Al-Qahhar, Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir, and AL-Muntaqim.
Qahhar is an Arabic word which means domination, intensity, power and complete control. It is often wrongfully translated in English as anger and fury. It also refers to the softening of tough meat by putting it on a fire so that it becomes soft and eatable.
Jabbar is another Arabic word which needs exposition. In ancient times when medical science was not as advanced as it is in this modern era, the joining of broken bones was done by putting wooden sticks around the wound and tightening it with a bandage. The wood which was used for this operation was known as jabbaratun, and the bandage jabberatun. This method of healing broken bones needs the use of power and it was known as jabbar. Similarly, Allah is known as Jabbar because He establishes law and order in the universe, which is an absolute good for the maintenance of harmony. There is no trace of cruelty in this use of power; it is based on wisdom and knowledge.
Qahhar and Jabbar do not mean anger and fury in the Quran when they are used for Allah; they simply indicate power, control, and domination by Allah. He has created the laws to govern the universe, and they are unceasingly producing results; qahr and jabr do indicate some use of power, but the use of power is to keep the unruly in the limits of laws. Qahhar and Jabbar are only used once in the Quran. According to Quran “If any affliction touches you it is due to disobeying the laws of Allah; there is none that can give relief except His laws. Similarly, if good fortune comes to you (there is none that can impair it) Allah has full control over the laws; and nobody can circumvent them, He is aware of everything, and his decisions are based on wisdom” (6:17-18).
Al-mutakabbir means the possessor of greatness, which is an attribute of Allah. Kibr, when it is used for common people, means arrogance and pride; but when it is used in the Quran for Allah, it means greatness and sovereignty. Pride/ arrogance is used for common folk, especially when they acquire power, and by virtue of it they think they are superior, and has acquired the right to dominate and subjugate powerless people. To achieve greatness is not prohibited in the Quran. Greatness is an attribute of Allah, but it must be acquired –bil haqq—by doing constructive and positive works for the well-being of humanity. Any other use of it will result in rune and destructions, as it did for the tribe of Ad. Ad was a powerful nation. They were so intoxicated by the power that they neglected all values. “The tribe of Ad behaved arrogantly in the earth without any justification and said: Who is mightier than we are in power?” (41:15). The wrong use of power, and neglect of values did not strengthen their position but only brought destruction upon them.
Allah is also known as Muntaqim , which is translated into English as revenge-seeker. According to Google the meaning of revenge is “the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hand” There is always an element of anger in revenge; but Allah is far above these human emotions. The word naqam means the middle path. A Sheppard moves his sheep to the middle of the road when they go astray; similarly, the law of requital punishes the criminals for their wrongdoings.
