Understanding Salat — Page 55
Qiyam 55 The names of Allah are always reflective of a greater reality behind them. However, the names of people are often mean- ingless or misleading. There is usually little use in reflecting on people’s names because they do not provide much insight into the reality of that person. The Promised Messiah as said, The ism [name] of a thing is generally understood by people as that by which it is recognized. ( Tafs ī r Hadrat Mas ī h Mau‘ u d, vol. 1, pp. 47, 1:1) For example, the name Bakr does not have much significance in its meaning. If we know someone named Bakr, the word just reminds us of the person because of word association. It is not descriptive of who they are. Also, the names we give to people can be the opposite of who they turn out to be. Someone could be named Sadiq but we may find him to be a liar. However, the names given by Allah are never meaning- less and always give true insight into His Being. The Promised Messiah as goes on to explain, In the view of people who are learned, the ism [name] of a thing is a reflection of its reality. There is no doubt that the names given by Allah to things signify their properties. ( Tafs ī r Hadrat Mas ī h Mau‘ u d, , vol. 1, pp. 47, 1:1) Names of Allah reflect His reality