Allah
calls Himself Al-Qahhaar— The Subduer, The Ever-Dominating—
six times in the Quran. All creatures surrender to Al-Qahhaar, Who
submits and dominates the whole universe. This is a name of majestic strength!
Qahhaar comes
from the root qaa-haa-raa which points to the attribute of
overpowering something. It means to subdue, to dominate, to prevail, and to
compel against one’s wishes. The Arabic word Al-Qahhaar has
the structure of intensification, and is the intense form of Al-Qahir, The
Irresistible.
Together
with the name Al-Azeez and Al-Jabbaar, this
beautiful name illustrates that Allah ‘azza wajal has the
supreme authority and ultimate power to do anything. He can subdue anyone to
compel him or her to His will.
The names Al-Qahhaar and Al-Lateef (subtle, refined) are sometimes used together to honor and reveal the opposing yet complementary ways of the One. He is The Subduer, but also The Most Wise and the Most Just. He’s never unfair, so be reassured.
The One and His Supreme Power
In all the six ayaat in the Quran in which this beautiful name is mentioned it is amazingly combined with the Name الْوَاحِدُ (the One). Allah ‘azza wajal is telling us that everything that is created submits to Allah willingly or unwillingly— that’s the power and force of Al-Qahhaar. And this supreme power rests with Him only.
The
skies, the earth, the angels, and all the creatures obey Him. Al-Qahhaar left
us the choice; either we come to Him willingly or He’ll make us come to Him
anyway. Allah says: “ . . . then said to it and to the earth,
“Come up (you two) willingly (or: in obedience) or unwillingly!” They (both)
said, “We come up willingly.” [Quran, 41:11]
Look at the gravity
of the earth, which ensures that people can make an object go only so far. We
as human beings can only go a limited speed. Regardless of how far technology
advances, this technology will be subdued by Al-Qahhaar to comply
to His will. It shows us how limited we are and how grand, powerful, and
majestic Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa is.
A Soul-shaking Moment with Al-Qahhaar
One of the greatest
examples is that the whole creation is subdued by death. Allah ‘azza
wajal says about one of the most soul-shaking moments related to us: The
Day when they will (all) come out, nothing of them will be hidden from Allah.
Whose is the kingdom this Day? (Allah Himself will reply to His Question): It
isAllah’s the One,Al-Qahhaar! [Quran,40:16]
How Can You Live By This Name?
Submit.
Surrender. What does Islam mean? It means you submit.
You surrender to the Lord of the Worlds. As his Lord said to him,
“Surrender,” (i.e., be Muslim) he said, “I have surrendered to The Lord of the
worlds.” (Quran 2:131). Does the Name Al-Qahhaar invite
you to fear Allah ‘azza wajal and panic or to apprehend and
surrender? So surrender your heart, your limbs, your actions, your speech, your
senses, your talents and your skills all to Him. Don’t submit to your own
desires and whims; submit to Al-Qahhaar willingly! Know that
submission is not a sort of humiliation but rather an apprehension and a
beautiful glorification!
Ponder
on how Al-Qahhaar expresses His will. The
sea or a breeze of fresh air can be at times deadly and at other times
beautiful and calm. He created the water with the ability to extinguish fire.
Look at how Al-Qahhaar commanded nature to change at His Will;
the fire that didn’t burn Ibrahim alayhi sallam, the knife when it
didn’t slaughter Ismaeel alayhi sallam, the whale when it swallowed
Yunus alayhi sallam, but didn’t digest him. Teach your
children at bedtime the story of the elephant, a powerful creature and Abrahah and
how Allah destroyed him with the weakest of creatures; birds. Ponder upon the
effect of His Will all around you.
Be
kind to the weak. Be compassionate and kind to
the weak, especially the orphans and the poor. Al-Qahhaar says: “Then,
as for the orphan, then do not subdue (him), and as for the beggar, then do not
scold (him).” [Quran, 93:9-10]. Imagine facing The
Subduer, The Ever-Dominating, on the Day of Judgement, where people are either
oppressors or oppressed. Who will be more fearful?
Be
good to people at all times. Apprehension
of Al-Qahhaar and His supreme power makes you treat people
well, because it makes you remember His punishment. Look at how submissive Umar
ibn al-Khattaab radiyallahu anhu was, when asking his son to put his face in
the dust as he was dying so that Al-Qahhaar would have mercy
upon him. Umar Ibn al-Azeez ordered his servant to remind him of Al-Qahhaar in
case he saw him oppressing anyone. Live by this name by being good, just, and
fair to others at all times.
Abandon
your sins. Remind yourself of the power of Al-Qahhaar, and
free your tears. The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam says that whoever cries
because of apprehension won’t enter hellfire. Al-Qahhaar compels
your tongue at the time of your death. You might be unable to say la
ilaaha illallaah because of your bad deeds. Or He may compel your
tongue to say it because of your good deeds. Have you noticed what a simple
phrase la ilaaha illallaah is and that you can say it without
even moving your lips? Still it is the will of Al-Qahhaar that
will enable or not enable you to say it. May we be of those who utter the shahada in
our last breath, ameen!
Ask Al-Qahhaar!
The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam used to say a certain dua at the end of any gathering: My Lord, grant us apprehension which keeps us away from disobeying you. Grant us submission which delivers us to Jannah, and grant us faith which makes us endure the worldly trials. Revive this sunnah in your life!
Al-Qahhaar started
life on earth by a blow in Adam’s body and ends by a blow on the trumpet.
Allahu Akbar!
Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.
Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.
O
Allah, Al-Qahhaar, make us of those who bow to You in
Islam, adorn us with apprehension of You and aid us
to surrender our hearts and our actions to You only. Make us ponder Your
power, abandon our sins, and be kind to the weak, ameen!
