ALLAH

Say: “He is God, The one and only; God the Eternal,

Absolute; He begetteth not, Nor is he begotten;

And there is none like unto Him.” (C x II 1-4)

The first and foremost tenet of Islam is the belief in the existence of One and Only One Great Eternal, Self subsisting, Unseen, but at the same time Omni-potent, Omnipresent, Omniscient. All Embracing, All Pervading God, The creator of this universe. The Creed is expressed in four simple words "NO GOD BUT GOD". Bow to Him and to him alone and no one else whether living or dead. No, not even to the revered Prophet. He too is no exception. In the Qur'an (XVIII:110) the Prophet has been enjoined to proclaim that he was only a human being like others. The supremacy of the universe vests entirely with God. In that, He admits of no partnership. Neither He beget, nor was He begotten. He is the first and the last, Hidden and at the same time Manifest.

The whole of His wonderful creation bears ample testimony to His existence. His absolute power and control, His wisdom and His all pervading love, mercy and justice. He is mild, lovable, affable, patient Relenting, Forgiving, Appreciating and Requesting, but in the case of unmitigated revolt, wherever it be, He is a firm Reckoner and a stern avenger. It is He who enriches and exalts; it is He who impoverishes and humiliates. He is the sole judge of all our wants and an impartial Arbitrator. Remember Him and He is ready to respond. He is the creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. He is the Arbitrator and the Destroyer. He is the Wise, the Knowing, the Hearing, the Seeing; your guide and guardian, the ever Wide awake observer and vigilant watcher of your affairs. He is above all, the embodiment and source of all Truth, Love, Peace and Justice.

How vast is the idea of Providence can be gathered from only two verses of the Holy Qur'an.

Say "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the

words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be

exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even

if we added another ocean like it, for its aid".

(XVIII:109)

SAY "If all the trees on earth were pens And the ocean

(were ink) with seven oceans behind it to add to

its (supply), yet would not the words of God be

exhausted (in the writing): for god is exalted in

power Full of Wisdom". (XXXI: 27)

QUESTION:

Please list out the 99 Quranic names or Attributes of Allah.

1. Ar-Rahman. The Merciful.

2. Ar-Rahim. The Compassionate.

3. Al-Malik. The King.

4. Al-Quddus. The Holy.

5. As-Salam. The Peace.

6. Al-Mumin. The Faithful.

7. Al-Muhaimin. The Protector.

8. Al-Aziz. The Mighty.

9. Al-Jabbar. The Repairer.

10. Al-Mutakibbir. The Great.

11. Al-Khaliq. The Creator.

12. Al-Bari. The Maker.

13. Al-Musawwir. The Fashioner.

14. Al-Ghaffar. The Forgiver.

15. Al-Qahhar. The Dominant.

16. Al-Wahhab. The Bestower.

17. Ar-Razzaq. The Provider.

18. Al-Fattah. The Opener.

19. Al-Alim. The Knower.

20. Al-Qabiz. The Restrainer.

21. Al-Basit. The Spreader.

22. Al-Khafiz. The Abaser.

23. Ar-Rafi. The Exalter.

24. Al-Muizz. The Honourer.

25. Al-Muzil. The Destroyer.

26. As-Sami. The Hearer.

27. Al-Basir. The Seer.

28. Al-Hakim. The Ruler.

29. Al-Adl. The Just.

30. Al-Latif. The Subtle.

31. Al-Khabir. The Aware.

32. Al-Halim. The Clement.

33. Al-Azim. The Grand.

34. Al-Ghafur. The Forgiving.

35. As-Shakur. The Greatful.

36. Al-Aali. The Exalted.

37. Al-Kabir. The Great.

38. Al-Hafiz. The Guardian.

39. Al-Muqit. The Strengthner.

40. Al-Hasib. The Reckoner.

41. Al-Jalil. The Majestic.

42. Al-Karim. The Generous.

43 Ar-Raqib. The Watcher.

44. Al-Mujib. The Approver.

45. Al-Wasi. The Comprehensive.

46. Al-Hakeem. The Wise.

47. Al-Wadud. The Loving.

48. Al-Majid. The Glorious.

49. Al-Bais. The Raiser.

50. As-Shahid. The Witness.

51. Al-Haqq. The Truth.

52. Al-Wakil. The Advocate.

53. Al-Qawi. The Strong.

54. Al-Matin. The Firm.

55. Al-Wali. The Patron.

56. Al-Hamid. The Laudable.

57. Al-Muhsi. The Counter

58. Al-Mubdi. The Beginner.

59. Al-Mu'id. The Restorer.

60. Al-Muhyi. The Quickner.

61. Al-Mumit. The Killer.

62. Al-Haiy. The Living.

63. Al-Qaiyum. The Subsisting.

64. Al-Wajid. The Fender.

65. Al-Majid. The Glorious.

66. Al-Wahid. The One.

67. As-Samad. The Eternal.

68. Al-Qadir. The Powerful.

69. Al-Muqtadir. The Prevailing.

70. Al-Muqaddim. The Bringing Forward.

71. Al-Muakhkhir. The Deferrer.

72. Al-Awwal. The First.

73. Al-Akhir. The Last.

74. Az-Zahir. The Evident.

75. Al-Batin. The Hidden.

76. Al-Wali. The Governor.

77. Al-Muta'ali. The Exalted.

78. Al-Barr. The Righteous.

79. Al-Tawwab. The Acceptor of Repentance

80. Al-Muntaqim. The Avenger.

81. Al-Afuw. The Pardoner.

82. Ar-Ra'uf. The Kind.

83. Maliku-l-Mulk. The Ruler of the Kingdom.

84. Zu'l-Jalali-wa Al-Ikram. The Lord of Majesty and

Liberty.

85. Al-Muqsit. The Equitable.

86. Al-Jami. The Collector.

87. Al-Ghani. The Independent.

88. Al-Mughni. The Enricher.

89. Al-Mu'ti. The Giver.

90. Al-Mani. The Withholder.

91. Az-Zarr. The Distresser.

92. An-Nafi. The Profiteer.

93. An-Nur. The Light.

94. Al-Hadi. The Guide.

95. Al-Badi. The Incomparable.

96. Al-Baqi. The Enduring.

97. Al-Warris. The Inheritor.

98. Ar-Rashid. The Director.

99. As-Sabur. The Patient.

The above names begin or end with the name ALLAH. ALLAH is the name of creator of the universe as given in the Holy Qur'an. It is the title given to the Supreme Being by Muslims of every race and language. ALLAH is supposed to be derived from Ilah a deity or god with the addition of the definite article Al-Ilah. "the God" or according to some authorities, it is from LAH, i.e. AL-LAH "the Secret One", but Abu Hanifah says that just as the essence of God is unchangeable, so is his name, and that ALLAH has ever been the name of the external being. The Title ALLAH is called the ISMU 'Z-ZAT, or the essential name of God, all other titles including RABB being considered ASMA'US-SAFAT or attributes which are listed above are also called ASMA'U L-HUSNA or the most beautiful or excellent names (Sura II: 180).

QUESTION:

From the 99 beautiful names of ALLAH, we know what He is, but I would like to know "WHAT GOD IS NOT".

ANSWER:

He, glorified be His name, is not a body endowed with form, nor a substance circumscribed with limits or determined by measure, neither does He resemble bodies, as they are capable of being measured or divided. Neither is He a substance, neither do substances exit in Him, neither is He an accident, nor do accidents exist in Him. Neither is He like to anything that exists, neither is anything like to Him; nor is He determinate in quantity nor comprehended by bounds, nor circumscribed by the differences of situation, nor contained in the heavens. He sits upon the throne, after that manner which He, Himself hath described and in that same sense which He Himself means, which is a sitting far removed from any motion of contact, or resting upon or local situation, but both the throne itself, and whatsoever is upon it, are sustained by the goodness of His power, and are subject to the grasp of His hand, but He is above the throne, and above all things, even to the utmost ends of the earth, but so above and as at the same time not to be a whit nearer the throne and the heaven; since He is exalted by (infinite) degrees above the throne no less than He is exalted above the earth, and at the same time so near to everything that hath a being; e.g. nearer to man than their jugular veins, and is witness to everything,: Though His nearness is not like the nearness of bodies as neither is His essence like the essence of bodies. Neither does He exist in anything neither does anything exist in Him, but He is too high to be contained in any place, and too holy to be determined by time; for He was before time and place were created, and is now after the same manner as He always was. He is also distinct from the creatures by His attributes, neither is there anything beside Himself in His essence. Nor is His essence in any other besides Him. He is too holy to be subject to change or any local motion; neither do any accidents dwell in Him, nor any contingencies befall Him, but He abides through all generations with His glorious attributes free from all danger of dissolution. As to the attributes of his perfection. As to being, He is known to exist by the apprehension of the understanding, and He is seen as He is by an ocular intuition, which will be vouchsafed out of His mercy and grace to the holy in the eternal mansion, completing their joy by the vision of His glorious presence.

QUESTION:

Muslims in the Indian sub continent use the word "KHUDA" in place of "ALLAH". They use this word to refer to the creator. As far as I know the work Khuda is a Persian word, which means "Come into existence by one self". Is it permissible to use this word, although it is not among the 99 Quranic names or attributes of ALLAH.

ANSWER:

If the word "Khuda" has come to mean "ALLAH" in the same way as the English word God refers to Allah, then there is no harm in using it in place of the Arabic word. If in ordinary usage, if it does not have that meaning, then it should not be used as synonymous with the name of Allah. The original meaning of a certain word is not important, if it has changed over the years. What is important is the meaning that people understand when the word is used. The word Khuda may have originally meant what you have said, in your question. It may, however have lost that sense and acquired a new sense which is close to what we understand when the name of Allah is used. If this is the case, then there is no harm in using it.