Meaning of rabb
Mu' meneen Brothers
and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa
Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon
all of you)
One of our
brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Salams
"The literal meaning
of the Arabic word ‘rabb’ could also mean as you say, the parents or the
teachers, or anyone who is the
guardian or sponsor. But
when the word ‘Rabb’ is used for Allah, it takes on a very wide
meaning, and the connotation is
‘Rabb ul Aalemeen’.
For Allah indeed is the Lord, Master, Owner, Sustainer and Provider of everything that exists between the
heavens and the earth. "
I fully agree to your opinion and this gives rise to another question. In many places in the Quran the word Rabb is used. But how could you or the unanimous muslim scholars be 100% sure that the word "Rabb is used for Allah in the ayat? If it was to be used as "Rabb ul Aalemeen", then why not be put as "Rabb ul Aalemeen" and / or "Allah" instead of "Rabb"? Though this question might seem vague, but it changes the whole meaning 'cos Rabb can be as you say the parents or the teachers, whereas Rabb is a connotative word for Allah as well. For instance, in an ayat where it describes that Moosa (A.S.) went on Mt.Sinai and said "(Surah Al-Araf, Ayat 143)" , it does not say anywhere Rabbul Aalemeen or Allah as a matter of fact, it just says Rabb. So how come the muslim scholars and why did they linked it to Rabb ul Aalemeen though it could have been just simply plain Rabb (simple literal meaning like you said Quran is a book very easy to comprehend, so if Allah wanted to denote Himself, He couldve used Rabbul Aalemeen or Allah).By this, i am only trying to understand and appreciate Arabic as a very vast language where not interprating one word correctly, the whole meaning changes. So i need proper guidance in such questions. Whom should i approach? Muslim scholars? naahh.. they even dont know many answers to such simple questions 'cos in fact they do not have the ilm of Aal-e-Mohammad. Who would answer such queries? Not that only Allah knows the answers to such questions 'cos Islam is a complete religion and to every question there has to be an answer. What use is the Quran and Islam if questions cannot be fulfilled? Rasool Allah(SAW) had said that "Achieving knowledge is faraz on every muslim". So which knowledge was he talking about? Obviously, the knowledge if Aal-e-Mohammad. And that knowledge answers each and every "Why" questions.
Wassalam
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Answer:
In the name of Allah, We praise
Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can
misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We
bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no
grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
The truth is brother, whoever
understands even the basic Arabic language, can immediately understand from the
context of the Quran and the way the word ‘Rabb’ is used if it means Allah or
someone else. There is absolutely no doubt in the mind of the reader who
understands Arabic about the use of the word ‘Rabb’ in the Glorious Quran.
It would be mis-guidance to take
out one word from the aayah, and then apply a ‘literal’ meaning to that word
and confuse yourself with the meaning of the Quran! The Quran is extremely clear and absolutely in
context, and when ‘Rabb’ is read in context, the reader will have no doubt if
it refers to Allah or anyone else!
To give you a simple example,
take the English word ‘President’.
One could use this title in many ways:
Mr.X is the president of ABC
Corporation.
Mr. Z is the president of the
United States of America.
If anyone who understands even
the basics of the English language would immediately know the difference
between the positions of the President of a corporation, and the President of the
United States, although the word ‘president’ is used in both places! Thus one has to read the word and
sentence in context to understand the meaning.
Your Question:
What use is the Quran and Islam if questions cannot be fulfilled?
The Quran is without doubt a
complete Book of Guidance, and any
question which has anything to do with guidance, will find an answer from the Glorious Quran.
The truth of the matter is that
today we are so unaware and so far from the clear guidance of the Quran, that instead of blaming ourselves, we start blaming the Quran and
Islam! And all this
confusion and differences arise, simply because most of us do not understand the
Holy Quran, which was revealed as
a Mercy to us by our Lord and Creator,
and very soon we shall all be called to account for it.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89:We have sent down to you this Book, which
makes everything plain, and is a
guidance, blessing and good news
to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verses 43-44:So, hold fast to the Book that has been revealed to you, you are surely on the Siraat al
Mustaqeem. The fact is that this
book is a great honor for you and your people, and soon you shall be CALLED TO ACCOUNT for it.
We have formed our own beliefs
and ways, and then we look towards
the Quran, or twist its meanings,
or give its clear aayahs fancy interpretations to suit our beliefs and
ways: This is absolute
misguidance!
Guidance would be to understand
the clear aayahs of the Glorious Quran and then formulate our ways, beliefs and actions according to the
commands of the Quran. That would
be guidance.
We have tried to make the Quran
follow our beliefs and ways,
rather than obey and follow the Glorious Quran. We urge you to read the
Holy Quran with understanding, without any bias or prejudice. Then you will see how this Glorious
Book guides you to the Siraat al Mustaqeem.
Your Comment: Rasool Allah(SAW) had said that "Achieving knowledge is faraz on every muslim". So which knowledge was he talking about? Obviously, the knowledge if Aal-e-Mohammad. And that knowledge answers each and every "Why" questions.
There we go again!!!!!! Giving a fancy interpretation or
answering the question yourself without any reference from the Glorious
Quran! To make such a statement as
a basis of your belief, without any proof from the Quran, is nothing but misguidance!
Allah says in Chapter
2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185:"Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was
sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR
teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the Truth and
falsehood."
Allah revealed the Quran as a
perfect guidance for all mankind, and He Himself says that it consists of clear
teachings which show the Right Way and are a Criterion of the Truth and
falsehood. Now, either the
All Knowing, All Wise, Allah (I
take refuge in Allah from saying this) forgot to mention that ‘ilm of Aale-e-Mohamed’
in His Book of Guidance, or you
are saying something which is not true!
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 12 Surah Yusuf verses 38-40:(Prophet Yusuf said): “I follow the
Way of my forefathers,
Ibrahim, Ishaaq and Yaqoob:
and it is not for us to associate anyone with Allah as a partner. This is Allah’s Bounty upon us
and upon all mankind (that He has not made us slaves of any other than
Himself), yet most people are not grateful. O my fellow prisoners,
say, which is
better: various gods, or the One Omnipotent Allah? The names you worship other than Allah,
are nothing more than mere names that you and your forefathers have invented, for Allah has sent down no authority
for them!
Sovereignty belongs to none but Allah Alone! He has commanded that you shall not worship anyone but
Him. This is the Right and
Straight Way, but most people do
not know this.”
Brother, the Quran will answer
every ‘why’ question which relates to guidance! There is no other source of knowledge than the very words of
Allah Subhanah Himself. The
Messenger of Allah (saws) himself followed every command of the Holy Quran, and
exhorted his noble family and companions and the believers to do the same. He (saws) did not come to
establish a kingdom for his descendants on this earth, but rather he (saws) was
sent by the All Mighty to proclaim the Message and guide mankind out of the
ways of ignorance to the light of guidance.
Whatever written of Truth and
benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error
is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best
and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in
Islam,
Burhan
