The Name of Allaah: Al-Malik Al-Mulk (Part 14)

Continuation of The Name of Allaah: Al-Malik Al-Mulk (Part 13)

#8 – Allaah is “مالك يوم الدين” (The Only King of the Day of Recompense)

In Surat Al-Fatihah [1:3], Allaah tells us that He is the only true King of the Day of Judgment. 

What is the wisdom behind Allaah particularizing the Day of Judgment while He is the Owner of all days?

On the Day of Judgment, the true sovereignty of Allaah will be shown clearly to all people, including the kings of this world. On that Day, they (the kings of this world) will stand with the rest of the slaves of Allaah waiting for the recompense of Allaah; in fear of His punishment and in hope of His forgiveness. No one will dispute with Allaah regarding His kingship on the Day of Judgment. 

In this world we see the kings of the Dunya forgetting the true King. On the Day of Judgment, His true sovereignty will be shown to all of mankind.

The Name of Allaah: Al-Malik Al-Mulk (Part 13)

#6 – Because Allaah is Al-Malik, He should be obeyed

Allaah, Al-Malik (The King), to Him belongs the whole dominion. He disposes the affairs of the whole dominion with His three kinds of commands:

a) Legal Commands

b) Decreed Commands

c) Recompense

Whenever Allaah decides a matter, what should the attitude of the servants be? We should obey Him. It is not for one to disobey Him or be reluctant. We should comply with the command immediately. This is exemplified in the “Story of the Cow” in Surat Al-Baqarah.

Continuation: Lessons from the Story of the Cow in Surat Al-Baqarah

After Allaah revealed the identity of the killer, and Allaah showed Bani Israeel the signs of His greatness, ability, perfection, and the truthfulness of Musa (Moses) عليه السلام, what was the attitude of Bani Israeel?

The Name of Allaah: Al-Malik Al-Mulk (Part 12)

Surat Al-Baqarah is the longest Surah in the Qur’an. It was revealed upon the Prophet (salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) over a 10 year period.

Theme of the Surah: This Surah mainly consists of التشريعات (At-Tashree-aat) legislations.

Ibn Taymiyah (رحمه الله) said: “The basis of every legislation in the Qur’an is in Surat Al-Baqarah.”

Name of the Surah: سورة البقرة Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow)

Connection between the name and the theme of the Surah: Allaah warns us against being like Bani Israeel. The command of Allaah came to them and they showed stubbornness and did not comply with it. As a result, Allaah took the caliphate from Bani Israeel and gave it to the Muslim nation.

What should our attitude be as a Muslim nation? We should say: “سمعنا و أطعنا” (We hear and we obey). We should not be like Bani Israeel who said “أتتخذنا هزوا” (Do you make fun of us?)

Lessons from the Story of the Cow

The Name of Allaah: Al-Malik Al-Mulk (Part 11)

#6 – Since Allaah is Al-Malik, He should be obeyed.

In the Story of the Cow in Surat Al-Baqarah [2:67]:

“And (remember) when Musa [Moses (عليه السلام)] said to his people: ‘Verily, Allaah commands you that you slaughter a cow.’ They said: ‘Do you make fun of us?’ He said: ‘I take refuge in Allaah from being among Al-Jahilun (the ignorant or the foolish).’“

This event occurred after Bani Israeel were rescued by Allaah and they crossed the sea and were safe in the land. The story begins with Musa (عليه السلام) commanding them to slaughter a cow, without the reason being mentioned. This tells you that:

1) Whenever you relate an event or any story, you should start with the most important matter. Why Allaah commanded them to slaughter the cow is not important. What is important is that Allaah commanded them to slaughter a cow.

Allaah had ordered them to slaughter a cow because a man was killed, and Bani Israeel disputed as to who the killer was. They went to Musa (عليه السلام) to solve their dispute. Allaah commanded Musa (عليه السلام) to tell them to slaughter a cow.

The Name of Allaah: Al-Malik Al-Mulk (Part 10)

Impacts of believing that Allaah is the Owner of the means

#1 – Since Allaah is the Owner of the means, we should not ask anyone to fulfill our needs except Him. Allaah created needs in us so that we would ask Him to give us the means to fulfill our needs, then to benefit us with them and give us the result of them.

#2 – Even if one possesses the means, he will not be able to benefit from it until Allaah gives the permission.

#3 – Your request is attained by taking the means, so do not let the means become a barrier between you and Allaah such that you forget Allaah and become attached to the means.

#4 – Possessing something doesn’t necessarily mean that you will gain benefit from it.

The Name of Allaah: Al-Malik Al-Mulk (Part 9)

Allaah is Al-Maalik: The Owner of everything. He is the Owner of the whole dominion; the upper world and the lower world, and He is the One disposing the affairs of all the creations with His perfect knowledge, wisdom, mercy, ability, and strength.

Allaah is the Owner of the means. There are two types of means:

a) Real means

This is further divided into:

i) Legal means

ii) Universal means

iii) Legal Universal means

If you take these means and Allaah gives them the permission to work, they will work.

b) Illusive means

The Name of Allaah: Al-Malik Al-Mulk (Part 8)

One of the impacts of believing in Allaah’s Name الملك -is that He is the Owner of the means (مالك الأسباب). Allaah created the universe based on means. If we want to acquire anything in life, we should take the means to achieve it. And Allaah owns these means, so do not think that if you take the means they will surely benefit you and you will get what you want without the permission of Allaah. This is a misconception people fall into. They believe that as long as they have the means, they will attain what they want.

We have three types of real means:

a) Legal Means

b) Universal Means

c) Legal Universal Means

Our problem is that when Allaah gives us the means, we feel self-sufficient. We think that the means can act independently from Allaah, and we do not realize we are failing the test.

E.g. A woman is an excellent cook. She may rely on her experience, and because of that she enters the kitchen and fails to cook a delicious meal. She blames her failure on the evil eye, not realizing that Allaah made her fail because she relied on herself and on the means.

The Name of Allaah: Al-Malik Al-Mulk (Part 7)

Allaah is Maalik Al-Mulk (The Owner of the Dominion), He is Maalik Al-Asbaab (The Owner of the Means)

Allaah rules and judges His creation with universal commands, legal commands, and recompense.

Allaah created the universe based on means. He created means in order to attain every good and to be protected from every harm. This is سنة الله (the way of Allaah) in the universe; everything is attained by means. Accordingly, our test in the world revolves around the means.

If you ask a believer how one can attain Paradise, he will say that you have to believe and perform good deeds. These are means. If you want to acquire knowledge you have to take the means, and the means is to learn. The Prophet (salla Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:   in-nama al ‘ilmu bit-ta’leem   –   إنما العلم بالتعلم

There are two types of means: