Adjectives for Allah

February 6, 2007 on 12:59 pm | In Arabic, Islam, Tafseer
| By Ilm Seeker

Allah says in the Qur'an:

الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

You might ask, why do rabb, Ar-Rahmaan, Ar-Raheem, and Maalik all have kasra on them? Why not dumma (the default), or fatha?

The answer is that, wallahu 'alim, they are na'at (adjactives) for Allah--words that describe His greatness.

For example, Ar-Rahmaan means "the source of mercy" (that's why, scholars say, you cannot name your son Rahman). Ar-Raheem is the one who shows mercy to the creation.

And rabbil 'alamiyn means "Lord of the Worlds" (yes, worlds, not world). And Maaliki Yawmid-Deen means king or soverign of the Day of Recompense.

Inshallah we'll post more details (tafseer) on each of these aspects in the future.

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