Commentary on the Basmala
Creator: Imam at-Tabari
Date: 2006-05-07
Format: text
Identifier: http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=359
Language: en
Source: Le Commentaire du Coran (Jaami`ul Bayaan fee Tafseeril Qur'aan)
Subject: quran
Title: Commentary on the Basmala
Created on: Sun May 07 19:51:06 -0400 2006
Updated on: Mon Sep 25 13:29:24 -0400 2006
Version: 3
Abstract: ... ship of yourself (ilaahata_ka/aalihata_ka)?" Ibn `Abaas explains: "Pharaoh did not worship, rather he was worshipped." But what is it that permits to say that the word "Allaah" is derived from "ilaah"? As in other cases of elision, the combination al+ilaah becomes Al_Laah, after the vocal elision of i (hamza i). The two letters l (laam) are collided and become a single doubled laam in the pronunciation . B.2. "Ar-Rah.maan ar-Rah.eem" - "the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful" These two Names are derived from the verb "rah.ima": to be merciful and both mean "that who is merciful"; and also, each of these Names corresponds to one aspect of (Allaah's) Mercy. Different views about respective meanings of the names "rah.maan" and"rah.eem": 2.1 Azramee said: "Ar_Rah.maan is the Merciful in regard to all creatures and Ar_Rah.eem is the Merciful in regard to Believers." Aboo Sa`eed al-Khudree reported that the Messenger of Allaah - Blessings and Peace be upon him - said: "`Eesaa, son of Mary, said: "Ar_Rah.maan is the Merciful in this world and the other, while Ar_Rah.eem is the Merciful in the other world (uniquely)." These two propositions are valuable and do not contradict each other. God, as Rah.maan, includes all creatures in His Mercy in this world and the other, and as Rah.eem, He gives His particular Mercy to certain creatures, in all their states or to all creatures in some of their states [meaning in this life or in the Other]. So God is Rah.eem, in this world in regard to Believers in order that they believe in Him and His Prophets, respecting His Orders and avoiding disobedience to Him; in fact those are the blessings which had not been granted to associationists and disbelievers, nor to those who move away from obedience to Him. In the other world, God is equally Rah.eem to believers by perpetual delights and dazzling success which He prepared to them in His Paradise, "And Allaah is the Most Merciful (Rah.eem) to believers." (Qur'aan, 33:43) On the other hand, Allaah is Rah.maan to both believers and disbelievers in this world, because He included them in His universal Mercy by innumerable blessings which He has granted them: sustenance, rain, physical and moral wellbeing; He is still Rah.maan in the other world in regard to both (believers and disbelievers) by His Equity and His Rigour because "Allaah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a small ant), but if there is any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward." (Qur'aan, 4:40) 2.2 Second view Ibn `Abbaas said: "...the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful is the Gentle (Raqeeq), the Kind (Rafeeq)." According to this proposition, the distinction between Rah.maan and Rah.eem is not established as a function of these aspects of Allaah's Mercy, but as a function of the nature of this Mercy. 2.3 Third view According to `Ataa', the name Rah.maan was uniquely a divine Name until the day when creatures attributed them wrongly to themselves: Allaah made it known that His Name (in regard to Mercy) from that day on was Ar_Rah.maanu_r_Raheem because no creature has ever been qualified by these two attributes at the same time. 2.4 Two mistaken views - It is false to pretend that the Arabs did not know the name Ar_Rah.maan before Islaam. - It is useless to distinguish these two names by saying that Ar_Rah.maan designates "He Who is qualified by Mercy" (Dhoo Rah.mah) and that Ar_Rah.eem designates "He Who is Merciful" because this distinction does not make sense. B.3. Explanation of the order of the Names in the "Basmala" When the Arabs desire to speak about something, they have a habit to first mention the thing in question, and then to mention its attributes (sifaat) and its qualities (nu`oot). Or the Names of Allaah such as Allaah, Rah.maan (Most Beneficent), Khaaliq (Creator), they are absolutely divine Names that cannot be attributed to any creature and which suffice by themselves to designate Him Who is in question. On the contrary, the Names such as Merciful, (...), Seer, Generous can equally be attributed to created beings because certain aspects of designated qualities of each of these Names can be attributed to them (i.e. created beings). Rightfully, the Name "Allaa... [Full Article...]
