The Commentary of Al-Qasidah — Page 122
122 The commentary of al-Qa si dah manifestation. The perfect manifestation was only the Holy Prophet sa. In S u rah F a t ih ah, there are four great attributes of All a h that have been mentioned. They are: M a likiyyat (Masterhood), Ra hi miyyat (Mercifulness,) Ra h m a niyyat (Benevolence), and Rabbul-‘ A l a m i n (Lord of all the worlds). It is very obvious that all the prophets that appeared before the Holy Prophet sa were sent to a particular nation or geographical area. They became a reflection of the four attributes of All a h, but only in a partial way. For example, they were a reflection of the attribute Rab u biyyat , meaning Lordship, but could not be a reflection of the attribute Rabbul-‘ A lam i n , Lord of all the worlds, because they were not sent to all the nations. The time of their prophethood was limited as well. On the other hand, the Holy Prophet sa was sent to all nations and for all times to come. Therefore, he became a perfect manifestation of the attribute Rabbul-‘ A lam i n. The same is the situation with the remaining three attributes. For example, under the attribute of Ra h m a niyyat , All a h has created the sun, moon, wind, earth, etc. , which provide benefit to all people whether they are believers or disbelievers. In the same manner the Holy Prophet sa unlike the previous prophets was sent for the whole world and his light, just like the light of the sun, was not restrained to a particular nation and his benefits have not been limited to any area or timeframe in any respect. His blessings are for all people in general and for all times to come, and will never be discontinued. His blessings are available to the People of the Book as well as to the people who were not given a book. But the prophets who appeared before him could not be the perfect manifestation of this attribute of All a h.