Al- Ahad – The one

{99 Names of Allah Series}
Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh.

I hope we are all in good state of Iman and health. Alhamdulillah

*Al-Ahad- The One*

Al-Ahad (the One) is the One who is unique, Who is consistently one, and there is no other with Him. He is One and unique in His Oneness, in His Essence, and in His Lordship, in His divinity, and in His names and attributes.

He is the One Who is unique in all His perfect attributes, in which no one else has any share with Him. People must affirm His Oneness in belief, word and deed, by acknowledging His absolute perfection, affirming that He is unique in His oneness, and devoting all kinds of worship to Him alone.

He be exalted, alone, for He alone is the Creator, Sovereign and controller. That is to be followed by not associating anything with him in worship, and by striving for His sake, striving hard to be sincere to Him alone, may He be glorified, in all our words and deeds.

To Him belong the highest status and esteem; His is the highest description (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but He, and there is nothing comparable unto Him) in the heavens and in the earth. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise (30:27), of the highest esteem. No one of His creation is equal to Him and He is not subject to any shortcomings.

al-Ahad – dictates that we must believe that Lordship and divinity belong to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, alone, and we must affirm that He is one and unique in His deeds and attributes, and the deeds of His slaves should be devoted to Him alone. As He is one and unique in His Lordship, in the sense that He is the Creator, the Provider, the Giver of life and death, the Owner Who controls His creation as He wills, so too He is One in His divinity, so there is no god but Him alone, with no partner or associate.

Al WAARITH, The inheritor, The Heir.

{99 Names of Allah Series}
Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh.

I hope we are in good state of Iman and health. Alhamdulillah.

*Al-Waarith – The Inheritor, The Heir*

Waarith comes from the root waaw-raa-thaa, which points to four main meanings. The first meaning is to inherit. The second main meaning is to be an heir or survivor, and the third is to be the owner or maintainer after one has passed.

Linguistically, waratha refers to the action of inheriting whereas waarith is the one doing the action, the inheritor and al-meeraath is the inheritage. Even though there is the concept of heirs and inheritance of worldly possessions in this world, Al-Waarith is the supreme Heir to whom the heritage of the heavens and earth belongs.

Al-Waarith Himself says: . . . And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor [Quran, 15:23] …And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth. And Allah , with what you do, is [fully] Acquainted. [Quran, 3:180]

Take a look around you; everything you see– and don’t see— belongs to Allah. He gave you all the possessions you have— your car, your house, your children, your health, and even your time. Al-Waarith says: The kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything in them belongs to Allah. He has power over all things. [Quran, 5:120] Realize Al-Waarith owns everything, nothing belongs to you, not even your own soul, and praise Him and ask Him for guidance to use your “possessions” to gain His pleasure. When you lose something or someone console yourself with the fact it was Allah’s to begin with.

May Allah make us among the inheritors of Jannatul firdaws. Ameen

Dhul jalaal wa ikraam

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh.
I hope we are all in good state of Iman and health. Alhamdulillah.

*Dhul Jalaal Wa Ikraam- The Possessor of Glory and Honour, The Lord of Majesty and Generosity*

Jalaal comes from the root jeem-laam-laam, which points out to three main meanings. The first main meaning is to be glorious, majestic and sublime. The second main meaning is to be high, lofty and independant and the third to be supremely great.
This root appears twice in the Quran in one form; as the noun jalaal. An example is al-jalaali (of Majesty).

Ikraam, kareem and akram come from the root kaaf-raa-meem, which points out to four main meanings. The first meaning is to be generous, giving, and beneficent. The second main meaning of this root is to be highly esteemed, honoured and valued. The third main meaning is to be precious, valuable and rare and the fourth to be bountiful and productive.

Linguistically, dhu or thoo is a demonstrative pronoun and literally means with, in, on, or of in the Arabic language. In Dhul-Jalaal dhu refers to Allah ‘azza wa jall being complete Possessor, Owner and Lord of al-Jalaal, Majesty and Glory. Wal-Ikraam means wa (and) al-Ikraam, the Generosity and Bounty. Kareem is an adjective while ikraam is a verbal noun.

Allah is the Lord of these two beautiful Attributes. Dhul-Jalaali wal-Ikraam is the One who is most precious and honoured, He is the Majestic and Glorious Lord, Owner and Source of all generosity, blessings and bounties!

Dhul-Jalaali wal-Ikraam Himself says: Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor [Quran, 55:78]

Allah ‘azza wa jall describes His Noble Face as being Dhul-Jalaali wal-Ikraam; only He is worthy of being revered and obeyed. Make it a mission to seek His Face in everything you do. And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face [Quran, 18:28]

May Allah forgive us for doubting His Might. Grant us Jannatul Fridaws out of His Mercy. Ameen.

Al malik al mulk

{99 Names of Allah Series}

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh.
Alhamdulillah, for the gift of life, the gift of Islam, the gift of good health. I hope we are all in good state of Iman and health, in sha Allah.

*Maalikul Mulk – The Owner of the Dominion*

Maalik, Malik and Maleek all come from the root maa-laa-kaa, which points to three main meanings. The first main meaning is to have possession and ownership. The second is to have power and ability, and the third main meaning is to control and have authority.

Linguistically, maalik is an intensified form and refers to not only having kingship, but being master and lord. The word malik(king) is used for people however the name Maalik ul-Mulk is used for Allah ‘azza wa jall only. He is the King of all Kings, the owner of all owners and the ruler of all rulers, and His Kingdom consists of all that was, is, and will be created!

Maalik ul-Mulk Himself says: Say, “O Allah , Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent [Quran, 3:26]

Remind yourself of the day that Maalik ul-Mulk will confront you: The Day when they will (all) come out and nothing of them will be hidden from Allah. (On that Day they will be asked): “Whose is the kingdom today?” (The whole world will cry out): “It is Allah’s, the One, the Overpowering.” (It will then be said): “Today shall everyone be fully recompensed for his deeds . . .[Quran, 40:16-17] Every time you say Maaliki Yawmid-Deen in your prayer, imagine standing in front of Him and think of the deeds you have put forward for that day!

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successiveauthority.’ [Quran, 2:30] Allah ‘azza wa jallplaced you in His dominion with a mission: to worship Him alone and be reformers on earth. How do you know what Maalik ul-Mulk expects from you in His kingdom? By studying the Quran and the sunnah, so you can first read about His commandments and limits with which He guides you.

An-Nur

*An-Nur- The Light*

An-Nur comes from the root noon-waw-raa which points to four main meanings. The first main meaning is to give light and illuminate and the second to make visible, reveal,, and clarify. The third main meaning is to be flaming, blazing, and apparent to the senses, and the fourth main meaning to enlighten or give advice.

Linguistically, nur is used to indicate anything that gives off light, in the form of rays for example, and is that which makes things visible. Referring to Allah ‘azza wa jall, He is the one by whom everything is made visible, whose attribute is light, and He is the One who illuminates (munawwir) and the One who guides (Haadi) the heavens and the earth!

In the Quran and Sunnah we can find that Allah ‘azza wa jall has a nur (light) related to Him as an attribute of His essence. This is the same as His other attributes, for example sight, knowledge, might, etc. An-Nur says: And the earth will shine with the Light of its Rabb. [Quran, 39:69] This refers to the magnificent moment Allah ‘azza wa jall will come on the Day of Resurrection to judge mankind.

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallamstated about Allah’s attribute of nur: You are the Light of the heavens and the earth.[Al-Bukhaaree] He salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said the very weighty words: Light is His hijaab (veil), if He uncovers it then the subuhaat (brightness and splendour) of His Face would burn His creation so far as His Sight reaches.[Muslim]

An-Nur says: There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. [Quran, 5:15] This light is the Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The first step is to really treat the Quran and Sunah as your guide and deeply realize that only they are your way to receive the spiritual light of An-Nur. Through them you can see the reality of things and you will learn to clearly distinguish between good and bad.

May Allah guide us in following The Quran and Sunnah, so it can be a source of light for us in this life and the next.

Al-Jaami’

*Al-Jaami’ – The Gatherer*

Jaami’ comes from the root jeem-meem-‘ayn, which points to three main meanings. The first meaning is to gather or to bring together, accumulate, or congregate. The second main meaning is to connect, combine, or unite. The third main meaning is to reconcile or resolve and the fourth is to arrange, assemble, or compose.

Linguistically, the concept of jam refers to both physical gathering and union, such as yawm ul-jumu’ah ( the day people gather) and ‘ijmaa (scholarly consensus) as spiritual reconciliation, such as bringing the hearts people together after enmity.

Al-Jaami’ is the One who makes substances in the bodies work together, who gathers all different creatures living side by side in the world and so will disassemble us and compose us again when He gathers us on the Day of Judgment!

Al-Jaami’ Himself says: Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise [Quran, 3:9] . . . Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together. [Quran, 4:140]

Friday, or the day of Al-Jumu’ah, is a blessing Allah ‘azza wa jall granted the believers. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Allah sent astray those who had come before us from Al-Jumu’ah (The Day of Gathering/Friday). So the Jews were guided to yawmus-Sabt (Saturday), and the Christians were guided to yawmul-Ahad (Sunday). So Allah presented to us, therefore guided us to Al-Jumu’ah. Furthermore, they will follow us on yawmul-Qiyaamah (The Day of Standing and Reckoning). We are last from amongst Ahlud-Dunyaa -the people of this life- and first on yawmul-Qiyaamah [Muslim]

The Day of Resurrection is also known as the Day of Gathering, because on that Day Allah will gather His slaves for their final Judgments; this is the great gathering. Allah ‘azza wa jall tells us about Yawm ul-Jam’i (the Day of Assembly): The Day He will assemble you for the Day of Assembly – that is the Day of Deprivation. And whoever believes in Allah and does righteousness – He will remove from him his misdeeds and admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment. [Quran, 64:9]

Allah– there is no deity except Him. He will surely assemble you for [account on] the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. And who is more truthful than Allah in statement. [Quran, 4:87] Reflect on the greatness of Allah ‘azza wa jall who is able to bring all of mankind, from the old ages to the last of times, together in one place. Every day think about your standing in front of Him, Al-Jaami’.

May Allah make us of those who join and stay with the jama’a (congregation), bring others together for good. And grant us mercy on the day we will all be gathered. Ameen.

Al-Muqaddim

*Al-Muqaddim- The Expeditor*

From the root q-d-m which has the following classical Arabic connotations:

to precede, to come before,to head, to lead, to bring forward, to make foremost, to put at the front, to advance, to promote, to exist without beginning

*Al- Muakhkhir- The Delayer*

From the root a-kh-r which has the following classical Arabic connotations:

to cause to go back, backwards, retreat, recede, to put behind or after, lag behind, to postpone, put off, delay, retard

Allaah is the One Who gives precedence to whatever has to be given precedence with regard to rulings and the order of things, as and how He likes. Whatever He gives precedence to should be given precedence, and whatever He gives less priority to should be given less priority. He is the One Who puts back what has to be put back, and there is wisdom and goodness in whatever He does, even though the purpose of that wisdom and goodness may be hidden from us.

Allaah is the One Who sends down events, expediting or delaying them as He wills, in accordance with His decree which came before He created all things. He gives preference to those among His close friends (awliya’) whom He loves over others among His slaves; He raises some of His created beings above others in status; He brings forward those whom He wills to higher ranks and He keeps down those whom He wills; He postpones things from their expected times because in His wisdom He knows the consequences of the delay. None can bring forward what He puts back and none can put back what He brings forward.

Allaah is the One Who sends down events, expediting or delaying them as He wills, in accordance with His decree which came before He created all things. He gives preference to those among His close friends (awliya’) whom He loves over others among His slaves; He raises some of His created beings above others in status; He brings forward those whom He wills to higher ranks and He keeps down those whom He wills; He postpones things from their expected times because in His wisdom He knows the consequences of the delay. None can bring forward what He puts back and none can put back what He brings forward.

May Allah grant us patience to wait for Him and trust Him. Ameen.

Al-Mumeet

*Al-Mumeet- The Destroyer, The Life Taker*

From the root m-w-t which has the following classical Arabic connotations:

to die, pass away, burn out, be lifeless

to be quiet, still, calm

to be inanimate

to be deprived of sensation

to be spiritually dead, lacking spiritual life.

The names Mumît (the life-taker) and Muhyî (the life-giver) are opposites.

The name Mumît is not specifically used as a Beautiful Name in the Qur’ân directly.

However, Say, [O Muhammad], “O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death.” So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.(Surat Al-‘A`raf 7:158)

The One who created the inanimate world, to which all living forms return.

The One who ordains what shall become lifeless. The One who creates the appearance of death, physically or spiritually.

He Who creates the death of a living creature…

Allah determines a certain lifespan for every living being that He created. Death is certain for living beings. It is Allah who creates life and death. .

However, death does not mean disappearing and going towards nihility; it is access from the ephemeral and transient life to the permanent and endless life.

Therefore, we must prepare for death. Every soul must taste. We must be patient when Allah takes our loved ones away from us.

May Allah only take us only when He is most pleased with us. Only when we are at our best. Ameen.

Al-Muhyi

Al-Muhyi- The Giver of Life

Muhyee comes from the root haa-yaa-yaa, which points to four main meanings. The first meaning is to live. The second main meaning is to become apparent or distinct. The third is to revive, vitalize and call into being and the fourth main meaning is to be sound, or whole.

Al-Muyhee is the only One who can give life to whomever He pleases, surrounding the creation with the right conditions to survive. Then He decrees death, to restore life and join the soul and body on the Day of Judgement to repay us for what we did in this world and this is an easy task for Him!

Al-Muhyee Himself says: . . . Indeed, He who has given it life is the Giver of Life to the dead. Indeed, He is over all things competent. [Quran, 41:39] So observe the effects of the mercy of Allah – how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness…[Quran, 30:50]

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam narrated: Verily, each of you is brought together in his mother’s abdomen for forty days in the form of a drop of fluid. Then it is a clinging object for a similar [period]. Thereafter, it is a lump looking like it has been chewed for a similar [period]. The angel is then sent to him and he breathes into him the spirit. He is also commanded to issue four decrees: to record his sustenance, his life span, his deeds and [whether he will be] unhappy [by entering Hell] or happy [by entering Paradise]..[part hadith, Al-Bukharee, Muslim] Al-Muhyee bestows our life in stages and grows our body in a miraculous way, from a drop of fluid into a detailed body clothed with muscles, flesh, veins and skin. But not only psycically, Al-Muhyee also gives us life by sending an angel to breath the spirit into us and we remain limited in knowledge of our innerselves. On top of bestowing our lives, Al-Muhyee also commands to issue four decrees which determine the course of our life. Such is the plan of life of Al-Muyee!

Al-Muhyee gave you life and placed you on this earth as an ambassador. Respect your life by using your time wisely and respect other people’s life by benefiting them with your knowledge, skills and emotional support and never harm another life unjustly, not even the life of an animal. If you truly cherish life you constantly strive against lughw – useless activities as mentioned in the Quran – this includes useless conversations, watching things of no benefit etc.

Study the extremely valuable lessons Al-Muhyee teaches you through His works in nature. 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. [Quran, 41:39] When you see the change of seasons, from greenery to bareness, reflect on the ups and downs of your life and that after dark(difficult) times, light(easy) times come.

Alhamdulillah to Allah that has given us life.

May Allah grant us hearts that are alive with faith. Ameen

Al-Baatin

*Al-Baatin – The Hidden*

Baatin comes from the root baa-Taa-naa which points to two main meanings. The first meaning is to be concealed and lie hidden and the second is to be inside and penetrate into.

Linguistically, zhaahir and baatin are opposites where zhaahir refers to that which is manifest and apparent and baatin that which is inward and concealed. In Arabic, butn refers to the belly or womb, which is concealed inside the human body.

Both these opposites are united in the perfect Attributes of Allah ‘azza wa jall, who is both Azh-Zhaahir and Al-Baatin. He is the Manifest, everything becomes manifest through Him only and through His signs we know Him, yet we cannot perceive Him in this world.

Al-Baatin Himself says: . . . He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing. [Quran, 57:3]

In surah Al-Hadeed Allah uses the wordbaatinuhoo, while describing the wall with a door that will be placed between the believers and hypocrites in the Hereafter, which interior contains mercy for the believers and zhaahiruhoo (its outside) is torment. And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment. The hypocrites will call to the believers, “Were we not with you?”[Quran, 57:13:14]

How come these people were locked out? What was their crime? They will say, “Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allah . And the Deceiver deceived you concerning Allah [Quran, 57:14] These people pretended to be with those who truly believed and prayed with them, but they indulged themselves in all types of temptations, they had doubts about Allah’s power and they thought easy of their sins until death came to them. This is how shaytan deceived them. The meaning here is that the believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, “You were with us in bodies which were heartless and devoid of intentions. You were cast in doubt and suspicion. You were showing off for people and remembered Allah, little.” [Tafseer ibn Katheer]

May AllH protect us from hypocrisy. Make our inward and outward selves be good and purify our intentions. Ameen