The Meaning of Lord
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (53)
Ibn Al-Atheer said: "The Lord" (''Ar-Rabb'' in Arabic) in the language is used to refer to the owner, the master, the manager, the nurturer, the guardian, and the benefactor. It is not used in its absolute form (without being attached to something else) except for Allah Almighty.
Al-Raghib said: "Ar-Rabb" originally refers to nurturing, which is bringing something into existence stage by stage until it reaches its completion. The term "Ar-Rabb" (The Lord) is not used in its absolute form except for Allah, who takes care of the welfare of all beings.
like in His saying: {A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."} [Saba: 15].
And with the addition it is said to him and others, like His saying: {All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds,} [Al-Fatihah: 2].
And {[He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.} [Ad-Dukhan: 8].
Ibn Kathir said: "Ar-Rabb" is the owner and controller. In the language, it is used to refer to the master and the one who manages affairs for rectification. All of these meanings are true in reference to Allah Almighty.
- The Name ''The Lord'' is One of The Greatest Praises With Which Allah Almighty Has Glorified Himself
Allah Almighty praised Himself as the "Lord of the Worlds". The "worlds" is the plural of "world", and everything besides Allah is considered a world. As Allah says: {All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds,} [Al-Fatiha: 2]. There are many texts that affirm He is the Lord of the Worlds. Likewise, He praised Himself as the Lord of everything, as stated in His words: {Say, "Is it other than Allah I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things?} [Al-An'am: 164].
He, the Almighty, glorified Himself as the Lord of the Great Throne, as stated in His words: {Allah - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."} [An-Naml: 26].
And the Almighty says: {So exalted is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth; there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Noble Throne.} [Al-Mu'minun: 116].
He also praised Himself as the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. Allah Almighty, said: {Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them - so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?"} [Maryam: 65].
Allah Almighty praised Himself as our Lord and the Lord of our forefathers. He, the Almighty, said: {"Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers."} [Ash-Shu'ara: 26].
- And He, the Almighty, also said about Himself, “Lord of the East and the West”, and “Lord of all risings and settings”. Allah Almighty said: {[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs.} [Al-Muzzammil: 9]. And He said: {So I swear by the Lord of [all] risings and settings that indeed We are able} [Al-Ma'arij: 40].
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 367-369.
- To Allah belong the best names, Abdul Aziz Al-Jalil, p. 88.
- Ibn Kathir’s interpretation, 1/23.
- Vocabulary, Al-Raghib Al-Isfahani, p. 184.
- The End of Ibn al-Athir, 2/179.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
