Doa Pada Hari Kemerdekaan 1957

[Doa  Pada Hari Kemerdekaan 1957]

Ya Allah! Anugerahkanlah taufiq kepada sekelian pentadbir awam, jemaah menteri, para sultan dan raja, serta pemimpin negara bagi memelihara kehendak-kehendak agama, memelihara hak keistimewaan umatnya, menegakkan keadilan dalam undang-undang dan berpegang kepada keindahan Islam.

Ya Allah! Jadikanlah mereka agen perubah hal keadaan orang-orang Melayu, agar bangsa ini meningkat maju dan kehadapan sehingga tercapai cita-cita yang diidam-idamkan.

Ya Allah! Bantulah bangsa Melayu, bimbinglah serta jadikanlah kami menjadi sebaik-baik manusia. Tunjukkanlah kami jalan yang lurus, jalan yang telah Engkau kurniakan kepada umat Islam yang telah menikmatinya, bukan sebagaimana orang yang Engkau murkai dan bukan juga orang yang sesat.

Ya Allah! Hindarilah kami daripada sebarang kesusahan, sejahterakanlah kami daripada segala yang boleh memudharatkan, peliharalah kami daripada segala buruk lagi keji dan tunaikanlah segala yang diharap dan dihajati. Harmonikanlah antara kami dan bangsa lain selain kami hingga kami sentiasa dalam keamanan dan keselamatan. Bebaskanlah kami dengan segera daripada segala kepayahan dengan rahmatMu wahai Tuhan yang Maha Merahmati segala yang penyayang.

Ya Allah! Jadikanlah bagi bangsa kami, kaum yang lain dan negara ini penjaga daripada segala bala, yang menghalang kami dan mereka daripada sebarang pencerobohan. Bantulah kami menewaskan segala musuh dan orang yang dengki. Zahirkanlah kemarahanMu dan kemurkaanMu kepada orang yang melampau dan yang melakukan kerosakkan. Ya Allah! Awasilah dengan penglihatanMu yang tidak pernah lena dan bentengilah dengan perlindungan dan bentengMu yang tidak mudah diterima.

[Doa Syeikh Ahmad bin Mohd Said (Mufti Pertama) Pada Hari Kemerdekaan 1957]

Allāh’s Attribute of As-Salām

Understanding Allāh’s Attribute  of As-Salām

(The source of Peace, Safety and Perfection).

By Dr. Muhammad Ratib An-Nabulsi

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 wa sallam is His Messenger. 

As-Salām

(The source of Peace, Safety and Perfection).

One of the meanings of Allāh’s name “As-Salām” is that remembering Him leads to feelings of security, tranquility and safety

Allāh’s divine name “As-Salām” (The source of peace, safety and perfection) means that He is the source of peace and safety, and also means that He is free from any kind of defect or imperfection.

The name of Allāh “As-Salām” is mentioned in the following verse in the Qur’ān:

“He is Allāh, besides Whom there is no other god, the King, the Holy, the Peace, the Securer, the Guardian, the Mighty, the Compeller, the Exalted. Glorified be Allāh above what partners they ascribe!”  (Al-Hashr , 59: 23)

The word (salām) is also mentioned in the following verses:

“Allāh calls to the Home of Peace (salam) (i.e. Paradise) and guides whom He wills to the Straight Path.” (Yunus 10: 25; Al-Waqi’ah, 56:90; Maryam ,19:15)

Different Meanings of Allāh’s Divine Name “As-Salām”

1-    The first meaning of Allāh’s name “As Salam” is that He is free from all kinds of imperfection, His attributes are free from all kinds of defects and His acts are free from any kind of evil. In line with that, any kind of purposeful evil that Allāh inflicts on his creatures is meant for the near or far benefit of mankind.

Hence, Allāh’s creation is perfect and faultless: “Verily, We have created all things in (perfect) measure.” (Al-Qamar, 54: 49)

2 - Allāh is “As-Salām” that He is the giver of safety to His slaves, i.e. there is no safety in the whole universe except that which is attributed to Him for He is the Creator, who designs and controls all things.

In the universe around us, as human beings we can find innumerable events, signs, evidence of the fact that Allāh is “As-Salām (The Source of Peace, safety and Perfection)”.

Allāh grants us safety in our body. He gave us organs and apparatuses. He gave us cells and tissues, marvelous accuracy of our digestive, nervous, muscular, and circulatory systems. If you are afraid, remember Him, and He fills your heart with peace. If you get connected with Him, He purifies you from all defects and faults; He purifies your soul, because He is “As-Salām (The Source of peace, safety, and perfection)”.

In your business, He guides you to peaceful ways; in your marriage He guides you to peaceful ways; and in your relationships with your neighbors He guides you to peaceful ways. If you adhere to His divine commands and enjoinments in His Qur’ān, He guides you, in everything and every issue, to peaceful ways. And He invites you to the Home of Peace, i.e. Paradise.

Let’s contemplate Allāh’s Words: “By the sky which gives rain again and again, and the earth which splits again and again!” (Al-Tariq, 86: 11- 2)

In this context, Allāh also says: “…Who has created the seven heavens one above another; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. Then look again: Can you see any rifts?” (Al-Mulk 67: 3)

Allāh also says: “He (Pharaoh) said: ‘Who then, O Moses, is the Lord of you two?’ He (Moses) said: ‘Our Lord is He Who gave all things their form and nature, then guided them aright.’” (Ta Ha 20: 49-50)

3 - Of the meanings of Allāh’s name “As-Salām” is that remembering Him leads to feelings of security, tranquility and safety. To this effect, Allāh’s words go: “Verily, in the remembrance of Allāh do hearts find rest.” (Al-Ra’d 13: 28)

In man’s heart there may dwell feelings of loneliness, fear, anxiety, and worry. Such feelings are not removed or minimized except by remembering Allāh and being conscious of Him.

“As-Salām”, therefore, is that if you remember Him, you feel peaceful as fear and loneliness is removed from you. With Him, you feel secure, and if you remember Him, you feel tranquil with Him and feel so near to Him.

Hence, Allāh’s name “As-Salām” brings comfort, because with it you live in peace, you live in tranquility, you live in comfort. You feel that He, the Creator of the universe, is always with you. He never lets you down or leaves you unprotected in the face of your enemies.

He defends you, protects you, helps you, gives you victory; and you reap the ripe fruits after you have paid the price. Allāh says:

“Indeed Allāh took the covenant from the children of Israel, and We appointed twelve leaders among them. And Allāh said: ‘I am with you if you perform prayer and give Zakat (Alms) and believe in My Messengers, honor and assist them, and lend a good loan to Allāh, verily, I will expiate your sins and admit you to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise). But if any of you, after this, disbelieves, he has indeed gone astray from the Straight Path.” (Al-Māidah, 5: 12)

If you remember Him, you feel that He defends you, that you are in His care, protection, help and grace.

4 - One of the meanings of Allāh’s name “As-Salām” is that if you get connected to Him you have all your defects and faults purified.

Connection with Allāh purifies man from all defects, from avarice, from meanness, from malice, grudge, from feud, from envy, from arrogance and from a great many other defects and faults, which are the main source of human misery and wretchedness. If you get connected with Allāh, the source of peace, safety and perfection, you get purified from all such defects and faults.

Thus, remembrance of Allāh conduces to security and peace that connection with Him conduces to freedom from defects, faults and impurities, and rids of sins, grudge, envy, feud, and arrogance. All such grievous deadly evil qualities are purified and removed from you if you get connected with Allāh.

5 - Another meaning of “As-Salām” (The Source of Peace) is that if you adhere to His religion, He guides you to peaceful ways. Allāh says in the Qur’ān:

“Verily, this Qur’ān guides to that which is most just and right.” (Al-Isrā’,17: 9)

In other words, if you stick to Allāh’s divine law and legislation, He grants you safety in this life; if you turn to Him with love, He gives you security and safety; if you obey Him in all aspects of your life, He grants you safety in the world to come. Allāh says:

“He is Allāh: There is no god but Him, the King, the Holy, “As-Salām” (The Peace).” (Al-Hashr 59: 23)

However, if we abide by Allāh’s religion, Allāh will certainly bless our marriage, work, provision, health, and children. He will also guide us to ways of peace and safety. To this effect, He says:

“Verily, this Qur’ān guides to that which is more just and right.” (Al-Isrā’17: 9; Ta Ha 20:123) 

6 -    The word “As-Salām” bears another meaning in the Qur’ān. To that Allāh says:

“And Allāh invites to Dar As-Salām (The Home of Peace) and guides whom He wills to the Straight Path.” (Yūnus 10: 25)

“Dar As-Salām” (The Home of Peace) is Paradise, wherein there is no distress or envy, wherein you are not chased by illness or worry, wherein you are not visited by fear or are transgressed against by anyone else, no wars, no persecution, nothing like this at all.

Such is Dar “As-Salām” (The Home of Peace, Paradise); what a good recompense and dwelling!

7 -    Also, the word “As-Salām” is mentioned in another Qur’anic verse:

“And if he (the dying person) be of those of the Right Hand, then there is Salam (safety and peace) for those of the Right Hand.” (Al-Waqi’ah 56: 90-1)

In this verse Allāh mentions “As-Salām” (i.e. safety and peace) that He grants to people of the “Right Hand” on the Day of Judgment.

8 - The word “As-Salām” also comes in Allāh’s Words:

“And Salam (peace) be on him (Jesus) the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life.” (Maryam 19: 15)

In interpretation of the above Qur’ānic verse Sufian ibn ‘Uyaynah, a venerable Islamic scholar, said:

“Man is most lonely in three positions: First, the day he is born, when he comes out of his mother’s womb, in which he used to be in comfort and safety away from troubles and problems of life to which he comes.

The second station in which man feels most lonely is when he dies leaving everything (his wife, children and family, house, shop, work, friends, desires, hobbies …etc.) on a no-return trip to the Hereafter. 

The third station is the day he is raised up to life again, on the Day of Resurrection.”

Concerning that day, Aishah (radiyallāhu’anha) asked Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam):

“O Messenger of Allāh! Shall we know one another on the Day of Resurrection?”

Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Yes, O Mother of the Faithful! Except for three positions: at As-Sirat (The Path), upon the Mustering, and when the Scrolls are spread out.”

Thawban Ibn Bajdad (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported: 

Whenever Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) completed his Solāh, Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would ask Allah’s forgiveness three times and then he would say: 

“Allāhumma antas-Salām wa minkas-Salām [wa ilay kaya ‘ūdus-Salām, Fahaiyina-Rabbana-bis-Salām Wa ad-khilnal-Jannata Dārus-Salām] tabārakta [Rabbana wa ta’a layta,] Ya Dzal-Jalali wal-Ikram” 

(O Allāh, You are the One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies,[ from Thoucome 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.)” 

[This is related by “the group: Muslim, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidzi, An-Nasā’ie, Ibn Mājah except for Al-Bukhāri]

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.

Related Links:

·        Man-God Relationship

·        Christians Ask, We Know Our God, Who Is Yours?

·        “My Mercy Prevails Over My Wrath”

·        Making Sense of the Jigsaw Puzzle

·        Allāh’s Name Al-`Alim (The All-Knowing)

[An Excerp from “Understanding Allāh's Attribute  of As-Salām  (The Source of Peace)”, By Dr. Muhammad Ratib An-Nabulsi via On Islam, Sunday, 16 March 2014 00:00, Dr. Muhammad Ratib An-Nabulsi is a Muslim Syrian preacher and writer. He has written a number of Islamic books, most remarkable of which are: “Encyclopedia of the Beautiful Names of Allāh”, “Encyclopedia of Scientific Miracles of the Holy Qur’ān and Prophetic Sunnah” , “Outlooks on Islam” and “Contemplations on Islam”. He delivers a number of lessons, orations, symposiums and chat programs broadcasted on the Syrian, Arab, and Islamic radios and Televisions.This article is a summarized version of the article (As-Salām) by the author, published at his web site www.nabulsi.com. First published in November 2010.]

Allāh's Attribute of Al-Kareem

 Allāh's Attribute of Al-Kareem

(The Generous, The Forbearing, The Holy, The Noble, The Glorious, The All Laudable)

By Dr. Muhammad Ratib An-Nabulsi

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 wa sallam is His Messenger. 

Al-Kareem

(The Most Generous,  The Forbearing, The Holy, The Noble, The Glorious, The All Laudable,The Most Bountiful,  The Most Esteemed,  The Beneficent )

It means Allāh Almighty is:

·        The One who is the most generous, both physically and spiritually.

·        The One who is continually giving forth the grandest and most precious bounty.

·        The One whose kind, noble and generous essence is most esteemed, valued and honored.

·        The One who endlessly gives all manner of  precious gifts, including support and refuge.

·        The One who is eternally giving, even unto those who may not seem (to us) to be deserving.

From the root k-r-m which has the following classical Arabic connotations:

·        to be noble, grand, high minded

·        to be generous, giving, beneficent

·        to be highly esteemed, honored, prized, valued

·        to be excellent, precious, valuable, rare

·        to be productive, fruitful

Allāh is “Kareem” in the sense that whenever He gives He gives most generously; and when He is disobeyed, He forgives most forbearingly.

Al-Kareem is one of Allāh’s divine names that can be attributed also to human beings; such a name embraces many great meanings: “the generous”, “the holy”, “the noble”, “the glorious” …etc

The Name Al-Kareem is confirmed by Allāh’s words: “O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, Al-Kareem (the All Laudable), Who created you, fashioned you perfectly and gave you due proportion? In whatever shape He willed, He put you together.” (Al-Infitar, 82: 5-8)

Allāh’s name “Al-Kareem” is also used in the emphatic form “Al-Akram” (the ever most generous) in the Qur’an: “Read in the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), Who has created man from a clot! Read! And your Lord is Al-Akram (The Ever All Laudable), Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, Who has taught man that which he knew not.”  (Al-Alaq, 96: 1-5)

Linguists say: “Each and every laudable thing is described as being ‘Kareem’.” This adds a lot more meanings to the word “Kareem” than that commonly understood as “generous” (giving, or ready to give, freely).

The Arabic word “Kareem” embraces all illaudable qualities as: forbearing, generous, kind, gentle, patient, self-possessed, manly, noble, pure…etc.

Likewise, “Kareem” includes all laudable and admirable human qualities, contrary to “La’eem”, which embraces all illaudable qualities, such as: miserly, mean, arrogant, tyrannical, ungrateful, selfish…etc. includes all lowly illaudable ones.

Therefore, the word “Kareem” does not only mean “generous” but also “forbearing”, “kind”, “merciful”, “compassionate”, “pure”, “honest”, “friendly”, “fair”, …etc.

Precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies, and pearls are described in Arabic as“Kareem” (precious).

Another meaning is “of noble birth”. To this effect, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) says: “Joseph is the noblest of all mankind.”

The word “Kareem” also means, “good looking”. As for the expression “Al-Maqam Al-Kareem”, the laudable station, it means paradise, where there is no fatigue, fear, worry, sadness, envy, hatred or any other troublesome thing whatsoever.

“Kareem” is ‘something that is very scarce, badly needed and cannot be done without.’

The word “Kareem” also means, “dear, most beloved, and most honorable”.

Also, the word “Kareem” means full of benefits and uses.

Allāh’s book, the Qur’an, is “Kareem” in the sense that it is full of benefits, facts, and guidance, it is full of good things and blessings, it is perfect in every sense of the word, and it is free from any defect or imperfection. It is “Kareem” perfect and free from any defect or imperfection.

A female camel is said to be “Kareemah” if she produces a lot of milk.

Grapes are also called in Arabic “Karmah” because they are full of benefits: They provide people with shade and delicious nutritive wholesome fruits.

Also, the expression “Makarim Al-Akhlaq” means the very best, purest and most noble manners and characters.

Now, when we describe Allāh  as being “Kareem”, this means that He is all laudable, as He described Himself: “O man! What has deceived you as to your Lord, the All Laudable?” (Al-Infitar, 82: 6)

Different Meanings of Allāh’s Name Al-Kareem

Accurately and comprehensively, Allāh’s divine name, Al-Kareem denotes that His Existence is definitive. He is free from any defect or imperfection. He is the All Mighty and no one but Him deserves to be worshipped. This can be summed up in three notions with regards to Allāh: His existence, oneness, and perfection. In this sense Allāh is “Kareem”; He exists, He is one, and He is perfect. These three accurate divine attributes that have to do with Allāh’s name Al-Kareem can be explained as follows:

1 - Allāh is “Kareem” in the sense that He initiates His divine favors to His slaves, even though they do not deserve such favors. Out of His divine grace, He brings us into existence even though He is not obliged to do so. In other words, He bestows His divine favor upon us by bringing us into existence.

2 - When we invoke Allāh, “Ya Kareem Al-‘Afuw” (O All Pardoning!).This means that Allāh’s divine pardon does not mean only canceling His punishment for you but also making people forget your sin and: Due to Allāh’s infinite pardon, He, all pardoning, makes you forget the sin you have committed: “If a believer returns to Allāh with true sincere repentance, Allāh makes him, the angels and the whole world, forget his sins and misdeeds.” Delicately, due to Allāh’s infinite divine grace, if a believer commits a certain sin and then, for some reason or another, forgets it, Allāhdeals with him generously and makes him live happily and comfortably.

3 - Another meaning of Allāh’s name Al Kareem is that He  covers His slave’s sins, and faults. That is why Prophet Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) says: “O Allah! I seek refuge with You from an evil neighbor: if he sees anything good (of me), he conceals it; but if he sees anything evil, he reveals it. O Allah! I seek refuge with You from an evil Imam (master): if I do well, he does not accept; but if I do badly, he does not forgive.”

4 - Allāh is Al-Kareem in the sense that He, the All Laudable, unveils His slave’s good deeds and qualities and veils his evil ones and keeps them secret.

5 - One of the beautiful meanings of Allāh’s name Al-Kareem is that He overlooks His slave’s sins and misdeeds although the latter is never unaware of them. To this effect, He says:

“Think you not that Allah is unaware of that which the wrong-doers do. It is only that He gives them a respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.” (Ibrahim, 14: 42)

For the same purport Allāh’s words stand: “And Sufficient is your Lord as an All-Knower and All-Beholder of the sins of His slaves.” (Al-Isra’, 17: 17)

6 - Allāh as well is Al-Kareem that if His slaves turn to Him with little sincere acts of devotion, He rewards them generously. In your present life, you offer to Allāh only a limited number of good righteous deeds: you help the poor and needy, you offer some prayers and acts of devotion...etc, but in the Hereafter, Allāh rewards you with the garden of paradise:

“And make haste to (attain) forgiveness of your Lord, and to (attain) a Garden (of Paradise), as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious and dutiful.”  (Al-‘Imran, 3: 133)

Quite often, Allāh grants a weak lowly person power and dignity! In this respect, Allāh says: “And fulfill your covenant with Me, I fulfill My Covenant with you, and fear none but Me.” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 40)

7 - Out of His infinite divine generosity, Allāh Al-Kareem makes us worthy of His divine love: “He (Allah) loves them and they love Him (Allah).” (Al-Ma’idah 5: 54)

“Verily, those who believe and work deeds of righteousness: the Most Gracious (Allah) shall bestow love upon them.”  (Maryam, 19: 96)

8 - Of His infinite divine generosity Allāh Al-Kareem gives us the whole world: “It is He (Allah) Who created for you all that is in the earth. Then, He directed His Divine Power to the heavens and made them seven heavens; and He is the All-Knower of all things.” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 29)

9 - Allāh is “Al-Kareem” that He grants without a reminder, which human beings never do. When human beings do favors to one another, they usually remind them of such favors.

10 - Also, Allāh is “Al-Kareem” as He does not make you need any means to get His divine favors nor does He make the disobedient despair of repentance. To this, He says: “Say (O Muhammad) to My slaves who have transgressed against themselves: ‘Despair not of Allah’s Mercy! Verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” (Az-Zumar, 39: 53)

11 - Allāh is “Kareem” in the sense that whenever He gives He gives most generously; and when He is disobeyed, He forgives most forbearingly as He is most forbearing.

12 - Allāh is also “Kareem” to the extent that He never lets down His slaves or fails to fulfill their hopes; He never fails to fulfill hopes of His slaves. He bestows His divine favors upon His slaves and never reminds them of such favors.

13 - Another meaning that His infinite divine favors never end and His benefactions are innumerable. Also, His Hands are always stretched as He is most generous, and He spends as He pleases.

14 - Allāh is “Kareem” when He gets angry with those who do not ask Him or pray to Him. In this regard, Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), says: “Allah, All Mighty, is “Kareem” (All Laudable); and He loves noble manners and hate lowly ones.”

(Also written as Al-Karim, Al-Kareem, The Most Generous: Ya Karim, Ya Kareem)

Wal-Hamdulilahi Rabbil ‘ālameen, Was-Salātu was-Salāmu ‘ala Sayyidil Mursaleen waimamil Muttaqeen, Wa ‘ala ālihi baitihi wasahbihi ajmaeen (And Praise is to Allāh, the Lord of the universe; Salawāt and Sālam on the sayyid of all the Apostles and its righteous followers, his family, members of his household and all the companions).

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.

[ Excerpted from “14 Meanings of Allāh's Attribute Al-Kareem” By Dr. Muhammad Ratib An-Nabulsi, Via On Islam, Friday, 28 February 2014. Dr. Muhammad Ratib An-Nabulsi is a Muslim Syrian preacher and writer. He has written a number of Islamic books, most remarkable of which are: “Encyclopedia of the Beautiful Names of Allah”, “Encyclopedia of Scientific Miracles of the Holy Quran and Prophetic Sunnah” , “Outlooks on Islam” and “Contemplations on Islam”. He delivers a number of lessons, orations, symposiums and chat programs broadcasted on the Syrian, Arab, and Islamic radios and Televisions. This article is a summarized version of the article (Al-Kareem) by the author, published at his web site http://www.nabulsi.com]

Allāh's Attributes of Al-Malik

Understanding Allāh's Attributes of  Al-Malik

(The King)

By Dr. Muhammad Ratib An-Nabulsi

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 wa sallam is His Messenger. 

The Real King is God, who is Self-Sufficient in Himself and Attributes and needs nothing; but all things in existence need Him for everything.

Al-Malik (The King) is one of Allāh’s ninety-nine divine Names and Attributes. According to scholars, Whosoever knows each one of these names will be admitted into Paradise.

Allāh says in the Qur’an: “He is Allāh, besides Whom there is no god, the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allāh! High is He above all that which they associate as partners with Him.” (Al-Hashr, 59: 23)

Allāh also says: “Master (King) of the Day of Judgement” (Al-Fātihah, 1: 4)

In another Qur’anic Verse Allāh says: “Say: ‘O Allāh, Owner of the Kingdom! You give kingdom to whom You will, and You take kingdom from whom You will; and You endue with honor whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the Good. Verily, You are Able to do all things.” (Al-‘Imran, 3: 26)

Allāh also says: “So Glorified and Far Exalted is He (above all that they associate with Him), in Whose Hand is the Dominion of all things, and to Whom you shall be returned.” (Ya-Sin, 36:83)

Definition of Al-Mulk (Sovereignty):

In Arabic the word “Mulk” means the ability to dispose with things, and hence, Allāh’s name “The King” is derived from His Self, but it can also be derived from His acts as the Disposer with all things. In a divine Hadith, Allāh says: “I am the King of kings, and the Owner of kings. The hearts of kings are in My Hand: if My slaves obey Me, I turn the hearts of their kings to them with tenderness and mercy; but if My slaves disobey Me, I turn the hearts of their kings to them with wrath and avenge. Therefore, do not occupy yourselves by abusing kings but (rather) pray (to Allāh) for their reform, for their reform comes from your own reform.}

Allāh is the King and Owner of kings. In other words, everything that can be owned belongs to Allāh. Some scholars hold that a king is someone who rules but does not own, and an owner is someone who owns but does not rule; but Allāh is the Owner and the King.

Sometimes, a person may own something but does not have the right to use it. Sometimes, a person may use and dispose with something although he does not own it. And sometimes, a person may own, use and dispose with something, but in the end it does not remain his own.

Now, if we say someone is a king do we mean that he is really or metaphorically a king? Scholars refuted the idea that anyone can really own anything except Allāh; and any kind of ownership other than that of Allāh is only metaphoric and unreal.

This is because the real king is someone who is self-sufficient in both himself and attributes and needs no one, or nothing else in existence.

Is there a king who is self-sufficient and needs nothing for his existence and survival?

Does he not need air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, and sleep to rest?

Does he not feel afraid or sad?

Does he not wish he could have more supporters and helpers?

The Real King

Every human being is, therefore, in need of other fellow humans or other things for the achievement of his existence and survival; and, therefore, no human being, or any other creature, can ever be a real king. The Real King is Allāh, the All-Mighty, the Self-Sufficient; and anyone else can be only metaphorically called “a king”.

The Real King is Allāh, who is Self-Sufficient in Himself and Attributes and needs nothing; but all things in existence need Him for everything. In other words, He is the King by Himself, His Existence, and His Attributes. He is in need of nothing, but all things do need Him. Such is the accurate definition of “The King”, and none but Allāh, deserves it.

Allāh is the one who owns and grants ownership. To this effect Allāh says: “Say: ‘O Allāh, Owner of the Kingdom! You give kingdom to whom You will, and You take kingdom from whom You will; and You endue with honor whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the Good. Verily, You are Able to do all things.” (Al-‘Imran, 3:26)

And real ownership is to control one’s desires and not to let them dominate over him, to be free from oneself and not possessed thereby.

To this effect, Joseph, (‘alayhissalam) acknowledges the fact that Allāh has bestowed on him sovereignty:

“My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams. (You are) the Only Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Guardian (and Protector) in this world and in the Hereafter! Cause me to die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous!” (Yusuf, 12: 101)

But what kind of sovereignty was it? It might be thought that it was sovereignty over treasures of the earth, but most interpreters hold that it was not that as such, but, rather, he was granted the real sovereignty, namely self-control. It was when he got control of himself saying: “I take refuge with Allāh!” (Yusuf, 12:23) when the king’s wife invited him maliciously to indecent work, seducing him: “Come on!” Scholars of Qur’anic interpretation said: This is real sovereignty that never perishes.

Some say: The King is He Who possesses the hearts of worshippers and makes them anxious. In fact, when someone gets to know Allāh, he enters a state of love and becomes possessed thereby. He becomes great after having been trivial. Hence, he enters a state of permanent anxiety until he meets his Lord, wondering: “Is my Lord contented with me?! Does my work appeal to Allāh? Does Allāh love me?! Is my work sincere enough?! Is there any deviation in my work?! Is there anything or anyone I seek other than Allāh?

They also say that the King is He Who possesses the hearts of those who know Him and causes such hearts to burn; the King is He Who, if He so desires, grants ownership, or, if He so desires, causes to perish: “Verily, the Seizure of your Lord is severe and painful.” (Al-Qiyamah, 75:12)

If He gives, He amazes; and if He brings someone to account, He inquires about everything.

Allāh is The King, Who, if He so desires, grants ownership and dominion, and, if He so desires, causes to perish. He is the Real King, Whom none could ever defy or dispute with. None could ever resist His Irresistible Divine Will or prevent His Judgment. He is the King, by whose command all stars and planets run.

Basic Elements of Ownership

In one Qur’anic verse Allāh mentions five basic elements of ownership. Allāh says:

“Say, ‘O Allāh, Possessor of the Kingdom! You give the kingdom to whom You will; and You take the kingdom from whom You will; and You endue with honor whom You will; and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, Your are Powerful over all things.”

(Al-‘Imran, 3:26)

1 - By the Qur’anic Words “And you endue with honor whom You will” we embark on the notion of honor and humiliation. Here we have something delicate: If Allāh desires to honor you, He subjugates even your enemies for you; and if He desires to humiliate someone, He makes even his closest relatives humiliate him: “And he whom Allāh humiliates shall receive honor from none.”

2 - The Qur’anic words “In Your Hand is the Good” mean that even humiliation coming from Allāh to some of His slaves is good, and taking away kingdom from other slaves is also good, even if it might be considered as evil by some ignorant people.

3 - The words “You make the night enter into the day…” denote Allāh’s divine disposal with the universe. The earth goes round the sun in an elliptical orbit.

“Verily, Allāh grasps the heavens and the earth lest they should move away from their places; and if they were to move away from their places, there is not one that could possibly grasp them after Him. Truly, He is Ever Most Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.” (Fatir, 35:41)

This is one of the connotations of Allāh’s Divine Name “The King”.

“You make the night enter into the day; and You make the day enter into the night. You bring the living out of the dead; and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give wealth and sustenance to whom You will without limit.” (Al-‘Imran, 3:27)

4 - One of the connotations of Allāh’s being The King is that He alternates day and night and brings the living out of the dead and the dead out of the living.

“And Noah called upon his Lord and said, ‘O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family! And certainly, Your Promise is true; and You are the Most Just of the judges.’ He (Allāh) said, ‘O Noah! Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his work is unrighteous. So ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge! I admonish you lest you should be one of the ignorant.”  (Hud, 11: 45-6)

5 - The last item of Allāh’s being The King is:

“And You give wealth and sustenance to whom You will without limit” in the sense that He may give wealth and sustenance to a weak person just as He may make a powerful and clever person poor.

Allah Almighty Knows best 

Related Links:

Attributes of Allāh The Creator
Who Is "Allāh"?
“My Mercy Prevails Over My Wrath”

[ Excerpted from : “Toward Understanding Allāh's Attributes of  Al-Malik (The King)” By Dr. Muhammad Ratib An-Nabulsi, via On Islam,  Wednesday, 03 November 2010.Dr. Muhammad Ratib An-Nabulsi is a Muslim Syrian preacher and writer. He has written a number of Islamic books, most remarkable of which are: “Encyclopedia of the Beautiful Names of Allāh”, “Encyclopedia of Scientific Miracles of the Holy Quran and Prophetic Sunnah” , “Outlooks on Islam” and “Contemplations on Islam”. He delivers a number of lessons, orations, symposiums and chat programs broadcasted on the Syrian, Arab, and Islamic radios and Televisions. This article is a summarized version of the article (Al-Malik) by the author, published at his web site http://www.nabulsi.com/]