Ramadan Day Twenty-Three
The Attribute of Praise in the Five Names of Allaah Mentioned in Suratul Faatihah
Allaah says alhamdulillah rabbil aalameen, Ar-Rahmaanir Raheem Maaliki Yaumi Deen.
In mentioning those Names after hamd (praise) is an indication that those Names are filled with honour and praise.
Allaah therefore is honourable in His Being Ilaaha (the Divine Being), so also in His Being the Rabb (the Creator and Sustainer of the worlds), so also in His Being Ar-Rahmaan and ar-Raheem, as well as being Al-Malik (the Controller on the Day of Judgement).
He is Perfect in the Singular Name as well as when the Name is combined with another Name.
There are many examples of this in the Qur'aan. For example He would say 'Allaahul ganiyyun hameed' - Allaah is Self-Sufficient and Full of Praise.
The Attribute of Self-Sufficiency is Perfect for Allaah as the Attribute of Praise is. Then mentioning both together creates more perfectness.
In some places He says He is Afuww Qadeer - Oft Pardoning Full of Ability.
In the above, one will get to know that it is only Allaah that can possess such descriptions because not everyone that has an ability can pardon, also not everyone that pardons has the ability, just as not everyone that has knowledge has forbearance, and not every forbearing person has knowledge.
Nabee Eesa - alayhi salaam - referred to Him as Al-Azeez and al-Hakeem (in Suratul Maaidah) when he was saying if Allaah wishes He could punish the Christians if He wishes He could pardon them. Here, Nabee Eesa - alayhi salaam - did not praise Allaah as Ghafoor Raheem because the matter is more serious than that (a situation of people getting a son for Allaah and going ahead to take the son as Allaah beside Allaah). If Allaah frees them it is out of His Izzah (Honour) and Hikmaah (Wisdom).
If Allaah pardons then in the above case, it is out of His Perfect Honour, Wisdom, Knowledge and Ability.
(He Allaah said in the last part of the Surah that only the truthful ones will saved, meaning that those Christians are doomed).
If a person pardons another person out of being unable to exert his vengeance such is not called an able, wise and knowledgeable fellow.
This therefore shows that Names of Allaah are originally derived from the Attributes of Allaah, and they all have meanings befitting how and where they are used.
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