Al-Khaliq – Al-Khallaq (The Creator), Al-Baari’ (The Originator), Al-Musawwir (The Bestower of Forms)

ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

“He is Allaah the Creator, the Inventor of  all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And he is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [Surat al-Hashr (59:24)]

Al-Khaliq – Al-Khallaq (The Creator) الخَالِق – الْخَلاَّق

Al-Khaliq refers to measuring and proportioning in accordance with His Wisdom.

وَخَلَقَ ڪُلَّ شَىۡءٍ۬ فَقَدَّرَهُ ۥ تَقۡدِيرً۬ا

“He Who created everything, and measured it exactly according to its due measurement.” (Al-Furqan 25: 2)

Az-Zajaj said: “Al-Khalq (creation) means the initiation of measuring the creation. Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) is the Creator of all that is in existence, Who made everything correct and in its place in accordance to His Wisdom, perfecting it and arranging its affairs. He is continuously doing so.”

فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحۡسَنُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقِينَ

“So blessed be Allaah, the Best of creators.” [Al-Muminun (23:14)]

Al-Khallaq (the Supreme Creator) is an intensive and exaggerated form of the Name Khaliq. It has been mentioned in the Qur’an in the following two verses:

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْخَلاَّقُ الْعَلِيم

“Verily, your Lord is the All-Knowing Creator.” [Al-Hijr (15:86)]

بَلَى وَهُوَ الْخَلاَّقُ الْعَلِيم

“Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing Supreme Creator.” [(Ya-Seen 36:81)]

Al-Baari’ (The Inventor of all Things or The Originator) الْبَارِئ

Al-Baari’ means He Who invents and brings into existence what He has created and measured. Surely none except Allaah is able to measure, bring forth and create whatever He wills to come to existence.

However not every one plans, measures and estimates a thing is able to execute it and bring it into existence except Allaah.

It should be borne in mind that Allaah’s creation and invention is preceded with His Complete Knowledge of it before its existence.

Al-Musawwir (The Bestower of Forms) الْمُصَوِّر

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) brings into existence anything He wills in the form and the shape He chooses and decides in accordance to His Wisdom. He Who made out of His creation different and various types and distinguished them from each other in shapes, qualities, capacities, etc.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُڪُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡحَامِ كَيۡفَ يَشَآءُ‌

“He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases,” (Aal-Imran 3:6)

And in Surat al-A’raf (7:11):

وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَـٰڪُمۡ ثُمَّ صَوَّرۡنَـٰكُمۡ ثُمَّ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ

“We created you, and then gave you shape (the shape of a human being), then We told the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam.’”

The impact of believing in these three Mightiest Names:

1- Everything (in this world, in the heavens and on the earth) except Allaah is created and invented, brought into existence after being nothing. All the creation was preceded by nothingness as Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Insan (76:1):

هل أَتى على الإنسانِ حينٌ مِّنَ الدَّهرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْئاً مَّذْكوراً

“Has there not been over man a period of time, when he was nothing to be mentioned?”

2- Whatever and whenever Allaah wills He creates and He is continuously doing so.

وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ ما يَشاءُ وَيَخْتار

“And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses.” [Al-Qasas (28:68)]

3- Allaah’s creation is great and perfect, none of His creation can create anything like it. As Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said:

هَـٰذَا خَلۡقُ ٱللَّهِ فَأَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦ‌

“This is the Creation of Allaah. So show Me that which those (whom you worship), besides Him have created.” [Luqman (31:11)]

In this verse there is a challenge for all the creation among the jinns and mankind.

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) affirmed the failure of His creation in creating even a weak and small creation as a fly, as He (‘Azza wa Jall) said in Surat al-Hajj (22:73-74):

يا أَيُّها النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فاسْتَمِعوا لَهُ، إِنَّ الَّذينَ تَدعونَ مِن دونِ اللهِ لَن يَخْلُقوا ذُباباً ولَوِ اجْتمعوا لَهُ، وإِن يَسلُبْهُمُ الذُّبابُ شَيْئاً لاَّ يَسْتَنقِذوهُ مِنْهُ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ والمطلوب. ما قَدَروا اللهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ، إِنَّ اللهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عزيزٌ

“O mankind! A similitude has been presented, so listen to it (carefully): Verily! These on whom you call besides Allaah, cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatched away a thing from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought. They have not estimated Allaah His Rightful Estimate; Verily, Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.”

4- Therefore, Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) forbade for His slaves the making of pictures and/or images (which have souls), because it is a resemblance to Allaah’s creation.

There are so many narrations in which there are threats for the picture/image makers with severe punishment. For example, Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said in Sahih al-Bukhari: “Those who make these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them, ‘Make alive that which you have created.’”

Another Hadith, narrated Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu): “I heard Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying that Allaah said, ‘Who would be more unjust than the one who tries to create the like of My creatures? Let them create a grain; let them create an ant (a gnat).’” In another quotation it is added, “let them create a barley.” [Al-Bukhari]

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) challenged them to create a small ant, then he increased His challenge, by asking them to create a grain or barley, which have no soul and do not move compared to the ant which moves.

One of the atheists said: “I can create!” He was asked: “Show us your creation?” He took meat, dissected it and put stool between it, then he put it in a jar, closed it and gave it to someone to keep it for three days. After that, he came and broke the jar, and saw that it was full of worms. He said: “This is my creation!” One of those who were present said: “How many are they?” The atheist couldn’t reply! The same man said: “How many of them are male and how many are female? Are you the one sustaining them?” So the atheist couldn’t reply. The man said: “The Creator is the One Who keeps count of all what He creates, knows how many of them are male and female, provides sustenance, and knows how long they live and when they will die.”

اللهُ الَّذي خَلَقَكُم ثُمَّ رَزَقَكُم ثُمَّ يُميتُكُم ثُمَّ يُحييكُم

“Allaah is He Who created you, then provided food for you, then will cause you to die, then He will give you life.” [Ar-Rum (30:40)]

An-Nawawi divided the picture/image makers into three groups:

a- He who makes the picture/image to be worshipped; is an idol maker, and considered a  Kafir (a disbeliever), who will receive the severest punishment.

b- He who makes the picture/image and intends to resemble the creation of Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) and believes that he can do so; is also considered a Kafir and for him is as severe a punishment as for the disbelievers.

c- He who does not intend to make pictures/images to be worshipped or to resemble the creation of Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala); is a rebellious person who committed a major sin, and will not be forgiven unlike the rest of his sins (if he did not repent before his death) except with Allaah’s Will.

5- The beauty and grandeur of all of Allaah’s creation around us indicates Allaah’s Perfection and Greatness. For example, if one of His creation which is the Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and the Kursi compared to the ‘Arsh (Throne) is nothing but like a ring thrown out in the open space of the desert, then how much greater is the ‘Arsh. Indeed Allaah, the Creator of both the Kursi and the ‘Arsh is the Most Great!

Accordingly, you will realize that the creation of the human is very small and nothing compared to the creation of the heavens and earth. Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Ghafir (40:57):

لَخَلْقُ السَّماواتِ والأَرضِ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ خَلْقِ النَّاسِ وَلكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لا يَعْلَمون

“The creation of the heavens and the earth is indeed greater than the creation of mankind, yet most of mankind know not.”

6- It should be borne in mind that Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) didn’t create the creation out of play or in vain, but He created it for a great and noble purpose, as He (‘Azza wa Jall) said in Surat al-Mu’minun (23:115-116):

أَفَحسبتم أَنَّما خَلَقناكم عبثاً وأَنَّكُم إِلَينا لا تُرْجَعون. فَتعالى اللهُ المَلِكُ الحقُّ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ رَبُّ العرشِ الكَريمِ

“Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back? So Exalted be Allaah, the True King – the Lord of Supreme Throne.”

Also Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) said in Surat al-Anbiya (21:16-17):

وما خلقنا السَّماءَ والأَرضَ وما بينهما لاعِبين. لو أَرَدنا أن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهواً لاتَّخَذْناهُ من لَّدُنَّا إن كُنَّا فاعلِين

“We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a play. Had We intended to take a pastime (a diversion) We could surely have taken it from (what is) with Us – if (indeed) We were to do so.”

And He (‘Azza wa Jall) informed us about this great purpose is Surat Adh-Dhariyat (51:56-57):

وما خَلَقْتُ الجِنَّ والإنسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعبُدون. ما أُريدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وما أُريدُ أَن يُطعمون

“And I (Allaah) created not the Jinns and Men except they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me.”

Source:

📚 An-Nahjul-Asma fii Sharh Asma’ullahil-Husna, by Shaikh Muhammad Humoud Al-Najdi.

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