Here is the explanation from the chapter in Shaykh AbdurRazzaaq's Book: Fiqhul Asmaa al Husnaa.
Please note that the Shaykh wrote two books on the same topic: a full version and a summarized version. The translation is of the chapter from the full version.
To download the English translation of this chapter on al Khaaliq Click here
Mukhtasir (Summarized) Fiqh al Asmaa al Husnaa Download pdf in Arabic Click here
Al Khallaaq الخلاق in the intensive form occurs in two places in the Qur’aan in the Saying of Allaah the Exalted:
Please note that the Shaykh wrote two books on the same topic: a full version and a summarized version. The translation is of the chapter from the full version.
To download the English translation of this chapter on al Khaaliq Click here
Mukhtasir (Summarized) Fiqh al Asmaa al Husnaa Download pdf in Arabic Click here
Full version Fiqh al Asmaa (in Arabic) Shaykh 'Abdur Razaaq 'Abdul Muhsin al Badr Click here
Understanding
Allaah’s Beautiful Names
Fiqhul Asmaa al
Husnaa
Chapter
(p91-94): al Khaaliq الخالق The Creator
Al Khallaaq الخلاق the
Ever-Creating
The name of Allaah al
Khaaliq is found in many places in the Qur’aan. For example:
هُوَ اللَّهُ
الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ
“He is
Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms.”
Hashr
59:24
اللَّهُ
خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Wakil (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian, etc.) over all things.”
“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Wakil (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian, etc.) over all things.”
Zumar
39:62
Al Khallaaq الخلاق in the intensive form occurs in two places in the Qur’aan in the Saying of Allaah the Exalted:
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ
هُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ
“Verily,
your Lord is the All-Knowing Creator.”
Hijr
15:86
بَلَىٰ
وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ
“ Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing Supreme Creator.”
“ Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing Supreme Creator.”
Yaseen
36:81
Creation (al Khalq) refers to and
means two matters:
1.
The first
meaning of al Khalq is bringing something new into existence from nothing:
أَوَلَمْ
يَرَوْا أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَا أَنْعَامًا فَهُمْ
لَهَا مَالِكُونَ
“Do they not see that We have created for them of what Our Hands have created, the cattle, so that they are their owners.”
“Do they not see that We have created for them of what Our Hands have created, the cattle, so that they are their owners.”
Yaseen
36:71
إِنَّا
كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ
“ Verily,
We have created all things with Qadar (Divine Preordainments).”
Qamar
54:49
الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ وَالَّذِي قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ
“Who has created (everything), and then proportioned it;
And Who has measured (preordainments for each and everything even to be blessed or wretched); then guided (i.e. showed mankind the right as well as wrong paths, and guided the animals to pasture);”
“Who has created (everything), and then proportioned it;
And Who has measured (preordainments for each and everything even to be blessed or wretched); then guided (i.e. showed mankind the right as well as wrong paths, and guided the animals to pasture);”
Al Alaa 87:2-3
وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَقَدَّرَهُ تَقْدِيرًا
He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements.
He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements.
Al
Furqaan 25:2
كَمَا بَدَأْنَا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُّعِيدُهُ ۚ
“We began
the first creation, We shall repeat it,”
Al Anbiyaa
21:104
2.
The second meaning of al khalq is ‘measuring’
at taqdeer.
They used to say
‘he measured (khalaqa) the skins’ which means he measured it. If you decreed
something, it would come to pass, whereas if someone else decreed it, it would
not come to pass. Allaah’s Saying:
وَتَخْلُقُونَ
إِفْكًا
“and you only invent تخلقون falsehood”.
“and you only invent تخلقون falsehood”.
Al
Ankaboot 29:17
Which means that you believe it and
make people inclined to it.
Another example is Allaah the
Exalted’s Saying:
فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
“So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators”.
“So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators”.
Al
Mu'minoon 23:14
So ‘creation’ الخلق when it is used in terms of humans means taqdeer
‘measuring’. As for creation which is inventing and bringing into existence
from nothing then this only for the Lord of the worlds. As Allaah the Exalted
said:
هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ
“Is there any creator other than Allah!”
“Is there any creator other than Allah!”
Faatir
35:3
هَٰذَا خَلْقُ اللَّهِ فَأَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقَ الَّذِينَ مِن
دُونِهِ ۚ بَلِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
“This is the creation of Allah. So show Me that which those (whom you worship), besides Him have created. Nay, the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and those who do not believe in the Oneness of Allah) are in plain error.”
Luqmaan 31:11
“This is the creation of Allah. So show Me that which those (whom you worship), besides Him have created. Nay, the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and those who do not believe in the Oneness of Allah) are in plain error.”
Luqmaan 31:11
In the aayah is a challenge for
the whole of creation. Allaah, far removed is He from
every imperfection, affirmed that the whole of mankind is unable to do it
even if they all gathered together to create one fly which is the weakest and
looked down upon of all animals. Allaah the Exalted said,
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ ۚ إِنَّ
الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ
اجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيْئًا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ
مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالْمَطْلُوبُ
مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ
عَزِيزٌ
O mankind! A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully): Verily! Those on whom you call besides Allah, cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatched away a thing from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought.
They have not estimated Allah His Rightful Estimate; Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.
Hajj 22:73-74
O mankind! A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully): Verily! Those on whom you call besides Allah, cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatched away a thing from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought.
They have not estimated Allah His Rightful Estimate; Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.
Hajj 22:73-74
Following on from this,
Allaah did not create the creation without purpose, in vain or for fun. Allaah
is far removed and purified from that. Allaah the Exalted said,
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا
بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ
لَوْ أَرَدْنَا أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا لَّاتَّخَذْنَاهُ
مِن لَّدُنَّا إِن كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ
بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ
فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ
We created
not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play.
17. Had We intended to take a pastime (i.e. a wife or a son, etc.), We could
surely have taken it from Us, if We were going to do (that).
18. Nay, We fling (send down) the truth (this Qur'an) against the falsehood
(disbelief), so it destroys it, and behold, it (falsehood) is vanished. And woe
to you for that (lie) which you ascribe (to Us) (against Allah by uttering that
Allah has a wife and a son).
Al Anbiyaa 16-18
أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ
عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ
فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ ۖ لَا
إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
"Did
you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you
would not be brought back to Us?"
116. So Exalted be Allah, the True King, La ilaha illa Huwa (none
has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne!
Al Mu’minoon
23:115-116
Indeed Allaah far
removed is He from every imperfection, created the creation to know Him and
worship Him.
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ
وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا
أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ
شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا
It is Allah Who
has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven). His
Command descends between them (heavens and earth), that you may know that Allah
has power over all things, and that Allah surrounds (comprehends) all things in
(His) Knowledge.
Talaq 65:12
The second proof is Allaah the Exalted’s Saying,
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا
لِيَعْبُدُونِ
And I (Allah)
created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).
Dhaariyaat
51:56
Most of the creation
has gone astray in this field. They know that the One who created them is
Allaah alone without partner, and that He alone is the only One to create them,
the sky, the earth, the mountains, the trees and other than that of the creation.
Yet despite this recognition they divert worship to other than Him.
This is the meaning of Allaah the Exalted’s Saying,
وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم
مُّشْرِكُونَ
And most of
them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners unto Him [i.e.
they are Mushrikun -polytheists].
Yusuf 12:106
Ibn ‘Abbaas رضي الله عنهما
said, “From their belief if it were said to them ‘who created the sky? Who
created the earth? Who created the mountains?’ They would say ‘Allaah’ even though
they were polytheists.
‘Ikrimah said, ‘Asking
them who created the heavens and the earth – they would say ‘Allaah’. That was
their belief in Allaah even though they worshipped other besides Him.’[2]
Allaah the Exalted Said,
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا
بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
All praises and
thanks be to Allah, Who (Alone) created the heavens and the earth, and
originated the darkness and the light, yet those who disbelieve hold others as
equal with their Lord.
Al Anaam 6:1
Ibn ‘Abbaas رضي الله عنهما said the
meaning of ‘adaloo ‘hold others as equal’ to Me of My creation such as rocks
and idols after they recognise My favours and My Lordship.
There are many
instances in the Noble Qur’aan of proofs where the disbelievers recognise that
Allaah alone is the Khaaliq Creator, ar Raaziq the Provider, the Mun’im the
Giver, al Mutasaarif, the One who disposes of affairs. This should mean that
they single Him out alone for worship and make their religion sincere for Him. Allaah the Exalted said,
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالْأَرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ
يُؤْفَكُونَ
If you were to
ask them: "Who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun
and the moon?" They will surely reply: "Allah." How then are
they deviating (as polytheists and disbelievers)?
So when it mentions
that they recognise this, He rebukes them for their shirk (setting up partners
with Allaah) by saying ‘how then are they deviating?’
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّن نَّزَّلَ مِنَ
السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ مِن بَعْدِ مَوْتِهَا لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ
ۚ
If you were to
ask them: "Who sends down water (rain) from the sky, and gives life
therewith to the earth after its death?" They will surely reply:
"Allah."
So when it mentions
that they recognise this, He rebukes them for their shirk (setting up partners
with Allaah) by saying
قُلِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
Say: "All
the praises and thanks be to Allah!" Nay! Most of them have no sense.
Al Ankaboot
29:63
Allaah the Exalted
said,
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَزَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ
يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَائِكُم مَّن يَفْعَلُ مِن
ذَٰلِكُم مِّن شَيْءٍ ۚ
Allah is He Who
created you, then provided food for you, then will cause you to die, then
(again) He will give you life (on the Day of Resurrection). Is there any of
your (so-called) partners (of Allah) that do anything of that?
Room 30:40
There is no doubt that the reply
which there is no reply to is ‘no’ which means ‘there are none of our partners
who can do any creating, providing, giving life or death. So when this is
known, Allaah the One free from all defects, criticizes them by saying,
سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Glory be to
Him! And Exalted be He above all that (evil) they associate (with Him).
Allaah the Exalted
said,
قُل لِّمَنِ الْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهَا إِن كُنتُمْ
تَعْلَمُونَ (84) سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ (85) قُلْ مَن
رَّبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ (86) سَيَقُولُونَ
لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ (87) قُلْ مَن بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
وَهُوَ يُجِيرُ وَلَا يُجَارُ عَلَيْهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (88) سَيَقُولُونَ
لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ فَأَنَّىٰ تُسْحَرُونَ
Say:
"Whose is the earth and whosoever is therein? If you know!"
87. They will say: "Allah." Say: "Will you not then fear
Allah (believe in His Oneness, obey Him, believe in the Resurrection and
Recompense for each and every good or bad deed)."
88. Say "In Whose Hand is the sovereignty of everything (i.e. treasures
of each and everything)? And He protects (all), while against Whom there is no
protector, (i.e. if Allah saves anyone none can punish or harm him, and if
Allah punishes or harms anyone none can save him), if you know."
89. They will say: "(All that belongs) to Allah." Say: "How
then are you deceived and turn away from the truth?"
Mu’minoon
23:84-89
قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَسَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ
عِبَادِهِ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَىٰ ۗ آللَّهُ خَيْرٌ أَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
أَمَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَنبَتْنَا بِهِ حَدَائِقَ ذَاتَ
بَهْجَةٍ مَّا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُنبِتُوا شَجَرَهَا ۗ أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ ۚ
بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ يَعْدِلُونَ
Say (O
Muhammad): "Praise and thanks be to Allah, and peace be on His slaves whom
He has chosen (for His Message)! Is Allah better, or (all) that you ascribe as
partners (to Him)?" (Of course, Allah is Better).
60. Is not He (better than your gods) Who created the heavens and the earth,
and sends down for you water (rain) from the sky, whereby We cause to grow
wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight? It is not in your ability to
cause the growth of their trees. Is there any ilah (god) with Allah?
Nay, but they are a people who ascribe equals (to Him)!
Naml
27:59-60
Allaah the Exalted
said,
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا
بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
All praises and
thanks be to Allah, Who (Alone) created the heavens and the earth, and
originated the darkness and the light, yet those who disbelieve hold others as
equal with their Lord.
Al An’aam
6:1
It is here where a
person given intellect is extremely surprised at the mindset of the
polytheists. How could they make equals to Allaah, something that does not
possess for himself or others a grain of corn in the heavens or on the earth
while Allaah is He who created the heavens and the earth and made the light and
darkness.
أَيُشْرِكُونَ مَا لَا يَخْلُقُ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ
يُخْلَقُونَ
وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ لَهُمْ نَصْرًا وَلَا أَنفُسَهُمْ
يَنصُرُونَ
Do they
attribute as partners to Allah those who created nothing but they themselves
are created?
Al A’raaf 7:191-192
So how can they equate dust
with the Lord of the Lords. And how can they equate the insignificant servant
with the Possessor of the necks. And how
can they equate the servants like them with the Great Lord, the Noble Creator
who is free from every imperfection.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ عِبَادٌ
أَمْثَالُكُمْ ۖ فَادْعُوهُمْ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
Verily, those
whom you call upon besides Allah are slaves like you. So call upon them
and let them answer you if you are truthful.
Al A’raaf 7:194
The Lord be free and
above what those people describe Him with. Allaah is far above what they
associate with Him.