Article appeared Friday, October 7th, 2016 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (445)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

In our homes, many of us display the ninety-nine names of Allah printed on a wall hanging.
These names embody the attributes of the Creator. Have we ever thought of the analyzing any
of these qualities or attributes? Outside these names, we have the quality or attribute with which
Allah introduces Himself in Sura Fatiha, i.e., in the first Chapter of the Holy Quran. This name is
Rabb. Have we considered analyzing the word Rabb, i.e., finding its meaning and figuring out
what significance it holds for us in our personal life? What qualities does the name signify?
Where can we find the meaning? We could look up the meaning in a dictionary {1}. Part of the
meaning embodied in the word Rabb as given in the Dictionary of the Holy Quran {1}, is quoted
below:
The word Rabb conveys not only the idea of fostering, bringing up or nourishing, but
also that of regulating, completing, accomplishing, cherishing, sustaining, and bringing to
maturity and evolution from the earliest state to that of the highest perfection. The word
also means the originator of things, and their combiner to create new forms and the law
giver who frames the laws under which He propounds the shape which things must
assume and the ratio and proportion in which various ingredients must combine with
each otherThe word Rabb thus signifies the processes which every entity passes
through its course of creation and evolution before it reaches its final
development.These meanings all spring from the meaning of the root word. {p.197,
1}
Essentially, as a subset of the meaning of the word Rabb {2}, it signifies the complete attributes
of nurturing from nothingness to complete perfection together with all the qualities required for
the intermediate stages as well as any support or sustenance that is required for the stage-bystage development and completion of any object, e.g., a fully blossomed tree or a mature and
wise adult human. In contrast to a tree, how would the Rabb organize the development towards
maturity and wisdom of an individual human being?
Would the Rabb have to arrange a variety of learning experiences? For example, unlike all other
mammals, how does a human baby learn to walk? After falling many times, when the baby
finally walks, where does the sense of satisfaction and achievement come from? In other words,
Who has created the system of learning-to-walk and the feeling of sense-of-achievement? Our
Rabb could have equally arranged human babies to walk immediately upon birth, just as all
other mammals do. Why does He not? Not only does our Rabb organize the learning
experiences, He nurtures to completion and arranges for a sense of achievement and
satisfaction! The sense of achievement is motivating and permits the enjoyment of the gift of life
that He has given. He has therefore not only created life, he has arranged for us to derive
satisfaction and enjoyment while gaining the confidence that comes from the experience.
Individual experiences ultimately allow us to feel, learn and bear witness to the Qualities of the
Rabb.
So, in Sura Fatiha, how does He introduce Himself? He introduces Himself as Rabb ul
Aalameen, i.e., the Rabb of all that exists in the current world and everything in the world to
come in the Hereafter [chapter 34, verse 1]. The use of the word in Sura Fatiha embodies the
complete meaning, which includes the lord and master, the collector, the possessor, the ruler,
the One who increases, completes, perfumes, brings up, preserves, among other meanings {1}.
As the one who organizes learning experiences, as the Rabb, how could He organize
experiences for those who are arrogant, those who refuse to acknowledge their Rabb with the
gratitude, adoration and the loyalty due? Allah (SWT) asks in the Quran:

See they not that they are tried every year once or twice? Yet they turn not in
repentance and nor do they take heed. [9.126]
How could He try individual human beings? Could it be by giving blessings and then removal of
some of them?
Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger some loss in goods or
lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.
[2.155]
In a similar manner, how could He teach/try groups of people or nations who demonstrate
arrogance? The following Verses talk about a group of people to whom He gave the Holy
Scripture Torah. He reminds them of the repeated blessings and punishments He is giving them
so that they fear Him and hopefully turn back to Him in gratitude and adoration if they do so,
He will consider forgiveness.

17.4 And We gave (clear) warning to the Children of Israel in the Book (preserved
Book [85.22] and revealed in the Torah) that twice would they do mischief [7.56]
on the earth and be elated with mighty arrogance (and twice would they be
punished)!
17.5 When the first of the warnings came to pass We sent against you Our
servants given to terrible warfare: They entered the very innermost parts of your
homes; and it was a warning (completely) fulfilled.
17.6 Then did We grant you the Return as against them: We gave you an
increase in resources and sons and made you the more numerous in manpower.
17.7 If you did well you did well for yourselves; if you did evil (you did it) against
yourselves; so when the second of the warnings came to pass (We permitted
your enemies) to disfigure your faces and to enter your Temple as they had
entered if before and to visit with destruction all that fell into their power.
17.8 It may be that your Lord may (yet) show Mercy to you; but if you revert (to
your sins) We shall revert (to Our punishments): and We have made Hell a prison
for those who reject (all Faith).
As an example of their nature, Allah has revealed the following.
You will indeed find them of all people most greedy of life even more than the idolaters;
each one of them wishes he could be given a life of a thousand years; but the grant of
such life will not save him from (due) punishment for Allah sees well all that they do.
[2.96]

17.9 Verily this Qur'an guides to that which is most right (or stable) and gives the
glad tidings to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness that they shall
have a magnificent reward;
17.10 And to those who believe not in the Hereafter (it is announced) that We have
prepared for them a Penalty grievous (indeed).
-----{Notes}:
{1} Omar, A.M. (2006). Dictionary of The Holy Quran. NOOR Foundation International Inc.
Pg.197-198
{2} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2sU8KLyVJo&spfreload=5