Quranic Foundations And Structure Of Muslim Society
The Holy Qur’an affirms all the above-mentioned Attributes of God:
1. He is the Creator of everything, having originated the existence of everything:
“The Originator (Badi‘) of the heavens and the earth.” (2:177).
“Say: O Allah! Creator (Fatir) of the heavens and the earth (ab novo)! …” (39:46).
“Allah is the Creator (Khaliq) of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs.” (39:62).
“He is Allah, the Creator (Khaliq), the Evolver (Bari), the Bestower of Forms (Musawwir). To Him belong the Most Excellent Names.” (59:24).
2. He is the Self-Existent, the Eternal:
“Allah! There is no God save He,—the Ever-Living, the Self-Existent, the Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. Unto Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him save by His leave? He knows what (appears to His creatures as) Before or After or Behind. Nor shall they encompass of His knowledge except as He wills. His Throne does extend over the heavens and the earth, and the guarding of the twain wears Him not. For He is the Sublime, the Supreme.” (2:255).
3. He is Omnipotent, and
4. He is Omnipresent, and
5. He is Omniscient:
a. As to His Omnipotence:[1]
“To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; and Allah has Power over all things.” (3:189).
“(Allah is) the Doer of all that He intends.” (85:16).
b. As to His Omnipresence:
“… and He it is that encompasses all things.” (4:126).
“… and whithersoever you turn, there is Allah’s countenance. Lo! Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (2:115).
“He is with you wheresoever you may be. And Allah is Seer of what you do.” (57:4).
c. As to Omniscience:
“… and He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (42:11).
“Verily Allah has perfect knowledge of all things.” (29: 62).
“(Allah is) Knower of the Invisible * and the Visible,** and He is All-Wise (and) the Perfectly-Informed (of all events and things).” (6:73).
* i.e., whatever is kept secret, whatever has happened in the past or is to happen in future.
** i.e., whatever is open and public, whatever is happening at a given moment.
“And Allah is ever Watcher over all things.” (33:52).
“Verily Allah is over everything a Witness.”[2] (22:17).
“… and that Allah comprehends all things in (His) Knowledge.” (65:12).
6. He is the Possessor of Perfect Wisdom:
“And unto Him (alone) belongs Majesty in the heavens and on the earth; and He is Exalted in Power, Possessor of Perfect Wisdom.” (45:37).
7. He possesses the Will to guide:
“And your Lord suffices as Guide and Helper.” (25:31).
“… for verily Allah is the Guide of those who believe (in His guidance), to the Straight Way.” (22:54).
“Glorify the name of your Guardian-Lord Most High, Who created, and bestowed order and proportion; Who has ordained laws and has guided (all things to their goal) …” (87:1-3).
8. He is the Possessor of Mercy and Love:
“All Praise unto Allah, the Cherisher, Sustainer, Evolver and Perfector of (all) the Worlds, the Compassionate, the Merciful.”*(1:1-2).
“He is the One that sends down the saving rain after they have despaired, and scatters His Mercy (far and wide). He is the Protecting Friend, the Praiseworthy.” (42:28).
“… and He is the Forgiving, the Loving.” (85:14).
159 Commenting on Allah’s Attribute of Mercy, Abdul Majid Daryabadi says: “Both words Rahman and Rahimm are derived from Rahmah which signifies tenderness, requiring the exercise of beneficence and thus comprising the idea of love and mercy. Both are intensive forms. The former denotes tenderness towards all His creatures in general, and the latter towards His worshippers in particular. The Divine attribute of Rahmah may on analysis be found to have the following as its components:—(1) His provision of everything beforehand that could be needed by man in the world: (2) His concern for the well-being of man, both in life and death; (3) His tenderness for man’s helplessness; and (4) a disposition on His part to deal kindly and generously with man.” (op.cit., p. 2, n. 15).
9. He is Responsive to Supplications:
“(Says Allah:) When My servants ask you (O Muhammad!) concerning Me, then surely I am near (to them). I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he cries unto Me …” (2:186).
“… then ask forgiveness of Him, and turn to Him (in repentance): for my Lord is (always) near, Responsive (unto those who supplicate Him).” (11:61).
10. &,
11. He is the Forgiver of Sins and Acceptor of Repentance:
a. As Forgiver of Sins
“And Allah knows (all) that is in your hearts: and Allah is All-knowing, Most Forbearing.” (33:51).
“Verily He is the Benign (or Beneficent), the Merciful.” (52:28).
“Verily, Allah is Most Kind and Most Merciful to human beings.” (22:65).
“Verily, Allah is One that blots out (sins) and forgives again and again.” (22:60).
“… the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all between,—the Exalted in Might, Able to enforce His Will, Most Forgiving.” (38:66).
b. As Acceptor of Repentance:
“Know they not that Allah does accept repentance from his votaries and receives their gifts of charity, and that Allah is surely Oft-Returning (in accepting repentance), Most Merciful.” (9:104).
12. He is the Possessor of Unbounded Grace:
“… and Allah is the Possessor of Unbounded Grace.” (8:29).
13. He is the Debaser of Evil and the Avenger of wrongs:
“And those who earn evil deeds, (for them) the requital of each evil deed is by the like thereof; and ignominy overtakes them …” (25:19).
“And who among you does wrong, We shall make him taste great torment (unless he repents and adopts the path of Righteousness).” (10:28).
14. He is the Sovereign of the Day of Judgment and the Judge Supreme:
“(All) Praise unto Allah, the Evolver and the Perfector of (all) the Worlds; the Compassionate, the Merciful; Sovereign of the Day of Judgment.” (1:1-3).
“And He is the Supreme over His creatures, and He sends guardians over you until when death comes unto (any) one of you, Our messengers (i.e., angels) take his soul, and they fail not. Then they all shall be taken back unto Allah, their true Master. Lo! His shall be the judgment. And He is Most Swift in taking account.” (6:61-62).
15. He is ‘Above-every-want’, while all depend on him:
“O you men! It is you that have the need of Allah: but Allah is the One Free of all wants, Worthy of all praise.” (35:15).
“And whosoever disbelieves, (let him know that) lo! Allah is Independent of (all) the creatures.” (3:97).
16. He does not suffer from any infirmities, emotional or otherwise:
“Verily Allah! He is the Great Provider of Sustenance, Lord of Power, Steadfast (for ever).” (51:58).
17. He is al-Rabb, i.e., the Evolver and the Perfector:
“All praise is due to Allah, the Rabb, i.e., the Sustainer, the Nourisher, the Evolver, the Perfector, of all the Worlds.” (1:1).
“Say: shall I seek for my Rabb other than Allah, while He is the Rabb of all things (that exist).” (6:164).
“(Allah is the) Rabb of the heavens and the earth, and of all that is between them: so worship Him, and be constant and patient in His worship: Know you of any who is worthy of the same Name (and status) as He?” (19:65).
18. He is positively Righteous :
“Lo! my Lord is on the Straight Path.” (11:56).
19. He is perfectly Holy and the Possessor of all Good:
“Allah is He, than Whom there is no other God;—He the Sovereign, the all-Holy, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Protector, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme. Glory to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate (with Him).” (59:23).
“… O Allah! … In your hand is all Good.” (3:26).
20. He is the One and the Unique:
“… And He is the one (or, the sole God), the Almighty.” (13:16).
“Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the Absolute, the Perfect. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there has never been co-equal with Him anyone (and, as such, He is the Unique).” (112:1-4).
“… Not like unto Him is aught …” (42:11).
21. He is the Absolute, the Perfect:
“Allah (is) the Absolute, the Perfect.” (112:2).
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[1] Besides the Attributes contained in 3:189 and 85:16, there are, in the Holy Qur’an, several others also which bear reference to God’s Greatness, Majesty and Omnipotence. For instance: the Sublime, the Most High, the Exalted, the Supreme, the Great, the Most Great, the Exalted in Might, the Strong, the Prevailer, the Irresistible, the Almighty, the Lord of Majesty and Honour.
[2] (so He will requite everyone according to his deeds).
to be continued . . . . .
Quranic Foundation & Structure Of Muslim Society In The End Times
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