"Allah is God, there is no deity other than Him." and "Allah has brought you forth from your mothers' wombs when you knew nothing, and then gave you hearing, and sight and thinking hearts so that you may give thanks." (Quran 59:22 & 16:78)
WHO IS ALLAH (SWT) ? - In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. (Surah Al-Fatiha: 1-4)
هُوَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِىۡ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ ۚ عٰلِمُ الۡغَيۡبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ ۚ هُوَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ الرَّحِيۡمُ - هُوَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِىۡ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَۚ اَلۡمَلِكُ الۡقُدُّوۡسُ السَّلٰمُ الۡمُؤۡمِنُ الۡمُهَيۡمِنُ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡجَـبَّارُ الۡمُتَكَبِّرُؕ سُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُوۡنَ - هُوَ اللّٰهُ الۡخَـالِـقُ الۡبَارِئُ الۡمُصَوِّرُ لَـهُ الۡاَسۡمَآءُ الۡحُسۡنٰىؕ يُسَبِّحُ لَهٗ مَا فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِۚ وَهُوَ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡحَكِيۡمُ -
He is Allah: there is no god but He; the Knower of the unseen and the manifest, He is the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. He is Allah: there is no god but He: the King, the Holy, the All-Peace, the Giver of security, the Overseer, the Most Mighty, the Overpowering, the All-Great. Exalted be He from whatever they associate with Him. He is Allah, the Planner, Executer and Fashioner of creation. His are the names most beautiful. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth extols His Glory. He is the Most Mighty, the Most Wise. (Surah Al-Hashr : 22-24)
This imprints on our consciousness the truth of God's oneness in belief , worship , action and life conduct from the beginning of creation to its final end . On the basis of this oneness a whole code of living is based , regulating our way of thinking , feeling , behavior , relations with the universe and its living creatures , as well as relations with people .
"It is He who knows all that is beyond the reach of anyone's perception , as well as all that which can be witnessed.” (Ayat 22)
This divine attribute makes us clearly conscious of Allah's knowledge of everything , apparent or hidden . This awakes in our consciences the need to watch out , keeping Allah always in our thoughts , public and private . Thus , man will go about his life feeling that he is being watched by Allah and that he himself is on the watch for Allah's sake , realizing that he does not live alone , not even when he is in seclusion or locked alone with one other in private conversation . His actions will be colored by this feeling that keeps him always on guard .
" He is the Lord of Grace , the Ever Merciful . ” (Ayat 22)
Now a feeling of reassurance spreads within man's conscience as he feels the air of God's mercy spread over him . Feelings of awe and hope , fear and reassurance are well balanced within him . In the believer's concept , God does not chase His creatures , but watches them ; He does not wish them harm , but loves that they should adhere to His guidance ; He does not abandon them to struggle against evil without providing help for them .
" He is God : there is no deity other than Him. " (Ayat 23)
This is repeated at the beginning of the second part of this expansive glorification of Allah , because it provides the basis for all divine attributes .
"The Sovereign.” (Ayat 23) This attribute imprints on our hearts the truth that there is no sovereignty or dominion to anyone other than Allah who has no partners . When there is one sovereign , those who are subject to that sovereignty will have only one master to serve . No one can serve two masters at the same time: “ Never has God put two hearts in one man's body.” (33:4)
"The Holy." (Ayat 23) This attribute radiates absolute holiness and purity . It strikes our hearts with purity , keeps them cleansed , suited to receive the grace of the Holy Sovereign , and all to extol His limitless glory.
"The Source of Peace." (Ayat 23) Again , this attribute radiates peace , security and reassurance throughout the universe and in man's own soul . Man feels that he is safe , under Allah's care and protection , in peace with the world around him and all its dwellers . As man reflects on this attribute , he is reassured , regaining a feeling of peace and extending
"The Giver of Faith.” (Ayat 23) The very pronunciation of this attribute , al - Mumin , gives a believer a clear sense of the value of faith . Here , a believer meets with Allah and draws on one of His attributes , rising by virtue of his faith to join the community on high .
"The Guardian over all.” (Ayat 23) This begins a new set of attributes that contribute to our concept of Him . The previous attributes related to Him only . These new ones relate to His action as He conducts life , the universe and all affairs . These attributes imply His absolute control and watchfulness .
The same applies to the other three attributes stated in this ayat , “The Almighty , the Compeller , to whom all greatness belongs." (Ayat 23) They all emphasize power , authority and superiority . None is more powerful or has greater authority than Him , just as no one can be in any way superior to Him . These attributes belong to Allah alone ; none share them with Him in any way .
Hence the ayat ends with the statement : “Exalted is God in His limitless glory above anything they associate as partner with Him." (Ayat 23) peace to all.
The last Ayat of the Surah begins the third section of this expansive glorification of Allah , and again it begins with a statement of His oneness: "He is God.” (Ayat 24) Whoever else is not God . He is “the Creator, the Maker." The Creator stresses design and proportion , while the Maker stresses the process of bringing things into reality . The two attributes are intertwined , and the difference between them is subtle. “Who gives shape and form to all.” (Ayat 24) This attribute is also closely related to the two before it . It means that Allah is the one who gives every creature its distinctive features and specific qualities that make up its personality. The succession of these interlinked qualities , with their subtle differences , prompts us to follow the process of creation and initiation , stage by stage , as we humans conceive of it. In actual fact , there are no stages or steps . What we know of these attributes is not their absolute reality , because this is known only to God . We only know some of the effects they produce , as this is the limit of our understanding . "His are the most gracious names." (Ayat 24) His names are , in themselves , most gracious . They need not be praised or admired by creatures. They are the attributes a believer reflects upon in order to mold himself and his life in accordance with their meaning . He knows that Allah loves that he should try to live up to them so that he can elevate himself as He seeks Allah's acceptance. This long and expansive glorification of Allah , citing many of His most gracious attributes , with all their inspiring effects , is brought to a close with the image that Allah's glorification is echoed throughout the universe , with every creature joining in : “Everything in the heavens and earth extols His limitless glory . He alone is the Almighty , the Wise.” (Ayat 24)
Who are we ? - We are humans, one of the creations of the Allah (SWT).
وَاللّٰهُ اَخۡرَجَكُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بُطُوۡنِ اُمَّهٰتِكُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ شَيۡـئًا ۙ وَّ جَعَلَ لَـكُمُ السَّمۡعَ وَالۡاَبۡصٰرَ وَالۡاَفۡـئِدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُوۡنَ
Allah has brought you forth from your mothers' wombs when you knew nothing, and then gave you hearing, and sight and thinking hearts so that you may give thanks. (Surah 16:78) This is to remind humans that when they were born they were more helpless and ignorant than the young one of an animal, but Allah gave them ears to hear, eyes to see and minds to think and reflect. These have enabled them to acquire every kind of information and knowledge to carry on their worldly affairs efficiently. So much so that these sensory faculties are the only means which help man attain so much progress as to rule over everything on the earth. That is, you should be grateful to that Allah Who has bestowed upon you such blessings as these. It will be ingratitude on your part if you hear everything with your ears except the word of Allah, and see everything with your eyes except the signs of Allah and consider seriously about all the matters except your Benefactor Who has blessed you with these favors.
Furthermore, "Who created me and Who guides me; Who gives me food and drink, and Who, when I am ill, heals me; Who will cause me to die and then will again restore me to life. Who, I hope, will forgive me my sins on the Day of Judgement." (Ash-Shuaa'ra ayat 78-82)
الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَنِىۡ فَهُوَ يَهۡدِيۡنِۙ - وَ الَّذِىۡ هُوَ يُطۡعِمُنِىۡ وَيَسۡقِيۡنِۙ - وَاِذَا مَرِضۡتُ فَهُوَ يَشۡفِيۡنِ - وَالَّذِىۡ يُمِيۡتُنِىۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيۡنِۙ -
وَالَّذِىۡۤ اَطۡمَعُ اَنۡ يَّغۡفِرَ لِىۡ خَطِٓیْـئَـتِىۡ يَوۡمَ الدِّيۡنِ ؕ -
This is the first reason for which Allah, and One Allah alone, is worthy of man’s worship. The people also knew and believed that Allah alone was their Creator without any partner. Not only they but all the polytheists of the world also have always held the belief that even the deities they worshiped were the creation of Allah, and except for the atheists none have ever denied that Allah is the Creator of the whole universe. This argument of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) implied that being a creature, he could only worship his Creator, Who was alone worthy of his worship, and none else, because none besides Allah had any share in His creation.
The second reason for worshiping Allah and Allah alone is that Allah has not become unconcerned with man after creating him and has not left him alone to seek other supporters for help, but has also taken the responsibility of making arrangements for his guidance, protection and fulfillment of his needs. The moment a human child is born, milk is produced for it in the breasts of his mother, and some unseen power teaches it the way to suck it and take it down the throat. From the first day of his life till his death, the Creator has provided in the world around him all necessary means required for every stage of his life for his development and guidance, sustenance and survival. He has also endowed him with all those powers and abilities which are needed to use the means with advantage and given him all necessary guidance for every sphere of life. Then for the protection of human life against all sorts of disease, germs and poisons, He has created such effective antidotes that they have not yet been fully encompassed by human knowledge. If these natural arrangements had not been made, even a thorn-prick would have proved fatal. When this all-pervading mercy and providence of the Creator is supporting and sustaining man at all times in every way, there could be no greater folly and ingratitude on the part of man than this that he should bow down before others than Allah and seek their help in need and trouble.
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ - وَاجْعَل لِّي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِي الْآخِرِينَ - وَاجْعَلْنِي مِن وَرَثَةِ جَنَّةِ النَّعِيمِ - وَاغْفِرْ لِأَبِي إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ - وَلَا تُخْزِنِي يَوْمَ يُبْعَثُونَ - يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ - إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ -My Lord! grant me authority, and join me with the righteous. And grant me an honorable mention in later generations. And make me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight. And forgive my father, verily, he is of the erring. And disgrace me not on the Day when they will be resurrected. The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail. Except him who brings to Allah a clean heart. (Ash-Shua'raa: 83-89)
Rest Allah knows best.
Source: Quran, In the Shade of the Quran, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Towards understanding the Quran.
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