The interior design of the mosque is unique amongst mosques of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. A beautiful adornment of the attributes of God Almighty decorate the walls of the mosque.
His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba), the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, granted special guidance in all the various phases of the construction of the mosque as well as the calligraphy produced inside it. His Holiness(aba) said that the attributes will serve as a means of inspiring the worshippers to reflect and ponder over the meanings of each attribute. The Review of Religions continues with its exclusive new series in which a short commentary of each attribute has been detailed.
The calligraphy was designed by expert calligrapher Razwan Baig. This research has been compiled by the Research Cell Rabwah through Syed Mubashar Ahmad Ayyaz, and translated into English by Shahzad Ahmed and Zafir Mahmood Malik, Associate Editors of The Review of Religions.
The Exalted (Al-Mutakabbir)
هُوَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ١ۚ اَلْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوْسُ السَّلٰمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيْزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّر سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُوْنَ
‘He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace, the Protector, the Subduer, the Exalted. Holy is Allah far above that which they associate with Him.’ [i]
According to the Arabic lexicon Al-Mu’jam Al-Waseet, the attribute Al-Mutakabbir الْمُتَكَبِّر means ‘Grandeur’ and ‘Greatness’. Another meaning of Al-Mutakabbir is that the attributes of God Almighty are far loftier and superior than any of those found in man. Expanding on this meaning we find the following hadith recorded in Sunan Ibn-e-Majah:
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ ﷺ: یَقُوْلُ اللّٰہُ سُبْحَانَہٗ اَلْکِبْرِیَائُ رِدَائِیْ وَ الْعَظْمَۃُ اِزَارِیْ فَمَنْ نَّازَعَنِیْ وَاحِدًا مِنْھُمَا اَلْقَیْتُہُ فِی النَّارِ۔
Hazrat Ibn-e-Abbas (ra) narrates that the Holy Prophet (sa) is reported to have said: ‘Allah, the Lord of Glory, has declared: “Pride is My cloak and greatness My robe, and whoever competes with Me with regards to either of them, I shall cast them into Hell.”’[ii]
Manifestation of God’s Attributes
‘This seed
develops into perfection purely for the sake of Allah only in those people who
are completely devoted to God and whose souls are filled by God Almighty with
His own pure qualities, as He finds their selves to be totally empty of the
defilement of anything besides God. He makes those high qualities as dear to
their hearts as they are dear to Him. Thus, because of their self-annihilation,
they acquire such a high rank of adorning themselves with the divine attributes
of Allah that they become like an instrument of God through which He manifests
His own attributes. Finding them hungry and thirsty, He gives them to drink
pure water from His special spring in which no creature, in its own right, is
His partner. And one great perfection among the bounties which are bestowed to
the Holy Qur’an perfect followers is ‘ubudiyyat’ [the state of complete
submission to God]. Meaning that, despite their own excellences, they always
keep an eye on their personal deficiencies and, keeping in view the greatness
of God the Exalted Maker, they pass their time in humility, self-negation, and
meekness. They consider humility, poverty, indigence, and being full of faults
and mistakes to be their true reality, and they deem the excellences that are
bestowed on them like the temporary light which the sun casts upon a wall, and
which does not have a real connection with the wall, and is subject to decline
like a borrowed garment. Therefore, they confine all good and excellence in God
alone, and deem only His Perfect Being as the
fountain of all goodness.’ [iii]
[i] The Holy Qur’an, 59:24.
[ii] Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 2, p.392, Hadith No.5414.
[iii] Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV, Ruhani Khaza’in Vol. 1 (Islam International Publications Ltd., 2016), 343-344.
The Creator (Al-Khāliq)
ھُوَاللّٰہُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِیُٔ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَہُ الْاَسْمَآئُ الْحُسْنٰی یُسَبِّحُ لَہٗ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَھُوَالْعَزِیْزُ الْحَکِیْمُ
‘He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.’ [i]
The attribute الْخَالِقُ (Al-Khāliq) is used exclusively for God Almighty. It is derived from the root word خَلَقَ Kha-La-Qa and also signifies planning. The active particle, Khāliq (Creator) means that God has arranged all things in their correct order and that the universe is controlled by a system. Khāliqu Kulli Shay’in means that God has created all things and signifies that He is also the Creator of matter and of souls. In relation to this, the following prayer of the Holy Prophet (sa) has been recorded in the Ahadith:
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ أَنْتَ رَبِّي سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي شَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
It is reported from Hazrat Ali (ra) that during the Sajdah [prostration in prayer], the Holy Prophet (sa) would recite the following prayer: ‘O Allah, to You I have prostrated, and in You I have believed, and to You I have submitted. You are my Lord; I turn my face in prostration to the One Who granted the ability to hear and see. Blessed is Allah, the best of Creators.’[ii]
The True Meaning of Khalq [Creation]
‘There is a subtle difference
between khalq [creation] and amr [command]. Khalq denotes
that God Almighty produces something through [physical] means and attributes it
to Himself because He is the Cause of causes, whereas amr is that
which proceeds directly from God Almighty without any intervening cause and
cannot be attributed to any cause. Thus, divine revelation descending from the
Omnipotent God proceeds from the world of amr and not from the
world of khalq. All other thoughts that arise in people’s minds in
consequence of observation and reflection proceed entirely from the world of khalq,
in which divine power operates behind the veil of means and [human] faculties.’ [iii]
[i] The Holy Qur’an, 59:25.
[ii] Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith No. 1054.
[iii] Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part III, Ruhani Khaza’in Vol. 1 (Islam International Publications Ltd., 2018), 14.
The Maker (Al-Bāri’)
ھُوَاللّٰہُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِیُٔ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَہُ الْاَسْمَآئُ الْحُسْنٰی یُسَبِّحُ لَہٗ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَھُوَالْعَزِیْزُ الْحَکِیْمُ
‘He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.’[i]
The attribute الْبَارِیُٔ – Al-Bāri’, is derived from the Arabic root بَرَأَ and Al-Bāri’ is the active participle. Similar to Al-Khāliq, Al-Bāri’ also means ‘to create’, however according to the Arabic lexicon Lisan Al Arab, there is a fine distinction between these two attributes. The attribute Al-Bāri’ is used in the creation of all living creatures, whereas for the creation of non-living beings, the attribute Al-Khāliq is used. In regards to the attributes of God Almighty, there is a famous tradition of the Holy Prophet (sa):
عَنْ اَبِیْ ھُرَیْرَۃَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ ﷺ : اِنَّ لِلّٰہِ تَعَالٰی تِسْعَۃً وَّ تِسْعِیْنَ اِسْمًا مَنْ اَحْصَاھَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّۃَ، ھُوَ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیْ لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ھُوَ الرَّحْمَانُ الرَّحِیْمُ … اَلْخَالِقُ الْبَارِیُٔ الْمُصَوِّرُ …
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) narrates that the Holy Prophet (sa) once said: ‘Verily God Almighty has 99 names, whosoever memorises them will enter paradise. He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Gracious, the Ever Merciful…the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner.’[ii]
The Creation of the Soul
‘The Word of God Almighty conveys to us that the soul becomes manifest from the framework that is prepared in the womb from the sperm, as is said in the Holy Qur’an:
ثُمَّ اَنْشَأْنَاہُ خَلْقًا اٰخَرَ فَتَبَارَکَ اللّٰہُ اَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِیْنَ
This means that God bestows a new creation on the body that is prepared in the womb and that new creation is called the soul. Greatly blessed is God Who has no equal as a creator.
The affirmation that a new creation is manifested from the body is a
mystery that reveals the reality of the soul and points to the strong
relationship between the soul and the body. We are also instructed thereby that
the same philosophy underlies the physical acts and words and movements when
they are manifested in the cause of God, that is to say, all these sincere
actions are charged with a soul as the sperm is charged with a soul. As the
framework of those actions is developed, the soul with which they are charged
begins to shine and when that framework becomes complete the soul inside it
shines forth in its full manifestation and discloses its spiritual aspect. At
that stage those actions become fully alive. This means that when the framework
of actions is completed, something shines forth from it suddenly like a flash
of lightning.’[iii]
[i] The Holy Qur’an, 59:25.
[ii] Sunan At Tirmidhi, Kitab Ad Da’waat, Hadith No. 3507.
[iii] Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, Ruhani Khaza’in Vol. 1 (Islam International Publications Ltd., 2017), 11-12.
The Fashioner (Al-Muṣawwir)
ھُوَاللّٰہُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِیُٔ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَہُ الْاَسْمَآئُ الْحُسْنٰی یُسَبِّحُ لَہٗ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَھُوَالْعَزِیْزُ الْحَکِیْمُ
‘He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.’ [i]
According to Arabic Lexicon, Aqrab Al-Mawarid, صَوَّرَہٗ تَصْوِیْرًا means to fashion something with its appropriate features. The attribute الْمُصَوِّرُ – Al-Muṣawwir, signifies that God has given each created being a shape which is appropriate to its functions. This shows that the perfection of creation consists not merely in endowing the thing created with appropriate faculties but is achieved also by giving it an appropriate form.
عَنْ اَبِیْ ھُرَیْرَۃَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ ﷺ : اِنَّ لِلّٰہِ تَعَالٰی تِسْعَۃً وَّ تِسْعِیْنَ اِسْمًا مَنْ اَحْصَاھَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّۃَ، ھُوَ اللّٰہُ الَّذِیْ لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ھُوَ الرَّحْمَانُ الرَّحِیْمُ … اَلْخَالِقُ الْبَارِیُٔ الْمُصَوِّرُ …
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) narrates that the Holy Prophet (sa) once said: ‘Verily God Almighty has 99 names; whosoever memorises them will enter paradise. He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Gracious, the Ever Merciful…the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner.’[ii]
God Almighty: The Possessor of All Perfect Attributes
‘God Almighty is Khāliq, meaning He is the Creator, He is Bāri’,
indicating that He is the creator of the soul as well as the body. God Almighty
creates beings from a state of nothingness. He is Muṣawwir, in that He fashions everything with its particular
features, for it is an established fact that God Almighty is the possessor of
all perfect attributes…’[iii]
[i] The Holy Qur’an, 59:25.
[ii] Sunan At Tirmidhi, Kitab Ad Da’waat, Hadith No. 3507.
[iii] Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) , Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol.1, 12-13.
The Most Supreme (Al-Qahhār)
يٰصَاحَبيِ ا لسِّجْن ءَاَرْبَابٌ مُتَفَرِّقُوْنَ خَيْرٌ اَمِ اللّٰهُ لْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ
‘O my two companions of the prison, are diverse lords better or Allah, the One, the Most Supreme?’ [1]
The attribute الْقَهَّارُ – Al-Qahhār is derived from the word الْقَھْرُ (Al-Qahro) which denotes complete supremacy and authority. According to Imam Raghib, the meaning of Al-Qahro entails not only exerting one’s supremacy over something, but also establishing one’s authority and completely subjecting it under one’s control. In relation to this particular attribute, the Holy Prophet (sa) once stated:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ عَذَابًا، أَصَابَ العَذَابُ مَنْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ، ثُمَّ بُعِثُوا عَلَى أَعْمَالِهِمْ
‘When Allah the Almighty decrees a punishment for a nation, it befalls the entire population indiscriminately. Thereafter, they will be raised [and judged] according to their deeds.’[2]
God is Recognised through His Supremacy over Everything
‘Thus
reward and punishment start immediately and those condemned to hell go to hell,
and those who are to be admitted to heaven go to heaven. But thereafter there
is a day of grand manifestation which has been appointed out of the great
wisdom of God. He created man so that He should be recognized through His power
of creation. Then He will destroy everything so that He might be recognized
through His Supremacy over everything, and then He will gather everyone after
bestowing perfect life on them so that He might be recognized through His
Power.’[3]
[1] The Holy Qur’an, 12:40.
[2] Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al Fitan, Hadith No. 7108.
[3] Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, Ruhani Khaza’in Vol. 1 (Islam International Publications Ltd., 2017), 150.
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