99 Attributes of Allah: Aḍ-Ḍārr - The Corrector, The Punisher

We all very know the concept of stick and carrot. To enforce discipline, there is a dire need of forceful corrections which are most often than not are essentially needed. Allah has in the past taken stern actions against people of Noah and Lot (peace be upon them) when their people transgressed all limits of decency and blatantly refused to walk the way of truth and honour. 

Allah, The Aḍ-Ḍārr " ٱلْضَّارُ " (pronounced Ad Daar) - is to balance out the running of His unversed by taking correcting, punishing the evil doers so that those who are His servants can breathe in peace and follow the Divina Commandments. For they know to worship the Creator is the demand of both reason and nature; it would be highly unreasonable that one should worship those who have not created him and should deny to be the servant of Him Who has created him. 

This does not mean that Allah is always unleashing His anger for He is An-Nafi' (النافع) too - The Creator of Good, The Propitious -The Benefactor  which is exactly the opposite of attribute under discussion, i.e. The Aḍ-Ḍārr " ٱلْضَّارُ " - the Corrector and Afflicter. These opposing attributes are often inseparable, since that which is the sweetest nectar to one person may be bitter poison to another. These both attribute appear together in 49th verse of Surah 10. Yunus:

قُلْ لَّاۤ اَمۡلِكُ لِنَفۡسِىۡ ضَرًّا وَّلَا نَفۡعًا اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ اللّٰهُؕ لِكُلِّ اُمَّةٍ اَجَلٌ​ؕ اِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُهُمۡ فَلَا يَسۡتَـاخِرُوۡنَ سَاعَةً​ وَّلَا يَسۡتَقۡدِمُوۡنَ‏ 

"Tell them: 'I have no power to harm or benefit even myself, except what Allah may will. There is an appointed term for every people; and when the end of their term comes, neither can they put it off for an hour, nor can they bring it an hour before."

Now in His own wisdom, Allah may test His servants by bringing harm to them in the form of sickness, shortage of wealth, taking away kith and kin, properties and livestock, and means of earning to see whether they remain steadfast and faithful to him or not. Likewise when evil exceeds tolerable limits, Allah brings in hurricanes, earthquakes, hurricanes, long spells of droughts and excessive rains to punish them, though in so doing many favoured servants also do suffer. But they will be compensated by entering them to Paradise, while the evil ones will taste the real affliction and cherishment in the raging fire of hell.

Allah also does not like men equating Him with other worldly deities. Those who take deities other than Allah, the Omnipotent, do not know that their deities cannot save them from the wrath and affliction of Allah, nor can they intercede to save them if Allah decides to unleash his anger for disobeying them and worshiping anyone but He.

ءَاَ تَّخِذُ مِنۡ دُوۡنِهٖۤ اٰلِهَةً اِنۡ يُّرِدۡنِ الرَّحۡمٰنُ بِضُرٍّ لَّا تُغۡنِ عَنِّىۡ شَفَاعَتُهُمۡ شَيۡـئًا وَّلَا يُنۡقِذُوۡنِ​ۚ‏ 

"Am I to take as deities instead of Him those whose intercession, if the All-Merciful desires affliction for me , will not help me at all and cannot save me?" (Surah Ya Sin, 36:23)

Those who do so, should expect Allah's affliction for then the followers of worldly deities would find them standing all alone, tasting the punishment for doing so and their deities would stand helpless against the wrath of Aḍ-Ḍārr:

If Allah desires harm for me, can those you call upon besides Allah remove His harm? Or if He desires mercy for me, can they withhold His mercy?” Say: “Allah is enough for me. All those who truly trust put their trust in Him.” (Surat Az-Zumar, 39:38)

May we never walk the ways that draw Allah's affliction on us and that may we always be protected and blessed. Aameen.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Muqīt - The Nourisher, The Sustainer

Allah has created a fathomless universe which has no bounds. It houses billions and trillions of stars, galaxies and planets and perhaps many earthlike planets where people like us may be dwelling. Despite the colossal set up, no stars bump into each other and everything moves in a pure mathematically calculated timeframe. Who is in in charge of all this? Who is sustaining and maintaining this? 

It is Allah,  the Al-Muqīt " ٱلْمُقِيتُ " (pronounced Muqeet) - The Nourisher, The Sustainer, The Preserver, The Maintainer, who is the only Master who has the power and ability to control, over watch and maintain His unversed. Besides, He also sustains countless living species on earth like ours and has made ample arrangements for their sustenance. Even living things inside rocks and under the sea bed where human have yet to reach are being provisioned for their living. 

Allah also over watches His servants and is on the lookout to reward those who walk on the path of truth and gives time to evil doers to come back to His path. While instantly rewards those doing good, He keeps giving leverage to those following the ways of Satan so that His wrath may not catches them before adequate time has been afforded to them for repentance. Thus He not only sustains His creation physically, but also conditions and maintains their souls.

مَنۡ يَّشۡفَعۡ شَفَاعَةً حَسَنَةً يَّكُنۡ لَّهٗ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّنۡهَا​ ۚ وَمَنۡ يَّشۡفَعۡ شَفَاعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَّكُنۡ لَّهٗ كِفۡلٌ مِّنۡهَا​ ؕ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ مُّقِيۡتًا‏ 

(4:85) He who intercedes in a good cause shall share in its good result, and he who intercedes in an evil cause shall share in its burden. Allah has power over everything.

It is all a matter of choice and luck. One has the opportunity to struggle for the cause of God, and to urge others to strive for it in order to raise the banner of the Truth and be rewarded by God for so doing. Likewise, one also has the opportunity to expend one's energy trying to create misunderstanding among God's creatures and to demoralize people in their struggle for His cause thus incurring His chastisement.

Muqīt come from the root qaaf-waw-taa, which carries four main meanings. The first meaning is to supply, maintain, and sustain. The second main meaning of this root is to feed and nourish. The third is to keep, preserve, and guard, and the fourth is to witness, observe, and watch over.

So while Al Muqīt sustains and nourishes us, we should too make our efforts to help those who are in need and needed to be maintained. This can be done by paying Zakat and giving away charities and alms profusely to those in need for we have been given not only for our own sustenance but also to help others by sustaining them. Allah gives ample to some and less to others to test those who have been given enough or even more than their needs whether they fill their coffers with extra or give out to others in need.

May Allah helps us to sustain and nourish others as He keeps our needs and sustains and maintains us. Aameen.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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99 Attributes of Allah: An-Nāfi - The Propitious -The Benefactor

There are many a attribute of Allah that have been specifically spelt out by none other than Allah in the Quran,. However, there are many other attributes which have been derived from may qualities of Allah which have been mentioned throughout the Quran. For example the 79th verse of Surah. 4 An Nisa:

مَاۤ اَصَابَكَ مِنۡ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللّٰهِ​ وَمَاۤ اَصَابَكَ مِنۡ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنۡ نَّـفۡسِكَ​ ؕ وَاَرۡسَلۡنٰكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُوۡلًا​ ؕ وَكَفٰى بِاللّٰهِ شَهِيۡدًا‏  

Whatever good happens to you is from Allah; and whatever misfortune smites you is because of your own action. We have sent you to mankind (O Muhammad!) as a Messenger, and Allah is sufficient as a witness.

From the opening of the above quoted verse, " Whatever good happens to you is from Allah " Muslim scholars have deduced the attribute The An-Nāfi  " ٱلْنَّافِعُ " - The Propitious -The Benefactor, The Source of Good for Allah.

A similar verse from Surah means the same:

اَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ يَّشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُ​ؕ اِنَّ فِىۡ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ يُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ‏ 

(30:37) Do they not see that Allah enlarges and straitens the sustenance of those whom He pleases? There are Signs in this for those who believe.

In the world-view of the Qur'an, Allah is the ultimate source of all happening: consequently, all good that comes to man and all evil that befalls him flows, in the last resort, from God's will.  Thus this beautiful attribute of Allah brings good tidings to believers who have true faith in Allah, stay away from evil and live according to the dictates of A;;ah - earning and eating Halal.

Two attributes of Allah, Nāfi' (creator of good) is the opposite of Dārr " ٱلْضَّارُ "  (distresser).< are often cited together. These opposing attributes are inseparable, since that which is the sweetest nectar to one person may be bitter poison to another. In fact these two balance out each other.  It is appropriate to combine both of these Attributes together, that is; He, Glory to Him, controls the means for people's harm and benefit, and none can harm anyone nor benefit anyone besides Him; "... and suffices your Lord for a Guide and a Helper" (Qur’an, 25:31). One who remembers both of these Attributes will submit totally to Allah and will always feel that everything is from Him and returns to Him.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Mānīʿ- The Shielder, The Preventer

Man is prone to many worldly temptations and illusions. Had not been Allah, the Al-Mānīʿ "  ٱلْمَانِعُ  " - The Shielder, The Protector, The Preventer, the man would have never been able to escape the clutches of evil and doomed forever.

It is Allah, the Al-Mānīʿ, who protects man form physical and spiritual pollution and keeps him on the righteous path. In fact Allah aid the believers who try to be steadfast and are always making efforts not to digress from the path Allah has ordained for them. It is those people who will be successful, both here in this world and the hereafter. Those who disregard the Divine Commandments and follow the ways of evil will always be losers and condemned.

Although, the name Māni' is not specifically used as a Beautiful Name in the Qur'ān. But at many places this attribute of Allah has been used in different words:

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُدٰفِعُ عَنِ الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡٓا​ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍ كَفُوۡرٍ

(22:38) Surely Allah defends those who believe.76 Certainly Allah has no love for the perfidious, the thankless.

And:

اَمَّنۡ هٰذَا الَّذِىۡ يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ اِنۡ اَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهٗ​ ۚ بَلۡ لَّجُّوۡا فِىۡ عُتُوٍّ وَّنُفُوۡرٍ‏ 

(67:21) Who shall provide for you if He withholds His sustenance? Nay; but they persist in rebellion and aversion.

Allah Most Gracious is the Source of all our Sustenance, and if we persist in looking to Vanities for our Sustenance, we are pursuing a mirage, and, if we examine the matter, we are only following obstinate unpulses of rebellion and impiety.

Thus we should always be thankful to Allah for all His blessings upon us. If for a moment we think that all we have is due to our own efforts rather than being Allah's blessings, what if Allah take all these away from us:

“And have you seen the water that you drink? Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down? If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?” [56:68-70]

The word  ٱلْمَانِعُ  takes its from m-n-' which in classical Arabic means (1) to prevent, hinder, hold back, restrain, deny, (2) to impede, resist, (3) to forbid, refuse, prohibit, (4) to guard, defend, protect.

Other attributes of Allah closely related to Watching and Protecting:

• Hafīz refers to the One who remembers and preserves to keep things from being lost or forgotten.
• Wakīl refers to the One who is the trusted administrator of all matters.
• Raqīb refers to the One who watches and observes.
• Māni' refers to the One who protects and defends against harmful situations.

So be grateful to Allah, the Al-Mānī, the One who prevents undesirable actions. The One who impedes or hinders wrongful action. Thus helps His obedient servants from falling into the hands of evil. The One Who protects and shields us from harm that may inflict injuries to us, physically and spiritually, and prevents the evil from approaching us provided we are true servants of Allah.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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99 Attributes of Allah: Ar-Rashīd - The Guide to the Right Path of Rectitude

Allah in His all might is the Ar-Rashīd " ٱلْرَّشِيدُ " -  The Guide to the Right Path of  Rectitude - The Appointer of the Right Path.

Allah has since the creation of the universe, and specifically so since the creation of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife Eve, guided not only the first pair of humans but ever since all mankind to the right path. It is up to the man whether he chooses the right path and becomes among those who are the blessed ones, or choose the way of evil ones and choose the way to the brazen fire f hell:

لَاۤ اِكۡرَاهَ فِى الدِّيۡنِ​ۙ  قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشۡدُ مِنَ الۡغَىِّ​ۚ فَمَنۡ يَّكۡفُرۡ بِالطَّاغُوۡتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۡۢ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ اسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِالۡعُرۡوَةِ الۡوُثۡقٰى لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا​​ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ‏ 

(2:256) There is no compulsion in religion. The Right Way stands clearly distinguished from the wrong. Hence he who rejects the evil ones and believes in Allah has indeed taken hold of the firm, unbreakable handle. And Allah (Whom he has held for support) is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

Although, Ar Rashid is not specifically mentioned as one of the attributes of Allah in the Quran, the attribute has been derived from the word Rashd " رشد " as mentioned in the verse above, which in classical Arabic means to be caused to follow the right course.  Thus Ar-Rashīd is the One who unerringly decrees, appoints or ordains the right way. The verse above forcefully proclaims that there is no compulsion for anyone to chose the rightly directed path. One must exercise his free will to decide which path he intends choosing after he has been told the pros and cons of each.

The same word is used in the 10th 10th verse Surah 70. Al Jinn:

وَّاَنَّا لَا نَدۡرِىۡۤ اَشَرٌّ اُرِيۡدَ بِمَنۡ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ اَمۡ اَرَادَ بِهِمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ رَشَدًا ۙ‏ 

(72:10) and that “we do not know whether evil is intended for those on the earth, or whether their Lord intends to direct them to the Right Way”;

The name al-Rashīd,  according to the dictionary Lisān al-'Arab by al-Mukarram, denotes: "The One who is the Director to the right way, and the One whose regulations are conducted to the attainment of their ultimate objects in the right way, without anyone's aiding in directing their course aright."[2]

Rashid is the transliteration of two male given names: Arabic: راشد‎ Rāshid and Arabic: رشيد‎ Rashīd (also spelled Rasheed), both meaning 'rightly guided', 'having the true faith'. It also means 'the high one'. Thus Ar-Rashid Arabic: الرشيد‎ is one of the 99 Names of Allah, meaning The Guide.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Wājid - The Finder

Allah in His al might is Al-Wājid " ٱلْوَاجِدُ " - The Finder, The Perceiver, The Unfailing, for nothing hides from Him and no one can hide from Him. He is the Creator and has everything tightly bound and controlled so that the system does not collapse. While He blesses in abundance, He also knows who is grateful and who is not.

The name Wājid is not specifically used as a Beautiful Name in the Qur'ān, but is derived from words meaning "finder" from many verses in the Qur'ān:

وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآ لًّا فَهَدٰى‏ 

"Did He not find you unaware of the Right Way, and then directed you to it?" (Surah 93 Adh Dhuha: 7)

And the very verse too indicates to the same attribute of Allah:

وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلًا فَاَغۡنٰىؕ‏ 

"And did He not find you in want, and then enriched you?" (Surah 93 Adh Dhuha: 8)

Both these verse are directed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in which Allah tells him that it was Allah who 'found' him in distress and not knowing found to do and guided him to the right path and helped him to stand on his own feet.

وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا 

"And whoever does evil or acts unjustly against his own soul then asks forgiveness of Allah, he shall find Allah Forgiving, Merciful" (Surah 4 An Nisa:110).

All above quoted verse point towards one direction: No matter how much a desire is hidden and no matter how much distress one may be, Allah will find it out. Allah is all forgiving and merciful and thus anyone who repents one's sins and prays for forgiveness, he will FIND Allah the most forgiving. 

The root word of "al-Wajid" is "Jidda," which means: finding out something through the power of the senses, the reaching of a point or a goal, the existence of something, the mental realization, to be rich, to have abundance or to be without wants.

Allah is never incapable of doing whatever He pleases. Al-Wajid is the One from Whose knowledge nothing at all escapes; He does not overlook anything at all. Anyone who sins even by hiding in the darkness of night or many walls around him, Allah will find him out and all his sins will stand naked in front of Allah, the Al-Wājid.

وَالَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡۤا اَعۡمَالُهُمۡ كَسَرَابٍۢ بِقِيۡعَةٍ يَّحۡسَبُهُ الظَّمۡاٰنُ مَآءً ؕ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَآءَهٗ لَمۡ يَجِدۡهُ شَيۡـئًـا وَّ وَجَدَ اللّٰهَ عِنۡدَهٗ فَوَفّٰٮهُ حِسَابَهٗ​ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَرِيۡعُ الۡحِسَابِ ۙ‏ 

But for those who deny the Truth, their deeds are like a mirage in the desert, which the thirsty supposes to be water until he comes to it only to find that it was nothing; he found instead that Allah was with Him and He paid his account in full. Allah is swift in settling the account.

This above parable mentioned in verse 39 of Surah 24 An Nur describes the condition of those people who, in spite of disbelief and hypocrisy, practice some good deeds and also believe, among other things, in the life after death in the hope that their good deeds will be of some help to them in the Hereafter even if they did not believe and follow the Prophet and lacked the qualities of true believers. In this parable they are being told that their expectations of reaping benefits of their ostentatious deeds of virtue in the Hereafter are no more than a mirage. Just as a traveler in the desert takes the glittering sands for a surging pool of water and runs towards it for quenching his thirst, so are these people traveling on the road to death cherishing false hopes on account of their good deeds. But just as the one running towards a mirage does not find anything there to quench his thirst, so will these people find nothing to avail them when they enter the state of death. On the contrary, they will find Allah there, Who will require them to account for their disbelief, hypocrisy and misdeeds, which they committed along with their ostentatious deeds of virtue, and will deal with them in full justice.

Whatever one may do to deceive Allah, he will found out one day that all along his life he has been running after the mirage of falsehood, while he was being over watched by Allah and in the end when he is resurrected, the blindfold opens to the stark reality which he all along his worldly life pretended not to comprehend and will be a loser forever.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Muntaqim - The Inflictor of Retribution

Allah in His Al might is the Al-Muntaqim " ٱلْمُنْتَقِمُ " - The Avenger, The Inflictor of Retribution, The Disapprover !!

Since descend of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him), Allah has clearly laid down the path forward and deviators have been warned of severe consequences and later of retribution. When people still deviated from Allah's path, the devastating flood in times of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) and a hellish rain of burning stones descended on people of Prophet Lut (Lot, peace be upon him). Te men still deviated and people of Ad and Thamud were destroyed and only the remains of their mighty abode remain.

Like other Divine scriptures, people have also been warned of Divine retribution in Qur'ān:

فَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ اللّٰهَ مُخۡلِفَ وَعۡدِهٖ رُسُلَهٗؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِيۡزٌ ذُوۡ انْتِقَامٍؕ‏ 

So, do not think, (O Prophet), that Allah will go back upon His promise to His Messengers. Surely Allah is Mighty, Lord of retribution. [Surah 14. Ibrahim: 47]

Though the above verse has been addressed to the Prophet (peace be upon him), it is really meant for his opponents. They are being warned that they should not delude themselves because of the delay in their punishment. They should note it well that Allah fulfilled the promises He made to the former Messengers and defeated their opponents. Likewise He will surely fulfill the promises He had made to Muhammad (peace be upon him).

وَمَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنۡ ذُكِّرَ بِاٰيٰتِ رَبِّهٖ ثُمَّ اَعۡرَضَ عَنۡهَا​ؕ اِنَّا مِنَ الۡمُجۡرِمِيۡنَ مُنۡتَقِمُوۡنَ

And who is more unjust than he who is given good counsel through the Signs of his Lord and yet he turns away from them? Surely We will exact full retribution from such criminals. [Surah 32. As-Sajda: 22]

All these signs proclaim consistently and clearly: “O man, you are neither without God, nor the servant of many gods, but your God is only One God: no other way of life is correct for you except the way of His service and obedience. You have not been left to live a free and independent and irresponsible life in this world, but you have to appear before yow God and render an account of your deeds after your life-activity here has come to an end, and be rewarded or punished accordingly. Therefore, it is in yow own interest that you should follow the guidance which your God has sent through His Prophets and His Books for your instruction and desist from an independent way of lift.” Now, obviously, the man who has been warned in so many different ways, for whose admonition countless different signs have been provided, and who has been blessed with the eyes to see and the ears to hear and the mind to think, and yet he closes his eyes to all these signs, and closes his ears to the admonitions of his well-wishers, and uses his mind for inventing stupid and blind philosophies only can be a wretched and wicked person. He only deserves to be given full punishment for rebellion when he appears before his God after the expiry of the period of test in the world.

The attribute Muntaqim  is not specifically used as a Beautiful Name in the Qur'ān. But it has been derived from the many cautions Allah has spelt out in the Qur'ān. Muntaqim and is from the root n-q-m and it is from the Arabic word " انْتِقَامٍؕ " this attribute of Allah, Al-Muntaqim, has been derived which in classical Arabic means: (1) to inflict retribution, avenge, (2) to dislike, disapprove, find fault, and (3) to punish.

فَاِمَّا نَذۡهَبَنَّ بِكَ فَاِنَّا مِنۡهُمۡ مُّنۡتَقِمُوۡنَۙ‏ 

We shall inflict retribution on them, whether We take you away from the world (before We do that) [Surah 43. Az-Zukhruf: 41]

يَوۡمَ نَبۡطِشُ الۡبَطۡشَةَ الۡكُبۡـرٰى​ۚ اِنَّا مُنۡتَقِمُوۡنَ‏ 

The Day when We shall seize them with a mighty seizing, that will be the Day on which We shall inflict upon you full retribution. [Surah 44. Ad-Dukhan: 16]

As can be seen from many verse quoted from the Qur'ān, Allah, the Al-Muntaqim leaves no stone un-turned to warn the oppressors, and when they still being adamant, the criminals to be subjected to His retribution. He sends His messengers supported by His signs and miracles to warn people; so, if warning does not benefit someone, He will surely then inflict His penalty and revenge against him. To  my reckoning the pandemic of Covid-19 is also a sort of Divine retribution which has taken a heavy toll of people all around the world. May be it is a warning and a strong message of something deadlier coming on to us if we do not mend ways. 

So let us obey Allah and try not to deviate from the true path, lest we invoke Divine retribution and perish forever from this world and yet be punished again and thrown in hellfire in the hereafter.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Mumīt - The Creator of Death

Everything created by Allah has to come to an end or die at a time appointed by Allah for Allah is  Al-Mumīt " ٱلْمُمِيتُ " (pronounced Al Mumeet) - The Creator of Death.  It is He alone Who ordains what shall become lifeless and when.

Although Al-Mumīt is not mentioned as such as an attribute of Allah in the Qur'an but it has been derived from the word  " يُمِيۡتُ​ؕ "  which appears at numerous places in the Qur'an. For example it appears in the 156th verse of Surah 3. Al-i'Imran:

يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَكُوۡنُوۡا كَالَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا وَقَالُوۡا لِاِخۡوَانِهِمۡ اِذَا ضَرَبُوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ اَوۡ كَانُوۡا غُزًّى لَّوۡ كَانُوۡا عِنۡدَنَا مَا مَاتُوۡا وَمَا قُتِلُوۡا ۚ لِيَجۡعَلَ اللّٰهُ ذٰ لِكَ حَسۡرَةً فِىۡ قُلُوۡبِهِمۡ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يُحۡىٖ وَيُمِيۡتُ​ؕ وَ اللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِيۡرٌ‏  

Believers, do not behave like those who disbelieved and say to their brothers (who meet some mishap) in the course of their journey for fighting: 'Had they remained with us, they would not have died nor been slain.' Allah makes such thoughts the cause of deep regrets in their hearts. For in truth it is Allah alone who grants life and deals death. Allah sees all that you do.

Similarly the word is repeated in the 158th verse of Surah 7 Al A'raf:

قُلۡ يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اِنِّىۡ رَسُوۡلُ اللّٰهِ اِلَيۡكُمۡ جَمِيۡعَاْ ۨالَّذِىۡ لَهٗ مُلۡكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ​ۚ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ يُحۡىٖ وَيُمِيۡتُ​ فَاٰمِنُوۡا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُوۡلِهِ النَّبِىِّ الۡاُمِّىِّ الَّذِىۡ يُؤۡمِنُ بِاللّٰهِ وَكَلِمٰتِهٖ وَاتَّبِعُوۡهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُوۡنَ‏ 

[Say, O Muhammad]: 'O men! I am Allah's Messenger to you all - of Him to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He. He grants life and deals death. Have faith then, in Allah and in His Messenger, the ummi Prophet who believes in Allah and His words; and follow him so that you may be guided aright.

Thus it is He Allah alone Who causes the oppressors to die on account of their disrespect for Him. He causes the land to die, rendering it barren; free from vegetation, then He brings it back to life when it produces. He brings to life His Sunnah by causing His prophets to inherit it from their predecessors, and He causes the death of innovations through the life of knowledge.

Once the Messenger of Allah performed the hajj then stood over the safa, overlooking the House, the Ka`bah. Then he made three takbeers saying, "There is no god except Allah, the One and only God; there is no partner with Him; His is the kingdom; to Him is all Praise due; He brings to life and causes death; in His hand is all goodness, and He can do anything at all."

The two attributes Al Mumīt (the life-taker) and Al-Muhyi " ٱلْمُحْيِي "  (the life-giver) are opposites.

The 44th verse of Surah 53. An Najm conveys the same message:

وَاَنَّهٗ هُوَ اَمَاتَ وَ اَحۡيَا ۙ‏ 

"and that He it is Who causes death and grants life"

And yet again:

لَهٗ مُلۡكُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ​ۚ يُحۡىٖ وَيُمِيۡتُ​ۚ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرٌ‏ 

His is the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He gives life and causes death, and He has power over everything. (Surah 57. Al-Hadid: 2)

Death is the antithesis of life. As long as there is life, everything looks beautiful, vibrant and lively. The moment water becomes stagnant, it gets rotten, when rains stop, earth dies and when winds stop the life of all living beings cases. Even the sleep is a form of death for during its period, man doesn't know where he is and what goes on about and around him. In absence of winds the pollen of flowers cannot spread and fresh flowers and crop cannot yield. The life and living of all living beings is dependent on the sole decision of Allah, the Al Mumīt, as to how long it is to stay alive and when to cease living, for there is time for everything.

Abu Tharr al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, is quoted as saying that whenever the Messenger of Allah was ready to go to bed at night, he would say, "In Your Name do we die and live," and whenever he woke up, he would say, "All Praise is due to Allah Who has brought us back to life after having caused us to die, and to Him is our final return." 

Here one should remember one thing: While all living creatures will cease to live one day, so would be the human beings, only temporary. For humans, there awaits yet another life which will be reward of their good deeds and sins. Man has been warned umpteen number of times in the Qur'an that this life here on the earth is a temporary abode for them, for an eternal life awaits in the Hereafter and its quality will depend on the deeds of this world. So now is still the time to shirk from sins and bad deeds and embark upon a journey full of good actions, helping others and loving more so as to be rewarded Jannah, the Paradise. Allah has created the entire universe, and on an appointed day, He creates its Death too. Be warned of that day and do good deeds before angel of death knocks at your door.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Wālī - The Patron / The Protective Ruler

Allah is Al-Wālī " ٱلْوَالِي "  - The Friendly Lord, The Patron and The Protecting Friend. For true believers, there can be no true friend and patron but Allah, the Al-Wālī (pronounced Waalee).

Although, Al-Wālī  is not specifically mentioned as an attribute of Allah in the Qur'an, it has been derived out of the word "Wall" from the eleventh verse of Surah 13 Ar Ra'd:

لَهٗ مُعَقِّبٰتٌ مِّنۡۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهٖ يَحۡفَظُوۡنَهٗ مِنۡ اَمۡرِ اللّٰهِ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتّٰى يُغَيِّرُوۡا مَا بِاَنۡفُسِهِمۡ​ؕ وَاِذَاۤ اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ بِقَوۡمٍ سُوۡۤءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهٗ​ۚ وَمَا لَهُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِهٖ مِنۡ وَّالٍ‏ 

There are guardians over everyone, both before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Verily Allah does not change a people's condition unless they change their inner selves. And when Allah decides to make a people suffer punishment, no one can avert it. Nor can any be of help to such a people against Allah.

That is, Allah not only directly watches over whatever each person does, and is fully aware of everything he does, but He has also appointed such guardians as accompany him everywhere and keep a full record of all his deeds. This has been stated here to warn those people who live their lives under the delusion that they have been left absolutely free to do whatever they like and shall not be required to render an account of what they did in this worldly life. The warning is that such people invite their own retribution.

This is to warn them further that they should not remain under any delusion that some holy person or saint or angel has the power to rescue them from divine retribution, for there is none who could defend them against Allah, even though they might have been paying homage and making offerings to their so called patrons and protectors in the hope that they would rescue them from punishment from Allah on the Day of Judgment.

In this verse, Allah has clearly warned the disbelievers that unless they believe and make Allah has their Patron, none other would help them when dark clouds loom over head. It is Allah alone, and no one else, Who is the sole Patron and the protector against any bad luck or calamity.

Wālī takes its root from w-l-y  which in classical Arabic means: (1) to be near, close, nearby, (2) to be a friend, helper, supporter, maintainer, (3) to defend, guard (lit. friendly dealing), (4) to be in charge, to turn one toward something, and (5) to be the master, owner, lord

There are two attributes of Allah which look almost similar:  Walī  " الولى  " and Wālī " ٱلْوَالِي ". 

While Walī " الولى  " - pronounced Waliyy, emphasizes the nearness and protective, supportive, guarding aspects of the One who is also the lord and master. This attribute Wālī " ٱلْوَالِي " emphasizes the aspects of lordship, ownership and mastery of the One who is also friend and helper.

If you recite this attribute of Allah repeatedly, Allah will safeguard you from all unexpected calamities.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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99 Attributes of Allāh: Al-Muhyi - The Bestower of Life

Al-Muhyi " ٱلْمُحْيِي " - pronounced Al-Muhyee or classically written as Al-Muḥ·yi, means the Bestower of Life. Al-Muhyi creates life and grants it to whomsoever He pleases. He creates man from nothing, then He brings them back to life when the Day of Judgment approaches after their death.

وَمِنۡ اٰيٰتِهٖۤ اَنَّكَ تَرَى الۡاَرۡضَ خَاشِعَةً فَاِذَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهَا الۡمَآءَ اهۡتَزَّتۡ وَرَبَتۡ​ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِىۡۤ اَحۡيَاهَا لَمُحۡىِ الۡمَوۡتٰى ؕ اِنَّهٗ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرٌ‏ 

And of His Signs is that you see the earth withered, then We send down water upon it, and lo! it quivers and swells. Surely He Who gives life to the dead earth will also give life to the dead. Surely He has power over everything. (Surah 41 Ha Meem: 39) 

Explaining the above quoted verse, Yusuf Ali contends:
Evil makes of the souls of men what drought makes of land: it kills life, beauty, and fruitfulness. Allah's Word in the spiritual world has the same wonderful effect as rain has on barren land: it gives life, beauty, and fruitfulness. And the effect of Allah's Word is also seen through the lives of men who repel evil with what is better. They also convert dead souls (which harbour spite and hatred) into living souls, which come into the main current of spiritual life, and help in carrying out Allah's beneficent Purpose. Why should we wonder then at the potency of Allah's Word, whether in our probationary lives here, or in the eternal life of the Hereafter.

Al-Muhyi " ٱلْمُحْيِي " is from the root h-y-y which in classical Arabic means (1) to live, to be living, (2) to become apparent, distinct, (3) to animate, to revive, (4) to vitalize, to call into being to be whole, sound, (4) to call, summon, invite, hasten. The attribute Al-Hayy " ٱلْحَىُّ " (ever-living) is also from this same h-y-y root.

Allah, the Al-Muhyi, has created the entire universe and the seven Heavens and it is He alone Who decides who to give life to and from whom to take it away. Allah mentions this attribute of Him at various places in the Qur'an:

يُخۡرِجُ الۡحَـىَّ مِنَ الۡمَيِّتِ وَيُخۡرِجُ الۡمَيِّتَ مِنَ الۡحَـىِّ وَيُحۡىِ الۡاَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا ​ؕ وَكَذٰلِكَ تُخۡرَجُوۡنَ‏ 

He brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living, and revives the earth after it is dead. Likewise will you be raised to life (after you die). (Surah 30 Ar-Rum: 19) 


That is, how can that Allah Who is doing all this perpetually in front of your eyes, be helpless in raising man to life after death? He is causing absolutely dead matter to be discharged from living man and animals. He is ever bringing into existence countless animals and human beings by breathing life into dead matter, whereas the substances themselves which make up the bodies of the living beings are absolutely without life. He is making you witness the phenomenon that wherever water becomes available, lands previously lying barren start blooming and blossoming with animal and vegetable life. In spite of witnessing all this if a person thinks that the God Who is sustaining the universe will be helpless to raise man back to life after death, he is fully devoid of the common sense. His heart does not see the clear realities gleaming from the manifestations which his eyes see.

As so often in the Qur'an, a reference to the spiritual life engendered by divine revelation is followed in verse 65 of Surah 16 An Nahl by a reference to the miracle of organic life as another indication of God's creative activity:

وَاللّٰهُ اَنۡزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَاَحۡيَا بِهِ الۡاَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا​ؕ اِنَّ فِىۡ ذٰ لِكَ لَاٰيَةً لِّقَوۡمٍ يَّسۡمَعُوۡنَ

Allah sends down water from the heaven, and thereby He instantly revives the earth after it lay dead. Verily there is a sign in it for those who listen (meaning those who understand the words and their meanings).

Yusuf Ali explains this verse:
When the earth with all its vegetation is well-nigh dead, parched and shriveled up, a vivifying shower of rain from above gives it new life. This natural phenomenon is a sign of Allah's infinite power, especially of His power to resurrect the dead, and thereafter muster them for judgment.

Allah gives life to the sperm and to the leech-like clot. He causes rain to pour out of the clouds in order to bring life thereby to a dead land. References to Allah bringing life back to the dead are numerous throughout the Holy Quran; here are some of them:

• So We said: Strike him (the dead corpse) with part of it (the sacrificed cow); thus does Allah bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs so that you may understand. (2:73) 
• Allah gives life and causes death, and Allah sees whatever you do. (3:156) 
• Say: O people! Surely I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [the Messenger] of Him to Whom the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs; there is no god but He; He brings (beings/things) to life and causes death; therefore, believe in Allah and in His Messenger, the ummi Prophet who believes in Allah and in His words, and follow him, so that you may walk in the right way" (Quran, 7:158).
• He gives life and causes to die, and you will be returned to Him. (10:56)
• And indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.(15:23)
• So observe the effects of the mercy of Allah - how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed, that [same one] will give life to the dead, and He is over all things competent.(30:50)
• He Who made them in the first place will bring them back to life. He has total knowledge of each created thing.” (36:79)
• His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent. (57.2)

The creation of human from a sperm and an egg is an excellent example of creation of Allah. Allah makes a sperm unite an ovum, both of which are invisible to the naked eye. As soon as the sperm destined to fertilize the egg enters the ovum, a membrane covers the egg and a new life begins. Allah divides this tiny cell first into two and then into four. This process proceeds rapidly, and the end result is a miraculous life starting in the mother's womb. After some time, these cells change in order to form the embryo's brain, nervous system, bones, and cartilage. This way, within only nine months, Allah creates from nothing a human being who sees, hears, speaks, and uses his or her intelligence. He then grants life. Obviously, an egg and a sperm cannot accomplish these series of miraculous events, for only Allah causes them to unite and then protects the embryo within the mother's womb for nine months. This is the first creation and the first bringing to life.

So Which of the wonders of your Lord's power will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny?

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allāh" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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