Monday, December 17, 2012

As-Salām (The Peace) and Al-Quddūs (The Holy)



Meaning of As-Salām  and Al-Quddūs

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-'ālameen. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam is His Messenger.

As-Salām (The Peace)

As-Salām (The Peace) denotes the One Who is far greater and far removed from any imperfection, or that He resembles any of His creation. Hence he is far removed from any defect just as He is far removed from anything resembling Him or coming close to resembling Him in any of His Attributes of Perfection. Allah, the, Exalted says:
  • "There is nothing like Him"(Ash-Shura 42:11)
  • "There is no one equal to or comparable to Him"(Al-Ikhlas 112:3)
  • "Do you know of any who is similar to Him?" (Maryam 19:65),
  • "Then do not set up rivals to Allāh." (Al-Baqarah,2:22)
  • “Salamun hiya hatta matla 'īlfajr (Peace it is until the emergence of dawn)”. [Al-Qadr,97:5]
Al-Quddūs is similar in meaning to As-Salām in that they both negate any form of imperfection while at the same time including unlimited perfection in every way. This because when deficiency has been removed then all that remains is perfection.

Allah, the, Exalted says: "Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allāh - the King, the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (Al-Juma’ah 62:1)

As-Salam is one of the attributes of Allāh

One of the attributes of Allah is As-Salām, the Author of peace, safety, security and immunity - the One Who renders safe and free from evils or afflictions [Al-Hashr, 59:23].

Allah says in the Qur'an: an open invitation to all mankind to Dār-us-salām (i.e. the Abode of Peace and Safety) [Yūnus 10:25]. He also says the Qur’an: the guidance to Subul-as-salām (i.e. the ways of Peace and Safety) [Al-Māidah, 5:15-16].

Allāh Almighty also says in the Qur’an characteristics of people upon who will be Salām:

·    “Salām will be upon those who believe in the Ayāt of Allah [Al-Anam, 6:54] ;
·    “those who follow Al-Huda (i.e. the Guidance from Allah)” [Ta Ha, 20:47];
·   “those who guard themselves against the inevitable harmful consequences of violating Allah's Laws and Commands by careful observance [Al-Hijr, 15: 45-46, Az-Zumar 39:73];
·   “those who exhibit Sabr [Al-Ra’d, Al-Ra’d 13:24, Al-Furqan 25:75];
·  “those who never give false witness; who do not participate in assemblies of vanity, and when they pass near senseless play, pass by with dignity; who, whenever they are reminded of even the Revelations of their Lord, do not fall at them deaf and blind (with deaf and blind acceptance); who say, "Our Lord! Grant us that our spouses and children be a joy to our eyes (that they excel in character)” [Al-Furqan, 25:72-75];
·  “those who serve only Him and do not associate anything or anyone with Him (in service)” [Al-Naml, 27:59];
·    “…and those who (ultimately) will go to paradise [Al-A’raf 7:46].

Allah sends His Salām upon the people who believe in Him

Allah sends His Salām upon the people who believe in Him, especially the prophets such as Nuh, Ibrāhīm, Ismaīl, Musa, etc. (Surah As-Sāffāt) as well as other pious people.

Jibreel came to house of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) and Khadijah was there. Jibreel said: "Allah sends his salām to Khadijah." The Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said: "O Khadijah, Allah is sending His salāms to you." She said, "Allah is As-Salām. And upon you O Jibreel, be as-salām and upon you Rasūlullāh be as-salām." [Bukhāri]

The word 'Salām' comes from the root 'Salema'.

The word 'salām' comes from the root 'salema', which implies to disassociate oneself from evil and harm. Thus, when we greet other Muslims, the greeting means: “No harm shall come to you from me”: May no evil come to you, May no harm come to you)

And since As-Salām is also one of the Beautiful Names of Allāh, the greeting of Salām also means, "May the blessing of His Name descend upon you, may Allāh be with you, may Allāh guide and protect you."

Dzikirullah after Solāt

Istighfar

Astaghfirul-lāh (three times); meaning: ‘I ask Allāh for forgiveness.’ (Three times)
Another narration:

Ibn Mas`ud (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said, “He who says:

“Astaghfirullāhal`adzeem, (I seek the forgiveness of Allāh, who is devoid of imperfection)
Alladzi lā ilāha illā, (With whose name there is no true god except Allāh),
Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum, (He, the Ever Living One; the Self-Existing One),
Wa atūbuilaīh (And I turn to Him in repentance)

(Three times);

His sins will be forgiven even if he should have run away from the battlefield (while he was engaged in fighting for the Cause of Allāh).”

[Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidzi and Al-Hakim (on conditions of Al-Bukhari and Muslim for accepting Hadith)].

Seeking Jannah (The Abode of Peace)

Allāhumma antas-salām waminkas-salām tabarakta ya dzal-jalali wal-ikram (O Allah!, You are As-Salām and from You is all the peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honour!)

Another narration:

 “Allāhumma antas-Salām (O Allāh, You are the Salam),
Wa minkas-Salām (And one who is free from all deficiencies)
[Wa ilai kaya`udus- Salām, [From Thou come the well-being,
Fahaiyina-Rabbana-bis- Salām, To Thou shalt return the well-being;
Wa ad-khilnal-Jan-nata Darus- Salām] Thus bless us Jannah, the Abode of Peace
Tabārakta [Rabbana wa ta`a laita,] Shower us Your blessing [O Our Lord! the Most High];
Ya Dzal-Jalali wal-ikram” (O Possessor of majesty and honour!)

Thawban ibn Bajdad (radiyallāhu'anhu) reported: Whenever Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) finished his Solat, he would beg forgiveness three times [by saying, 'Astaghfirullah' (3 times)] and then he would say: "Allāhumma Antas-Salāmu, wa minkas-Salamu, tabarakta ya Dzal-Jalali wal-Ikram. (O Allāh! You are the Bestower of security and security comes from You; Blessed are You. O Possessor of glory and honour)." Imām Al-Awza`ie (one of the subnarrators) of this Hadith was asked: "How forgiveness should be sought?" He replied: "I say: Astaghfirullah!, Astaghfirullah!, Astaghfirullah! (I seek forgiveness O Allāh!. I seek forgiveness O Allāh!. I seek forgiveness O Allāh!)."[Muslim] In another narration : “Allāhumma antas-Salām wa minkas-Salām [wa ilai kaya 'udus-Salām, Fahaiyina-Rabbana-bis-Salam Wa ad-khilnal-Jannata Dārus-Salām] tabārakta [Rabbana wa ta`a laita,] Ya dzal-Jalali wal-Ikram” (O Allāh, You are the One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies,[ from Thou come well-being, to Thou shalt return the well-being; Thus bless  us with peace and Jannah, the Abode of Peace,] shower us  your  blessing O Allāh,[ Our Lord, the Most High]; O Allāh, our Lord Possessor of majesty and honour.)


Salutatation in the Tashahhud

“As-Salāmu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa Rahmat-Allāhi wa Barakātuh.  As-Salāmu 'alayna wa `alā 'ibadillāhis-Sāliheen”

( Peace be on you, O Prophet, and also the mercy of Allāh and His blessings. Peace be on us and on the righteous slaves of Allāh).

[Al-Bukhari,Muslim from Ibn Mas'ud and Ibn Abbas(radiyallāhu`anhum)]

As-Salam: Means “The One who is free from all defects and deficiencies.”

Al-Quddūs (The Holy) is also the attributes of Allāh


`Aishah (radiyallāhu`anha) reported the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam) used to say when Ruku’ and Sujud: “Subbuhun Quddūs Rabb ul-Malā`ikatu wal-Rūh" (Glorified, Holy, Lord of the Angels and of the Ruh). [Narrated by Muslim (487) and Abu `Awānah]

Al-Quddūs has the following meanings:

·   The One Who is far from every imperfection, impurity, fault, defect, demerit, flaw, error, mistake, shortcoming, deficiency, or from everything derogatory
·   All-Holy
·   All-Pure
·   All-Perfect

Al-Quddū is from the root word Q-D-S, it means:
·   To be or go far away
·   To be far from impurity or imperfection

The root Q-D-S appears 10 times in the Qur’an in the following verses [Al-Baqārah, 2:30, Al-Baqārah, 2:87, Al-Baqārah, 2:253, Al-Māidah, 5:21, Al-Māidah, 5:110, Al-Nahl, 16:102, Ta-Ha, 20:12, Al-Hashr, 59:23, Al-Juma’ah, 62:1, 79:16]

“Allah is Al-Quddūs” [Al-Hashr 59:23, Al-Juma’ah 62:1].

Believing that Allah is Al-Quddūs means considering Him free from every imperfection, impurity, fault, defect, demerit, flaw, error, mistake, shortcoming, deficiency, or from everything derogatory.

Not only this but it also implicates (as a necessary outcome) to become ourselves as free from imperfections, impurities, faults etc. as is humanly possible. And also to make or do everything that we make or do as perfect and as free from faults or imperfections as is humanly possible.

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.

[Excerpted from The Explanation of the Beautiful and Perfect Names of Allāh , Taysīr al-Karīm ar-Rahmān, by Abdur-Rahmān Nāsir as-Sa`dees.]

The Meaning of Al-Quddūs (The Holy)

Al-Quddūs (the Holy) is the One Who is Blessed and Pure, who is exalted above all impurity. It was said that the angels sanctify Him and He, may He be exalted, is the One Who is praised for His virtues and goodness.

Allāh is al-Quddūs because He is far above having any opposites, rivals, partner or son. He is described as being perfect, and is far above having any faults or shortcomings at all. He is far above anything being near Him or like Him in any aspect of His perfection.

Ibn Jarīr (rahimahullāh) said:

Taqdīs (sanctification) means the purification and veneration; Quddūs is thus purity and veneration is for Him, hence land may be described as “Ard muqaddasah” or “holy land” meaning that it is pure. When the angels say “Nuqaddisu laka (we sanctify You)” it means we attribute to You Your attributes of being pure and free of all impurities and of all that the people of kufr attribute to You. It was said that the angels’ sanctification of their Lord; it means it is their prayer (solāh).

Then Ibn Jarīr (rahimahullāh) mentioned some of the comments of the mufassirīn, who said that taqdīs (sanctification) may mean: prayer, veneration, glorification, magnification or obedience. Solāh and veneration is the purification because it declares Him to be pure and free from all which the people of kufr attribute it to Him.

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullāh) said: One of His attributes is the Holy, declaring Him to be above all imperfection and glorifying the Most Merciful”

 [Excerpted from Sharh Asmā’ Allāh ta’āla Al-Husnā by Dr. Hissah al-Sagheer, p. 198]

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.


Related Links:
·         As Salaam Alikum
·         Excellence of Promoting Greetings - Riyad ul Saliheen
·         Words to be used for offering Greetings - Riyad ul Saliheen
·         Etiquette of offering Greetings - Riyad ul Saliheen
·         Excellence of Greeting the Acquaintance Repeatedly - Riyad ul Saliheen
·         Greeting the Children - Riyad ul Saliheen
·         Greeting one's Wife and other Women - Riyad ul Saliheen 

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