Al-Akhir: The Last

Verse from the Qur’an:
“He is the First and the Last, and the Outward and the Inward; and He is Knower of all things.” (Qur’an 57:3)

Explanation:

• Allah is the Last; there is nothing that will come after Him or exist after Him, for He will exist always and for eternity, while everything else will eventually perish. Allah says:

  “…Everything else will be destroyed except His Face…” (Qur’an 28:88)

• In the verse from Surah 57 (al-Hadeed), Allah puts four of His names together: The First, the Last, the Outward and the Inward. These four names in conjunction show the vastness of His knowledge, and they indicate that there can be no escaping or hiding from Him. Everything is known by Allah, for He is the First, the Last, the Outward and the Inward. Ibn Kathir mentions that Ibn Abbas recommended reciting this verse when one has doubts in his or her heart.

Application:

• Knowing that Allah is the Last compels the hearts of the believers to sense and comprehend Allah’s greatness and eminence.
• This knowledge encourages them to put their own existence into perspective.
• With the short life spans of human beings, and the lack of control over the length of such life spans, the fact that Allah is and always will be, even after everything else perishes, is most compelling to the heart.

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Al-‘Afuww: The Pardoning

Verses from the Quran:

“That [is so]. And whoever responds [to injustice] with the equivalent of that which he was harmed and then is tyrannised – Allah will surely aid him. Indeed, Allah is Pardoning and Forgiving.” (Quran 22:60)

“Those of you who pronounce dhihar [to separate] from their wives – they are not [consequently] their mothers. Their mothers are none but those who give birth to them. And indeed, they are saying an objectionable statement and a falsehood. But indeed, Allah is Pardoning and Forgiving.” (Quran 58:2)

Explanation:

• Allah is the Pardoning and the One Who covers sins.
• When individuals accept Islam,  He forgives all of the sins that they committed previously.
• He is the One Who forgives and pardons.
• Al-Qurtubi indicates that this quality is also idicative of Allah being easy on His creation.

Application:

• Knowing that Allah is the Pardoning inspires the servants of Allah to turn constantly to Him in repentance.
• They are encouraged to hope through the knowledge that Allah loves to forgive and pardon.
• Hope that they will be forgiven, hope for paradise, hope to be saved from hell -all grow in the hearts via this knowledge.
• The servants of Allah know they can never be perfect, but that Allah will be merciful and pardon them if they turn to Allah in repentance.

Al-Adheem: The Most Great

Verses from the Quran:

“His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (Quran 2:255)

“To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (Quran 42:4)

“So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.” (Quran 56:74 , 69:52)

Explanation:

• Allah is greater than everything.
• He is the Almighty, and none is even close to possessing such might and power.
• He is the only Lord, the Most High, and Most Great. Nothing can compare to His greatness.

Application:

• Knowing that Allah is the Most Great gives the servants of Allah a sense of need to serve Allah.
• Their hearts are filled with humbleness and submission towards Allah.
• Indeed, nothing is worthy of being worshipped except the Most Great One.

Allah: He Who Deserves To Be Worshipped

Name Found In The Qur’an:

“All praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.” (Qur’an 1:2)

“Indeed, Allah is over all things competant.” (Qur’an 2:20)

“That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things.” (Qur’an 6:102)

Tafseer: 

In the Qur’an, Allah defines Himself as:

“He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted Is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (Qur’an 59: 22-24)

At-Tabari said in his tafsir:

“The interpretation of Allah is, according to the meaning narrated to us from Abdullah ibn Abbas: He is the One Whom everything takes as its god, Whom all creatures worship. Allah is He Who possesses the attributes of divinity and of being worshipped with respect to all His creatures.”

In al-Qurtubi’s tafsir, we gather the following points.

• Nothing else has this name. It is not found in male or female form.
• Some scholars say this is His greatest and most complete name.
• It further has three meanings. The One who deserves to be worshipped, the One whose existence is a must, and the Unique One.

In Our Daily Lives:

1. Knowing that He is the Only Deity worthy of worship should inspire us as Muslims to direct all our hopes, dreams, prayers and intentions towards Allah.
2. There is no sense in worshipping anything else since they can neither hear nor accept our supplications.
3. Allah alone can answer our prayers, and give us relief from our hardships,
4. He Alone deserves our gratitude and devotion.

Supplications:

Reported by Abu Usayd: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “When any one of you enters the masjid, he should say “O Allah! Open for me the door of Your mercy; when he steps out, he should say, ‘O Allah! I beg from You Your Grace.” (Muslim)

“O Allah! Grant me an easy reckoning.” (Ahmad. Declared authentic)

“O Allah! I ask of You guidance, piety and chastity and to be free of depending upon anyone (except You).” (Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah said, “If any amongst you makes a perfect ablution, then supplicates, ‘O Allah! Make me among those who turn to You in repentance, and make me among those who are purified.” Allah opens unto him the eight gates of the Garden (Paradise), that he may enter at which he chooses.” (Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi)