God In Himself

(2:255) Surah Al Baqarah

Translation:

Allah. There is no god but He, the living, the self-subsisting, eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permits? He knows what is before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass any of His knowledge except as He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme.

Part (a): Themes

The main themes are: God in Himself and Tawhid, One God; that He is unlike creation; that His knowledge is infinite; that the Throne represents His power. Candidates will develop these themes in their own way, e.g.

• Saying that He looks after all the Heavens and earth and no-one is needed to look after Him.
• He doesn’t sleep nor get tired in what He does.
• Humans only know what He allows them.
• His throne is understood as His majesty, uniqueness, knowledge and having total power.
• It emphasises how He is the only one who can make decisions about His creation, yet He is transcendent – completely independent from His creation.

Part (b): Importance of Themes

• The importance of these themes is that these verses allow Muslims to learn and understand something about God in a way relevant to them.
• The theme of God’s self-subsistence shows how certain attributes that affect humans do not affect Him, e.g. sleep which shows Muslims how superior He is.
• He has the knowledge and power over all things hence Muslims do not disobey Him or sin even when alone.
• It was said by the Prophet (pbuh) to be one of the best passages of the Qur’an, so Muslims might recite it daily for protection.
  • Candidates could say how they use ayat al-kursi in their lives and that it gives a sense of being under the protection of God.

(6:101-103) Surah Al-Ana'am

Translation:

101. To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: how can He have a son when He has no consort? He created all things, and He has full knowledge of all things.

102. That is Allah, your Lord! there is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then worship Him: and He has power to dispose of all affairs.
103. No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehensions, yet is acquainted with all things.