Concept Of God In Quran_02

Concept of God: As Per Quran A Presentation for a gathering during Ramadan

Importance of This Topic

The Language “Barrier”

Presentation Highlight Part-1 Names of God (Proper names and attributive names) Part-2 Attributes of God Part-3 Commands and Prohibitions Part-4 Conclusion

Part-1 : What is His Name-? What is a name? - Identification Tag? - To distinguish one from another of similar kind? Why do we need name for someone which is absolutely unique? Names are needed from human perspective, so as to interact with Supreme Force of Universe. It is for our help that God has given His names to us.

What is His Name ? (Contd.) (Contd Names of God could be divided into two categories:

Proper Names Attributive Names

Proper Names of God Allah: This is most common name

َّ‫ال‬

used in Quran and repeated some 3000 times. It is derived Al + Ilah; Al means “The” and “Ilah” could be god, so Allah means “The god” or God َّ‫ُقلْ ا ْدعُوا ال‬ RAHMAN : “Call him by Allah or َ‫َأوْ ادْعُوا الرّحْمَن‬ call him by RAHMAN” (17:110) Other Names : “And to God belongs most beautiful names” (7:180)

‫وَلِّ الَسْمَا ُء‬ ُ‫سنَى فَادْعُوه‬ ْ ُ‫الْح‬ ‫ِبهَا‬

Attributive names of God-1 Most names mentioned in Quran are of this category. If some attributes look common with humans, then it is only for our understanding

Caution: God is not like any thing in this Universe There is nothing like him (42:11) Say He is Allah the one and only, the Eternal, the Absolute, He begets not, nor is he begotten and there is none like him (112:1-4) No sleep or slumber overtakes Him (2: 255) He feeds every one but needs no feeding (6:14) God is free from all needs (35:15)

ٌ‫لَيْسَ كَمِثْ ِلهِ شَيْء‬ ُّ‫ُقلْ ُهوَ الُّ أَحَدٌ ال‬ ْ‫صمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَم‬ ّ ‫ال‬ ً‫يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَ ُكنْ َلهُ كُفُوا‬ ٌ‫أَحَد‬ ٌ‫ل تَأْخُذُهُ سِ َنةٌ وَل نَوْم‬ ُ‫َوهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَل يُطْعَم‬ ُ‫وَالُّ ُهوَ الْغَنِيّ الْحَمِيد‬

Attributive Names of Allah Quran mentions more than 99 names of God, which are distributed thru out verses of Quran Due to shortage of time, we would discuss only few of them.

Names relating to Personality AL HAIY : The Living (4 Times) AL QUDDOUS: The All Holy (2 Times) AL MALIK: The King ( 16 Times)

ّ‫الْحَي‬ ُ‫الْقُدّوس‬ ُ‫الْمَلِك‬

AL QAYYOUM: Self Subsiding (2 Times)

ُ‫الْقَيّوم‬

AL HAKEEM: The Wise (95 Times)

ُِ‫حكِيم‬ َ ْ‫ال‬

AL SALAAM: Source of Peace (1 Times)

ُ‫السّلم‬

Relating to Power AL AZIZ: Exalted in Might (130 Times)

ُ‫الْعَزِيز‬

AL JABBAR: The Compeller (1 Times)

ُ‫الْجَبّار‬

AL QAHHAR: The Irresistible (6 Times)

ُ‫الْ َقهّار‬

AL ALIE: Most High ( 6 Times)

ّ‫ا ْلعَلِي‬

AL AZEEEM: The Supreme (10 Times)

ُ‫ا ْلعَظِيم‬

AL QAWI: The Almighty (8 Times)

ّ‫الْ َقوِي‬

Relating to Creativity RABB: Lord or Cherisher (128 Times) AL KHALIQ: The Creator (5 Times) AL BARI: The Evolver (1 Times) AL MUSAWWIR: The Bestower of Forms (1 Times)

ّ‫َرب‬ ُ‫الْخَالِق‬ ُ‫ا ْلبَا ِرئ‬ ُ‫صوّر‬ َ ُ‫ا ْلم‬

Relating to Interaction with Creations AL SAMEE’: The Listener (94 Times)

ُ ُ‫سمِيع‬ ّ ‫ال‬

AL BASEER: The All Seer (43 Times)

ٌ‫بَصِير‬

AL KHABEER: The All

ٌ‫خبِير‬ َ

Knowledgeable (37 Times)

AL ALEEM: The Omniscient

‫ا ْل َعلِيم‬

(134 Times)

AL MUJEEB: The Responsive (1 Times) ٌ‫مُجِيب‬ AL RAQEEB: The Watcher (4 Times)

ٌ‫رَقِيب‬

Relating to Mercy AL RAHEEM: The Most Merciful

ُ‫الرّحِيم‬

(229 Times)

AL GAFFAR: The Forgiver (83 Times) AL WAHHAB: Granter of Bounties

‫غَفّار‬ ُ‫ا ْلوَهّاب‬

(3 Times)

AL TAWWAB: Oft Forgiving (12 Times)

ُ‫ال ّتوّاب‬

AL KAREEM: The Generous (3 Times)

ٌ‫كَرِيم‬

AL HALEEM: The forbearing (13 Times)

ٌ‫حلِيم‬ َ

l “Pairing of Attributes”

Examples: AZIZ (MIGHT), IT IS PAIRED WITH HAKEEM : 46 times (Mighty but Wise)

ُ‫حكِيم‬ َ ْ‫ا ْلعَزِي ُز ال‬

RAHEEM: 12 Times (Mighty but Merciful)

ُ‫ا ْلعَزِي ُز الرّحِيم‬

ALEEM : 05 Times (Mighty but Knowing)

ِ‫الْعَزِيزِ ا ْلعَلِيم‬

INTIQAM: 02 TIMES (Mighty and capable of taking revenge)

ٍ‫عَزِيزٌ ذُو انتِقَام‬

Example: RAHEEM (Merciful is paired with) RAHMAN (116 Times) Merciful and Gracious

‫الرحمن الرحيم‬

TAWWAB (10 Times) Merciful and Oft Forgiving)

ُ‫ال ّتوّابُ الرّحِيم‬

GHAFOOR (65 Times) Merciful and Forgiver of Sin

ٌ‫غَفُورٌ رَحِيم‬

RAOOF (04 Times) Merciful and kind

ٌ‫رَءُوفٌ رَحِيم‬

Caution: Names which should not be used for God Shun such men who profane َ‫وَذَرُوا اّلذِينَ ُيلْحِدُون‬ names of God (7:180) ِ‫فِي أَسْمَائِه‬ We should avoid profaning God’s name or attributes that are not fit for His Majesty: Names which are for any of His creations, like sun, moon, star, fire, water, air etc. Names which are emotions, like Love, Mercy , Knowledge, Life etc. Names which denote bad things, like creator of lie, disease, Oppression etc

Part-2 Attributes of God: Perfect Knowledge From God nothing is hidden on Earth or in heavens (3:5)

‫ع َليْهِ شَيْ ٌء‬ َ ‫إِنّ الَّ ل يَخْفَى‬ ِ‫فِي الَرْضِ وَل فِي السّمَاء‬

..Not a leaf falls but with His knowledge… (6:59)

ّ‫وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِنْ وَرَقَةٍ إِل‬ ‫يَ ْعلَ ُمهَا‬

ِ‫ظلُمَاتِ الَرْض‬ ُ ‫حبّةٍ فِي‬ َ ‫وَل‬ There is not a grain in the ‫وَل رَطْبٍ وَل يَابِسٍ إِلّ فِي‬ darkness of earth…except in ٍ‫ِكتَابٍ ُمبِين‬ a record clear (6:59) ِ ‫أَنّ الَّ َيعْ َلمُ مَا فِي السّ َموَا‬ God has knowledge of what is ‫ت‬ in the heavens and on earth… ّ‫وَمَا فِي الَرْضِ وَأَنّ الَّ ِب ُكل‬ ٌ‫علِيم‬ َ ٍ‫شَيْء‬ (5:100)

Attributes of God: Sole Creator It is He who has created for you every thing on this earth (2:29) God is Creator of every thing (39:62)

It is God who begins (the process of) creation then repeats it (30:11)

ْ‫خلَقَ َلكُم‬ َ ‫ُهوَ اّلذِي‬ ِ‫مَا فِي الَرْض‬ ً‫جَمِيعا‬ ّ‫الُّ خَالِقُ ُكل‬ ٍ‫شَيْء‬

ّ‫الُّ َيبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُم‬ ُ‫ُيعِيدُه‬

Attributes of God: Cherisher / Sustainer There is no moving creature on earth but is sustenance depends on God (11:6)

‫وَمَا ِمنْ دَا ّبةٍ فِي‬ ِّ‫الَرْضِ إِلّ عَلَى ال‬ ‫رِ ْز ُقهَا‬

For God is one who gives (all) ‫ِإنّ الَّ ُهوَ الرّزّاقُ ذُو‬ sustenance:- Lord of Power ُ‫الْ ُقوّةِ ا ْلمَتِين‬ Steadfast (forever) (41:58) And there is not a thing but (its ‫يءٍ إِ ّل‬ ْ َ‫وَِإنْ ِمنْ ش‬ sources) and treasures are with ‫عِنْدَنَا خَزَائِنُهُ َومَا‬ God (15:21) ٍ‫نُنَزُّلهُ إِلّ بِقَدَرٍ مَعْلُوم‬

Cherisher : Every Thing Serving Man And He has subjected to you, as from him, all that is in heavens and on earth

ِ ‫س َموَا‬ ‫ت‬ ّ ‫وَسَخّرَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي ال‬ ُ‫جمِيعاً مِ ْنه‬ َ ِ‫وَمَا فِي الَرْض‬

(45: 14)

It is He who has made the ships subject to you and the sea, and subjected sun and Moon, pursuing their course and subjected to you day and night (14:32, 33)

َ ‫َوسَخّرَ لَكُمْ الْفُلْكَ لِتَجْ ِر‬ ‫ي‬ ْ‫فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ وَسَخّرَ لَكُم‬ َ‫الَنهَارَ َوسَخّرَ لَكُمْ الشّمْس‬ ْ‫وَالْقَمَرَ دَائِبَ ْينِ وَسَخّرَ لَكُم‬ َ‫اللّ ْيلَ وَال ّنهَار‬

Attributes of God: Mercy And my Mercy Exceeds to all things (7:136)

ٍ‫يء‬ ْ َ‫حمَتِي وَسِعَتْ ُكلّ ش‬ ْ َ‫وَر‬

And He is oft forgiving full of loving kindness (85:14)

ُ‫َو ُهوَ الْغَفُورُ ا ْلوَدُود‬

Attributes of God: Nearness And We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein (50:16)

ْ‫حنُ َأقْرَبُ إِلَ ْيهِ مِن‬ ْ َ‫وَن‬ ِ‫حَ ْبلِ ا ْلوَرِيد‬

And when my servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close to them: I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls me (2: 186) And your Lord says “Call on me: I will answer your prayers”

‫ك عِبَادِي‬ َ ‫وَإِذَا سَأَ َل‬ ٌ‫عَنّي فَإِنّي قَرِيب‬ ‫عوَةَ الدّاعِي‬ ْ ‫أُجِيبُ َد‬ ‫إِذَا َدعَانِي‬ ‫َوقَالَ رَبّكُمْ ا ْدعُونِي‬ ْ‫أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُم‬

Attributes of God: Justice God is never injustice in the least, if there is any good (done) He doubles it (4:40)

َ‫ِإنّ الَّ ل يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَال‬ ٍ‫ذَرّة‬

And I am not to do injustice to my servants (50: 29)

ِ‫ظلّمٍ لِلْعَبِيد‬ َ ِ‫َومَا أَنَا ب‬

Attributes of God: Extra Reward for good deeds He who does good shall have ten times to his credit, he who does evil shall only be recompensed according to his evil, and he will not be wronged (6:160) And God gives multifold increase to who He pleases (2: 261) And God rewards to whom he desires without measure (24:38)

‫حسَ َنةِ فَلَ ُه‬ َ ْ‫َمنْ جَاءَ بِال‬ َ‫عَشْرُ َأمْثَا ِلهَا َو َمنْ جَاء‬ ّ‫بِالسّيّ َئةِ فَل يُجْزَى ِإل‬ َ‫مِثْ َلهَا َوهُمْ ل يُظْلَمُون‬ ْ ‫وَالُّ يُضَاعِفُ لِ َم‬ ‫ن‬ ٌ‫س ٌع عَلِيم‬ ِ ‫َيشَاءُ وَالُّ وَا‬ ُ‫وَالُّ يَرْ ُزقُ َمنْ يَشَاء‬ ٍ‫حسَاب‬ ِ ِ‫بِغَيْر‬

God: Powerful and Irresistible If God touches you with affliction, none can remove it but He; if He touches you with happiness, He has power over all things (6:17)

ُ ‫سسْكَ ا‬ ّ‫ل‬ َ ْ‫وَإِنْ َيم‬ ُ‫بِضُرّ فَل كَاشِفَ َله‬ َ‫سك‬ ْ ‫س‬ َ ْ‫إِلّ ُهوَ وَِإنْ َيم‬ ّ‫بِخَيْرٍ َف ُه َو عَلَى ُكل‬ ٌ‫يءٍ قَدِير‬ ْ َ‫ش‬

If God touches you with hurt, ُّ‫سسْكَ ال‬ َ ْ‫وَإِنْ َيم‬ none can remove it but He; but if ُ‫بِضُرّ فَل كَاشِفَ َله‬ He desires some benefit for you, َ‫إِلّ ُهوَ وَِإنْ يُرِ ْدك‬ there is none who can keep ِ‫بِخَيْرٍ فَل رَادّ لِفَضْ ِله‬ back His favors (10:108)

Powerful : No one can intercede without His permission Who is there who can intercede in His presence except as He permits (2 :255)

ُ‫َمنْ ذَا الّذِي َيشْ َفع‬ ِ‫عِنْدَهُ ِإلّ بِإِذْ ِنه‬

On that day no intercession ‫ع ُة‬ َ ‫َيوْمَئِذٍ ل تَن َفعُ الشّفَا‬ shall avail, except for those for ُ‫ح َمن‬ ْ ّ‫ِإلّ َمنْ أَذِنَ َلهُ الر‬ whom permission is granted ً‫وَرَضِيَ لَهُ َقوْل‬ by (God) Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to him (20 :109)

Merciful God: No one should despair of His Mercy O my servants who have transgressed against their souls, despair not of mercy of God, for God forgives all sins; for He is oft forgiving Most Merciful (39:53)

And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord, except such as go astray (15:56)

َ‫ُقلْ يَا عِبَادِي الّذِين‬ ‫أَسْ َرفُوا عَلَى‬ ‫سهِمْ ل تَقْنَطُوا‬ ِ ‫أَنْ ُف‬ ّ‫ِمنْ رَحْ َمةِ الِّ ِإن‬ َ‫الَّ يَغْفِرُ الذّنُوب‬ َ‫جَمِيعاً إِنّهُ ُهو‬ ُ‫الْغَفُورُ الرّحِيم‬ ْ‫قَالَ وَ َمنْ يَقْنَطُ ِمن‬ ّ‫ح َمةِ رَ ّبهِ إِل‬ ْ َ‫ر‬ ‫الضّالّون‬

Part-3 : God Commands all Good thing God commands Justice, Doing of Good, and liberality to kith and kin (16:90)

God commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due (4:58) And when you judge between man and man judge with justice (4:58) And when you judge between them judge with equity for God loves those who are equitable (5:42)

ِ ْ‫إِنّ الَّ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَد‬ ‫ل‬ ‫حسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي‬ ْ ِ‫وَال‬ ‫الْقُرْبَى‬ ْ َ‫إِنّ الَّ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أ‬ ‫ن‬ ‫تُؤَدّوا الَمَانَاتِ إِلَى‬ ‫أَهْلِهَا‬ َ ْ‫وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ بَي‬ ‫ن‬ ‫النّاسِ أَنْ تَحْكُمُوا‬ ِ‫بِالْعَدْل‬ ْ‫وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَاحْكُم‬ َّ‫بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْ ِقسْطِ إِنّ ال‬ َ‫حبّ الْمُ ْقسِطِين‬ ِ ُ‫ي‬

God Prohibits all bad and shameful deeds And (God) prohibits, all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion (14:90) And do not come near to shameful deeds, open or secret, and do not take life, which God has made sacred except by way of justice and law (6:151) Give measure and weight with Justice…When you speak, speak justly, even if a near relative is concerned and fulfill the trusts of God (6:152)

‫َويَ ْنهَى عَنْ الْفَحْشَا ِء‬ ْ‫ظكُمْ لَ َعلّ ُكم‬ ُ ِ‫وَالْمُنكَرِ وَا ْلبَغْيِ يَع‬ َ‫تَذَكّرُون‬ ‫وَل تَقْ َربُوا الْ َفوَاحِشَ مَا‬ ‫ظهَرَ ِم ْنهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَل‬ َ ُّ ‫تَ ْق ُتلُوا النّفْسَ اّلتِي حَ ّرمَ ا‬ ‫ل‬ ّ‫إِلّ بِالْحَق‬ َ ‫وََأوْفُوا الْ َك ْيلَ وَالْمِيزَا‬ ‫ن‬ ّ‫بِالْقِسْطِ ل ُن َكلّفُ نَفْساً إِل‬ ‫وُسْ َعهَا وَإِذَا ُق ْل ُتمْ فَاعْ ِدلُوا‬ ِّ‫وَ َلوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى َو ِب َعهْدِ ال‬ ‫َأوْفُو‬

Conclusion: God as per Quran is therefore Unique: He is absolutely Unique and is not comparable to any thing in this universe. Living: He is a living and Powerful God, He hears sees and knows everything in this Universe. Creator: He is the sole Creator, Cherisher and sustainer of this Universe. Merciful: He is Most Merciful and Most Kind of any thing we can imagine. His Mercy exceeds His Justice Beautiful names: He has most beautiful names, but we should avoid names which are not suitable for His Grace Commands and Prohibitions: God commands every good thing in this universe and prohibits every thing which is bad for physical or moral life of humans.

Thank you