The more we know about Allah (SWT), the more we understand why He (SWT) deserves our love and worship.
Last week, we talked about moving beyond autopilot.
We also learned that Allah (SWT) loved us before we could ever love Him.
Today we begin learning more about who Allah (SWT) is.
Islamic Studies · Worship class · 60 to 75 minutes · every student needs paper and a pen
Last class ended with one challenge: make one dua that nobody told you to make.
On your own paper:
Your writing stays with you.
Think about someone you love and respect. Usually, the more you understand their character, their kindness, and what they have done for you, the more meaningful that relationship becomes.
The same principle helps us understand our relationship with Allah (SWT). We learn about Allah (SWT) through what He (SWT) has revealed about Himself. One important way is through His Names and attributes.
إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ اسْمًا، مِائَةً إِلَّا وَاحِدًا، مَنْ أَحْصَاهَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
"Allah (SWT) has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one. Whoever learns them will enter Jannah."
Learning them means more than memorizing a list: understanding them and living by them. Today we will focus on four.
Allah (SWT) has Names and attributes that teach us about Him. Today we are highlighting four:
These Names describe attributes of the same Allah (SWT). As we study each Name, ask yourself:
What does this teach me about Allah (SWT)? And how should knowing this affect me?
الرَّحْمَٰنُ ● عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ ● خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ ● عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ
"The Most Merciful taught the Qur'an, created man, [and] taught him eloquence."
The surah begins with Ar-Rahman. Then Allah (SWT) mentions teaching the Quran, creating the human being, and teaching human beings how to communicate.
What do these blessings teach us about the mercy of Allah (SWT)?
Could we have earned any of these things before Allah (SWT) gave them to us?
Last week's hadith of the mother among the prisoners was this Name in action. Ar-Rahman reminds us that the mercy of Allah (SWT) is already present throughout our lives.
وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ
"And He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,"
This ayah gives us two Names together: Al-Ghafur, the Forgiving, and Al-Wadud, the Loving. Allah (SWT) tells us that He is loving and forgiving.
Why is it important for a Muslim to know that Allah (SWT) is Al-Wadud?
How might someone relate to Allah (SWT) differently if they only thought about punishment and never remembered His love and mercy?
Knowing Al-Wadud teaches us that love is part of our relationship with Allah (SWT).
إِذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ الْعَبْدَ نَادَى جِبْرِيلَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ فُلَانًا فَأَحْبِبْهُ، فَيُحِبُّهُ جِبْرِيلُ، فَيُنَادِي جِبْرِيلُ فِي أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ فُلَانًا فَأَحِبُّوهُ، فَيُحِبُّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ، ثُمَّ يُوضَعُ لَهُ الْقَبُولُ فِي الْأَرْضِ
"When Allah (SWT) loves a servant, He calls Jibril and says: I love so-and-so, so love him. So Jibril loves him. Then Jibril calls out to the people of the heavens: Allah (SWT) loves so-and-so, so love him. So the people of the heavens love him. Then acceptance is placed for him on the earth."
What does this hadith teach us about what the love of Allah (SWT) sets in motion?
This is Al-Wadud. His (SWT) love is real: announced in the heavens, and felt on earth.
يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ
"O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous,"
Think about some of what Allah (SWT) has given you:
What should generosity produce in the person receiving it? Gratitude.
Last week you tried to count His (SWT) favors and nobody could finish the list. Knowing Allah (SWT) as Al-Karim should make us more aware of His blessings and more grateful for them.
فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ
"So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great."
Allah (SWT) is loving, merciful, and generous. He is also Al-Adheem: His greatness is beyond the greatness of His creation. Knowing this should produce respect, humility, and awe.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.
How might understanding the Name Al-Adheem change the way someone performs ruku?
These are not the only responses these Names can produce. They help us understand that our relationship with Allah (SWT) includes:
The more we know about Allah (SWT), the better we understand how to worship Him.
Choose one real moment from this past week. Write:
The purpose is to begin connecting what we learn about Allah (SWT) with what happens in our own lives.
Last week, we discussed a teaching image used by Ibn al-Qayyim. A believer's journey to Allah (SWT) can be compared to a bird.
It steers. Knowing Al-Wadud increases it.
Knowing Ar-Rahman and Al-Karim gives us hope in His (SWT) mercy and generosity.
Knowing Al-Adheem reminds us of His (SWT) greatness and our responsibility before Him.
A bird needs both wings to fly properly. A believer needs a balanced understanding of Allah (SWT).
What could happen if someone remembered only the mercy of Allah (SWT) but ignored accountability?
What could happen if someone thought only about punishment and forgot His (SWT) mercy and love?
Allah (SWT) put both wings next to each other in one place in the Quran:
نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ ● وَأَنَّ عَذَابِي هُوَ الْعَذَابُ الْأَلِيمُ
"[O Muhammad (pbuh)], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful. And that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment."
Two ayat, back to back. Hope and accountability belong together, and love leads them both.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me."
We have now spent time learning more about the One we worship. Allah (SWT) is Ar-Rahman, Al-Wadud, Al-Karim, and Al-Adheem.
How does knowing these Names help us understand worship differently?
No. The ayat immediately after 51:56 say:
مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ ● إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
"I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is Allah (SWT) who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength."
Allah (SWT) does not need provision from His creation. We worship Allah (SWT) because He created us for worship and because He alone deserves worship.
Worship is for our benefit. Allah (SWT) is not dependent upon us.
We know who we are standing before. We remember Al-Adheem.
We know we are asking the One who is merciful and generous. We remember Ar-Rahman and Al-Karim.
We remember that Allah (SWT), Ar-Rahman, taught the Quran.
We recognize that our blessings come from Al-Karim.
We know that Allah (SWT) is forgiving, merciful, and loving.
Knowing Allah (SWT) affects the way we worship Him.
Your writing stays with you.
Make a private dua to Allah (SWT). Use one of the Names we studied today.
Then speak to Allah (SWT) in your own words.
We have spent the first two lessons on why we worship Allah (SWT) and who Allah (SWT) is. Next, we begin studying salah: Why do we pray five times? Why is salah so important? What are we doing when we stand before Allah (SWT)?