Day 11 – Bite Size Ramadan – 1437 A.H. – Miraath Publications
English Audio: Day 11 – Bite Size Ramadan 1437 – Allaah bears Witness
Urdu Audio: 11. Allaah ki gawahi 1437
English PDF Download: Day 11 – Allaah bears Witness
Urdu PDF Download: 11. Allaah ki gawahi 1437
شهادة الله
Allaah Bears Witness By Imam Allaama Abu Muhammad al-Hussain bin Mas’ood al- Baghawi[1] -Rahimullaah-
Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya
Abu Muhammad al-Hussain bin Mas’ood al- Baghawi (d.516 A.H.) said regarding what Allaah Ta’ala said:
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَالْمَلائِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
<< Allaah bears witness that Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the Angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. Lâ ilâh illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.>> [Ala – Imran: 18]
* Regarding Allaah’s saying:
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ
<<Allaah bears witness that Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) >>
It has been said that this Ayaah was revealed regarding the Christians of Najran.
Al-Kalbi said: Two priests from the priests of Sham[2] came to the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam. When they saw al-Madinah one of them said to his companion, ‘How similar in character is this city to that of the city of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– who will appear at the end of time!’
When they entered the city, they came to know it by its description. They both asked, ‘Are you Muhammad?’
The Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– replied, ‘Yes.’
They asked him, ‘And are you Ahmad?’
The Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said: ‘I am Muhammad and Ahmad.’[3]
They said: ‘Indeed if we ask you about something and you inform us about it, we will believe in you and accept you.’
The Prophet said: ‘Go ahead, ask.’
They asked: ‘Tell us about the greatest testimony in the Book of Allaah -Azza wa Jal.’
So Allaah Ta’ala revealed this Ayaah, then the two men embraced Islaam.[4]
* Regarding Allaah’s saying: شَهِدَ اللَّهُ << Allaah bears witness >> then its meaning is that Allaah explained and clarified, because the testification ‘La illa ila Allaah’ is clarification.
Mujahid said: ‘Allaah judged, [and it has been said: Allaah knew]’
And it has been said: ‘Allaah knew that there is none worthy of worship except Him.’
Ibn Abbas -Radhi Allaahu anhu- said: ‘Allaah created the souls before the bodies by four thousand years, and He created provisions before the souls by four thousand years. Allaah testified by Himself, for Himself, before He created the creation; Allaah existed, -when there was no sky, earth, land or sea, – and so Allaah said:
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ
<<Allaah bears witness that Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) >>
* Regarding the saying: وَالْمَلائِكَةُ <<and the Angels>> then its meaning is and the witnessing of the Angels.
It has been said: the meaning of Allaah’s witnessing is information and knowing completely, and the meaning of the Angels’ and believers’ witnessing is the acceptance and affirmation of that.
* Regarding the saying of Allaah Ta’ala: وَأُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ <<and those having knowledge (also give this witness)>> then that means the Prophets -Alayhim as-Salaam.
Ibn Kayysaan said: it means the Muhajireen and Ansaar.
Maqatil said it means : ‘The scholars from the believers of the People of the Book, Abdullaah bin Salaam and his companions.
As-Suddi and al-Kalbi said: it means all scholars of the believers.
قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ <<(He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice>> meaning with justice; Allaah arranged these Ayaat, and so Allaah bears witness to His maintaining His creation with Justice.
* Regarding قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ <<(He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice>> meaning ‘maintaining and disposing of the affairs of the creation’, as is said that : ‘so-and-so is taking care of certain matters,’ meaning taking care of it and a guardian of its resources, maintaining the right of so-and-so, meaning authorising/taking care of it for that person. Therefore, Allaah -Jala Jalalahu is The Disposer of affairs, The Provider, The One who rewards actions, << Lâ ilâh illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.>>
[‘Mu’aalim at-Tanzeel fee Tafseer al-Qur’aan’ 1/420]
[1] Abu Muhammad al-Hussain bin Mas’ood al-Baghawi (d.516 A.H.) is regarded as Hafidh, someone who strove to serve the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet -SallAllaahu alayhi wa Sallam. He was an Imam in Tafseer and Hadeeth, he had collected many large collections of Hadeeth.
[2] Northern central area in the north of the Middle East, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, etc.
[3] This part of the narration is in Saheeh Muslim.
[4] The authenticity of this narration is unknown, and Allaah knows best.