Allah's Greatness
by Imaam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah
Ibn Al-Qayyim described Allah's Greatness, saying,
He governs the affairs of the various kingdoms and He commands and forbids,
creates, sustains, gives
death, gives life, gives power, strips power (to and from whom He wills)
and alternates the night and
day. He gives varying fortunes to people and alternates governments (and
states), destroying some
and bringing some into existence.
His Command and Power are dominant in the heavens and their zones, the
earth and all that which is
on and in it, in the seas and in the air. His Knowledge has encompassed
everything and He counted
everything. He hears all types of voices and they do not confuse Him. Rather,
He hears each voice in
its distinct language and need, and no voice will make Him busy from fulfilling
the need of another,
and no need will ever escape His Perfect Knowledge (and His Power to deliver).
He does not
become bored because of the many needs of those who need. His Sight encompasses
all that which
there is. He sees the movement of a black ant on a barren rock during a
dark night.
To Him, the Unseen is uncovered end the secret is secret no more,
"Whosoever is in the heavens and on Earth begs
of Him (its needs from Him). Every day He has a
matter to bring Forth (such as giving honor to
some, disgrace to some, life to (some, death to
some, etc.)." [55:29]
He forgives an evil deed, makes depression vanish and brings reprieve from
disasters, relief for
whoever needs it, wealth for the poor, guidance for the misguided, light
for the lost, help for he who is
desperate, fullness for the hungry, cover for the barely clothed, cure
for the ill and ease for he who
suffers. He accepts he who repents, gives reward for he who does good,
gives aid for he who was
dealt with injustice, destroys an arrogant person, covers mistakes,
gives safety after fear end elevates
some people and humiliates others.
If those who inhabit His heavens and His earth and all those whom He created,
whether mankind or
the Jinns, had hearts similar to the most pious heart, His Kingdom will
not increase. If all His creation,
whether mankind or the Jinns, had hearts similar to the heart of the most
wicked heart, this will not
decrease from His Kingdom. Also, if all those who inhabit His heavens and
His earth, all mankind and
all the Jinns, the dead and the living, stand up on one strip of land and
each asks Him for his need,
and He then fulfils their needs, this will not decrease from what He has
a bit.
He is the First, nothing is before Him, the Last, nothing is after Him,
the Most High, nothing is above
Him, and the Most Near, nothing is nearer than Him. He, Exalted and Ever
High as He is, is the Best
Whom one can and should remember, the only One Who deserves to be worshiped
and thanked, the
Kindest of all those who own and the Most generous of all those who are
asked to give. He is the
King Who has no partner, the One Who has no competitor, the Samad (Self-Sufficient)
Who has no
offspring, and the Ever High, none like unto Him.
Everything perishes save His Face and every kingship is bound to perish
except His. He will only be
obeyed by His Leave, and His Knowledge uncovers all disobedience to Him.
When He is obeyed, He
thanks for it, and when He is disobeyed, He grants forgiveness (for those
who truly repent to Him).
Every punishment from Him is just and every bounty is a grace. He is the
Closest Witness and the
Nearest One with His Perfect Care. He controls the forelocks of everything
and has the full records of
all deeds end the books of all ages.
The hearts are unmasked to Him and the secret is unveiled. His giving and
punishing is merely a
Command,
"Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is
only that He says to it, ‘Be, and it is!’" [36:82].
