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NAMES OF ALLAH
AL-MALIK
The Sovereign; The King
Say: “I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind , the God of mankind.” ( Surat an-Nas, 114:1-3)
The attribute al-Malik means that Allah is the sovereign of everything that exists, the Creator and sole Owner of all known and unknown universes, and the everlasting Sovereign of our universe. All stars, human beings, animals, plants, jinn, angels, demons, and other beings of which we are either aware or unaware are all under Allah's command. Allah, the Lord of all universes, also owns countless universes and regulates their amazing order.
It is unlikely that people who consciously submit to Almighty Allah considers themselves to be aimless beings. Allah is aware of everything, for He sees and hears everything. People who are aware of this also have to be aware that they are responsible to our Creator. Indeed, the consciousness that the universe's all-pervasive order has a unique owner makes believers naturally turn to Allah, Who holds sway over everything and everyone. Below are some of the verses related to this issue:
High exalted be Allah, the King, the Real!... (Surah Ta Ha, 20:114)
Exalted be Allah, the King, the Real. There is no deity but Him, Lord of the Noble Throne. ( Surat al-Mu'minun, 23:116)
He is Allah—there is no deity but Him. He is the King, the Most Pure, the Perfect Peace, the Trustworthy, the Safeguarder, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supremely Great. Glory be to Allah above all they associate with Him. ( Surat al-Hashr, 59:23)
AL-MATEEN
The Firm; The Possessor of Strength
Truly Allah, He is the Provider, the Possessor of Strength , the Sure. ( Surat adh-Dhariyat, 51:58)
The issue that most misleads unbelievers is not Allah's existence, but His attributes. Some believe that Allah initially created everything and then left them to their own devices; others argue that although Allah created us, we do not have to feel any responsibility toward Him. To conclude, apart from denying Allah's existence, they do not measure Him with His true measure. This attitude underlies their unbelief, as “They do not measure Allah with His true measure. Allah is All-Strong, Almighty” ( Surat al-Hajj, 22:74) reveals.
However, one day those who do not appreciate Allah's power, despite all of the surrounding evidence, will be unable to deny it. On that day, they will deeply feel Allah's power and strength. By His will, the strongest buildings and unshakable mountains will be crushed with a single blow:
So when the Trumpet is blown with a single blast, and the ground and the mountains are lifted and crushed with a single blow. On that Day, the Occurrence will occur and Heaven will be split apart, for that Day it will be very frail. ( Surat al-Haqqa, 69:13-16)
The resulting destruction will befit Allah's glory and power. Oceans, the greatest source of life, will become like boiling water and then burst into flame. All the beings and orders with which humanity is accustomed will be demolished. The heavens and Earth will be crushed by the Power that created them. The sun, the source of energy that emitted light for millions of years, will become dull, thereby revealing that it has a master. Through these events, Allah will reveal that He is the sole and real Master, the only being having true sovereignty and power. One verse reads:
They do not measure Allah with His true measure. The whole Earth will be a mere handful for Him on the Day of Rising, the heavens folded up in His right hand. Glory be to Him! He is exalted above the partners they ascribe! ( Surat az-Zumar, 39:67)
Through these events on the Day of Judgment, our Lord will show His power to all people. Those who insisted upon unbelief will finally comprehend His infinite power. But believers, as a reward for seeking His good pleasure throughout their lives, will meet His mercy. The Qur'an describes their joy on that Day in the following terms:
That Day some faces will be radiant, laughing, rejoicing. (Surah ‘Abasa, 80:38-39)
AL-MAWLA
The Protector, The Master
No, Allah is your Protector . And He is the best of helpers. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:150)
A believer knows that everyone and everything owes its existence to Allah, the Master of the Kingdom, for He sustains all beings and can end their existence at any time He wills. For this reason, Allah is a believer's sole friend and the only One Who can keep him or her far from sorrow or trouble. After all, our Lord's help and support is always with each believer. In return for this attitude, Allah sends down His serenity. ( Surat at-Tawba, 9:26)
Several factors account for this serenity, among them is the believers' awareness that Allah hears every prayer, knows every good deed performed to earn His good pleasure, and that He will reward all of them bountifully. Another source of this feeling of security is their awareness of Allah's support with invisible armies and angels, as proclaimed in: “Everyone has a succession of angels in front of him and behind him, guarding him by Allah's command...” ( Surat ar-Ra‘d, 13:11) This aside, believers know that they will triumph in their struggle carried out in Allah's way, are given the good news of Paradise , and that Allah does not place an unbearable burden upon their shoulders. Believing in destiny and that Allah directs all affairs, they put their trust only in Allah. In the Qur'an, Allah calls attention to this state of mind, as follows:
Say: “Nothing can happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is Our Master. It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust.” ( Surat at-Tawba, 9:51)
No doubt, Allah's friendship bears no resemblance to the friendship among believers. The believer taken by Allah as an intimate friend attains the most superior blessings both in this world and the next. It is a great blessing that our Lord, the Creator of everything, takes a created being as a friend. In the Qur'an, Allah tells us the following:
Strive for Allah with the struggle due to Him. He has selected you and not placed any constraint upon you in the religion—the religion of your forefather Ibrahim. He named you Muslims before and also in this, so that the Messenger could be witness against you and you could be witnesses against all mankind. So perform prayer, pay alms, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protector—the Best Protector, the Best Helper. ( Surat al-Hajj, 22:78)
Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord, do not place on us a load like the one You placed on those before us. Our Lord, do not place on us a load we have not the strength to bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy upon us. You are our Master, so help us against the unbelievers. ( Surat al-Baqara, 2:286)
But if they turn away, know that Allah is your Master, the Best of Masters, and the Best of Helpers! ( Surat al-Anfal, 8:40)
AL-MU'AKHKHIR / AL-MUQADDEEM
The Deferrer, The Keeper Behind
The Advancer
If Allah were to punish people for their wrong actions, not a single creature would be left upon Earth. But He defers them until a predetermined time. When their specified time arrives, they cannot delay it for a single hour or bring it forward. ( Surat an-Nahl, 16:61)
Allah leaves behind and brings forward whoever He wills. Being the sole Creator of everything, He has the power to do whatever He wills with anything that exists. He determines the time for every event and, as the actual master of every being and its destiny, predetermines the events of every being's life. When the specified time arrives, what has been ordained takes place, according to His will. Allah calls attention to this fact in the Qur'an, as follows:
Every nation has an appointed time. When their time comes, they cannot delay it a single hour or bring it forward. ( Surat al-A‘raf, 7:34)
No one except Allah knows this appointed time. No leaf falls before its appointed time, and every moment of a living being's life, from its birth to its death, is subject to this divine timing. However, if Allah wills, He can delay or bring forward any event, for the human concept of time being divided into the past, present, and future does not apply to Him. As the Qur'an states:
Do not consider Allah to be unaware of what the wrongdoers perpetrate. He is merely deferring them to a Day on which their sight will be transfixed. ( Surat Ibrahim, 14:42)
No nation can advance its appointed time, nor can they delay it. ( Surat al-Hijr, 15:5)
This being the case, all sincere servants must strive to draw closer to Him, without considering what He has delayed or brought forward, and must be absolutely pleased with what He gives, for, as the verse maintains, “Man is prone to be impetuous...” ( Surat al-Isra', 17:11) We often expect something to take place or to be over at once. Yet, only Allah knows what is best for us and so ordains all events and situations accordingly. What a person thinks might be good may actually be harmful. Thus, a believer should be pleased with whatever Allah ordains.
AL-MU`ADHDHIB
The Punisher
That Day, no one will punish as He punishes and no one will shackle as He shackles. ( Surat al-Fajr, 89:25-26)
Despite all of the surrounding evidence, those who have no faith in Allah and who insist upon disregarding His grandeur and power surely deserve a great punishment, for Allah created us, placed us on Earth, and provided us with whatever we need. However, despite all of these blessings, some people insist on denial and even hate believers and try to destroy their faith. No doubt, such people will be repaid both in this world and beyond.
Allah directs some affairs in this world through His Messengers and sometimes punishes unbelievers in this world through the hands of His Messengers. Allah reveals this fact in the Qur'an, as follows:
If the hypocrites and those with a sickness in their hearts and the rumor-mongers in Madina do not desist, We will set you upon them. Then they will only be your neighbors there for a very short time. They are an accursed people. Wherever they are found, they should be seized and mercilessly put to death. This is Allah's pattern with those who passed away before. You will not find any alteration in Allah's pattern. ( Surat al-Ahzab, 33:60-62)
Their fearsome punishment in the Hereafter will continue to exist, unless Allah wills otherwise, for all eternity. Allah created various forms of psychological and physical punishments, for He knows each person's most secret weaknesses. Thus, He is the One Who can give the most suitable punishment. According to the following verses:
But as for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have prepared for them a painful punishment. ( Surat al-Isra', 17:10)
But as for those who are deviators, their refuge is the Fire. Every time that they want to get out, they are put straight back into it again and are told: “Taste the punishment of the Fire, which you denied.” We will give them a taste of lesser punishment before the greater punishment, so that hopefully they will turn back. ( Surat as-Sajda, 32:20-21)
Tell My servants that I am the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful, but also that My punishment is the Painful Punishment. ( Surat al-Hijr, 15:49-50)
Those before them also plotted, and Allah came at their building from the foundations and the roof caved in on top of them. The punishment came at them from where they did not expect. ( Surat an-Nahl, 16:26)
As for those who were unbelievers and barred access to the way of Allah, We will heap punishment on top of their punishment because of the corruption they brought about. ( Surat an-Nahl, 16:88)
However, we need to remember that Allah creates infinite opportunities for each of us to repent and take refuge in His mercy. When we turn to Him in sincere repentance we will find our Lord to be the most merciful and compassionate, regardless of what type of sins one has committed. Allah gives the good news of His infinite mercy to His servants who sincerely repent:
But if anyone repents after his wrongdoing and puts things right, Allah will turn toward him. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ( Surat al-Ma'ida, 5:39)
But I am Ever-Forgiving to anyone who repents, believes, acts rightly, and then is guided. (Surah Ta Ha, 20:82)
AL-MUHEET
All- Pervading; The All-Encompassing
What! Are they in doubt about the meeting with their Lord? What! Does He not encompass all things? (Surah Fussilat, 41:54)
People who are far from religion assume that believers do not notice their forgeries and lies, a false assumption that gradually causes them to become arrogant. Yet, all of their forgeries are against themselves, even though they do not perceive this fact. At this point, they make another serious mistake: They fail to realize that Allah, Who witnesses, sees and hears everything, is all around them at all times. As the Qur'an reveals:
They try to conceal themselves from people, but they cannot conceal themselves from Allah. He is with them when they spend the night saying things that are not pleasing to Him. Allah encompasses everything they do. ( Surat an-Nisa', 4:108)
Not a thought or whisper remains hidden from Allah. He knows everyone's most secret secrets, for He is nearer to them than their jugular veins. And, as He encompasses the entire universe, He controls all beings. This is true even for those universes of which we know very little or nothing, such as the realms of the angels, jinn, and many others. Allah calls attention to this fact in the following verse:
If something good happens to you, it galls them. If something bad strikes you, they rejoice at it. But if you are steadfast and guard against evil, their scheming will not harm you in any way. Allah encompasses what they do. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:120)
AL-MUDHHEEK / AL-MUBKI
He Who Brings about both Laughter and Tears
That it is He Who brings about both laughter and tears. ( Surat an-Najm, 53:43)
Believers know that Allah creates whatever they experience and thus are pleased with Him in all circumstances, no matter how difficult. Knowing that mundane things are transitory, they do not grieve over any loss, for they know that their moral excellence will be fully rewarded in the Hereafter. Moreover, Allah promises believers the best life in this world.
This is surely not the case with unbelievers, who pursue only this life in the belief that they are fully independent from Allah. This mistaken belief, however, causes them to feel great pressure upon their souls. Constantly seeking to earn other peoples' approval and attain mundane goals makes them afraid and confused, for such attitudes force them to think about everything and consider every possibility. But human beings, who are feeble, cannot shoulder such a burden, for the human body and soul were created to put trust and faith in Allah. Indeed, this delusion is the cause of their wailing, grief, and trouble, for such people wrong themselves by turning away from Allah. Allah relates how He will repay them both in this world and the next, as follows:
Let them laugh little and weep much, in repayment for what they have earned. ( Surat at-Tawba, 9:82)
Allah punishes unbelievers through every incident and reason that causes them to weep. Meanwhile, He gives joy, happiness, peace, and tranquility to His believing servants, and makes them laugh constantly. He removes their sadness, for He is their friend and helper. Even if they face hardship and trouble, He gives them patience and strength and never causes them to despair. Believers only weep in prostration, over the awe they feel for our Lord's grandeur. Destined to have joy both in this world and the next, they experience the contentment related in the following verses:
As for those who believed and did right actions, they will be made joyful in a verdant meadow. ( Surat ar-Rum, 30:15)
The Companions of the Garden are busy enjoying themselves today. (Surah Ya Sin, 36:55)
“My servants, you will feel no fear today; you will know no sorrow.” As for those who believed in Our Signs and became Muslims: “Enter the Garden, you and your spouses, delighting in your joy.” ( Surat az-Zukhruf, 43:68-70)
The people who have consciousness of Allah will be in Gardens of Delight, savoring what their Lord has given them. Their Lord will safeguard them from the punishment of the Blazing Fire. ( Surat at-Tur, 52:17-18)
In the Hereafter, unbelievers and believers will be recognized and separated by their facial expressions. This distinction is described below, as follows:
That Day some faces will be radiant, laughing, rejoicing. That Day some faces will be dust-covered, overcast with gloom. Those are the dissolute unbelievers. (Surah ‘Abasa, 80:38-42)
AL-MUWAFFEE
He Who Keeps His Word, He Who Pays in Full
So be in no doubt about what these people worship. They only worship as their ancestors worshipped previously. We will pay them their portion in full, with no rebate! (Surah Hud, 11:109)
All of our acts and thoughts are recorded in Allah's Sight. He forgets nothing, even the most insignificant detail. Since “… even if something weighs as little as a mustard-seed and is inside a rock or anywhere else in the heavens or earth, Allah will bring it out. Allah is All-Pervading, All-Aware” (Surah Luqman, 31:16), on the Day of Judgment each of us will see our acts, as recorded upon their Pages, and will be repaid accordingly. Allah relates the following fact:
That Day, people will emerge segregated to see the results of their actions. Whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it. Whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it. ( Surat az-Zilzal, 99:6-8)
On that Day, all of a person's acts will be weighed in balances specially prepared for the Day of Judgment. In the face of Allah's Justice, no one will be wronged in any way:
We will set up the Just Balance on the Day of Rising, and no self will be wronged in any way. Even if it is no more than the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, We will produce it. We are sufficient as a Reckoner. ( Surat al-Anbiya', 21:47)
Every act will be weighed to determine one's reward, for:
As for him whose balance is heavy, he will have a most pleasant life. But as for him whose balance is light, his motherland is Hawiya. And what will convey to you what that is? A raging Fire! ( Surat al-Qari‘a, 101:6-11)
Allah's justice demands that everyone receive full payment for what they have done. Allah's repayment according to people's prayers and acts also takes place in this world. While this is a great blessing for believers, it is a fearsome trap for unbelievers, who do not realize the enormity of their spiritual blindness, for:
As for those who desire the life of the world and its finery, We will give them full payment in it for their actions. They will not be deprived here of their due. But such people will have nothing in the Hereafter but the Fire. What they achieved here will come to nothing. What they did will prove to be null and void. (Surah Hud, 11:15-16)
AL-MUHSEE
The Reckoner
He has counted them and numbered them precisely. ( Surat al-Maryam, 19:94)
As Allah informs us in “Does He Who created not then know?” ( Surat al-Mulk, 67:14), He knows even the most delicate features of all members of creation. In fact, He holds them all by their forelocks, for He created their colors, shapes, images, and features, and also determined their number. Surely, no person can ever possess this knowledge.
Allah knows the number of planets, stars, and celestial bodies, as well as the number of electrons circling an atom's nucleus, how many leaves exist on trees, and the number of atoms in each leaf. In addition, He knows the exact number of sand grains located on and below Earth's surface, the number of rain drops, and how many fish live in the oceans. Given that He created everything, He also knows the exact number of animal and plant species on Earth, the precise number of people who have lived since the time of Prophet Adam (as), and the number of people who will live until the Day of Judgment.
Given His comprehensive knowledge, the Qur'an relates the following fact:
On the Day Allah raises up all of them together, He will inform them of what they did. Allah has recorded it, while they have forgotten it. Allah is a Witness of all things. ( Surat al-Mujadala, 58:6)
AL-MUHSIN
The Giver
Say: “ All favor is in Allah's Hand, and He gives it to whoever He wills . Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. He picks out for His mercy whoever He wills. Allah's favor is indeed immense. ” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:73-74)
One of Allah's immutable laws is that He rewards His sincere servants, both for their zeal and as an indication of His favor, with blessings and beauty. Since wealth, glory, and beauty are the basic attributes of Paradise, Allah creates similar settings and blessings to remind His beloved servants of Paradise and to augment their desire and excitement for it. That is why, just as unbelievers' infinite punishment starts in this world, Allah starts presenting the infinite beauties He promises to His sincere believers in this world.
In one verse, Allah states that He will grant those who repent and seek His forgiveness blessings also in this world. One verse reads:
Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then repent to Him. He will let you enjoy a good life until a specified time, and will give His favor to all who merit it. But if you turn your backs, I fear for you the punishment of a Mighty Day. (Surah Hud, 11:3)
Believers always meet Allah's favor and help. Being aware of the grandeur of Almighty Allah, Who created them, they comply with His commands and prohibitions, live by the religion with which He is pleased, and, most importantly, have great hopes and expectations for their next life. Allah will recompense them for the best of what they did, for He rewards every good made for His cause, as the following verses proclaim:
Will the reward for doing good be anything other than good? ( Surat ar-Rahman, 55:60)
What will those who invent lies against Allah think on the Day of Rising? Allah shows favor to mankind, but most of them are not thankful. (Surah Yunus, 10:60)
Nor will they give away any amount, whether large or small; nor will they cross any valley, without it being written down for them, so that Allah can recompense them for the best of what they did. ( Surat at-Tawba, 9:121)
The metaphor of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah is that of a grain that produces seven ears; in every ear are a hundred grains. Allah gives such multiplied increase to whoever He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. ( Surat al-Baqara, 2:261)
Satan promises you poverty and commands you to avarice. Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and abundance. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. ( Surat al-Baqara, 2:268)
AL-MUHEE
The Giver of Life
He gives life and causes to die, and you will be returned to Him. (Surah Yunus, 10:56)
Giving life to all beings, creating them from nothing, and surrounding them with the proper conditions for their survival is a feature unique to Allah, Who has infinite power.
Allah makes a sperm unite an ovum, both of which are invisible to the naked eye. As soon as the sperm destined to fertilize the egg enters the ovum, a membrane covers the egg and a new life begins. Allah divides this tiny cell first into two and then into four. This process proceeds rapidly, and the end result is a miraculous life starting in the mother's womb. After some time, these cells change in order to form the embryo's brain, nervous system, bones, and cartilage. This way, within only 9 months, Allah creates from nothing a human being who sees, hears, speaks, and uses his or her intelligence. He then grants life. Obviously, an egg and a sperm cannot accomplish these series of miraculous events, for only Allah causes them to unite and then protects the embryo within the mother's womb for nine months. This is the first creation and the first bringing to life.
Allah grants life to each human being and destines each one to die on a particular day. Until then, He tests them in the life of this world. At the appointed time, He takes their lives and, on the Day of Judgment, resurrects them, just as He first created them from nothing, to repay them for what they did in the world. No doubt, this is easy for Allah, the Almighty. Yet those who ignore this resurrection say:
He makes likenesses of Us and forgets his own creation, saying: “Who will give life to bones when they are decayed?” (Surah Ya Sin, 36:78)
Allah promises that the Resurrection will occur, as the following verses indicate:
Say: “He Who made them in the first place will bring them back to life. He has total knowledge of each created thing.” (Surah Ya Sin, 36:79)
So look at the effect of Allah's mercy, how He brings the dead earth back to life. Truly He brings the dead to life. He has power over all things. ( Surat ar-Rum, 30:50)
Among His Signs is that you see the earth laid bare, and then, when We send down water on it, it quivers and swells. He Who gives it life also gives life to the dead. Certainly He has power over all things. (Surah Fussilat, 41:39)
AL-MUQALLIB
The Turner of People's Hearts
We will overturn their hearts and sight, just as when they did not believe in it at first, and We will abandon them to wander blindly in their excessive insolence. ( Surat al-An‘am, 6:110)
We cannot know Allah and grasp the purpose of our existence if we lack knowledge about the religion with which He is pleased. Moreover, we cannot understand the divine purposes behind the creation of the universe and its countless inhabitants, life, death, the Hereafter, Paradise, Hell, angels, and Satan on our own. Many people live and die in heedlessness. However, if Allah places faith in our hearts, we find all of the answers to these questions. Allah then purifies our hearts and makes us sincere toward the religion. A person who used to be hostile to religion starts to be positive toward religion; one who used to ignore His commands begins to adhere to them meticulously and remembers Him continuously. Likewise, they start to thank Allah frequently for the blessings that they have received. Whereas before they disregarded the signs of Allah's existence, as well as His favors, mercy, and compassion, they now recognize all of these. In brief, sincere believers are like those people who wake up from sleep, for Allah moves them from unbelief to belief by placing faith in their hearts.
Just as Allah grants faith, He can remove it whenever He wills. Having faith depends upon remembering Allah, for only a heart that submits itself to Allah can find guidance. Unbelievers, lost in their delusions, cannot see or recognize the clear signs of Allah's existence all around them. In many verses, Allah states that such people's hearts are covered in such a way that they cannot grasp the truth:
Who could do greater wrong than someone who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord and then turns away from them, forgetting all that he has done before? We have placed covers on their hearts, preventing them from understanding it, and heaviness in their ears. Though you call them to guidance, they will nonetheless never be guided. ( Surat al-Kahf, 18:57)
Unbelievers sometimes admit that they cannot understand religion's message. The people of Prophet Shu‘ayb (as) is a clear example:
They said: “Shu‘ayb, We do not understand much of what you say, and we see that you are weak among us…” (Surah Hud, 11:91)
If one's heart is veiled and Allah hinders comprehension, then they can never be guided unless Allah wills otherwise. Allah calls attention to this, as follows:
Among them there are some who listen to you. But can you make the deaf hear, even though they cannot understand? Among them there are some who look at you. But can you guide the blind, even though they cannot see? (Surah Yunus, 10:42-43)
Allah causes the heart of those who desire faith and closeness to Him to yield to His remembrance and unites them with other Muslims. Meanwhile, He turns the hearts of those who are insincere toward unbelief. He has the power to turn the heart of anyone He wills at any time, and no one can change a heart that Allah has covered.
AL-MUKMIL
He Who Perfects
Today the unbelievers have despaired of overcoming your religion. So do not be afraid of them, but be afraid of Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My blessing upon you, and I am pleased with Islam as a religion for you. But if anyone is forced by hunger, not intending any wrongdoing, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. ( Surat al-Ma'ida, 5:3)
Allah created humanity and, as “Does He Who created not then know? He is the All-Pervading, the All-Aware” ( Surat al-Mulk, 67:14) emphasizes, He knows best what we need. Allah presented the religion in the form that best conforms to our nature so that all of us could know and serve Him, and thereby attain eternal happiness and salvation. Our Lord, the All-Wise, is pleased with Islam. No doubt, only Allah perfects the religion and uses it, in turn, to perfect His servants.
AL-MUQTADIR
The Powerful
Make a metaphor for them of the life of the world. It is like water that We send down from the sky and the plants of the earth combine with it, but then become dry chaff scattered by the winds. Allah has absolute power over everything. ( Surat al-Kahf, 18:45)
Allah granted unprecedented power and possessions to some people of the past. He gave them authority to administer their lands, and made them leaders of their people. One of these people was Pharaoh, who grew arrogant and assumed that this power belonged to him to such an extent that he proclaimed himself a deity. This is related in the following verse:
Pharaoh said: “Council, I do not know of any other deity for you apart from Me...” ( Surat al-Qasas, 28:38)
Pharaoh called to his people, saying: “My people, does the kingdom of Egypt not belong to me? Do not all of these rivers flow under my control?...” ( Surat az-Zukhruf, 43:51)
Upon this arrogance, All-Mighty Allah drowned both him and his army:
He and his troops were arrogant in the land, without any right. They thought that they would not return to Us. So, We seized him and his troops and flung them into the sea. See the final fate of the wrongdoers! ( Surat al-Qasas, 28:39-40)
Haman and Qarun were destined for the same end, for they had become insolent and arrogant due to their armies and possessions. However, Allah showed them Who was the real owner of power, as follows:
And Qarun and Pharaoh and Haman—Musa came with the Clear Signs to them, but they were arrogant in the land. They could not outstrip Us. We seized each one of them for their wrong actions. Against some We sent a sudden squall of stones, some of them were seized by the Great Blast, some We caused the ground to swallow up, and some We drowned. Allah did not wrong them; rather, they wronged themselves. ( Surat al-‘Ankabut, 29:39-40)
Pharaoh did not realize several facts: Only Allah has real power and authority; grants people's possessions, authority, and armies; makes the Sun rise every day and covers the day with night; holds the fast-moving planets in their orbits; and controls all of the countless orders in the universe. Once people lose their authority and possessions, they lose their strength. When they lose their health, they become weak and feeble. Through such events, Allah shows His servants Who has real power. As the Qur'an proclaims:
They dismissed every one of Our Signs, and so We seized them with the seizing of One Who is Almighty, All-Powerful. ( Surat al-Qamar, 54:42)
Or let you see what We have promised them. They are completely in Our power. ( Surat az-Zukhruf, 43:42)
AL-MUNTAQIM
The Retaliator
Then when they had provoked Our wrath, We inflicted Our retribution on them and drowned every one of them. ( Surat az- Zukhruf, 43:55)
Allah warns every nation through His chosen Messengers so that they might be saved from idolatry and degeneration. As for those who ignore these warnings and grow more insolent, Allah punishes them. And, His retribution is surely unlike that of people:
Those who did not believe will be addressed: “Allah's abhorrence of you, when you were called to faith but then chose unbelief, is even greater than your hatred of yourselves.” ( Surat al-Ghafir, 40:10)
In most cases, Allah may delay His punishment upon those people who were warned, and thus were informed of the truth, to give them more time to acquire faith and purify themselves. However, the majority of people use this time to strengthen their existing insolence. Therefore, they deserve a humiliating punishment. As Allah states:
It is coming closer to you and closer. Then closer to you and closer still. Does man reckon that he will be left to go on unchecked? ( Surat al-Qiyama, 75:34-36)
According to the Qur'an, denying our Lord, being insolent and ungrateful toward Him, and refusing to abandon such defiant attitudes are among the greatest crimes that a person can commit. This is why Allah punishes unbelievers in ways that they could never have imagined. In one verse, Allah informs us that He is the Retaliator:
On the day We launch the Great Assault, We will certainly inflict Our retribution. ( Surat ad-Dukhan, 44:16)
This aside, many verses speak of Allah's infinite compassion and the manifestations of His attributes of al-Rahman and al-Raheem . The punishments waiting for unbelievers in the Hereafter are the result of their resolute unbelief. Allah reminds people of this fact and informs them that He does not wrong them, as follows:
[Angels will say to unbelievers:] “That is for what you did. Allah does not wrong His servants.” ( Surat al-Anfal, 8:51)
Allah would not punish them while you were among them. Allah would not punish them as long as they sought forgiveness. ( Surat al-Anfal, 8:33)
These are Allah's Signs, which We recite to you with truth. Allah desires no wrong for any being. (Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:108)
Our Lord, Who is Most Merciful, also relates that He intends to lead all of His servants to the right path and to perfect His blessings upon them, as follows:
Allah desires to make things clear to you, to guide you to the correct practices of those before you, and to turn toward you. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. ( Surat an-Nisa', 4:26)
Allah does not want to make things difficult for you; rather, ... He wants to purify you and perfect His blessing upon you so that hopefully you will be thankful. ( Surat al-Ma'ida, 5:6)
AL-MUSAWWIR
The Shaper; The Giver of Form
He is Allah—the Creator, the Maker, the Giver of Form . To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Everything in the heavens and Earth glorifies Him. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. ( Surat al-Hashr, 59:24)
Our planet contains thousands of different species with entirely different appearances and amazing features. Let's examine the flawless symmetry on a butterfly wing. The surface of each wing is embellished with different patterns and impressive colors. No matter how complicated these patterns and colors may be, they never harm the perfect symmetry between the two wings. Indeed, just like a painter's masterpiece, all butterflies have astonishing appearances. Clearly, the wisdom manifested in such beauty has a source, for even an ordinary painting is painted by someone; it could not have come into existence by itself. This being the case, how could such a perfect living being, one that is as aesthetic as a work of art, come into being by coincidence? Allah, Lord of the universe, created, designed, and formed all of those beings.
Allah, Who created human beings and designed their bodies' internal and external systems, manifests His superior creativity and power on every detail of this complex structure. For instance, the skeleton (the body's structural support system) is an engineering marvel in its own right. It protects such vital organs as the brain, the heart and lungs, and upholds the body's internal organs. In addition, it gives the body a superior capacity for movement, one that cannot be imitated by any artificial mechanism. Bone tissue is not inorganic, as many people think. In fact, it is the body's mineral bank and thus includes many important minerals, among them calcium and phosphate. In accordance with the body's needs, it either stores these minerals or delivers them to where they are needed. Moreover, bones also produce red blood cells. Yet this multi-functional system is only one of the perfect systems existing in the human body.
This is the way of Allah, Who created—and Who continues to create—all of these systems with an unparalleled design so that we may see wherever we turn the manifestations of His unique creation. One verse relates that believers say the following words:
... “Our Lord gives each thing its created form and then guides it.” (Surah Ta Ha, 20:50)
AL-MUBASHSHIR
The Giver Of Good News
That is the good news that Allah gives to His servants who believe and do right actions. Say: “I do not ask you for any wage for this—except for you to love your near of kin. If anyone does a good action, We will increase the good of it for him. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Thankful.” ( Surat ash-Shura, 42:23)
Sincere believers who display the attributes mentioned in the Qur'an, who remain loyal to Allah's religion, and who do not associate partners with Him are given the good news of rewards both in this world and in the next. For example:
Their Lord gives them the good news of His mercy and good pleasure, and of gardens where they will enjoy everlasting delight. ( Surat at-Tawba, 9:21)
There is good news for them in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. There is no changing the words of Allah. That is the great victory! (Surah Yunus, 10:64)
The angels descend on those who say: “Our Lord is Allah,” and then go straight: “Do not fear and do not grieve, but rejoice in the garden you have been promised. We are your protectors in the life of the world and the Hereafter. You will have there all that you could wish for. You will have there everything you demand. Hospitality from One Who is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Fussilat, 41:30-32)
Apart from the good news of Paradise , the source of eternal happiness and joy, Allah gives many glad tidings to His sincere servants in this world as well. He proclaims these glad tidings in the Qur'an and describes how He answers prayers. For example, Allah told the Prophets that those nations who are insolent toward them would be destroyed. Similarly, He answered the prayers of those Prophets for sons. He gave Prophet Zakariyya (as) the good news of Prophet Yahya (as). Similarly, Maryam was given the good news of Prophet ‘Isa (as), and Prophet Ibrahim (as) was given the good news of Prophet Ishaq (as) and Prophet Ya‘qub (as). The related verses read:
“O Zakariyya. We give you the good news of a boy named Yahya, a name we have given to no one else before.” (Surah Maryam, 19:7)
And We gave him the good news of a forbearing boy. ( Surat as-Saffat, 37:101)
AL-MUBAYYIN
The One Who Makes His Signs Clear
In this way Allah makes His Signs clear to you , so that hopefully you will use your intellect. ( Surat al-Baqara, 2:242)
Given that Allah has explained, through His Messengers and His revelation why we were created, what we have to accomplish, and what we will go through after death, we cannot claim ignorance of these facts. If He had not done so, we would exist in a state of helplessness, feebleness, and fear. But Allah, Who is compassionate and merciful toward His servants, answers all of our questions through His revelations. In this way, He brings people to life. Indeed, the calls, warnings, recommendations, and prohibitions revealed by Him, as well as the issues to which He draws people's attention, are for our salvation and will enable us to give a joyful account in Allah's presence on the Day of Judgment.
Almighty Allah, Who doesn't want any injustice for His servants, gives a detailed account of how they can avoid eternal punishment and all they need to know to serve Him. In addition, He gives them examples of earlier peoples so that they will not repeat their ancestors' mistakes, and tells them about the Prophets so that they can find the right path. Indeed, people could never learn about such events and conversations on their own. For instance, no one witnessed Prophet Musa's (as) conversation with Allah in the valley of Tuwa , and there is no record of it. But Allah lets us know some details of this conversation. Thus, His words to Prophet Musa (as), even though they were spoken before no one else and were uttered centuries ago, are conveyed to everyone word by word.
You were not on the western side when We gave Musa the command. You were not a witness. Yet We produced further generations and ages passed. Nor did you live among the people of Madyan and recite Our Signs to them, yet We have sent you news of them. Nor were you on the side of the Mount when We called, yet it is a mercy from your Lord so that you can warn a people to whom no warner came before, so that hopefully they will pay heed. ( Surat al-Qasas, 28:44-46)
In addition, no other book informs people about the life of the Hereafter. The Qur'an informs us that there is a life after death and that this worldly life is only a preparation for the Hereafter. In the absence of such knowledge, people would have to be content with the information relating to this world and would have no idea about the life after death. These are only a few issues that Allah explains to His servants. Through the Qur'an, our Lord provides people with everything that they need to know. One verse reads:
There is instruction in their stories for people of intelligence. This is not a narration that has been invented, but a confirmation of all that came before, a clarification of everything, a guidance and a mercy for people who believe. (Surah Yusuf, 12:111)
We have no knowledge other than what is revealed to us by our Lord.
AL-MUDABBIR
The Ruler, the Director, Who governs all of creation with order and balance
Your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and Earth in six days and then established Himself firmly on the Throne. He directs the whole affair … (Surah Yunus, 10:3)
Allah holds sway over the entire universe, for not a single atom moves without Him knowing it. Allah is the sole ruler of everything, from a dust particle to the planets following their orbits to the billions of inhabitants living in the micro-universe. The sky that serves as a dome by His grace, the billions of stars, the planets proceeding in their orbits, and the Sun have all submitted to Allah. This perfect order proves the existence of a power that controls all of existence, regardless of time or location. This power, which is over and above any other power, manifests Allah's perfect creation.
When we gaze at Earth, we encounter an amazing order. Allah assigns every living being a particular duty, and they carry out these duties fully. For instance, trees inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. The soil produces edible food, rain falls in due measure and at a particular rate, and after a lightning flash comes thunder. This balance is always maintained. While some people die, others are born.
Allah also rules the bodies of all living beings with great balance and order, for He has caused all organs to help one another. For instance, people cannot make their hearts beat or their intestines digest food. Nor can they be aware of the war waged by leucocytes in their blood against microbes, or of the countless chemical reactions taking place in their bodies. And, in no way can they supervise them.
In addition, human life relies on countless external factors that are ruled by Allah with great order and balance. If Allah had created the universe and then left it to its own devices, as some people claim, everything would have been ruined at that very moment. In fact, all of those interrelated systems have remained intact and continue to exist because of our Creator's power, for Allah is the real owner and ruler of the universe. The Qur'an calls attention to this fact, as follows:
Allah keeps a firm hold on the heavens and Earth, preventing them from vanishing. And if they vanished, no one could then keep hold of them. Certainly He is Lenient, Ever-Forgiving. (Surah Fatir, 35:41)
AL-MU'MIN
The Trustworthy, He Who Gives Tranquillity
He is Allah—there is no deity but Him. He is the King, the Most Pure, the Perfect Peace, the Trustworthy , the Safeguarder, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supremely Great. Glory be to Allah above all that they associate with Him. ( Surat al-Hashr, 59:23)
Allah presents a pleasing life to believers both in this world and the next. This life, which is perfect in all respects, makes them spiritually strong. Indeed, Allah gives spiritual peace and security to sincere believers. When they face any difficulty, He supports them, confirms His signs on their hearts, and, through the trust they put in Him, allows them to lead a peaceful life. The Qur'an informs us about this spiritual support after the Companions suffered a defeat during the time of our Prophet (saas):
Allah has helped you on many occasions, including the Day of Hunayn, when your great numbers delighted you but did not help you in any way, and the land seemed narrow to you for all its great breadth, and you turned your backs. Then Allah sent down His serenity on His Messenger and on the believers, and sent down troops you could not see, and punished those who were unbelievers. That is how the unbelievers are repaid. Then after that, Allah will turn to anyone He wills. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat at-Tawba, 9:25-27)
There have always been people who, insisting upon denying Allah, work to turn sincere believers away from the straight path and to their own man-made religion. When believers reject this call, unbelievers threaten and oppress them. But during such times, Allah provides all forms of support and undermines the unbelievers' efforts, as the Qur'an reveals:
Those who are disbelievers filled their hearts with fanatical rage—the fanatical rage of the Time of Ignorance—and Allah sent down serenity to His Messenger and to the believers, and bound them to the expression of heedfulness, to which they had most right and were most entitled. Allah has knowledge of all things. (Surat al-Fath, 48:26)
Many other verses inform us about this spiritual support, especially that given to the Messengers. When unbelievers forced our Prophet (saas) to emigrate, Allah promised to support him, hindered the unbelievers' attacks, and sent down serenity upon his heart. This support is related in the following verses:
If you do not help him, Allah did help him when the unbelievers drove him out and there were two of them in the cave. He said to his companion: “Do not be despondent, Allah is with us.” Then Allah sent down His serenity upon him and reinforced him with troops you could not see. He made the word of the unbelievers the lowest of the low. It is the word of Allah that is uppermost. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat at-Tawba, 9:40)
While Allah gives His sincere servants feelings of security and serenity, the peace and security of the Hereafter are far beyond our comprehension. For one thing, they will last for all eternity, if Allah so wills. Allah describes this unique state of material and spiritual contentment, as follows:
Those who guard against evil will be amid gardens and springs: “Enter them in peace, in complete security!” We will strip away any rancor in their hearts—brothers [and sisters], resting on couches face-to-face. They will not be affected by any tiredness there and will never be made to leave. (Surat al-Hijr, 15:45-48)
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