AL-LAH (TAUHID)

Q.   What does the term “Al-lah” mean?

  Al-lah is the name of that Being (God) who is wajib-ul-wujud (self-existent) and combines in Him all the perfect Attributes.

Q.   What does the term “wajib-ul-wujud” mean?

  Wajib-ul-wujud is that One whose existence is a must and non-existence impossible. Anyone who is wajib-ul-wujud is eternal. He has no beginning and no end. He can never be non-existent. He is self-existent. For anything which owes its existent to some other agency cannot be wajib-ul-wujud. Thus, according to Islamic belief, the Almighty Al-lah is wajib-ul-wujud. Nothing else in the world can be self-existent.