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Question about God...
- Thread starter Riverwolf
- Start date
AbuKhalid
Active Member
This is my own understanding of it also.
AbuKhalid
Active Member
I just found this. Sorry it isnt formatted but its short and to the point.
It is a feature of literary style in Arabic that a person may refer to himself by the pronoun nahnu (we)
for respect or glorification. He may also use the word ana (I), indicating one person, or the third
person huwa (he). All three styles are used in the Qur'an, where Allaah addresses the Arabs in their
own tongue. ( Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 4/143).
( Al-'Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, p. 75).
These words, innaa ("Verily We") and nahnu ("We"), and other forms of the plural, may be used by
one person speaking on behalf of a group, or they may be used by one person for purposes of
respect or glorification, as is done by some monarchs when they issue statements or decrees in
which they say " We have decided " etc. [This is known in English as "The Royal We" Translator]. In
such cases, only one person is speaking but the plural is used for respect. The One Who is more
deserving of respect than any other is Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, so when He says in
the Qur'an innaa ("Verily We") and nahnu ("We"), it is for respect and glorification, not to indicate
plurality of numbers. If an aayah of this type is causing confusion, it is essential to refer to the
clear, unambiguous aayaat for clarification, and if a Christian, for example, insists on taking ayaat
such as
[al-Hijr 15:9 interpretation of the meaning] as proof of divine plurality, we may refute this claim
by quoting such clear and unambiguous aayaat as (interpretation of the meanings):
and
and other aayaat which can only be interpreted in one way. Thus confusion will be dispelled for the
one who is seeking the truth. Every time Allaah uses the plural to refer to Himself, it is based on the
"Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, sometimes refers to Himself in the singular, by name or by use of a pronoun, and
sometimes by use of the plural, as in the phrase (interpretation of the meaning):'Verily, We have given you a manifest
victory" [al-Fath 48:1], and other similar phrases. But Allaah never refers to Himself by use of the dual, because the
plural refers to the respect that He deserves, and may refer to His names and attributes, whereas the dual refers to a
specific number (and nothing else), and He is far above that."
"Verily, We: it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e., the Qur'an)"
"And your god is One God, there is none who has the right to be
worshipped but He, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful" [al-
Baqarah 2:163]
"Say: He is Allaah, the One" [al-Ikhlaas 112:1]
respect and honour that He deserves, and on the great number of His names and attributes, and on
the great number of His troops and angels.
(Al-'Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, p. 109).
It is a feature of literary style in Arabic that a person may refer to himself by the pronoun nahnu (we)
for respect or glorification. He may also use the word ana (I), indicating one person, or the third
person huwa (he). All three styles are used in the Qur'an, where Allaah addresses the Arabs in their
own tongue. ( Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 4/143).
( Al-'Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, p. 75).
These words, innaa ("Verily We") and nahnu ("We"), and other forms of the plural, may be used by
one person speaking on behalf of a group, or they may be used by one person for purposes of
respect or glorification, as is done by some monarchs when they issue statements or decrees in
which they say " We have decided " etc. [This is known in English as "The Royal We" Translator]. In
such cases, only one person is speaking but the plural is used for respect. The One Who is more
deserving of respect than any other is Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, so when He says in
the Qur'an innaa ("Verily We") and nahnu ("We"), it is for respect and glorification, not to indicate
plurality of numbers. If an aayah of this type is causing confusion, it is essential to refer to the
clear, unambiguous aayaat for clarification, and if a Christian, for example, insists on taking ayaat
such as
[al-Hijr 15:9 interpretation of the meaning] as proof of divine plurality, we may refute this claim
by quoting such clear and unambiguous aayaat as (interpretation of the meanings):
and
and other aayaat which can only be interpreted in one way. Thus confusion will be dispelled for the
one who is seeking the truth. Every time Allaah uses the plural to refer to Himself, it is based on the
"Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, sometimes refers to Himself in the singular, by name or by use of a pronoun, and
sometimes by use of the plural, as in the phrase (interpretation of the meaning):'Verily, We have given you a manifest
victory" [al-Fath 48:1], and other similar phrases. But Allaah never refers to Himself by use of the dual, because the
plural refers to the respect that He deserves, and may refer to His names and attributes, whereas the dual refers to a
specific number (and nothing else), and He is far above that."
"Verily, We: it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e., the Qur'an)"
"And your god is One God, there is none who has the right to be
worshipped but He, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful" [al-
Baqarah 2:163]
"Say: He is Allaah, the One" [al-Ikhlaas 112:1]
respect and honour that He deserves, and on the great number of His names and attributes, and on
the great number of His troops and angels.
(Al-'Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, p. 109).
.lava
Veteran Member
remember there might be go betweens bringing the message.[my personal opinion
) God in Qur'an rarely says "I". but it does..
Response: In every eastern language you have two types of plurals. A plural of numbers and a plural of respect. The plural of numbers you should be familiar with. As for the plural of respect, here's an example:
If I were to create a special kind of hammer to help me build a house and when finished someone asks, "who built the house", naturally I would not say, "Me and the hammer".(We) I would say, "Me". The respect is due to me.
Likewise, Allah is the originator and likewise he creates the angels to assist him like I created the hammer to assist me. But the credit of creation does not go to the angels and Allah but Allah alone. The respect is due to Allah. So in arabic and in all eastern languages, there is a plural "we" to suggest that all respect is due to one creator despite the assistance of others.
But let me add that Allah does not need assistance. This is just his way.
.lava
Veteran Member
just for the record sweet friend;
if you ever met a Murshida you'd realize they rarely say "I". there is a knowledge passed on. the source is Allah. even though Murshidas have that knowledge they do not own it. same with Gebrael (PBUH) or Prophets...etc. so they do not say "I".
.
Delilah Roo
Member
I did not know that... I refer to myself as "we" sometimes when I am working because I think of my self as speaking for a colective. But sometimes I think I sound silly when I say that...
--Delilah Roo
--Delilah Roo
riverfox
A slave of Allah (swt)
Islam is a strictly monotheistic religion. It believes in and adheres to uncompromising monotheism. It believes that God is one, and unique in His attributes. In the Quran, God often refers to Himself using the word We. But this does not mean that Islam believes in the existence of more than one God.
Two types of plural
In several languages, there are two types of plurals, one is a plural of numbers to refer to something that occurs in a quantity of more than one. The other plural is a plural of respect.
a. In the English language, the Queen of England refers to herself as We instead of I. This is known as the royal plural.
b. Rajiv Gandhi, the ex-Prime Minister of India used to say in Hindi "Hum dekhna chahte hain". "We want to see." Hum means We which is again a royal plural in Hindi.
c. Similarly in Arabic, when Allah refers to Himself in the Quran, He often uses Arabic word 'Nahnu' meaning We. It does not indicate plural of number but plural of respect.
Tawheed or monotheism is one of the pillars of Islam. The existence and uniqueness of one and only one God is mentioned several times in the Quran. For instance in Surah Ikhlas, it says :
"Say He is Allah the One and Only."
[Al-Quran 112: 1]
Two types of plural
In several languages, there are two types of plurals, one is a plural of numbers to refer to something that occurs in a quantity of more than one. The other plural is a plural of respect.
a. In the English language, the Queen of England refers to herself as We instead of I. This is known as the royal plural.
b. Rajiv Gandhi, the ex-Prime Minister of India used to say in Hindi "Hum dekhna chahte hain". "We want to see." Hum means We which is again a royal plural in Hindi.
c. Similarly in Arabic, when Allah refers to Himself in the Quran, He often uses Arabic word 'Nahnu' meaning We. It does not indicate plural of number but plural of respect.
Tawheed or monotheism is one of the pillars of Islam. The existence and uniqueness of one and only one God is mentioned several times in the Quran. For instance in Surah Ikhlas, it says :
"Say He is Allah the One and Only."
[Al-Quran 112: 1]