Explanation of the author's statement: "… and He made it obligatory upon all people to believe in Him and follow Him outwardly and inwardly. So He, the Exalted, said:
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The Shaykh : He said: "And He made it obligatory upon the people, upon all people, to believe in Him and follow Him outwardly and inwardly. The evidence is [Al-A'raf 7:158]"
Say, O all mankind. Allah the Exalted commanded His Prophet to call out and announce to all people that he should say: I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, Arabs and non-Arabs, the Children of Israel and other than the Children of Israel, all people. The Messenger of Allah—who is he? Who is Allah, (Exalted and Majestic is He)?[Al-A'raf 7:158] Over the owned. Meaning, there is no true object of worship except Him, (Glorified and Exalted is He). Does "gives life" meet "the Living" in meaning, or not? What do you say? Does "gives life" meet "the Living" in meaning? Meaning, do "the Living" and "gives life" have the same meaning?
The student: No, they are not the same.
The Shaykh : Huh? No, let us leave that aside… My point is, does the meaning of "gives life" equal "the Living"? No, "the Living" is an attribute in itself, and "the Giver of Life" is an attribute in another, so it is from His actions… it is from His actions. For this reason, "the Giver of Life" did not come in the Qur'an. Is there "the Giver of Life" in the Qur'an? "The Giver of Life"?
The student:
The Shaykh : No, let it be an exception. Yes, there is no "the Giver of Life," but "the Living" exists. For this reason, we do not say "the Giver of Life" is among the names of Allah, because names are not derived from His actions, just as we do not call Him "the Taker" or "the Holder" or "the Seizer" or the like of actions.
For this reason, we passed through in the creed that attributes are broader than actions, huh?… Attributes are broader than actions for two reasons: First, there is no name except that it is accompanied by an attribute; every name indicates an attribute, but not every attribute indicates a name.
Also, attributes follow His actions, and His actions have no end; they have no end, unlike the names. We do not say the names have an end or have no end because we do not know, because among His names are those that Allah has kept to Himself, and what Allah has kept to Himself in knowledge, we say nothing about it. So, "gives life and causes death" means He puts life in another and causes another to die.
[Al-A'raf 7:158] Meaning, say to them, believe. Or is the address from Allah a new statement? It appears to be a new statement. [Al-A'raf 7:158] He described Him, the Exalted, with messengership and prophethood, and that is more complete and more eloquent. Otherwise, every messenger from among humans is a prophet. And His saying "the unlettered"—is this a description of praise or a description of blame?
The student: A description of praise.
The Shaykh : Considering the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is a description of praise, because this confirms the truth of his message.
Say, [O Muhammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death."
قل يا أيها الناس إني رسول الله إليكم جميعا الذي له ملك السماوات والأرض لا إله إلا هو يحيي ويميتSay, O all mankind. Allah the Exalted commanded His Prophet to call out and announce to all people that he should say: I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, Arabs and non-Arabs, the Children of Israel and other than the Children of Israel, all people. The Messenger of Allah—who is he? Who is Allah, (Exalted and Majestic is He)?
to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth
الذي له ملك السماوات والأرضThere is no god but He
لا إله إلا هوHe gives life and causes death.
يحيي ويميتThe student: No, they are not the same.
The Shaykh : Huh? No, let us leave that aside… My point is, does the meaning of "gives life" equal "the Living"? No, "the Living" is an attribute in itself, and "the Giver of Life" is an attribute in another, so it is from His actions… it is from His actions. For this reason, "the Giver of Life" did not come in the Qur'an. Is there "the Giver of Life" in the Qur'an? "The Giver of Life"?
The student:
And the exit of the dead.
ومخرج الميتThe Shaykh : No, let it be an exception. Yes, there is no "the Giver of Life," but "the Living" exists. For this reason, we do not say "the Giver of Life" is among the names of Allah, because names are not derived from His actions, just as we do not call Him "the Taker" or "the Holder" or "the Seizer" or the like of actions.
For this reason, we passed through in the creed that attributes are broader than actions, huh?… Attributes are broader than actions for two reasons: First, there is no name except that it is accompanied by an attribute; every name indicates an attribute, but not every attribute indicates a name.
Also, attributes follow His actions, and His actions have no end; they have no end, unlike the names. We do not say the names have an end or have no end because we do not know, because among His names are those that Allah has kept to Himself, and what Allah has kept to Himself in knowledge, we say nothing about it. So, "gives life and causes death" means He puts life in another and causes another to die.
So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet
فآمنوا بالله ورسوله النبي الأميSo believe in Allah and His Messenger, the
فآمنوا بالله ورسوله النبيThe student: A description of praise.
The Shaykh : Considering the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), it is a description of praise, because this confirms the truth of his message.