When we open the Holy Book,
al-Qur’an, the first thing we read is “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem” (= In the
Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Dispenser of mercy). This is logical, if we
remember that the first word revealed to the Prophet (peace and God’s blessings
upon him) was “Iqraa bismi Rabbik” (= Read in the Name of your Lord!). And the
Name of His Lord is “Allah”, “ar-Rahman”, “ar-Raheem”.
What is a name? A name is a
word or a symbol used in logic to designate an entity. The real name of God in
Arabic is “Allaah”. And He Himself says (in the Qur’an):
“And to God (alone) belong the most
Beautiful Names (= the Attributes of Perfection). Invoke Him, then, by these,
and stand aloof from all who distort the meaning of His attributes; they shall
be requited for all that they were wont to do!” (Qur’an, 7 : 20).
“God is He, other than whom there is no
deity: the One Who knows all that is beyond the reach of a created being’s
perception, as well as all that can be witnessed by a creature’s senses or
mind; He is the Most Merciful, the Dispenser of mercy” (Qur’an, 59:22).
There are many more Names or
Attributes of God, such as:
“al-Malik” (= the Sovereign
Supreme), “al-Quddoos” (= the Holy), “as-Salaam” (= the One with whom all
salvation rests), “al-Mu’min” (= the Giver of Faith), “al-Muhaimin” (= the One
who determines what is true and what is false), “al-‘Azeez” (= the Allmighty),
“al-Jabbaar” (= the Omnipotent), “al-Mutakabbir” (= the One to whom all
Greatness belongs), and many more Names or Attributes.
Some people may ask: why
should God, the Most Merciful, possess attributes such as “al-Jabbar” (the
Omnipotent), and “al-Qahhar” (the Compeller), while He is the Most Merciful and
the Dispenser of Mercy?
If we deeply reflect on the
reality of life in this world, we surely will come to understand that God has put
human beings to the test and given them responsibility for as long as they shall
live. They are given a certain free will and the capability to know how to
manage and develop their skills in order to live in a civilized way, by following
His Guidance.
Actually in reality we see so
many people everywhere and all the time transgressing God’s given rules. Many
people oppress others, without pity or humane feelings. Before this unjust
reality, we need God’s Omnipotence to stop the absolute chaos. And for this
reason God has warned them that He will not let the unjust go without
punishment; sometimes their punishment will be immediate, but often He will
punish the unjust only in the hereafter.
“And if God were to take mankind to task
for their wrongdoing, He would not leave upon it any living being; but He gives
them respite until an appointed term; and when their term comes they will not
defer by a single hour nor advance” (Qur’an, 16:61).
The problem
of many people is that instead of
following the guidance that comes from God, or even their conscience, they
follow their unfair desires at the expense of others. They do not care of
wronging others if it is for their own “benefit”. But in fact, with such
conduct, they will gain nothing except that they will wrong themselves and
others as well.
“(By
that conduct) they think that they are deceiving God and those who believe,
while they are not deceiving except themselves, although they are unaware of
it. There is disease in their hearts, and so God lets their disease increase;
and grievous suffering awaits them because of their persistent lying” (2 : 9-10).
God has admonished them by saying:
“O My servants, I have made oppression
unlawful for Myself, and I made it unlawful among you all, so do not oppress
one another” (God’s saying remitted by Prophet Muhammad -peace and God’s
blessings upon him- and recorded by the Collector of Hadith Imam Muslim).
“Indeed to God belongs all that is in
the heavens and all that is on earth: and so He will reward those who do evil
in accordance with what they did, and will reward those who do good with
ultimate good” (Qur’an, 53:31).
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