The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 21
Arabic the Mother of Tongues 21 21 illustrated how the Arabic elementary words can be manipulated, how they serve the subjects of Divinity, and how subtle are their mutual distinctions. . . . . The Connotation of Some Arabic Words. Now we proceed to set forth some of the connotations of another Arabic word which we have selected from the. Holy Qur'an and which is Rabb. This word occurs in the very first verse of the first chapter of the Holy Qur'ān where Allāh, the Glorious, says: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَلَمِينَ ). Lisan-ul-'Arab and Taj-ul-Urūs, which are the two most reliable Arabic lexicons, have set forth that the word. Rabb comprises seven connotations: Master or Owner (Mālik); Master or Chief (Sayyed); Regulator (Mudabbir);. One who nurtures (Murabbi); One who safeguards (Qayyim); Bestower (Mun'im) and; Perfector (Mutammim). Of these seven, three refer to the personal grandeur of the Almighty. Of these, one is Mālik. In Arabic lexicon, Malik connotes that He owns the universe and can use it as He likes. His ownership of it is not shared by any other. This word in its true meaning cannot be applied to anyone except God Almighty, inasmuch as full control and complete power of disposal and perfect rights cannot be attributed to anyone except God Almighty. . Sayyed, according to Arabic lexicon, is one who has subordinate to him a large number who should serve him out of sincere eagerness and natural obedience. The distinction between a sovereign and Sayyed is, that a 6 'All praise belongs to Allāh, Lord of all the worlds. '-Al-Fātiḥah, 1:2 [Publisher]