Surah Ta Ha : Continued (Part 3 )

Surah Ta Ha : Continued (Part 3 )

Chapter 20:1-8

"To Him belongs what is in the heavens and on earth, and all between them, and all beneath the soil. If the pronounce the word aloud, (it is no matter): For verily he knoweth what is secret and what is yet more hidden. ALLAH! There is no god but He! To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. "
[Surah 20:6-8]

An exhaustive definition of everything we can conceive of-what is in the heavens, on the earth, or between, or within the bowels of the earth.

There are two implications.

(1) Whatever you profees, or say aloud, gives no information to ALLAH: He knows not only what is secret and perhaps unknown to others, but what people take special care to conceal.

(2) It does you no good to make insincere professions: your hidden motives are known to Him, Who alone matters.

If you read the Word of ALLAH, or if you pray to ALLAH (Subhana Wa Ta'la), It is not necessary to raise your voice: in either case, ALLAH will judge you by your inner thoughts which are like an open book to Him.

ALLAH (Subhana Wa Ta'la)is all-in-all, and the most beautiful things we can think of are referable to Him. His names refer to His attributes which are like titles of Honour and Glory. See also 17:110

" Say:"Call upon ALLAH, or call upon Rahman. By whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): For to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak thy Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between. "
[Surah Al Isra 17:110]

Rahman describes one of the attributes of ALLAH- His Grace and Mercy which come to the sinner even before he feels conscious of the need of it- the preventive Grace which saves ALLAH's servants from sin. See 1:1. ALLAH (Subhana Wa Ta'la)can be invoked, either by His simple name, which includes all attributes, or by one of the names implying the attributes by which we try to explain His nature to our limited understanding. The attribute of Mercy in Rahman was particularly repugnant to the Pagan Arabs(see 25:60, and 21:36)

"When it is said to them, "Adore ye (ALLAH)Most Gracious! ", They say, "and what is (ALLAH)Most Gracious? Shall we adore that which thou commandest us? " and it increases their flight (from the Truth)."
[Surah Al Furqan 25:60]

"When the Unbelievers see thee, they treat thee not except with ridicule. "Is this," (they say),"The one who talks of your gods? " And they blaspheme at the mention of (ALLAH)Most Gracious! "
[Surah Al Anbiya 21:36]

"In the name of ALLAH, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"
[Surah Al Fatihah 1:1]

These Beautiful Names of ALLAH are many. The Hadith related by Tirmidhi, accepted by some as authentic, mentions 99 names of ALLAH. Qadi Muhammad Sulaiman has published an Urdu monograph on the subject, published by the Daftar Rahmatun-lil-Alamin. Patiala, India 1930. Those who wish to see a poetic Commentary on the names in the form of stories in English may consult Sir Edwin Arnold's Pearls of the Faith. Sir Edwin's stories are of unequal merit, but a fine example is furnished by No. 4 , al Malik, "The King"

All prayer should be pronounced with earnestness and humility, whether it is congregational prayer or the private outpouring of one's own soul. Such an attitude is not consistent with an over-loud pronunciation of the words, though in public prayers the standard of permissible loudness is naturally higher than in the case of private prayer. In public prayers, of course the Adhaan or call to prayer will be in a loud voice to be heard near and far, but the chants from the Sacred Book should be neither so loud as to attract the hostile notice of those who do not believe nor so low in tone as not to be heard by the whole congregation.

JAZAK ALLAH kHAIR.