Click to View

14 THE RELIGION OF THE CRESCENT.

Many of the verses in which this truth is stated are very grand. For instance in Surah XX., vv. 4—7[5-8], we read: "The Merciful One1 is firmly seated upon the Throne (or above the Highest Heaven). To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and whatever is between them both and whatever is under the soil. And if thou speakest aloud with (thy) voice, then indeed He knoweth the secret and what is most hidden. GOD, there is no God but He, to Him belong the most excellent names."

The "Verse of the Throne," as it is called, in the second Surah runs as follows:

Verse of the Throne.

"GOD,2 there is no God but He, the Living, the Eternal. Slumber seizeth Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongeth whatever there is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Who is it that intercedeth with Him except by His permission? He knoweth what was


1
الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَى
لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَى
وَإِن تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى
2 Surah ii. 256[255]:
اللّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاء وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلاَ يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
THE STRENGTH OF ISLAM. 15

before them and what will be after them, nor shall they comprehend any portion of His knowledge, except what He hath willed. His throne encompasseth the heavens and the earth, nor doth the guardianship of them both burden Him. And He is the Exalted, the Mighty One."

The first Surah, which is called Suratu fatihatu'l Kitab ("the chapter

First Surah.

which opens the Book"), occupies among Muslims almost the same position that the Lord's Prayer does with us, being by them repeated frequently in their devotions. It runs thus:—"Praise1 be to GOD, the Lord of the worlds, the Merciful, the Gracious, Lord of the Day of Judgment. Thee we adore and Thee we ask for aid. Guide us in the right way, the way of those to whom Thou art gracious, not that of those with whom Thou art angry, nor of those who go astray."

Names of GOD.

The Attributes of GOD are acknowledged by assigning to Him ninety-nine Names2 or Titles, among which some of the


1
بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ
2 See Mishkaiu'l Masabih, Book on the Names of God, sects. i. and ii.:
عن ابي هريرة قال ـ قال رسول الله صلعم انّ : لله تعالىا تِسْعة وتِسْعين اِسمًا مايةً الا واحدا ـ من احصاها دخل الجنّة‫ .etc ‬ـ هو الله الّذى لا اله الاَ هو الرحمان الرحيم
[Footnote continued onto next page]

Click to View

Go To Start: WWW.BIBLE.CA