This Attribute is derived from "mercy" and "compassion." This requires us to dist<strong>in</strong>guishbetween both <strong>of</strong> these words. Also, whenever the Almighty uses both <strong>of</strong> these words, Hementions the Attribute "al-Ra'o<strong>of</strong>" before "al-Rahim;" therefore, we have to expla<strong>in</strong> thedifference between both <strong>of</strong> them and the reason for such a preference.<strong>The</strong> Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> was travell<strong>in</strong>g once as he happened to pass by a woman bak<strong>in</strong>gbread. Her young son was with her. She was told that the Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> was pass<strong>in</strong>g by,so she came to him and said, "O Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong>! It has come to my knowledge that youhave said, `<strong>Allah</strong> is more Compassionate towards His servants than a mother towards her son.'Is this the correct statement which you have spoken?" He answered her <strong>in</strong> the affirmative,whereupon she said, "A mother does not hurl her son <strong>in</strong> an oven like this one." Hav<strong>in</strong>g heardher say so, the Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> wept, then he said, "<strong>Allah</strong> does not torment anyone by thefire [<strong>of</strong> hell] except one who is too arrogant to bear witness that there is no god but He."If a servant <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> wishes to model his conduct after the <strong>in</strong>spiration <strong>of</strong> this Attribute, he hasfirst to remember and mention it quite <strong>of</strong>ten, hence the light <strong>of</strong> al-Ra'o<strong>of</strong> will manifest itself tohis heart, so much so that he will become compassionate towards all people, the commonersas well as the elite, always remember<strong>in</strong>g the say<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong>, "Be mercifulunto the people <strong>of</strong> the earth so that the people <strong>of</strong> the heavens may be merciful to you."84. "Malikul-Mulk"<strong>Allah</strong> has said: Say: O <strong>Allah</strong>, Master <strong>of</strong> the K<strong>in</strong>gdom! You give the k<strong>in</strong>gdom to whomsoeverYou please and take the k<strong>in</strong>gdom away from whomsoever You please, and You exaltwhomsoever You please and abase whomsoever You please; <strong>in</strong> Your hand is goodness; surelyYou have power over all th<strong>in</strong>gs. (3:26)Malikul-Mulk affects His will <strong>in</strong> His k<strong>in</strong>gdom however He pleases, lett<strong>in</strong>g some live andothers perish. <strong>The</strong> mulk <strong>in</strong> this context means the k<strong>in</strong>gdom, and the Malik is the Omnipotent,the Most Powerful. All th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> existence are <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> His k<strong>in</strong>gdom, so His is onek<strong>in</strong>gdom because all th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> it are somehow connected to one another. Although they maybe regarded as many, they constitute one entity, one k<strong>in</strong>gdom.Malikul-Mulk fares with His k<strong>in</strong>gdom as He pleases, and none can revoke His judgment, norcan anyone appeal or repeal it. All th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> existence, <strong>in</strong> all their degrees and levels,constitute one k<strong>in</strong>gdom owned by One: <strong>Allah</strong>, the Most Exalted.Malikul-Mulk is the true K<strong>in</strong>g Who deals with His k<strong>in</strong>gdom as He pleases, br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs<strong>in</strong>to existence <strong>in</strong> it or end<strong>in</strong>g the existence <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> its be<strong>in</strong>gs, chastis<strong>in</strong>g some andaccept<strong>in</strong>g the repentance <strong>of</strong> others, without anyone shar<strong>in</strong>g the authority with Him orprohibit<strong>in</strong>g Him from do<strong>in</strong>g whatever He pleases.
"Malikul-Mulk" occurs <strong>in</strong> the orig<strong>in</strong>al Arabic text <strong>of</strong> this verse: "Say: O <strong>Allah</strong>, Master <strong>of</strong> theK<strong>in</strong>gdom!" (Qura'n, 3:26). Another derivative is "al-malakoot" which exists <strong>in</strong> "Glory to theOne <strong>in</strong> Whose hand is the k<strong>in</strong>gdom <strong>of</strong> all th<strong>in</strong>gs, and to Him you shall be broughtback" (Qura'n, 36:83).... and a hard Day shall it be for the unbelievers. (25:26) To Whom does the k<strong>in</strong>gdom belongthis Day? To <strong>Allah</strong>, the One, the One Who subdues (all). (40:16) And <strong>Allah</strong>'s is the k<strong>in</strong>gdom<strong>of</strong> the heavens and the earth, and to <strong>Allah</strong> is the eventual return. (24:42)<strong>The</strong> Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> is quoted say<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>Allah</strong>'s Greatest Name, the one because <strong>of</strong>which He will respond if thereby <strong>in</strong>voked, exists <strong>in</strong> the verse say<strong>in</strong>g, "Say: O <strong>Allah</strong>, Master <strong>of</strong>the K<strong>in</strong>gdom!" (Qura'n, 3:26).<strong>The</strong> Commander <strong>of</strong> the Faithful Imam `Ali ibn Abu lib was asked once by Ababah ibn Rab`ial-Asdi about "ability." <strong>The</strong> Commander <strong>of</strong> the Faithful asked Abadah, "Do you have itwithout <strong>Allah</strong> or with Him?" Ababah could not answer, so he told him to say someth<strong>in</strong>g."What shall I say, O Commander <strong>of</strong> the Faithful?!" asked Ababah. He answered, "You shouldsay that you have it by permission <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> Who has full control over it without your help. IfHe opts to grant it to you, then it is a boon which He gives you. And if He takes it away, it is atrial from Him. He is the real Owner <strong>of</strong> what you own, and the One Who owns what Heenables you to possess. Have you not heard about seek<strong>in</strong>g His help and might by say<strong>in</strong>g,`Surely there is no help nor might except through <strong>Allah</strong>'?" <strong>The</strong> man asked him, "And whatdoes it mean, O Commander <strong>of</strong> the faithful?" He said, "It means: We do not stay away fromcommitt<strong>in</strong>g acts <strong>of</strong> disobedience to <strong>Allah</strong> except if He protects us aga<strong>in</strong>st disobey<strong>in</strong>g Him,and we have no strength to obey Him except if He grants us His help," whereupon the manleaped and kissed his hands and feet.<strong>The</strong> k<strong>in</strong>gdom <strong>of</strong> each and every servant <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> is his own body. If it affects his willregard<strong>in</strong>g his heart and senses, he will then be the owner <strong>of</strong> his k<strong>in</strong>gdom accord<strong>in</strong>g to theextent <strong>of</strong> his control over it.85. "Thul-Jalali wal Ikram"<strong>Allah</strong> has said: Blessed is the name <strong>of</strong> your Lord, the Lord <strong>of</strong> Glory and Honour! (55:78)Thul-Jalali wal Ikram is a glorious Attribute that comb<strong>in</strong>es glory and beauty, for there is anawesome Glory and Beauty <strong>of</strong> the Almighty; no servant <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> can achieve knowledgeexcept if he becomes familiar with Thul-Jalali wal Ikram. This Attribute surely comb<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> itanticipation, awe, hope and fear.<strong>The</strong> Almighty monopolizes the qualities <strong>of</strong> jall, greatness, and ikrm, honour. All greatness isHis, and honour is from Him; Glory to Him; there is no glory except that He is itsfounta<strong>in</strong>head, while honour is always His. Glory has orig<strong>in</strong>ated from Him and overwhelmed
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AllahThe Concept of God in Islam (a
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IntroductionIn any theistic religio
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eminded him of the bloody and shame
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Knowing AllahMuhammed, the Messenge
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All Praise is due to Allah, the One
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The Praised One has said, He is the
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you then made you complete, then He
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The Ninety Nine Attributesof AllahI
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The Almighty is Endless regarding H
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produce it. They will also realize
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Who grants mercy beyond which there
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Unity of Allah (Tawhid)Islam falls
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is Allah, your Lord; so, worship Hi
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keep closing their eyes to the fact
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Abu Abdullah Imam Ja`fer al-Sadiq h
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descends during the night of the mi
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and the Exalted One, whereby He des
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perfected their design and computed
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[14] Ibid., p. 59.[15] al-Tusi, Al-
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How to Supplicate to AllahBefore ad
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me, and if I try to amend my steps,
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Al-Qudds is the One Who is above ne
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finished his prayers, he would seek
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e overcome or in any way harmed, th
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Holy Qura'n bestows the Attribute o
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stage of life without needing you o
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They desire to put out the light of
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e called badee' at all; so, this At
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said, "And most surely We bring to
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Al-Saboor, Glory to Him, is the Cle
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Whenever the Messenger of Allah pro
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Linguistically, "al-Qahhar" is deri
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descends from the heavens, the sky
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desires to be blessed by it. Among
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"Thul-Jalali wal Ikram" means: the
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The subject of jami`, gathering or
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apparent.Allah is the Enricher, yet
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The Messenger of Allah used to say
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Allah and is affected either throug
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There are many derivations from thi
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up so that I may get you out of you
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too, perished. Then he saw a fourth
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the sun and the moon subservient (t
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