Ghazab and La'nat

Ghazab and La’nat      In this article, I am going to write about those attributes of Allah that  appear contradictory to each other; for example, Allah is Rahim -- one who looks after the needs of all humanity-- as well as Qahhaar.  Qahhaar is a word with multiple meanings. Basically it indicates intensity and power; it is also used for tough meat when it is too hard to eat and is put on fire to make it soft and eatable. The use of power to defend weak, downtrodden, and oppressed people and to establish justice is not only necessary but praise worthy.  In this way, these two apparently contradictory attributes are two sides of one coin; both are necessary. All the attributes of Allah are complete and perfect; they harmoniously coexist in Him and manifest themselves in exact proportion--neither less nor more—according to the needs of the occasion.         The word ghazab is often translated as anger, fury, and wrath of God.  According to Charles Spielberger PH.D the definition of anger is “an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage.” Allah has not only created the universe, but He is also controlling and running it. We cannot attribute such emotional states of mind to Him. “Allah is far away from that which they attribute unto Him.” (37:159). In fact, ghazab is the second name for the law of requital, by which people are punished for their crimes.  When Moses went to Mount Sinai to get the laws for his nation to regulate their lives according to Allah’s directions, his nation started worshipping a golden calf.  Moses was beside himself with anger and sadness to see his folk worshipping the golden calf.   He said to his nation, “O my nation,(what have you done?)  Did not your Rabb make you a gracious promise? Did then, the appointed time appear too long to you, and did you desire that your God’s ghazab should descend upon you, that you went against your promise to me?”(20:86).       La’nat is another Arabic word which is frequently misunderstood.    Non-Muslims allege that Allah of the Quran showers curses upon non-believers in the Quran.  It is not correct, because using execrate language is beneath the dignity of God.  However, the meaning of la’nat is to deprive someone, to keep someone away.  When individuals and nations refuse to obey the laws of Allah, they cannot harm Him by doing so; they simply deprive themselves from the good results that ensue from following the law.      Bo’ad and la’nat mean distance—to be removed from the pleasantries of life.  Murder of a Muslim is such a heinous crime that it earns ghazab and la’nat for the culprit, “Whoso kills a believer deliberately, his punishment shall be hell, where he shall abide along with Allah’s ghazab and la’nat forever.  Moreover, Allah has prepared a painful torment for him.” (4:93).            To sum up, it is humans that invite the ghazab and la’nat with their crimes and earn deprivation and distance from the niceties of life; not only do they waste the opportunity which God has given them to grow and attain higher stages of life, but they also earn a painful end.  Thus, to be deprived of the blessings such as rahmat and anaams of Allah is a very unfortunate event. Therefore, when the Quran uses the word la’naat, it is used by Allah to mean being deprived of His blessings.  In everyday use of language, we can call it a bad wish; there is no trace of hate, animosity or curse in it.    ReplyForward