God's attributes

GOD’s ATTRIBUTES

STANZA- I

God calls Himself ‘Seeing” to the end that
His eye may scare you from sinning.
God calls Himself ‘Hearing’ to the end that
You may close your lips against foul discourse.
God calls Himself ‘Knowing’ to the end that
You may be afraid of Him to plot an evil.

Reference: These verses have been taken form Jalaluddin Rumi’s Poem God’s Attributes, which is
translated into English by Dr. Nicholson.

Context: In this short poem, Rumi has sung the praises of God and His attributes. He says that God is
Omnipresent (Present everywhere), Omniscient (all knowing and all seeing) and Omnipotent
(Almighty/Supreme). How clear of sight is He and keen of hearing! (Al-Kahf (The Cave) -

Roukh 4). Rumi also believes that all these attributes of God are so blessed and commanding that
human beings refrain from committing sins and avoid forbidden things. He further says that these
attributes of God are not mere vain titles but are meaningful and effective for character & soul building
and to be successful in this world as well as in the life hereafter. These names also prevent us from
conspiracy and any kind of loathsome (immoral) discourse/discussion.

Explanation: In these verses, the poet describes that God calls himself “All Seeing”, “All
Hearing”, “All Knowing” i.e, Omniscient and Omnipresent. The poet says that these unique
attributes create fear in our hearts and we step back from sin and crime. The knowledge that God has a
keen eye on all of his creatures, prevents us from sinning. The fact that He is hearing everything, even
the whispers in our hearts and the thought process in our minds make us fearful of loathsome and
immoral conversation. As it appears in the Holy Qur’an,

"Nothing is like Him; and He is The Hearer, The Seer." (ash-Shura 42/11)

The truth that God is All Knowing i.e Omniscient even the secrets of hearts, creates a terror in human
being and refrain them from conspiracy (plotting) and backbiting.

By Muhammad Azam, Lecturer, FGS Degree College for Men, Wah Cantt. Cell #03335418018

Allah is the omniscient, Whose knowledge comprehends in the most perfect manner all things,
hidden or open, the small and the great. Nothing is absent from His knowledge, nor anything is hidden

from Him even if it be the weight of the smallest ant. Whether at rest or in motion, the state of
things is known to Him prior to and during its occurrence. He is neither ‘heedless nor is He errant’.
God’s attribute of Omnipresence is beautifully narrated in the Holy Qur’an in the following words:

"There is no secret conference of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but
He is their sixth, nor of less or more but He is with them wherever they be:
And afterward, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they
did. Indeed, Allah is Knower of All Things." (al-Mujadalah 58/7)

STANZA II

These are not mere accidental names of God
As a Negro may be called camphor;
So are these names derived from God’s attributes,
And not mere vain titles of the First Cause.

Explanation: In these verses, Rumi believes that God’s attributes are not illogical or vain /futile, but
have an important effect and significance for the character building, and salvation of human beings.
These names/attributes have a distilling effect and purify our intentions and reform the soul. Human
being may be dignified and distinguished by their specific titles, but no one has unique qualities and
beautiful & blessed attributes like that of God. Comparing God’s attributes to Human titles will be just
like comparing a Negro with white aromatic camphor. However, God’s attributes are His real qualities
and are genuine, absolutes & significant.

**********************


Knowledge:
"He knows that which goes down into the earth and that which comes out from it, and
that which descends from the heavens and that which ascends into it. He is The
Merciful, The Forgiving." (Saba' 34/2)

Might:

And He has said:

"Indeed, Allah is the One Who gives livelihood, The Lord of Unbreakable Might." (adh-
Dhariyaat 51/58)

Hearing, Seeing:

And He has said:

"Nothing is like Him; and He is The Hearer, The Seer." (ash-Shura 42/11)

And He has said:

"Lo! Comely is this which Allah admonishes you to be. Lo! Allah is ever Hearer, Seer."
(an-Nissa' 4/58)

Omnipresence:

And He has said:

"There is no secret conference of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their
sixth, nor of less or more but He is with them wherever they be: And afterward, on the
Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. Indeed, Allah is Knower of
All Things." (al-Mujadalah 58/7)


God's attributes

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God's attributes