Al-Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) described the greatness of Allaah in the most beautiful way:
• He is controlling the affairs of all the kingdoms.
• He commands & prohibits.
• Creates & gives provision.
• Gives death & gives life.
• He raises & lowers people’s status.
• Alternates night & day.
• Gives days (good & not so good) to men by turns.
• And causes nations to rise & fall.
• So that one nation vanishes & another emerges.
• His command & decree are carried out throughout the heavens & on earth.
• Above it & below it.
• In the oceans & in the air.
• He has knowledge of all things & knows the number of all things.
• He hears all voices.
• And does not mistake one for another.
• He hears them all.
• In all the different languages & with all their varied requests & pleas.
• No voice distracts Him from hearing another.
• He does not confuse their requests.
• And He never tires of hearing the pleas of those in need.
• He sees all that is visible.
• Even the walk of a black ant across a solid rock in the darkest night.
• The unseen is visible to Him.
• And secrets are known to Him, Whosoever is in the heavens & on earth begs of Him (its needs from Him).
• Every day He has a matter to bring forth (such as giving honour to some, disgrace to some, life to some, death to some, etc.)!
[The Quran 55:29 interpretation of the meaning]
• He forgives sins.
• Eases worries.
• Relieves distress.
• Helps the defeated person back on his feet.
• Makes the poor rich.
• Guides the one who is astray & confused.
• Fulfils the needs of the desperate.
• Feeds the hungry.
• Clothes the naked.
• Conceals faults.
• And calms fears.
• He raises the status of some & lowers the status of others.
• Even if all the inhabitants of heaven & earth.
• The first & the last of them.
• Mankind & jinn alike.
• Were to be as pious as the most pious among them.
• This would not increase His sovereignty in the slightest.
• If they all, the first & the last of them.
• Mankind & jinn alike.
• Were to be as rebellious as the most rebellious among them.
• This would not decrease His sovereignty in the slightest.
• If everything in heaven & on earth.
• The first & the last of them.
• Mankind & jinn.
• Living & dead.
• Animate & inanimate.
• Were to stand in one place & ask of Him.
• And He were to give them everything that they asked for.
• This would not decrease what He has by even an atom’s weight.
• He is the First.
• Before Whom there is nothing.
• And the Last.
• After Whom there is nothing.
• He is the Most deserving of being remembered.
• The Most deserving of being worshipped.
• The Most deserving of being thanked.
• He is the Most Compassionate of kings.
• The Most Generous of those who are asked.
• He is the King Who has no partner or associate.
• The One who has no rival.
• The Self-Sufficient Master.
• Who has no son.
• The Most High.
• And there is none like unto Him.
• Everything will perish save His face [Quran 28:88 interpretation of the meaning].
• And everything will vanish except His sovereignty.
• He will not be obeyed except by His permission.
• And He will not be disobeyed except with His knowledge.
• He is obeyed.
• So He shows His appreciation.
• And He is disobeyed.
• So he forgives.
• Every punishment on His part is justice.
• And every blessing from Him is a favour.
• He is the closest of witnesses & the nearest of protectors.
• He seizes people by their forelocks.
• Records their deeds & decrees the appointed time for all things.
• Hearts conceal nothing from Him.
• For secrets are known to Him.
• His gift is a word & His punishment is a word.
• Verily, His Command, When He intends a thing,
Is only that He says to it, ‘Be! & it is.’” [Quran, 36:82 interpretation of the meaning].
(Adapted from al-Waabil al-Sayib, p. 125)
THIS IS ALLAH...
Who Revealed The Glorious Qur’an For The Guidance Of Mankind.