Praise is due only for Allah {1}, the Fosterer {2} of the worlds {3}
This verse is not only a logical statement of fact but also an order ‘Praise be only for Allah’ because He alone fosters the worlds. To praise someone we should know his work. In the verse under discussion, the work of Allah is fostering His creation i.e. maintaining and managing it. Therefore to praise Him we should not only have knowledge of His creation but also the knowledge of how He maintains and manages it, i.e. the laws governing the existence of the universe. The more we have this knowledge, the more we would be in a position to praise Him appropriately. In view of this and many other verses of the Quran inviting us to reflect on His creation, acquiring knowledge of different components of the universe and the laws governing their existence and functioning, becomes incumbent on us. This shows the importance of education in Islam and indicates that we should acquire education not only for earning our livelihood but also to understand the Quran so that we could implement it in our lives and enjoy the benefits here as well as in the hereafter.
{1} Allah is the proper name applied to the Divine Being Who exists necessarily by Himself, comprising all the attributes of perfection. Allah is an underived word, it neither has a feminine nor a plural, it has never been applied to any being except to the true God, nor did the Arabs give this name to any of their idols. As a proper name it cannot be translated into any other language nor is an equivalent of it met with in any other language. The word god is the translation of the word ‘Ilaha’, which is not a personal name but the name of a status or designation. In view of this, the word Allah has been retained as such, where as the word Ilaha has been translated as god.
{2} According to Raghib. the word Rabb signifies, fostering of a thing in such a manner as to make it attain one condition after another until it reaches its goal of completion. Hence it has been translated as Fosterer at most of the places and as Lord at some places where the word Fosterer does not appear to be appropriate.
{3} The word Aalam is a thing through which knowledge of something else is obtained. The whole universe is known as an Aalam because knowledge of Allah is obtained through it. World appears to be the nearest English equivalent of this word. But there are many worlds/physical, mental, spiritual, past, present, future, human, animal etc. Besides, the world today is not what it was yesterday or what it would be tomorrow. According to scientists, the universe is expanding, therefore it not only changes with time but also in space, occupying different volumes at different times. The kingdom of Allah would therefore best be represented by the plural ‘Aalameen’ which has been translated as worlds. Quantum physicists too propose the existence of many universes.
{2} According to Raghib. the word Rabb signifies, fostering of a thing in such a manner as to make it attain one condition after another until it reaches its goal of completion. Hence it has been translated as Fosterer at most of the places and as Lord at some places where the word Fosterer does not appear to be appropriate.
{3} The word Aalam is a thing through which knowledge of something else is obtained. The whole universe is known as an Aalam because knowledge of Allah is obtained through it. World appears to be the nearest English equivalent of this word. But there are many worlds/physical, mental, spiritual, past, present, future, human, animal etc. Besides, the world today is not what it was yesterday or what it would be tomorrow. According to scientists, the universe is expanding, therefore it not only changes with time but also in space, occupying different volumes at different times. The kingdom of Allah would therefore best be represented by the plural ‘Aalameen’ which has been translated as worlds. Quantum physicists too propose the existence of many universes.
Tamaam tareef Uss Allah ke liye hai jo tamaam Aalameen ka palne wala hai