3rd April: The Name of Allah- Al ‘Azeez (UnSummarised Notes)

To Allah belongs the glory, honour, support, victory. He grants it to whomever He wills among the believers. If we are really seeking honour, love, high status, victory, support, help, we should only seek it from Allah, because it’s only in His hands.

We have to practice Tawheed when we seek العزة.

Allah mentioned the state of the hypocrites in Surat An-Nisa [Verses 136-144].

They took the disbelievers as allies to get honour.

What is the correct attitude? They should seek it from Allah.

By doing what? Allying with the believers.

27th March: The Name of Allah- Al’ Azeez (Unsummarised)

To Allah belongs عزة القوى, عزة القهر , عزة الامتناع .
All  عزة (honour, glory, support, victory) belongs to Allah. It is only Him that can grant it, and no one else.
The truly honoured person is the one whom Allah honoured.

Allah grants ‘Iza to His Awliya.

Who are the Awliya of Allah is mentioned in Surat Yunus Verses 62 and 63 

Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve  

Those who believed and were fearing Allah 

Evidence #1 

In Surat Al-Munafiqun Verse 8  

They say, “If we return to al-Madinah, the more honored [for power] will surely expel therefrom the more humble.” And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know. 

This verse was revealed after the Prophet ﷺ was returning from a battle, a conflict occurred between the Muhajireen and Ansar. Upon that, the head of the hypocrites, Abdullah Ibn Ubayy, said He would expel the Prophet ﷺ – referring to himself as the honoured person, and the Prophet ﷺ as the humiliated one. Allah responded to him in this verse – affirming a very important matter – that عزة belongs to Allah, the Messenger ﷺ, and the believers. Honour is something granted by Allah.

Evidence #2

In Surat Ali ‘Imran Verse 26 

Say, “O Allah , Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent. 

Allah endows honour to whomever He wills. The truly honoured person is the one whom Allah honoured.

Therefore, Ibn AlQayyim said, those who seek honour, glory, power, from other than Allah – as the hypocrites and disbelievers do – are in reality seeking false عزة.

The honour and power they seek isn’t real. It’s insignificant and temporary. So don’t be deceived whenever you see the disbelievers superior to the believers. It’s merely a test, and sooner or later, their power will fade away.

Honour is the honour granted by Allah. And when Allah honours the believers, it’s true, permanent, strong, everlasting honour.

Evidence #3

In Surat An-Nisa Verses 138 and 139  

Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment – 

Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely. 

As-Sa’di said explaining this verse:

“…و هذا هو الواقع من أحوال المنافقين، ساء ظنهم بالله و ضعف يقينهم بنصر الله لعباده المؤمنين، و لحظوا بعض الأسباب التي عند الكافرين، و قصر نظرهم عمّا وراء ذالك فاتخذوا الكافرين أولياء يتعزون بهم و يستنصرون.” 

“And this is the truth of the condition of the hypocrites, they had negative thoughts about Allah, and they’re certainty in the victory of Allah became weak. They noticed the means that were with the Disbelievers and they couldn’t see beyond it, which led them to taking the disbelievers as their allies, feeling honored by them and seeking victory from them.“(Rough Translation)

Why did the hypocrites seek the support from the disbelievers? 

1) Because of their doubts concerning Allah

2) Because of their weak belief in the promises of Allah.

3) They looked what the disbelievers had of means, forces, power, and this deceived them.

4) They didn’t look and see what was behind this deceiving honour- behind the means, strength, and forces.

This takes many forms nowadays. It’s a common misconception nowadays to go to the disbelievers countries and get power, support, help, glory there. This is the answer for them.

Allah tells us a very important matter: If you’re seeking real honour, glory, support, seek it from Allah, not the disbelievers.

The Context of this Verse 

In Verse 136:

Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely. 

What does “يأيها الذين آمنوا ءامنوا” mean? 
It means that you need to take actions to increase and safeguard your faith.

What should I do? 

-> Practice sincerity, righteousness, truthfulness. Increase in good deeds.

-> Avoid evil and repent whenever I commit sins

-> Acquire knowledge to increase my faith

-> Remain steadfast on this path until death.

If you don’t do this, What will the result be? 

In Verse 137:

Indeed, those who have believed then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief – never will Allah forgive them, nor will He guide them to a way. 

Your faith will diminish until you disbelieve in Allah.
What made the hypocrites believe, not believe, believe, then not believe?

All the hypocrites were apparently believers in the beginning, but because they didn’t take care of their belief they fell into this.

How?

They exposed themselves to a فتنة which took away their faith and made them disbelievers.

They took the disbelievers as friends. They lived among them, took them as friends, had affection towards them.

Why did they do that? Because they sought honour, victory, fame, exaltedness, a good life and future with them.

Living, associating with, and taking the disbelievers as close companions will affect your faith, even if you think you’re strong and can protect yourself.

Whoever seeks honour with the disbelievers has love for the Dunya in his heart. 

One of the reasons the hypocrites took the disbelievers as allies was because of what they saw of means. Their civilisations were so tempting. They had the science, the degrees, the power, and all the means which the Muslims apparently don’t have. They admired and were dazzled by what the disbelievers had of this Dunya –  incapable of seeing what was behind this deceitful honour.

People go to non-Muslim countries and come back excessively praising their way of life, how they deal with people, etc. This indicates how much their hearts are filled with love of them.

Or when a person gets a certificate or degree from one of these countries, he comes with a superiority complex, thinking he’s honoured amongst the people. And if a person gets one from a Muslim country, he has an inferiority complex.

True honour is with Allah, and it’s enough an honour that we are Muslims. What’s the point in having all the Dunya and dying without faith?

Allah said in Surat Ghafir Verse 4 

No one disputes concerning the signs of Allah except those who disbelieve, so be not deceived by their [uninhibited] movement throughout the land. 

In Surat Ali ‘Imran Verses 196 and 197 
 

Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land. 

[It is but] a small enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place. 

Don’t be deceived by the state of the disbelievers who are turning with joy in life. It’s just a temporary enjoyment, and their final abode will be the hellfire.

In Surat Ghafir Verse 140

And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together  

They accompany the disbelievers and when the disbelievers mock the religion of Islam, and defame Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, they don’t speak or defend – saying that we can’t, we’re a minority, it’s their country. They can’t even enjoin good and forbid evil. And yet they feel honoured.

If you stayed sitting with them, you’d be just like them.

In Verse 141

Those who wait [and watch] you. Then if you gain a victory from Allah , they say, “Were we not with you?” But if the disbelievers have a success, they say [to them], “Did we not gain the advantage over you, but we protected you from the believers?” Allah will judge between [all of] you on the Day of Resurrection, and never will Allah give the disbelievers over the believers a way [to overcome them]. 

They’ve turned into hypocrites. Whenever Allah gives the believers honour, they remember they’re Muslims just like you. But when Allah gives the disbelievers a “نصيب” (and notice He didn’t say ‘فتح’), they go to the disbelievers.

They examine where their worldly interest is and go there, seeking glory and honour. This is a very serious matter.

—————

In a nutshell: 

1) “ان العزة لله جميعا”

All  عزة (honour, glory, support, victory) belongs to Allah.

2) From the attitude of the hypocrites, we understand that everyone seeks عزة. This is something natural in human beings, and part of their فطرة. But the problem is where you seek it from.

Taking it from the disbelievers is a mistake.

3) There is a link between allegiance and العزة. 

They hypocrites seek honour by making allegiance with the disbelievers.

Whom should we make allegiance with?

In Verse 144:

O you who have believed, do not take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do you wish to give Allah against yourselves a clear case? 

If you want support and honour and victory and strength, ally with the believers. Don’t take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers.
The hypocrites sought honour from the disbelievers. How did Allah deal with them? 

In Verse 145:

Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire – and never will you find for them a helper – 

  

 

 

 

20th March: Impacts of the name of Allah- Al ‘Azeez (Unsummarised)

1) The person who believes in the name of Allah العزيز is courageous. Whenever he wants to take an action, he’s strong – because He has a Lord who is العزيز.

That’s why, when Allah spoke to Musa before sending him to Pharoah, He said  in Surat An-Naml Verse 9 

O Moses, indeed it is I – Allah , the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”  

20th March: The Name of Allah- Al ‘Azeez (Unsummarised Notes)

Al-‘Azeez is derived from the word “عز” which has the meaning of strength, power, الغلبة (dominance), exaltedness, honour, uniqueness.

Allah has 3 types of عزة:

1) عزة القوى – The Might of Power

There is nothing comparable to Allah’s might and strength. Even if the whole creation gathered together, their strength is nothing compared to the strength of Allah.

The Name of Allah: Al-‘Azeez (PART XI) – 30th Rabi’ al-Awwal 1437

Everyone talks about the current situation in the Muslim world, but not everyone has the right belief regarding it.

In one of the Friday Khutbahs, the Imam of the Haram highlighted the different aspects of victory in the Qur’an. He said, in brief:

Victory takes place in many forms:-

1) Victory to the believers and defeat of the disbelievers (in terms of war).

This is is what people generally refer to when they think of victory and it is the most beloved to the hearts.  But victory isn’t just limited to this.

The Name of Allah: Al-‘Azeez (PART X) – 30th Rabi’ al-Awwal 1437

The victory which we all seek is in the hands of Allah, Al-‘Azeez Al-Hakeem.

Surat Ali ‘Imran Verse 126

وما جعله الله الا بشرى لكم ولتطمئن قلوبكم به وما النصر الا من عند الله العزيز الحكيم

And Allah made it not except as [a sign of] good tidings for you and to reassure your hearts thereby. And victory is not except from Allah , the Exalted in Might, the Wise –

This part of the Surah is about the Battle of Badr. In Verse 126, Allah mentions the means of attaining victory:

بلى ان تصبروا وتتقوا وياتوكم من فورهم هذا يمددكم ربكم بخمسة الاف من الملائكة مسومين

  Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]

1) Patience 2) Taqwa

The Name of Allah: Al-‘Azeez (PART IX) – 17th Rabi’ al-Awwal 1437

Continuation: A person may ask, “If Allah is really العزيز, why doesn’t He support the believers and help them in overpowering the disbelievers?”

Merely looking and contemplating over the sky leads us to know who Allah is, and this is something ingrained in our Fitrah– Natural Instinct. For every action, there is a doer. Looking into the action teaches us the attributes of the doer.
When you look into the creation, you will learn about Allah. If the sky is high, then the Creator of this sky is even higher. My eyes cannot reach the end of the sky or even encompass it. If this is my state with the creation, then how about Allah, the Creator?

Every verse in the Qur’an is related to the other.

The Name of Allah: Al-‘Azeez (PART VIII) – 10th Rabi’ al-Awwal 1437

Continuation: What are the impacts of Allah’s عزة in my life / How can I worship Allah by His name العزيز?  

7) The connection between the name of Allah العزيز and الرحيم

Ruling: Every name of Allah has a meaning. Whenever two names of Allah are joined together, they give an extra, more beautiful meaning:

Allah is عزيز in His mercy and He is merciful in His عزة

Allah doesn’t show mercy out of need for His servants or humiliation.

The Impact: Allah has control over His creation. No one can escape His power. At the same time, He is also merciful with His creation. He doesn’t hasten the punishment for them, rather He gives them respite in order for them to repent. But if the servant doesn’t desist from committing the sin, Allah, by His عزة, will take him with severe punishment