The Beautiful Attributes Series: Instalment 2
Allah in His Beautiful Attributes (also known as the Holy Attributes or Beautiful Names) is clearly seen as infinitely merciful to all His creations through His blessings. He is seen as The Provider. He is seen as The Just and The Wise. He guides us to higher qualities of life.
With this thought in mind, let’s explore some of His Attributes (known by some as the 99 Names of Allah) in simple language so we can live our life with success knowing that we are the shadows of each of this Attribute. (To understand more about the origins and objectives of this series, please read the Introduction).
In this instalment, we focus on two Attributes: Al-Maliku and Al-Quddusu.
AL-MALIKU – THE SOVEREIGN SUSTAINER
Importance:
Except for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta`ala, there is no other who has ever been able to claim that he or she is a Sovereign Sustainer. This applies to nations and empires: no nation, no empire nor ruler has ever been able to claim permanence of their power.
Real Life Examples:
Consider the ruins of previous empires, who in their heyday thought their rule or success would last forever. Many past emperors and kings believed they would expand to conquer the whole world, but it never happened.
I recall a dramatized TV documentary in which an emperor of the Abbasid empire is seen lamenting his old age as he stands on his balcony and views his surroundings. He looks helpless as he remarks that all the territory before him and beyond belongs to his empire, but alas, he will not live for too long nor will his empire survive indefinitely—for everything must end.
Points to Ponder:
As I write this, summer has just finished and fall has set in. The wonderful greenery of the trees in my backyard that provided shade and purified the atmosphere, along with the chirping of birds in the morning have all gone. The year is becoming history and so is our life.
It is truly inspiring to read Qur’an Ch. 3 verses 26–27 to fully ponder this Attribute. The realization will be that the only True Everlasting Sovereign and Sustainer is Allah:
Say: “O Allah! Lord of Power (and Rule) Thou givest Power to whom Thou pleasest and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest thou enduest with honour whom thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low, whom Thou pleasest; in Thy hand is all Good. Verily, over all things Thou hast power. (26)
“Thou causest the Night to gain on the Day, and Thou causest the Day to gain on the Night; Thou bringest the Living out of the Dead, and Thou bringest the Dead out of the Living; and Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou pleasest without measure.” (27)
Allah is The Sustainer of the universe and has endowed all His creation with the ability to sustain themselves in their daily life. Human beings have been endowed with qualities also to be the shapers on the earth, using Allah’s created things to build cities and all other amenities for the comfort of our daily life. This is a special ability we have, endowed upon human beings as Allah’s supreme creation.
The thing to ask ourselves is this: As the `Abd (slave) of Allah on this earth, are we the true vicegerents of Allah fulfilling our worth using this amazing gift to be productive human beings beneficial to ourselves, our families and to the world at large? Most importantly are we doing shukr (thanking) Allah through the daily salaat (prayers) in our daily life?
AL-QUDDUSU – THE HOLY
Importance:
Allah is absolutely unique in His purity. His purity extends to everything regarding His Sovereignty (His Authority does not corrupt Him). The same purity is applied in all His Attributes, His Essence, His Words and in everything else, including His Justice.
Real Life Examples:
As we see and experience in real life, authority tends to corrupt the one authorized and absolute authority corrupts absolutely. Not so with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala: He is devoid of any blemish.
Points to Ponder:
Look around you. Do you see any fault in nature? Notice how the lifecycle of each of His creations works and notice how each of His creations is totally balanced. Each of His creations is worthy of full research, and mankind has derived and continues to derive benefits from pondering over Allah’s creations.
We need to seriously ask ourselves are we doing enough to exhibit this attribute in our life? The greatest exhibition of this purity is the salaat (prayers) in which we are thanking and praising Allah for all His Gifts upon us. We confirm with Him in our two prostrations that from the earth did He create us and into the earth is our return. We Thank Him in the best words He has taught us in Surah al-Fatiha and ask Him to guide us with His Blessings and not to make us like those who are astray.
What thoughts come to your mind and heart when you reflect on the these qualities of Allah? How do you approach nurturing these qualities in yourself and what challenges do you face in service of Allah?
This series is inspired by Dr Husein Khimjee’s book entitled The Attributes of God in the Monotheistic Faiths of Judeo-Christian and Islamic Traditions. Together, we have drawn valuable insights from his work. We appreciate Dr Khimjee’s dedication and active engagement with this project.
The Beautiful Attributes Examined
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Next Instalment: As-Salaamu and Al-Mu’minu
