Names of Allah: AL-MALIK - MUDHHILL

AL-MALIK (The Sovereign; The King)

The attribute al-Malik means that Allah is the sovereign of everything that exists, the Creator and sole Owner of all known and unknown universes, and the everlasting Sovereign of our universe. All stars, human beings, animals, plants, jinn, angels, demons, and other beings of which we are either aware or unaware are all under Allah’s command. Allah, the Lord of all universes, also owns countless universes and regulates their amazing order.

It is unlikely that people who consciously submit to Almighty Allah considers themselves to be aimless beings. Allah is aware of everything, for He sees and hears everything. People who are aware of this also have to be aware that they are responsible to our Creator. Indeed, the consciousness that the universe's all-pervasive order has a unique owner makes believers naturally turn to Allah, Who holds sway over everything and everyone. Below are some of the verses related to this issue:

AL-MATEEN ( The Firm; The Possessor of Strength )

The issue that most misleads unbelievers is not Allah's existence, but His attributes. Some believe that Allah initially created everything and then left them to their own devices; others argue that although Allah created us, we do not have to feel any responsibility toward Him. To conclude, apart from denying Allah's existence, they do not measure Him with His true measure. This attitude underlies their unbelief, as "They do not measure Allah with His true measure. Allah is All-Strong, Almighty" (Surat al-Hajj, 22:74) reveals.

However, one day those who do not appreciate Allah's power, despite all of the surrounding evidence, will be unable to deny it. On that day, they will deeply feel Allah's power and strength. By His will, the strongest buildings and unshakable mountains will be crushed with a single blow:

The resulting destruction will befit Allah's glory and power. Oceans, the greatest source of life, will become like boiling water and then burst into flame. All the beings and orders with which humanity is accustomed will be demolished. The heavens and Earth will be crushed by the Power that created them. The sun, the source of energy that emitted light for millions of years, will become dull, thereby revealing that it has a master. Through these events, Allah will reveal that He is the sole and real Master, the only being having true sovereignty and power. One verse reads:

Through these events on the Day of Judgment, our Lord will show His power to all people. Those who insisted upon unbelief will finally comprehend His infinite power. But believers, as a reward for seeking His good pleasure throughout their lives, will meet His mercy. The Qur'an describes their joy on that Day in the following terms:

AL-MAWLA ( The Protector, The Master)

A believer knows that everyone and everything owes its existence to Allah, the Master of the Kingdom, for He sustains all beings and can end their existence at any time He wills. For this reason, Allah is a believer's sole friend and the only One Who can keep him or her far from sorrow or trouble. After all, our Lord's help and support is always with each believer. In return for this attitude, Allah sends down His serenity. (Surat at-Tawba, 9:26)

Several factors account for this serenity, among them is the believers' awareness that Allah hears every prayer, knows every good deed performed to earn His good pleasure, and that He will reward all of them bountifully. Another source of this feeling of security is their awareness of Allah's support with invisible armies and angels, as proclaimed in: "Everyone has a succession of angels in front of him and behind him, guarding him by Allah's command..." (Surat ar-Ra'd, 13:11) This aside, believers know that they will triumph in their struggle carried out in Allah's way, are given the good news of Paradise, and that Allah does not place an unbearable burden upon their shoulders. Believing in destiny and that Allah directs all affairs, they put their trust only in Allah. In the Qur'an, Allah calls attention to this state of mind, as follows:

No doubt, Allah's friendship bears no resemblance to the friendship among believers. The believer taken by Allah as an intimate friend attains the most superior blessings both in this world and the next. It is a great blessing that our Lord, the Creator of everything, takes a created being as a friend. In the Qur'an, Allah tells us the following:

AL-MU' AKHKHIR / AL-MUQADDEEM ( The Deferrer, The Keeper Behind The Advancer )

Allah leaves behind and brings forward whoever He wills. Being the sole Creator of everything, He has the power to do whatever He wills with anything that exists. He determines the time for every event and, as the actual master of every being and its destiny, predetermines the events of every being's life. When the specified time arrives, what has been ordained takes place, according to His will. Allah calls attention to this fact in the Qur'an, as follows:

No one except Allah knows this appointed time. No leaf falls before its appointed time, and every moment of a living being's life, from its birth to its death, is subject to this divine timing. However, if Allah wills, He can delay or bring forward any event, for the human concept of time being divided into the past, present, and future does not apply to Him. As the Qur'an states:

This being the case, all sincere servants must strive to draw closer to Him, without considering what He has delayed or brought forward, and must be absolutely pleased with what He gives, for, as the verse maintains, "Man is prone to be impetuous..." (Surat al-Isra', 17:11) We often expect something to take place or to be over at once. Yet, only Allah knows what is best for us and so ordains all events and situations accordingly. What a person thinks might be good may actually be harmful. Thus, a believer should be pleased with whatever Allah ordains.

AL-MU`ADHDHIB ( The Punisher )

Despite all of the surrounding evidence, those who have no faith in Allah and who insist upon disregarding His grandeur and power surely deserve a great punishment, for Allah created us, placed us on Earth, and provided us with whatever we need. However, despite all of these blessings, some people insist on denial and even hate believers and try to destroy their faith. No doubt, such people will be repaid both in this world and beyond.

Allah directs some affairs in this world through His Messengers and sometimes punishes unbelievers in this world through the hands of His Messengers. Allah reveals this fact in the Qur'an, as follows:

Their fearsome punishment in the Hereafter will continue to exist, unless Allah wills otherwise, for all eternity. Allah created various forms of psychological and physical punishments, for He knows each person's most secret weaknesses. Thus, He is the One Who can give the most suitable punishment. According to the following verses:

However, we need to remember that Allah creates infinite opportunities for each of us to repent and take refuge in His mercy. When we turn to Him in sincere repentance we will find our Lord to be the most merciful and compassionate, regardless of what type of sins one has committed. Allah gives the good news of His infinite mercy to His servants who sincerely repent:

AL-MUHEET ( All- Pervading; The All-Encompassing )

People who are far from religion assume that believers do not notice their forgeries and lies, a false assumption that gradually causes them to become arrogant. Yet, all of their forgeries are against themselves, even though they do not perceive this fact. At this point, they make another serious mistake: They fail to realize that Allah, Who witnesses, sees and hears everything, is all around them at all times. As the Qur'an reveals:

Not a thought or whisper remains hidden from Allah. He knows everyone's most secret secrets, for He is nearer to them than their jugular veins. And, as He encompasses the entire universe, He controls all beings. This is true even for those universes of which we know very little or nothing, such as the realms of the angels, jinn, and many others. Allah calls attention to this fact in the following verse:

AL-MUDHHEEK / AL-MUBKI (He Who Brings about both Laughter and Tears)

Believers know that Allah creates whatever they experience and thus are pleased with Him in all circumstances, no matter how difficult. Knowing that mundane things are transitory, they do not grieve over any loss, for they know that their moral excellence will be fully rewarded in the Hereafter. Moreover, Allah promises believers the best life in this world.

This is surely not the case with unbelievers, who pursue only this life in the belief that they are fully independent from Allah. This mistaken belief, however, causes them to feel great pressure upon their souls. Constantly seeking to earn other peoples' approval and attain mundane goals makes them afraid and confused, for such attitudes force them to think about everything and consider every possibility. But human beings, who are feeble, cannot shoulder such a burden, for the human body and soul were created to put trust and faith in Allah. Indeed, this delusion is the cause of their wailing, grief, and trouble, for such people wrong themselves by turning away from Allah. Allah relates how He will repay them both in this world and the next, as follows:

Allah punishes unbelievers through every incident and reason that causes them to weep. Meanwhile, He gives joy, happiness, peace, and tranquility to His believing servants, and makes them laugh constantly. He removes their sadness, for He is their friend and helper. Even if they face hardship and trouble, He gives them patience and strength and never causes them to despair. Believers only weep in prostration, over the awe they feel for our Lord's grandeur. Destined to have joy both in this world and the next, they experience the contentment related in the following verses:

In the Hereafter, unbelievers and believers will be recognized and separated by their facial expressions. This distinction is described below, as follows:

AL-MUWAFFEE (He Who Keeps His Word, He Who Pays in Full )

All of our acts and thoughts are recorded in Allah's Sight. He forgets nothing, even the most insignificant detail. Since "… even if something weighs as little as a mustard-seed and is inside a rock or anywhere else in the heavens or earth, Allah will bring it out. Allah is All-Pervading, All-Aware" (Surah Luqman, 31:16), on the Day of Judgment each of us will see our acts, as recorded upon their Pages, and will be repaid accordingly. Allah relates the following fact:

On that Day, all of a person's acts will be weighed in balances specially prepared for the Day of Judgment. In the face of Allah's Justice, no one will be wronged in any way:

Every act will be weighed to determine one's reward, for:

Allah's justice demands that everyone receive full payment for what they have done. Allah's repayment according to people's prayers and acts also takes place in this world. While this is a great blessing for believers, it is a fearsome trap for unbelievers, who do not realize the enormity of their spiritual blindness, for:

AL-MUHSEE ( The Reckoner )

As Allah informs us in "Does He Who created not then know?" (Surat al-Mulk, 67:14), He knows even the most delicate features of all members of creation. In fact, He holds them all by their forelocks, for He created their colors, shapes, images, and features, and also determined their number. Surely, no person can ever possess this knowledge.

Allah knows the number of planets, stars, and celestial bodies, as well as the number of electrons circling an atom's nucleus, how many leaves exist on trees, and the number of atoms in each leaf. In addition, He knows the exact number of sand grains located on and below Earth's surface, the number of rain drops, and how many fish live in the oceans. Given that He created everything, He also knows the exact number of animal and plant species on Earth, the precise number of people who have lived since the time of Prophet Adam (as), and the number of people who will live until the Day of Judgment.

Given His comprehensive knowledge, the Qur'an relates the following fact:

AL-MUHSIN ( The Giver )

One of Allah's immutable laws is that He rewards His sincere servants, both for their zeal and as an indication of His favor, with blessings and beauty. Since wealth, glory, and beauty are the basic attributes of Paradise, Allah creates similar settings and blessings to remind His beloved servants of Paradise and to augment their desire and excitement for it. That is why, just as unbelievers' infinite punishment starts in this world, Allah starts presenting the infinite beauties He promises to His sincere believers in this world.

In one verse, Allah states that He will grant those who repent and seek His forgiveness blessings also in this world. One verse reads:

Believers always meet Allah's favor and help. Being aware of the grandeur of Almighty Allah, Who created them, they comply with His commands and prohibitions, live by the religion with which He is pleased, and, most importantly, have great hopes and expectations for their next life. Allah will recompense them for the best of what they did, for He rewards every good made for His cause, as the following verses proclaim:

AL-MUHEE ( The Giver of Life )

Giving life to all beings, creating them from nothing, and surrounding them with the proper conditions for their survival is a feature unique to Allah, Who has infinite power.

Allah makes a sperm unite an ovum, both of which are invisible to the naked eye. As soon as the sperm destined to fertilize the egg enters the ovum, a membrane covers the egg and a new life begins. Allah divides this tiny cell first into two and then into four. This process proceeds rapidly, and the end result is a miraculous life starting in the mother's womb. After some time, these cells change in order to form the embryo's brain, nervous system, bones, and cartilage. This way, within only 9 months, Allah creates from nothing a human being who sees, hears, speaks, and uses his or her intelligence. He then grants life. Obviously, an egg and a sperm cannot accomplish these series of miraculous events, for only Allah causes them to unite and then protects the embryo within the mother's womb for nine months. This is the first creation and the first bringing to life.

Allah grants life to each human being and destines each one to die on a particular day. Until then, He tests them in the life of this world. At the appointed time, He takes their lives and, on the Day of Judgment, resurrects them, just as He first created them from nothing, to repay them for what they did in the world. No doubt, this is easy for Allah, the Almighty. Yet those who ignore this resurrection say:

Allah promises that the Resurrection will occur, as the following verses indicate:

AL-MUQALLIB ( The Turner of People's Hearts )

We cannot know Allah and grasp the purpose of our existence if we lack knowledge about the religion with which He is pleased. Moreover, we cannot understand the divine purposes behind the creation of the universe and its countless inhabitants, life, death, the Hereafter, Paradise, Hell, angels, and Satan on our own. Many people live and die in heedlessness. However, if Allah places faith in our hearts, we find all of the answers to these questions. Allah then purifies our hearts and makes us sincere toward the religion. A person who used to be hostile to religion starts to be positive toward religion; one who used to ignore His commands begins to adhere to them meticulously and remembers Him continuously. Likewise, they start to thank Allah frequently for the blessings that they have received. Whereas before they disregarded the signs of Allah's existence, as well as His favors, mercy, and compassion, they now recognize all of these. In brief, sincere believers are like those people who wake up from sleep, for Allah moves them from unbelief to belief by placing faith in their hearts.

Just as Allah grants faith, He can remove it whenever He wills. Having faith depends upon remembering Allah, for only a heart that submits itself to Allah can find guidance. Unbelievers, lost in their delusions, cannot see or recognize the clear signs of Allah's existence all around them. In many verses, Allah states that such people's hearts are covered in such a way that they cannot grasp the truth:

Unbelievers sometimes admit that they cannot understand religion's message. The people of Prophet Shu'ayb (as) is a clear example:

If one's heart is veiled and Allah hinders comprehension, then they can never be guided unless Allah wills otherwise. Allah calls attention to this, as follows:

Allah causes the heart of those who desire faith and closeness to Him to yield to His remembrance and unites them with other Muslims. Meanwhile, He turns the hearts of those who are insincere toward unbelief. He has the power to turn the heart of anyone He wills at any time, and no one can change a heart that Allah has covered.

AL-MUKMIL ( He Who Perfects)

Allah created humanity and, as “Does He Who created not then know? He is the All-Pervading, the All-Aware” (Surat al-Mulk, 67:14) emphasizes, He knows best what we need. Allah presented the religion in the form that best conforms to our nature so that all of us could know and serve Him, and thereby attain eternal happiness and salvation. Our Lord, the All-Wise, is pleased with Islam. No doubt, only Allah perfects the religion and uses it, in turn, to perfect His servants.

AL-MUQTADIR (The Powerful )

Allah granted unprecedented power and possessions to some people of the past. He gave them authority to administer their lands, and made them leaders of their people. One of these people was Pharaoh, who grew arrogant and assumed that this power belonged to him to such an extent that he proclaimed himself a deity. This is related in the following verse:

Upon this arrogance, All-Mighty Allah drowned both him and his army:

Haman and Qarun were destined for the same end, for they had become insolent and arrogant due to their armies and possessions. However, Allah showed them Who was the real owner of power, as follows:

Pharaoh did not realize several facts: Only Allah has real power and authority; grants people's possessions, authority, and armies; makes the Sun rise every day and covers the day with night; holds the fast-moving planets in their orbits; and controls all of the countless orders in the universe. Once people lose their authority and possessions, they lose their strength. When they lose their health, they become weak and feeble. Through such events, Allah shows His servants Who has real power. As the Qur'an proclaims:

AL-MUNTAQIM ( The Retaliator)

Allah warns every nation through His chosen Messengers so that they might be saved from idolatry and degeneration. As for those who ignore these warnings and grow more insolent, Allah punishes them. And, His retribution is surely unlike that of people:

In most cases, Allah may delay His punishment upon those people who were warned, and thus were informed of the truth, to give them more time to acquire faith and purify themselves. However, the majority of people use this time to strengthen their existing insolence. Therefore, they deserve a humiliating punishment. As Allah states:

According to the Qur'an, denying our Lord, being insolent and ungrateful toward Him, and refusing to abandon such defiant attitudes are among the greatest crimes that a person can commit. This is why Allah punishes unbelievers in ways that they could never have imagined. In one verse, Allah informs us that He is the Retaliator:

This aside, many verses speak of Allah’s infinite compassion and the manifestations of His attributes of al-Rahman and al-Raheem. The punishments waiting for unbelievers in the Hereafter are the result of their resolute unbelief. Allah reminds people of this fact and informs them that He does not wrong them, as follows:

Our Lord, Who is Most Merciful, also relates that He intends to lead all of His servants to the right path and to perfect His blessings upon them, as follows:

AL-MUSAWWIR ( The Shaper; The Giver of Form )

Our planet contains thousands of different species with entirely different appearances and amazing features. Let's examine the flawless symmetry on a butterfly wing. The surface of each wing is embellished with different patterns and impressive colors. No matter how complicated these patterns and colors may be, they never harm the perfect symmetry between the two wings. Indeed, just like a painter's masterpiece, all butterflies have astonishing appearances. Clearly, the wisdom manifested in such beauty has a source, for even an ordinary painting is painted by someone; it could not have come into existence by itself. This being the case, how could such a perfect living being, one that is as aesthetic as a work of art, come into being by coincidence? Allah, Lord of the universe, created, designed, and formed all of those beings.

Allah, Who created human beings and designed their bodies' internal and external systems, manifests His superior creativity and power on every detail of this complex structure. For instance, the skeleton (the body's structural support system) is an engineering marvel in its own right. It protects such vital organs as the brain, the heart and lungs, and upholds the body's internal organs. In addition, it gives the body a superior capacity for movement, one that cannot be imitated by any artificial mechanism. Bone tissue is not inorganic, as many people think. In fact, it is the body's mineral bank and thus includes many important minerals, among them calcium and phosphate. In accordance with the body's needs, it either stores these minerals or delivers them to where they are needed. Moreover, bones also produce red blood cells. Yet this multi-functional system is only one of the perfect systems existing in the human body.

This is the way of Allah, Who created—and Who continues to create—all of these systems with an unparalleled design so that we may see wherever we turn the manifestations of His unique creation. One verse relates that believers say the following words:

AL-MUBASHSHIR ( The Giver Of Good News )

Sincere believers who display the attributes mentioned in the Qur'an, who remain loyal to Allah's religion, and who do not associate partners with Him are given the good news of rewards both in this world and in the next. For example:

Apart from the good news of Paradise, the source of eternal happiness and joy, Allah gives many glad tidings to His sincere servants in this world as well. He proclaims these glad tidings in the Qur'an and describes how He answers prayers. For example, Allah told the Prophets that those nations who are insolent toward them would be destroyed. Similarly, He answered the prayers of those Prophets for sons. He gave Prophet Zakariyya (as) the good news of Prophet Yahya (as). Similarly, Maryam was given the good news of Prophet 'Isa (as), and Prophet Ibrahim (as) was given the good news of Prophet Ishaq (as) and Prophet Ya'qub (as). The related verses read:

AL-MUBAYYIN ( The One Who Makes His Signs Clear )

Given that Allah has explained, through His Messengers and His revelation why we were created, what we have to accomplish, and what we will go through after death, we cannot claim ignorance of these facts. If He had not done so, we would exist in a state of helplessness, feebleness, and fear. But Allah, Who is compassionate and merciful toward His servants, answers all of our questions through His revelations. In this way, He brings people to life. Indeed, the calls, warnings, recommendations, and prohibitions revealed by Him, as well as the issues to which He draws people's attention, are for our salvation and will enable us to give a joyful account in Allah's presence on the Day of Judgment.

Almighty Allah, Who doesn't want any injustice for His servants, gives a detailed account of how they can avoid eternal punishment and all they need to know to serve Him. In addition, He gives them examples of earlier peoples so that they will not repeat their ancestors' mistakes, and tells them about the Prophets so that they can find the right path. Indeed, people could never learn about such events and conversations on their own. For instance, no one witnessed Prophet Musa's (as) conversation with Allah in the valley of Tuwa, and there is no record of it. But Allah lets us know some details of this conversation. Thus, His words to Prophet Musa (as), even though they were spoken before no one else and were uttered centuries ago, are conveyed to everyone word by word.

In addition, no other book informs people about the life of the Hereafter. The Qur'an informs us that there is a life after death and that this worldly life is only a preparation for the Hereafter. In the absence of such knowledge, people would have to be content with the information relating to this world and would have no idea about the life after death. These are only a few issues that Allah explains to His servants. Through the Qur'an, our Lord provides people with everything that they need to know. One verse reads:

We have no knowledge other than what is revealed to us by our Lord.

AL-MUDABBIR (The Ruler, the Director, Who governs all of creation with order and balance)

Allah holds sway over the entire universe, for not a single atom moves without Him knowing it. Allah is the sole ruler of everything, from a dust particle to the planets following their orbits to the billions of inhabitants living in the micro-universe. The sky that serves as a dome by His grace, the billions of stars, the planets proceeding in their orbits, and the Sun have all submitted to Allah. This perfect order proves the existence of a power that controls all of existence, regardless of time or location. This power, which is over and above any other power, manifests Allah's perfect creation.

When we gaze at Earth, we encounter an amazing order. Allah assigns every living being a particular duty, and they carry out these duties fully. For instance, trees inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. The soil produces edible food, rain falls in due measure and at a particular rate, and after a lightning flash comes thunder. This balance is always maintained. While some people die, others are born.

Allah also rules the bodies of all living beings with great balance and order, for He has caused all organs to help one another. For instance, people cannot make their hearts beat or their intestines digest food. Nor can they be aware of the war waged by leucocytes in their blood against microbes, or of the countless chemical reactions taking place in their bodies. And, in no way can they supervise them.

In addition, human life relies on countless external factors that are ruled by Allah with great order and balance. If Allah had created the universe and then left it to its own devices, as some people claim, everything would have been ruined at that very moment. In fact, all of those interrelated systems have remained intact and continue to exist because of our Creator's power, for Allah is the real owner and ruler of the universe. The Qur'an calls attention to this fact, as follows:

AL-MU'MIN ( The Trustworthy, He Who Gives Tranquillity )

Allah presents a pleasing life to believers both in this world and the next. This life, which is perfect in all respects, makes them spiritually strong. Indeed, Allah gives spiritual peace and security to sincere believers. When they face any difficulty, He supports them, confirms His signs on their hearts, and, through the trust they put in Him, allows them to lead a peaceful life. The Qur'an informs us about this spiritual support after the Companions suffered a defeat during the time of our Prophet (saas):

There have always been people who, insisting upon denying Allah, work to turn sincere believers away from the straight path and to their own man-made religion. When believers reject this call, unbelievers threaten and oppress them. But during such times, Allah provides all forms of support and undermines the unbelievers' efforts, as the Qur'an reveals:

Many other verses inform us about this spiritual support, especially that given to the Messengers. When unbelievers forced our Prophet (saas) to emigrate, Allah promised to support him, hindered the unbelievers' attacks, and sent down serenity upon his heart. This support is related in the following verses:

While Allah gives His sincere servants feelings of security and serenity, the peace and security of the Hereafter are far beyond our comprehension. For one thing, they will last for all eternity, if Allah so wills. Allah describes this unique state of material and spiritual contentment, as follows:

AL-MUJEEB ( The Answerer )

Prayer is an intimate and personal bond between people and Allah. Through prayer, people express all of their troubles and wishes to Allah and seek His help. In return, He hears His servants' calls and answers their prayers. He is closer to people than their jugular veins, knows and hears everything, and is fully aware of each inner thought. This being the case, even just thinking is enough to ask for something from Him. This shows how close Allah's answer is.

Believers are certain that Allah hears and answers their prayers in one way or another, for they know that Allah wills everything. For this reason, they never worry that their prayers will remain unanswered. Doubting Allah's answer means that one fails to appreciate His power. Allah answers each prayer with great ease. However, "answering a prayer" does not mean that the person receives an immediate answer or even the one that he or she is expecting. In one verse, Allah states:

Allah knows best what is good and what is bad for us, for He is the One Who directs all affairs. As is in all of His acts, He answers prayers in the way that best meets His many divine purposes, as the Qur'an reveals below:

Allah's answer to all prayers, whether hidden or open, manifests His glory. No thought or wish remains unanswered. And, only Allah hears and answers prayers, for:

AL-MUHAYMIN ( The Safeguarder, The Protector )

The laws of physics, which ensure a flawless order in the universe, are the best evidence of the divine protection of Allah, Who created them, over His servants. For instance, what would happen if Earth's gravity were less? Primarily, light things would not remain fixed on Earth. In the mildest breeze, a dust or a sand particle would flit about for hours. The speed of rain drops would slow down, causing them to evaporate before falling on the ground. Newton's law of gravitation, which explains the delicate balance between the orbits of Earth, the Moon, and the planets, is another example. A minor change in this balance would cause Earth to draw near to the Sun and thus burn or be thrown into space, where it would freeze.

What would a world deprived of friction between objects and surfaces look like? A pen would slip out of one's hand, books and objects would slide down tables, and a table would slide and hit the wall. In brief, all objects would slide and roll. In a world without friction, all knots would unfasten, nails and screws would come out, brakes would never function, and sounds would continue to resound from one wall to another...

Another example is Earth's secure and strong structure. Toward its center, the temperature rises by 30° Celsius (86° Fahrenheit) every kilometer, reaching probably 4,500° Celsius (8,132° Fahrenheit) at its core. When we consider that only 1 kilometer (0,6214 miles) below the surface the temperature reaches 60° Celsius (140° Fahrenheit), we can grasp the dimensions of this threat. Despite this, however, all living beings lead their lives in absolute security, unaware of the magma boiling underneath them.

Clearly, Allah creates a perfect order on Earth's surface, which actually shelters an internal ball of fire. Thus, there is no room for any randomness. He holds sway over the heavens and Earth and protects all living beings in the universe against all threats, whether known to them or not. Meanwhile, He places the fetus in a very protected place. As these examples show, many things that seem normal to us are, in actuality, manifestations of His mercy and divine protection over His servants, for there is no other reason for the existence of such order and unity in the universe. Allah is the best of protectors.

AL-MUTA'ALEE ( The All-Exalted )

Some people, despite the countless signs surrounding them, fail to appreciate Allah's greatness. Despite their helplessness, they grow arrogant and never think about our Creator, because they follow the urgings of their lower self, which encourages them to indulge in evil. Yet the faithful, aware of their helplessness before Allah's greatness, understand that they have no real power whatsoever. Allah calls attention to creation's helplessness and His greatness in the following example:

Even though every corner of the universe manifests Allah's greatness, this vast manifestation is not sufficient to explain His infinite power and greatness. Allah is exalted above any partnership, defects, and limits. He is the sole Owner of all beautiful names and superior attributes. His knowledge, wisdom, might, power, mercy, compassion, and generosity is infinite.

The word "infinite" is a concept over which one has to think a lot in order to grasp Allah's greatness. After death, Allah will create people anew and make them start a new life either in Paradise or in Hell as a repayment for what they did in this world. Here, we are talking about infinity—not about a hundred years, a hundred thousand years, millions or even billions of years. That is, even if there were hundreds of trillions of people destined to live for a trillion years, they still would be unable to determine the exact limit of infinity.

However, Allah has such a vast knowledge that everything we consider "infinite" is within His knowledge. From the moment that time was created until eternity, Allah determines every event, thought, and moment of time, as the Qur'an proclaims:

AL-MUTAKABBIR ( He Who Reveals His Greatness in All)

Allah describes His greatness through the examples He gives in the Qur'an. For example, when Prophet Musa (as) requested "My Lord, show me Yourself so that I may look at You!" Allah replied: "You will not see Me, but look at the mountain. If it remains firm in its place, then you will see Me." The rest of the account is related, as follows:

When Prophet Ibrahim (as) said: "My Lord, show me how You bring the dead to life," Allah replied: "Take four birds and train them to yourself. Then put a part of them on each mountain and call to them; they will come rushing to you. Know that Allah is Almighty, All-Wise." (Surat al-Baqara, 2:260) This way, Allah showed him a sign of His greatness.

Allah told Prophet Lut (as) to leave his city early in the morning with the believers and not to look back. That morning, He destroyed the unbelieving nation and rescued Prophet Lut (as). Allah made the fire coolness and peace for Prophet Ibrahim (as). By the hands of Prophet 'Isa (as), He healed the blind and brought the dead to life. In the time of Prophet Musa (as), He parted the sea and drowned Pharaoh's army. This is how Allah manifests His greatness and part of His infinite power.

Allah openly reveals His greatness and power at every moment and in every incident. At dawn, He sends a hurricane toward those who greedily feel attached to this life of the world, or turns their cities upside down and makes them uninhabitable. This way, He strips them of their possessions and goods.

He submerges an entire city by pouring a heavy rain upon it, or ruins it by sending a great earthquake. The skies and the ground, the wind and the rain, all of which act under His surveillance, bring an unseen destruction to that city, and its people witness Allah's overwhelming power. No doubt, Allah is al-Mutakabbir. In the face of His power and strength, no one can become arrogant. He is the sole authority before Whom all will prostrate.

AL-MUSAWWIR ( The Shaper; The Proportioner)

A human being comes into being from the union of a sperm and an egg, which results in a single cell. This cell, as the Qur'an informs us, first looks like a lump of flesh. Then, Allah transforms it, makes it develop in the womb for a specified time, and then brings it forth as a human being. This new being is perfect in every way. As Allah proclaims:

As the Qur'an informs us, humanity was given the best form of all living beings on Earth and Allah displays countless signs of His creation both inside and outside the human body. Even the human body displays Allah's perfect artistry. Consider its symmetry: Its legs and arms, as well as the ratio of the body to the arms, legs, and head, are strikingly perfect. For instance, the length of the body is eight times the head's length. The length of the head is three times the length of the nose, and there is a distance of one eye between the two eyes. The ratio and length of our legs and arms are both aesthetic and fully functional.

In order to see this symmetry's perfect details, it is enough to gaze at the people around you. Indeed, these details were—and continue to be—typical of each person who has ever lived and who will live in the future, for this is how Allah creates. And, Allah's creation is flawless. Some of the verses regarding Allah's perfect creation are as follows:

AL-MUSTI`AN ( One Who Is Called upon for Help )

People need to feel Allah's existence and power both in times of difficulty and of ease. In other words, during every moment of their lives, all people are in need of prayer, for unless Allah wills, they cannot attain anything. Given that we are created with many inherent weaknesses, people can only live by means of Allah's mercy and favor.

On the other hand, Allah is the sole Deity in Whom one can take refuge. People are in need of Him, and therefore seek help and guidance only from Him. Without His permission, no one can help himself or someone else. Allah has the strength to make anything at any time He wills. When He decides on something, He just says to it "Be!" and it is.

He allocates provisions among His servants, pours down rain from the heavens, and grants blessings. He heals people when they are sick, makes them laugh or shed tears, exalts whoever He wills, and directs all affairs from heaven to Earth. No one can protect themselves if our Lord withholds His blessings or sends a disaster, and no one can deflect a blessing if He wills to bestow it. Thus, the universe and all of its inhabitants, whether living or non-living, takes refuge in Him and asks for help only from Him. The Qur'an reveals these facts, as follows:

AL-MUTAHHIR ( The Cleanser; He Who Cleanses from Idolatry and Spiritual Evil )

Human beings make mistakes throughout their lives. No doubt, believers make every effort to avoid such mistakes and strive not to commit them by living according to Allah's religion. This fact is related in the Qur'an, as follows:

In compliance with this divine command, sincere believers are not expected to be infallible or sinless; rather, they are expected to seek Allah's pleasure, abide by the limits that He has established for them, turn to Allah in repentance, and take refuge in His mercy. As the Qur'an informs, Allah will purify them, for Allah "desires to remove all impurity from His servants." This is related in the following verse:

Although a person may have committed great sins, rebelled against Allah, and lived by principles that are utterly contrary to Allah and His religion, Allah is so compassionate that He may purify those of His servants who sincerely repent. Furthermore, Allah informs us that He may even purify and forgive unbelievers and hypocrites who have fought Him and His religion if they ever turn to Him with a sincere heart. One verse reads:

These words are manifestations of Allah's infinite mercy toward His servants. Clearly, only He can purify His servants from idolatry, evil, and spiritual uncleanliness. Allah is the most compassionate of the Compassionate.

AL-MUYASSIR ( He Who Makes His Servant's Path Easier in Goodness and Wickedness; He Who Places No Unbearable Burden on Anyone )

Allah always directs us toward ease. At the base of Islam, the religion with which He is pleased, always lies this ease. The Qur'an reveals this profound truth, as follows:

Allah has made the Qur'an easy for those who are willing to take heed, and its commands make human life easy. For instance, He does not hold the blind, the lame, or the sick responsible, and shows ways that lessen His servants' burden during times of hardship and travel. He also states that He will forgive people, whatever their sins may be, provided that they repent sincerely. One verse reads:

Meanwhile, Allah calls attention to the fact that believers can easily attain all forms of success:

Every ease that we feel or see is from Allah, for they all come from His glory. He is the Most Compassionate of the compassionate, and He does not desire difficulty for His servants:

Allah knows what we can and cannot do, and thus does not desire any difficulty for us. This is also related in "Allah desires ease for you; He does not desire difficulty for you" (Surat al-Baqara, 2:185). Even under the severest conditions, He makes our tasks easy and shows us a way out. Allah reminds His servants of this blessings in the following verses:

Allah makes the ways of attaining His good pleasure and mercy easy for believers. On the other hand, He informs us that He will pave the way to difficulty for unbelievers:

AL-MUZAKKEE ( He Who Purifies His Servants (of all faults, shame, and spiritual impurity))

Infallibility and perfection are qualities unique to Allah. We may forget, become heedless, and make mistakes, but Allah does not. Such traits indicate our weakness and need of Allah in every situation. Given this, believers feel regret once they recognize their mistakes, repent, and are careful not to repeat them. Just considering themselves sinless and faultless is a great sin in itself. One verse reads:

Sincere believers are conscious of their mistakes and weaknesses. For this reason, they repent continuously and pray for Allah's mercy and good pleasure. In return, Allah covers their mistakes, forgives their sins, purifies them, and enables them to attain a superior position.

AL-MUZAYYIN ( The Adorner )

Loving faith, deriving pleasure from material and spiritual tastes, as well as hating disbelief and seeing it as evil, seem to be natural inclinations. However, they actually are blessings attained by Allah's favor. Allah relates this metaphysical truth in the verse quoted above.

In order to show the value of this great blessing and gift to believers, Allah creates the opposite situation for unbelievers. Failing to see the beauties engendered by faith, unbelievers derive pleasure from the gloomy and troublesome system of those who are far from religion. All of the evil and indecency found in the systems of unbelief have been made to seem good to them. This secret is divulged in the Qur'an, as follows:

Believers, who know Allah, notice His compassion for them, recognize that they exist only by His will, and that everything they like and take pleasure in come from Him. They attain the superiority of Allah's love and faith. Believers do not need to please anyone other than Allah, and so they ask for no other being's help. Indeed, people find peace only in the remembrance of Allah. They consider doing good deeds in order to earn Allah's good pleasure, living by His religion's code of moral excellence, observing His commands and prohibitions, being concerned about their fellow Muslims, and striving for the Hereafter as sources of joy and happiness.

AL-MUDHHILL ( The Humiliator )

Humiliation is one of the punishments that Allah sends to unbelievers in this world. For unbelievers who are devoted to ostentation and seeking others' approval, humiliation is a very severe punishment. In the Qur'an, Allah describes this punishment, as follows:

Allah manifests this attribute through believers and especially through those of His Messengers. The following verses call attention to this fact, as follows:

The message Prophet Sulayman (as) sent to the unbelievers was as follows:

On the other hand, in many verses Allah gives the news of a degrading punishment awaiting unbelievers in the Hereafter, one that they deserve because of their arrogance and pride in this world. As stated earlier, one of the unbelievers' major goals is to gain other people's appreciation, and so they praise themselves rather than glorify Allah. Thus, Allah makes humiliation the essence of their punishment in Hell, for their humiliation in front of other people will cause them to experience the greatest anguish. One verse reads:

The humiliation and abasement experienced in Hell is unprecedented and of various kinds. This humiliation will even manifest itself upon their bodies. For example, dust and debasement will darken their faces, as the following verses reveal:

While manifesting His attribute of al-Mudhhill upon unbelievers, Allah manifests His names of ar-Rahman and ar-Rahman ar-Raheem upon believers. By granting His Paradise and mercy, our Lord purifies them of all forms of evil. Contrary to the unbelievers’ humiliation, Allah will grant His sincere servants His good pleasure, Paradise, and blessings.