ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Monotheistic Conception of the Universe Attributes of Allah The Holy Qur'an says that Allah has all the attributes and characteristics of a perfect being. "He has the most beautiful names."(Surah al-Hashr, 59:24). "His is the sublime similitude in the heavens and in the earth" (Surah ar-Rum, 30:27) As such Allah is Living, Almighty, All-Knowing, Master of His Will, Merciful, Guide, Creator, Wise, Forgiving and Just.

There is no sublime quality which He does not possess. On the other hand He is not a body or a compound. He is neither weak nor cruel. The first group of the sublime attributes of Allah, denoting His perfection is called His affirmative attributes and the second group of His attributes denoting His freedom from every kind of defect and imperfection is called His negative attributes. We both praise and glorify Allah.

When we praise Him we mention His affirmative attributes and when glorify Him, we say that He is free from all that is not worthy of Him. In both the cases we affirm His Knowledge to our own benefit and thus uplift ourselves. Monotheism Allah has no associate or partner. There is none like Him. It is basically impossible that there should be anyone like Him, for in that case we shall have two or more Gods instead of one.

To be two, three or more is a characteristic of the limited and relative things. Plurality has no meaning in regard to an absolute and infinite being. For example, we can have one child. We can also have two or more children. Similarly we can have one friend. We can also have two or more friends. A friend or a child is a limited being, and a limited being can have a like of him and can be multipliable. But an infinite being is not multipliable at all.

The following example, though not adequate may be found useful for the purpose of elucidating the point. In respect of the dimensions of the material world, that is the world which we can see and perceive, the scientists have two theories. Some of them maintain that the dimensions of the world are limited. In other words this perceivable world reaches a point where it ends. But some others are of the opinion that the dimensions of the material world have no middle, no beginning and no end.

If we accept the theory that the material world is limited, a question arises as to whether it is one world or more than one? But if we maintain that this world has no limits, the question of the existence of another world becomes absurd.