Anushka Fatima talks about Allah the Almighty and His Divine Attributes.
The names used to refer to a Supreme Being found in other languages are all attributive or descriptive and are often at times used in the plural. However, of the 2,699 times that the word “Allah” has been written in the Quran it is never used in the plural. In this way, the Allah has been used perfectly to describe the Islamic principle of the unity of God.
Although Allah is used to refer to God in Islam, Islam has also been given the ninety-nine names of Allah, which are are also known as His attributes. Allah possesses much more than just ninety-nine attributes; however, we cannot know them all given our limits in comprehension as humans. Allah manifests Himself to His people in ways that they can understand. Hence, the number of names Allah possesses is irrelevant, but rather what we can understand from them about our Supreme Creator.
In the opening chapter of the Holy Quran, Surah Fatihah, the Divine attributes of Allah are introduced which all branch out from four principal attributes. Lord of All the Worlds, The Gracious, The Merciful, and The Master of the Day of Judgment.
Lord of All the Worlds رَبُّ العٰلَمِین
This article will begin with the first attribute introduced in Surah Al-Fatihah, Rabbul Alameen, or Lord of All the Worlds. This attribute flawlessly describes the way in which God creates and fosters everything and how it leads gradually towards perfection. Allah Almighty uses this attribute to explain that He is not just the God of Islam, but also the God of Christians, Jews, and people of all faiths and surely, for the people who hold no faith. Therefore, Allah is the ultimate Provider and Sustainer for all of mankind and He has showered His Grace and Mercy upon all people, no matter their caste, creed or colour.
Allah the Almighty has used the word “Aalam” in the Holy Quran, which has been translated into English as “worlds”. However, no mere translation can grasp the true scope of the Arabic word “Aalam”, which is incredibly vast and complex. By using this word, Allah the Almighty has made it clear, He is the Creator and Nourisher of people of all nations, of all beliefs and for all times. These words are filled with unparalleled beauty and great wisdom, wherein they have enshrined the sanctity of the principle of universal equality. This attribute alone contests to the notion that Islam encourages superiority of any particular people over the other. It is made clear that Allah’s blessings and favours are not limited to any faith or creed, but rather are bestowed indiscriminately on all.
As the Lord, Allah is the creator of all and knowledgeable in everything. Allah alone is fully aware of the real nature of all things. The truth of this statement is verified by the daily multiplying discoveries of science which go to prove how inadequate human knowledge ever remains. Of the small slice of many scientific truths that are revealed by Allah in the Quran 1400 years ago, are all slowly being proven. One of the key concepts in the Quran is evolution which was only proposed by science in the nineteenth century.
However, even the attribute of Rabbul Alameen itself reveals the concept of evolution. It illustrates that as all things grow, develop, and change they cannot do so by themselves, as is all life that is subject to God’s Lordship. The phrase further points out that the principle of evolution is not inconsistent with belief in God. On the contrary, the progressive development of things makes creation more marvellous, whether its in the physical, mental, or spiritual.
Five words beautifully strung together can reveal infinite pools of wisdom and understanding of our creator. We learn that He is the Lord – the Creator, Sustainer, Nurturer, and Destroyer of all that is and all that has been. We are given a small glimpse into the immense power Allah holds and in what ways we have been provided. He is created everything needed for us to exist in this world, and the means for reaching Him through scriptures, prophets and caliphs.