ArRahman: The Face and The Name

...

 قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.

Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.

Not He begets and not He is begotten.

And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."

[Al-Quran 112]

The Beneficent (55:1)

ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ١

https://quran.com/55/1

 

ArRahman is one of the names of Allah. Surah arRahman begins with this name. The surah lists many favours of our Lord-Sustainer (Rabb), and keeps asking which of favours of your Rabb will you both (ins and jinn) deny.   

The following two ayaat of Surah arRahman draw attention to our Rabb's Face and our Rabb's Name: 

وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ ٢٧

...

تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِى ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ ٧٨

Allah, ArRahman is a person. He has a physical form, independent of His creation. He is not a part of creation, nor is creation a part of Him. Though we cannot imagine what He looks like, yet we must know that He is Real, He truly exists, and His name is full of blessings, through which everything flourishes. Whoever is in the skies and Earth calls upon Him. He is constantly attending to the needs and wants and requests of His creation. We need to call upon Him for everything. He is the One and Only Ilah (deity). There is no god other than Him. 

A few translations of these ayaat: 

The Beneficent (55:27) 

وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ ٢٧

Only your Lord Himself,[1] full of Majesty and Honour, will remain ˹forever˺.[2]

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

[1] lit., your Lord’s Face.

[2] Death is listed as one of Allah’s favours since it puts an end to tyrants, ends the suffering of the oppressed, makes all people equal, ushers in judgment and the enforcement of justice, and leads the believers to eternal joy and peace in Paradise.

And there will remain the Face[1] of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.

— Saheeh International

[1]See footnote to 2:19.

And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honour will remain forever.

— Al-Hilali & Khan

اور تمہارے پروردگار ہی کی ذات (بابرکات) جو صاحب جلال وعظمت ہے باقی رہے گی

— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari

 اور باقی رہے گا منہ تیرےرب کا بزرگی اور عظمت والا [1] 

— Shaykh al-Hind Mahmud al-Hasan(with Tafsir E Usmani)

[1]ہر دن اللہ کی نئی شان ہے:یعنی زمین و آسمان کی تمام مخلوق زبان حال و قال سے اپنی حاجات اسی خدا سے طلب کرتی ہے۔ کسی کو ایک لمحہ کے لئے اس سے استغناء نہیں۔ اور  وہ بھی سب کی حاجت روائی اپنی حکمت کے موافق کرتا ہے۔ ہر  وقت اس کا الگ کام اور ہر روز اس کی نئی شان ہے۔ کسی کو مارنا، کسی کو جلانا، کسی کو بیمار کرنا، کسی کو تندرست کر دینا، کسی کو بڑھانا، کسی کو گھٹانا، کسی کو دینا کسی سے لینا اس کی شئون میں داخل ہیں۔ و قس علیٰ ہذا۔

اور تیرے رب کی ذات باقی رہے گی، عظمت والی اور عزت والی

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

https://quran.com/55/27

The Beneficent (55:78) 

تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِى ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ ٧٨

Blessed is the Name of your Lord, full of Majesty and Honour.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.

— Saheeh International

Blessed be the Name of your Lord (Allâh), the Owner of Majesty and Honour.

— Al-Hilali & Khan

اے محمد(ﷺ) تمہارا پروردگار جو صاحب جلال وعظمت ہے اس کا نام بڑا بابرکت ہے

— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari

بڑی برکت ہے نام کو تیرے رب کے جو بڑائی والا اورعظمت والا ہے [1

— Shaykh al-Hind Mahmud al-Hasan(with Tafsir E Usmani)

[1]اللہ کے نام کی برکت:یعنی جس نے اپنے وفاداروں پر ایسے احسان و انعام فرمائے اور غور کرو تو تمام نعمتوں میں اصلی خوبی اسی کے نام پاک کی برکت سے ہے۔ اور اسی کا نام لینے سے یہ نعمتیں حاصل ہوتی ہیں۔ پھر سمجھ لو جس کے اسم میں اس قدر برکت ہے مسمّی میں کیا کچھ ہوگی وَنِسَألُ اللّٰہَ الْکَرِیْمَ الْوَھَّابَ ذَاالْجَلَالِ وَالْاکرام اَنْ یَجْعَلَنَا مِنْ اَھْلِ الْجَنَّۃِ الْاَوَّلِیّیْن ۔اٰمین۔

تم سورۃ الرحمٰن ولِلہ الحمد والمنہ۔

بڑا بابرکت ہے تیرے رب کا نام بڑائی والااور عظمت والا

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

https://quran.com/55/78

... 

Also Read: 

arRahman arRaheem 

Seeking the Face of Allah 

The Observer & The Existence of Reality 

No Duality, No Trinity, No Divine Family 

The All-Encompassing Nur of Allah 

Feeding the Miskeen 

People & Names in Surah al-Kahf  

Knowledge of All the Names 

...

The Lord is my Rock

 قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.

Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.

Not He begets and not He is begotten.

And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."

[Al-Quran Surah al-Ikhlas]

Abstract

Strictly staying within the confines of Surah al-Ikhlas, this is a humble attempt to understand the physical description of God in The Bible and The Quran.   

Full Text 

Preamble

Monotheists believe in One Deity, while polytheists have a pantheon of deities, a family of gods. Muslims believe that there is nothing like Allah, the arabic word for God. The Jews also believe in One God. The Christians, while they believe in the Supreme God of The Torah/Bible, they also believe Jesus to be the begotten son of God. The Quran clearly declares that there is no god except Allah  ﷻ 

The Bible and The Quran present insights about God. I believe that each statement in the scriptures have been revealed by God for a definite purpose. Moreover, I believe the scriptures are meant to be studied literally. I also believe that the original Arabic text of The Quran is preserved in pristine condition, and is unedited. Therefore, staying strictly within the confines of Surah al-Ikhlas, that Allah  ﷻ is One and Only, Allah  ﷻ is Eternal and Self-Sufficient, that there is nothing like Allah  ﷻ, and that Allah  ﷻ neither begets nor is begotten, the following is a humble attempt to understand the description of God in The Bible and The Quran.   

The Rock

In the Bible, it states: 

הַצּוּר֙ תָּמִ֣ים פָּֽעֳל֔וֹ כִּ֥י כָל־דְּרָכָ֖יו מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אֵ֤ל אֱמוּנָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין עָ֔וֶל צַדִּ֥יק וְיָשָׁ֖ר הֽוּא

The deeds of the [Mighty] Rock are perfect, for all His ways are just; a faithful God, without injustice He is righteous and upright. 

[Deuteronomy 32:4, Jewish Translation]

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. 

[Deuteronomy 32:4, Christian Translation]

Like a Planet 
Surah anNur describes Allah as: 

اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ
الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ 
يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The allegory of His light is that of a pillar on which is a lamp. The lamp is within a glass.
The glass is like a brilliant planet,
fueled by a blessed tree, an olive tree, neither eastern nor western. Its oil would almost illuminate, even if no fire has touched it. Light upon Light. God guides to His light whomever He wills. God thus cites the parables for the people. God is cognizant of everything.
[Al-Quran 24:35; Translation: Talal A. Itani (new translation)]

Though in most translations of Q24:35 we find كَوْكَبٌ translated as star, The Quran uses the word نَّجْمُ for star. According to my understanding, it is more correct to translate كَوْكَبٌ as planet.


Omnipresent
The Bible uses the word 'Rock', and The Quran gives the example of a glass which is like a brilliant planet. It is important to emphasise on the word 'like', as when Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was being shown the kingdom of the heavens and the earth:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ

فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَىٰ كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ

فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ

فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith]

So when the night covered him [with darkness], he saw a star planet He said, "This is my lord." But when it set disappeared, he said, "I like not those that disappear."

And when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my lord." But when it set disappeared, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray."

And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set disappeared, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah .

Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created separated the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah ."

[Al-Quran 6:75-79, Translation: Sahih International, edited in italics]

The Quran uses the triliteral root hamza fā lām (أ ف ل) four times, only in the ayaat quoted above. According to Lane's Lexicon, it means to become hidden, absent or concealed. The Quran informs us that Allah  ﷻ  is omnipresent:

وَلِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

And for Allah (is) the east and the west, so wherever you turn [so] there (is the) face (of) Allah. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.

[Al-Quran 2:115] 

The Quran speaks of the Face of Allah ﷻ , the Hand of Allah ﷻ , and so on. We may do well to remember that we ourselves are made of dust, made of the same material as of planet Earth, yet, we have a definite shape, hands, face, heads and hearts. Moreover, we are breathing, living beings. However, it is important to remember that the Earth and its materials were created by Allah ﷻ ; that is, Allah ﷻ  is not made of the matter that He ﷻ  created to invent the Universe.

Allah ﷻ  is The Greatest 

Allah ﷻ  is the King of the heavens and earth. Mankind has a meeting scheduled with Allah ﷻ . Many ayaat of The Quran tell us that Allah ﷻ is the Most Great, the Most High. Perhaps the ayat which presents the most vivid concept of the relative size of Allah ﷻ  as compared to His creation is in Surah azZumar, ayat 67: 

 

وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

And not they appraised Allah (with) true appraisal, while the earth entirely (will be) in His Grip (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection, and the heavens (will be) folded in His Right Hand. Glory be to Him! And High is He above what they associate (with Him). 

[Al-Quran 39:67]

Those Who Were Given Knowledge Before  

Surah al-Isra concludes with the following ayaat: 

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ تِسْعَ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ فَاسْأَلْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذْ جَاءَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي لَأَظُنُّكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ مَسْحُورًا

And We had certainly given Moses nine evident signs, so ask the Children of Israel [about] when he came to them and Pharaoh said to him, "Indeed I think, O Moses, that you are affected by magic."

قَالَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا أَنزَلَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِلَّا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ بَصَائِرَ وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّكَ يَا فِرْعَوْنُ مَثْبُورًا

[Moses] said, "You have already known that none has sent down these [signs] except the Lord of the heavens and the earth as evidence, and indeed I think, O Pharaoh, that you are destroyed."

فَأَرَادَ أَن يَسْتَفِزَّهُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُ جَمِيعًا

So he intended to drive them from the land, but We drowned him and those with him all together.

وَقُلْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِ لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اسْكُنُوا الْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ الْآخِرَةِ جِئْنَا بِكُمْ لَفِيفًا

And We said after Pharaoh to the Children of Israel, "Dwell in the land, and when there comes the promise of the Hereafter, We will bring you forth in [one] gathering."

وَبِالْحَقِّ أَنزَلْنَاهُ وَبِالْحَقِّ نَزَلَ وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا

And with the truth We have sent the Qur'an down, and with the truth it has descended. And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.

وَقُرْآنًا فَرَقْنَاهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ عَلَىٰ مُكْثٍ وَنَزَّلْنَاهُ تَنزِيلًا

And [it is] a Qur'an which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively.

قُلْ آمِنُوا بِهِ أَوْ لَا تُؤْمِنُوا إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهِ إِذَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ يَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا

Say, "Believe in it or do not believe. Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it - when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration,

وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولًا

And they say, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled."

وَيَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ يَبْكُونَ وَيَزِيدُهُمْ خُشُوعًا

And they fall upon their faces weeping, and the Qur'an increases them in humble submission.

قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا

Say, "Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names." And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way.

وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلِيٌّ مِّنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا

And say, "Praise to Allah , who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with [great] glorification."

[Al-Quran 17:101-111, Translation: Sahih International]

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Last updated on November 17, 2022