DISCOVERY OF GOD
The Creator of the Intelligent Universe
MAN by his very nature wants a God who is greatest of the greatest and Who is the only one who has no partner. As a matter of human psychology, man wants a God of unbounded greatness.
Since man, in past history, has not been able to discover such a God of limitless glory, he has not been able to establish an elevated relationship with God.
He has believed in God in a formal way by observing rituals but he has not found a God who becomes all in all for him.
What is the reason for this happening?
In ancient times, man would see that there were many things which appeared great. For instance the sun, the moon, the oceans and the mountains, etc.
Moreover, in ancient times, there were many great emperors who made the claim of being the greatest Lords.
There were many such different objects of greatness which dominated man’s mind.
This being so, in spite of believing in God, people could not discover the greatest and the noblest being in the form of God.
This aspect has been brought to an end for the first time by modern science.
What modern science did for the first time was to place all human or non-human greatness in a non-divine perspective.
Now it is possible that man, by his reflection and deep thinking, may embark on this journey and may discover God in the highest form.
Further, the scientists have succeeded in discovering the meaningfulness of the universe but failed to discover the Creator of this meaningful universe.
That is why they wonder when the meaningfulness of the universe is observable, why is it that the Creator of the meaningfulness is unobservable.
Where is the wise Creator of this intelligent universe?
What is the answer to where is God? God tells us that He is closer to us than our jugular vein.
The truth is that universe without God is unexplainable. We can see Him through the signs in the universe.
Therefore if we believe in God we will find complete meaningfulness of our life and know the purpose of our life and know what we have to strive to live a peaceful life.
Further in our journey of belief let us ponder about the following:
In the human world we all know that human beings with their superior intelligence are able to study the other creatures. But, all the other creatures put together cannot study the human being. So, a superior being only has the capability of introducing Himself to His creation.
We will find this introduction in Islam. God Almighty in the 99 names Has described His qualities which we, by our nature look for in a supreme being and without any of these qualities we cannot have a strong faith to trust in Him completely. Trust is placed in someone who is all powerful, all wise, the bestower, the one who can give us solace, strength, sustenance and everything else which is a natural desire of man.
Chapter 112 of the Quran says: Say, He is God, the One God, the Self- sufficient One. He does not give birth, nor was He born, and there is nothing like Him.
The following are the attributes as mentioned by God Himself.
ARABIC ENGLISH
1 AR-RAHMAN THE ALL-COMPASSIONATE
2 AR-RAHIM THE ALL-MERCIFUL
3 AL-MALIK THE ABSOLUTE RULER
4 AL-QUDDUS THE PURE ONE
5 AS-SALAM THE SOURCE OF PEACE
6 AL-MU’MIN THE INSPIRER OF FAITH
7 AL-MUHAYMIN THE GUARDIAN
8 AL-AZIZ THE VICTORIOUS
9 AL-JABBAR THE COMPELLER
10 AL-MUTAKABBIR THE GREATEST
11 AL-KHALIQ THE CREATOR
12 AL-BARI THE MAKER OF ORDER
13 AL-MUSAWWIR THE SHAPER OF BEAUTY
14 AL-GHAFFAR THE FORGIVING
15 AL-QAHHAR THE SUBDUER
16 AL-WAHHAB THE GIVER OF ALL
17 AR-RAZZAQ THE SUSTAINER
18 AL-FATTAH THE OPENER
19 AL-ALIM THE KNOWER OF ALL
20 AL-QABIZ THE CONSTRICTOR
21 AL-BASIT THE RELIEVER
22 AL-KHAFIZ THE ABASER
23 AR-RAFI THE EXALTER
24 AL-MUIZZ THE BESTOWER OF HONORS
25 AL-MUZILL THE HUMILIATOR
26 AS-SAMI THE HEARER OF ALL
27 AL-BASIR THE SEER OF ALL
28 AL-HAKAM THE JUDGE
29 AL-‘ADL THE JUST
30 AL-LATIF THE SUBTLE ONE
31 AL-KHABIR THE ALL-AWARE
32 AL-HALIM THE FORBEARING
33 AL-AZIM THE MAGNIFICENT
34 AL-GHAFUR THE FORGIVER &HIDER OF FAULTS
35 ASH-SHAKUR THE REWARDER OF THANKFULNESS
36 AL-ALI THE HIGHEST
37 AL-KABIR THE GREATEST
38 AL-HAFIZ THE PRESERVER
39 AL-MUQIT THE NOURISHER
40 AL-HASIB THE ACCOUNTER
41 AL-JALIL THE MIGHTY
42 AL-KARIM THE GENEROUS
43 AR-RAQIB THE WATCHFUL ONE
44 AL-MUJIB THE RESPONDER TO PRAYER
45 AL-WASI THE ALL-COMPREHENDING
46 AL-HAKIM THE PERFECTLY WISE
47 AL-WADUD THE LOVING ONE
48 AL-MAJID THE MAJESTIC ONE
49 AL-BA’ITH THE RESURRECTOR
50 ASH-SHAHID THE WITNESS
51 AL-HAQQ THE TRUTH
52 AL-WAKIL THE TRUSTEE
53 AL-QAWIYY THE POSSESSOR OF ALL STRENGTH
54 AL-MATIN THE FORCEFUL ONE
55 AL-WALIYY THE GOVERNOR
56 AL-HAMID THE PRAISED ONE
57 AL-MUHSI THE APPRAISER
58 AL-MUBDI’ THE ORIGINATOR
59 AL-MU’ID THE RESTORER
60 AL-MUHYI THE GIVER OF LIFE
61 AL-MUMIT THE TAKER OF LIFE
62 AL-HAYY THE EVER LIVING ONE
63 AL-QAYYUM THE SELF-EXISTING ONE
64 AL-WAJID THE FINDER
65 AL-MAJID THE GLORIOUS
66 AL-WAHID THE UNIQUE, THE SINGLE
67 AL-AHAD THE ONE, THE INDIVISIBLE
68 AS-SAMAD THE SATISFIER OF ALL NEEDS
69 AL-QADIR THE ALL POWERFUL
70 AL-MUQTADIR THE CREATOR OF ALL POWERFUL
71 AL-MUQADDIM THE EXPEDITER
72 AL-MUAKHKHIR THE DELAYER
73 AL-AWWAL THE FIRST
74 AL-AKHIR THE LAST
75 AZ-ZAHIR THE MANIFEST ONE
76 AL-BATIN THE HIDDEN ONE
77 AL-WALI THE PROTECTING FRIEND
78 AL-MUTA’ALI THE SUPREME ONE
79 AL-BARR THE DOER OF GOOD
80 AT-TAWWAB THE GUIDE TO REPENTANCE
81 AL-MUNTAQIM THE AVENGER
82 AL-‘AFUWW THE FORGIVER
83 AR-RA’UF THE CLEMENT (MERCIFUL)
84 MALIK-AL-MULK THE OWNER OF ALL
85 ZUL-JALAL-WAL-IKRAM THE LORD OF MAJESTY & BOUNTY
86 AL-MUQSIT THE EQUITABLE ONE
87 AL-JAMI’ THE GATHERER
88 AL-GHANI THE RICH ONE
89 AL-MUGHNI THE ENRICHER
90 AL MANI’ THE PREVENTER OF HARM
91 AD-DARR THE CREATOR OF THE HARMFUL
92 AN-NAFI’ THE CREATOR OF GOOD
93 AN-NUR THE LIGHT
94 AL-HADI THE GUIDE
95 AL-BARI THE ORIGINATOR
96 AL-BAQI THE EVERLASTING ONE
97 AL-WARITH THE INHERITOR OF ALL
98 AR-RASHID THE RIGHTEOUS TEACHER
99 AS-SABUR THE PATIENT ONE
God has the most
excellent names. (7: 180)
