Islam and Modern Life — Page 16
ISLAM AND MODE RN LIFE 16 glorifies God. That simple. Though glorification in Islam, so far as the universe is concerned, means the proper performance of the functions which God has appointed for them g lorifies God, the Sovereign, the Holy, the Mighty, the Wise. The four attributes are mentioned. Just not at random, as we shall see presently. Though even a large section of the Muslims also thinks, well God’s attributes are mentioned in the Quran, to draw our attention only to the attributes. That’s not enough. They are relevant to the subject which is being dealt with at that place. Not merely as attributes of God, but each attribute is relevant to what follows. He it is who has raised, among the unletter ed people, that is to say the people of Arabia of that time, a messenger, a prophet, from among themselves, who recites unto them, what I have just told you, God’s signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the law and wisdom, though they had been before i n manifest misguidance. Now here are four attributes of God mentioned. And thereafter four functions of the prophet mentioned. And a moment’s reflection will show that each function of the prophet corresponds to the corresponding attribute of God that has been mentioned. The sove reign, who has raised a prophet, who recites to them the signs of God, who draws attention to the sovereignty of God, to the majesty of God, to the phenomena which under God’s laws operate in nature, and in this way creates faith in their hearts. Second, a nd purifies them, and the second attribute mentioned was the sovereign, the holy. Purification is related to the attribute of God’s holiness. And it teaches them the law, the