Surah Al Hashr Notes (22-24)

Source: Ibn Kathir

Glorifying Allah the Exalted by mentioning His Names and Attributes

(22) He is Allah, than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen (open). He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

Allah the Exalted said,

(He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa, the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) Allah states that He Alone is worthy of worship, there is no Lord or God for the existence, except Him. All that is being worshipped instead of Allah are false deities. Allah is the All-Knower in the unseen and the seen, He knows all that pertains to the creations that we see, and those we cannot see. Nothing in heaven or on earth ever escapes His knowledge, no matter how great or insignificant, big or small, including ants in darkness. 

Allah's statement,

(He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) was duly explained before at the very beginning of this Tafsir, so it is not necessary to repeat it here, and it asserts that Allah is the Owner of the wide encompassing mercy that entails all of His creation. He is Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim of this life and the Hereafter. 

Allah the Exalted said in other Ayat,

(And My mercy embraces all things.)(7:156),

(Your Lord has written (prescribed) mercy for Himself.)(6:54), and,

(Say: "In the bounty of Allah, and in His mercy; -- therein let them rejoice.'' That is better than what (the wealth) they amass.)(10:58)

(23) He is Allah than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him.

(He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa, Al-Malik.) Al-Malik, meaning "The Owner and King of all things,'' Who has full power over them without resistance or hindrance. 

Allah's statement,

(Al-Quddus,) meaning "The Pure,'' according to Wahb bin Munabbih, while Mujahid and Qatadah said that Al-Quddus means "The Blessed.'' Ibn Jurayj said that Al-Quddus means "He Whom the honorable angels glorify.''

(As-Salam,) meaning "Free from any defects or shortcomings that lessen or decrease His perfect attributes and actions.'' Allah's statement,

(Al-Mu'min,) means "Who has granted safety to His servants by promising that He will never be unjust to them, '' according to Ad-Dahhak who reported it from Ibn `Abbas. Qatadah said that Al-Mu'min means that "Allah affirms that His statements are true,'' while Ibn Zayd said that it means, "He attested to His faithful servants' having faith in Him.'' 

Allah's statement,

(Al-Muhaymin,) means, according to Ibn `Abbas and others, "The Witness for His servants actions,'' that is, the Ever-Watcher over them. Allah said in similar Ayat,

(And Allah is Witness over all things.)(58:6),

(and moreover Allah is Witness over what they used to do.)(10:46), and,

(Is then He (Allah) Who takes charge (guards) of every person and knows all that he has earned)(13:33)

(Al-`Aziz,) meaning that "He is the Almighty, Dominant over all things.'' Therefore, His Majesty is never violated, due to His might, greatness, irresistible power and pride. Allah said;

(Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir), meaning "The Only One worthy of being the Compeller and Supreme.'' 

There is a Hadith in the Sahih Collection in which Allah said, (Might is My Izar and pride is My Rida; if anyone disputes any one of them with Me, then I will punish him.) 

Allah the Exalted said,

(Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him.), 

then He said,

(24) He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

(He is Allah, Al-Khaliq, Al-Bari, Al-Musawwir.) Al-Khaliq refers to measuring and proportioning, Al-Bari refers to inventing and bringing into existence what He has created and measured. Surely, none except Allah is able to measure, bring forth and create whatever He wills to come into existence. Allah's statement,

(Al-Khaliq, Al-Bari, Al-Musawwir.) means, if Allah wills something, He merely says to it "be'' and it comes into existence in the form that He wills and the shape He chooses,

(In whatever form He willed, He put you together.)(82:8) 

Allah describes Himself as being Al-Musawwir, Who brings into existence anything He wills in the shape and form He decides.