Session 9 Notes
The fourth definition of the Quran: Discoverer of the Divine Names
My connection with my Creator starts with my questioning my own existence and that of the universe. If I do not wonder about the existence of myself and this universe, then I would not have any need for revelation from my Creator. We only benefit if we are looking for meaning and purpose in our existence. The Prophet (pbuh) mentions that everyone is equipped with the potentiality (fitrah) to submit their existence to their Creator, i.e., be a “muslim”. We must be careful to protect this reality from the cultural and societal ideas that take us away from the truth.
If we look at the human cell and study it, we would be amazed at how wonderful it is. A scientist studying it in the lab would say, “Oh, this cell works,” and would give it some Latin name to make it sound scientific. There are two opposing ideas, where one says that it is how it is, and the particles produced us. The other one says that we are created and the universe is also created. We should ask how mindless matter with no qualities can produce such a wonderful cell, which reflects in it almost endless qualities of its Creator.
Another example is when we look at the sky and wonder about it. The sky seems endless. Is the universe endless? Although I cannot get to the end of it, I must understand that the universe needs to be created. We may say that I have endless feelings, what does it mean? Are we eternal beings? When we say endless, it means that we cannot get to the end of it, but also we cannot get out of it, i.e. we cannot get out of our createdness. When something exists, the human mind informs us that it must have been given existence.
While we are investigating the way something is created, it is necessary to ask questions. For example, when we look at a parrot, we must ask who painted it, who shaped it, who added symmetry and balance to it, who designed the wings and feathers? Who taught the parrot to fly and speak? How about the bird’s nest intricately woven, where every species has their own type of nest specific to their needs. Who taught them engineering and architecture? The materialist mind says that it is as it is, evolved by itself. They talk as if the laws exist independently, having external existence. Is there any sign of this superficial understanding in the existence of anything?
I must question who can be the source of these qualities present in beings. This introduces me to the source of those qualities.
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ أَسْمَـٰٓئِهِۦ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
“To God alone belongs the Most Beautiful Names. So call upon Him by them and keep away from those who abuse His names.” (7:180)
When I ask the question, “Who created this bird with all its qualities? With its own being the bird declares that whoever gave it existence must be the one who put it in the context of the whole universe. The Qur’an comes to answer who owns those beautiful, perfect qualities. The whole listing of beautiful names points to the proper name “Allah”. By looking at the bird, I should start remembering God with His beautiful names (Zikr).
The process starts with physical observation and physical experience, followed by intellectual reasoning, questioning, and then assimilation with my feelings. That is how I will connect to the manifested names of God in what I am observing. The “fa” in “فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا” indicates that I must call upon His names, something that is an evident result of observation.
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُ ٱلْبَارِئُ ٱلْمُصَوِّرُ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
“He is God, the Creator, the Originator, the Fashioner… To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Whatever is in the heavens and Earth constantly glorifies Him. He is the Almighty, All-Wise.” (59:24)
This verse mentions a few names and then lets the reader continue with the rest of the names as indicated by “…”. How are we to know “to Him belong all the Most Beautiful Names”? The verse explains with “whatever is in the heavens and Earth” by universalizing the message using “مَا” which is genereally applicable to unconscious beings, and not “مَنْ”, which is applicable to conscious beings only. I must look at the heavens and earth, uncover the qualities, and connect them to their Owner. Matter and pieces of the being cannot be the source of the existence of that being. This is in conformance to the eternal criterion of the Qur’an: “لا إله إلا هو”.