Re: [IslamCity] attributes of Allah

Sat, 21 May 2005 03:32:48 -0700

Attributes of Allah

 

According to a consensus of the Islamic scholars, there are 13 attributes of Allah that every Muslim is required to know (fard ^ayniyy). Allah has more than these thirteen attributes, but because these thirteen were mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an and Hadith, the scholars rules that these are from the obligatory knowledge. To know and memorize these attributes protects one’s Islam.

 

1.) Allah does not resemble any of His creations (al-Mukhalafatu lil-Hawadith). Textual Proof-Surat ash-Shura, ayah 11:

 لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ which means, “Nothing resembles Allah in any way whatsoever.” Mental Proof-Allah is greatly clear of the attributes of the creations, because the attributes of the creations indicate that the creatures are in need of a Creator. Had Allah been attributed with any of these created attributes, He would have been in need of one who created Him, and Allah is clear of that.

 

2.) Allah exists without a place or shape (al-Wujud). Textual Proof-Surat Ibraheem, ayah 10: أَفِي اللّهِ شَكٌّ which means, “The existence of Allah is indubitable.” Mental Proof-Allah exists and is not similar to the other created things. To resemble the creation is to be susceptible to the same weaknesses as that creation. Allah existed before He created place, and His existence does not change.

 

3.) Allah has no beginning (al-Qidam, i.e. al-Azaliyyah). Textual Proof-Surat al-Hadid, ayah 3: هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ which means, “Allah is the One whose existence is without a beginning and without an end.” Mental Proof-The Creator has no beginning. The creation has a beginning. The one with a beginning must have a Creator to create it.

 

4.) Allah has no end (al-Baqa’). Textual Proof- Surat al-Hadid, ayah 3:

هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ which means, “Allah is the One whose existence is without a beginning and without an end.” Mental Proof-The Creator has no end. The creation has an end. The one with an end must have a Creator to Will that end.

 

5.) Allah is One (al-Wahdaniyya). Textual Proof-

لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا which means, “Had there been other Gods for the heaven and Earth other than Allah, they (heaven and Earth) would not have existed.” Mental Proof-Allah is one, not in terms of numbers, but terms of Oneness in His Godhood.

 

6.) Allah has the attribute of Sight (al-Basar). Textual Proof- Surat ash-Shura, ayah 11:

 لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ which means, “Nothing resembles Allah in any way whatsoever, and Allah is attributed with Hearing and Sight. Mental Proof-Allah sees all the seeable things, without the need of an eye or light. Allah’s attribute of Sight is not like the sight of the creation. Our sight depends on organs (eyes) and light.

 

7.) Allah has the attribute of Hearing (as-Sam^). Textual Proof- Surat ash-Shura, ayah 11:

 لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ which means, “Nothing resembles Allah in any way whatsoever, and Allah is attributed with Hearing and Sight. Mental Proof-Allah hears all of the hearable things without the need of an ear or any other instrument. Allah’s attribute of Hearing is not like the hearing of the creation. Our hearing depends on an organ (ear) and sound resonation.

 

8.) Allah has the attribute of Speech (al-Kalam). Textual Proof-Surat an-Nisa’, ayah 164: وَكَلَّمَ اللّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيمًا which means, “Allah spoke to Musa with His Speech (Kalam).”  Mental Proof-The Speech of Allah is not like the speech of the creations. The Speech of Allah is not a sound or a letter or a language. It does not depend on organs (lips, teeth and tongue) and it does not resonate in the ear. The Speech of Allah does not start and stop. Like all of the Attributes of Allah, it has no beginning and no end.

 

9.) Allah has the Attribute of Life (al-Hayah). Textual Proof-Suratul-Baqarah, ayah 255: اللّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ which means, “No one is God except Allah, the One who is attributed with Life and is not in need of anything.” Mental Proof-Allah has the attribute of Life, but His life is not like the life of the creations. The creations are alive with flesh, blood and souls. The creations occupy the six directions, exist in places, and need sustenance. Allah is greatly clear from the attributes of the creations. The one who possesses the attributes of the creations is susceptible to the same weaknesses that the creations are susceptible to. This weakness does not befit Allah, ta^ala.

 

10.) Allah has the attribute of Knowledge (al-^Ilm). Textual Proof-Surat al-‘Anfal, ayah 75: إِنَّ اللّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ which means, “Allah has the perfect knowledge of everything.” Mental proof-Allah has the attribute of knowledge, but His knowledge is not like the knowledge of the creations. The Knowledge of Allah does not increase or decrease. If we say that there is something that Allah does not know about yet, this is attributing ignorance to Allah, and ignorance does not befit Allah. Allah’s Knowledge is perfect, without a beginning or an end.

 

11.) Allah has the attribute of Will (al-Iradah). Textual Proof-Suratat-Takwir, ayah 29: وَمَا تَشَاؤُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاء اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ

which means, “You do not will anything except by the Will of Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.” Mental Proof-Everything that Allah Willed in eternity for it to exist must come into existence at the time which Allah Willed for it to exist. Nothing will exist unless Allah willed for it to exist.

 

12.) Allah has the attribute of Power (al-Qudrah). Textual Proof-Suratal-Baqarah, ayah 109: إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ which means, “Allah has the perfect Power over all things.” Mental Proof-Allah has power over all things. He is not powerless over anything. To be powerless against a creation would mean that Allah had a weakness, and weakness does not befit Allah.

 

13.) Allah does not need anything (al-Qiyamubin-Nafs). Textual Proof-Surat al-^Imran, ayah 97: فَإِنَّ الله غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ which means, “Allah does not need any of the worlds.” Mental Proof-Allah does not need anything, and everything needs Him. Weakness and need are attributes of the creations, and not an attribute of the creator.

 

And Allah knows best



ïT$mÊ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
   Attributes of Allah

Allah is the proper name of God, however, we know Him generally through His attributes. These attributes describe how Allah manifests Himself to us. God's attributes are innumerable since human intellect cannot possibly comprehend every aspect of the Supreme Being. A Hadith of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) makes mention of Ninety Nine names of Allah commonly known as al- Asmaul Husna, the Most Names. In the Holy Quran we read: "And to Allah alone belong all perfect attributes. So call Him by these. And leave alone those who deviate from the right way with respect to His Attributes." (7:181).

 

"Allah - there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them; and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth; and the care of them burdens Him not;and He is the High, the Great." (2:256)

 

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is a lustrous niche, wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a glittering star. It is lit from blessed tree - an olive - neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would well-nigh glow forth even though fire touched it not.Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomsoever He will. And Allah sets forth parables to men, and Allah know all things full well.This light is now lit in houses with regard to which Allah has ordained that they be exalted and that His name be remembered in them, Therein is He glorified in the mornings and the evenings (24:36-37)

 

"He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is Gracious, the Merciful.He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace, the Bestower of Security, the Protector, the Mighty, the Subduer, the Exalted. Holy is Allah far above that which they associate with Him.He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. His are the most Beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the Mighty the Wise.(59: 23-25)

 

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Allah has ninety nine Names, one hundred less one; and who memorized them all by heart will enter Paradise." (Bukhari, The Book of Tauhid.

 







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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)

{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)

{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]

The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)  also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved otherwise.

If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest".


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