The attribute of power
- Updated On Sunday, 08 June 2014
- Written by Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali
- Editor Kawther Rahmani
- Supervisor Sayyed Roohullah Musavi
- Published on Friday, 21 January 2011
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- Hits: How is God's power referred to in the Holy Quran?
One quality of God that is common among the Abrahamic faiths is power. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, God is known as the 'Omnipotent,' indicating that He has all the power and is capable of doing anything. The Quran emphasises this fact by using the following attributes for God: Qadir: very powerful. This name is used in the Quran 45 times, such as in the following instance: "Blessed is He in whose hands is all sovereignty, and He is powerful over all things" (67:1). Ashadd-u quwwat-an: more powerful. It is mentioned only once: "As for [the people of] 'Ad, they acted arrogantly in the earth unduly, and they said, "Who is more powerful than us?" Did they not see that Allah, who created them, is more powerful than them?" (41:15) Qaahir: the dominant or the absolute. This is mentioned as a divine quality twice in the Holy Quran, as shown in the example below: "He is the All-Dominant over His servants, and He sends guards to [protect] you. When death approaches anyone of you, Our messengers take him away and they do not neglect [their duty]" (6:61). Qadir: able or powerful. This is mentioned seven times. One example is: "Do they not see that God, who created the heavens and the earth and [who] was not exhausted by their creation, is able to revive the dead? Yes, indeed He is powerful over all things" (46:33). Qadirun: This is the plural form of Qadir and is used in the Holy Quran five times. When God talks about Himself or His acts in the Holy Quran, He often uses the plural form to indicate His most high position. This can be compared to the way in which the royalty are often referred to or addressed by using the plural form. Some people have suggested that another reason for using the plural form in the Quran is that God normally does things through His agents, and therefore His acts are, in a sense, a collective enterprise. Interestingly, unlike popular usage, God is never addressed in the Quran and hadiths in the plural form. This is to put utmost emphasis on the unity of God and the fact that it is only Him who can be worshiped. One of the verses in which the quality of being powerful is used in the plural form is the following: 'Does man suppose that We shall not put together his bones? Yes, indeed, We are Able to proportion [even] his fingertips! Rather man desires to go on living viciously' (75:3-5). Qawiyy: powerful or strong. It is used nine times in the Quran. One example is: 'God is All-Attentive to His servants. He provides for whomever He wishes, and He is the Strong, the All-Mighty' (42:19).