The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 623
PT. 9 AL-A'RĀF CH. 7 وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا And to Allah alone belong. 181 وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي اَسْمَا بِه سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُوْنَ all perfect attributes. So call on Him by these. And leave alone those who deviate from the right way with respect to His attributes. They shall be repaid for what they do. 1067 "17:111. created them, but they themselves forsook the path of Heaven and chose the path of Hell. The condition of such men is indeed worse than that of "cattle", because in spite of the fact that they possess understanding and the power to rise, they do not avail themselves of their understanding and, instead of rising (for which they are meant) ever go on falling lower and lower. 1067. Important Words: (perfect attributes). The word is the plural of (for which see 1:1 & 2:32), meaning, (1) name; and (2) attribute. which is the feminine of means, that which is better or that which is best; the final good state or condition. So means, best names, or best attributes, or perfect attributes. The term is specifically used to denote the attributes of God. brought a reproach upon him; or he held him in light estimation; or he despised him; or he said of him what was false (Lane & Aqrab). Commentary: not His names but The proper name of God is only Allah, all the rest being, strictly speaking, attributes. The verse tells us the secret as to how our prayers can be readily accepted. While praying, we should invoke such attributes of God as are directly related to the object of our prayer. This will make our prayer more susceptible of acceptance, because, by so doing, we would excite the jealousy of God with regard to the relevant attribute of His, with the result that the prayer, if otherwise acceptable, will not be suffered to go in vain. The Quran specifically mentions as many as 69 Divine attributes, but there are others which may be inferred and yet others which are found mentioned in the Ḥadīth. (deviate from the right way) is derived from which means, he or it declined or deviated from the right course, or he or it inclined. also The verse next proceeds to enjoin means the same means, he the believers to have nothing to do deviated or swerved from the right with those who devise for God way with respect to religion; he attributes which are not attributable to impugned religion. also means, he Him. Says the verse: Leave alone disputed or wrangled. means, he | those who deviate from the right way به 1063