ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Theological Instructions LESSON TEN: ATTRIBUTES OF ACTION Introduction We are now aware that the attributes of action are concepts, which are abstracted by the intellect that makes a special comparison between the divine sacred essence of God and His creatures and considers the relationship that exists between the two.

In this context, the Creator and the created engender a bilateral relationship from which the very concept of creating is itself abstracted. If this bilateral relationship is not considered then this concept will not be realised.

Consideration of the relationship that exists between God and His creation does not have any boundaries or limits, however it can be classified into two general groups: The direct relationship that exists between God and His creation (such as direct creation, initiation and origination). Relationships that are consequent upon immediate relationships (such as the relationship that is due to the sustenance provided by God for His creatures).

Before abstracting an attribute of action for God it is sometimes necessary to first abstract several forms of relationship. It is also possible that a relationship is further based upon several bilateral relationships between God and His creatures. An example is forgiveness, which is based upon the lordship of divine legislation, where the rulings issue from God and transgressions issue from the servants.

The substance of matter for the realisation of the attributes of action is through the comparison between God the Supreme and His creatures. As already indicated, it is possible that the actualisation of an attribute of action is with the consideration of its origin, which will allow it (attributes of actions) to return to the attributes of essence.

For instance if the Creator is defined as someone who has the power to create, then it returns to the attribute of Power, the attribute of hearing and seeing is interpreted as the knowledge of audible and visible, and will return to the All-Knowing (‘alīm). It is possible that some of the concepts of the attributes of essence are regarded as relational or actively related. In this case they are known as attributes of action.

The concept of knowledge for instance has been used several times in the Noble Qur’an as an attribute of action.