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Go and buy today while the market is still there, while you can pay the price, and while the commodities cost little. There will come a day when this market and these commodities will not be available at any cost. {...That is the Day of Deprivation...} [Surat at-Taghābun: 9] {And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret]...} [Surat al-Furqān: 27]
If you depart without a provision of piety, you will be in deep regret.
And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those with adequate provisions and know that you did not work for this day.
Let us spend some time with one of the beautiful names of Allah that brings us closer to Him, comprises the essence of monotheism, and constitutes one of the two pillars of the Tawhīd of names and attributes; namely “Al-Quddūs” (the Most Holy).
Allah Almighty says: {He is Allah, there is no god but Him, the King, the Most Holy...} [Surat al-Hashr: 23] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to say in his bowing and prostration: “Subbūhun Quddūs rabbu al-malā’ikati wa ar-rūh (The All-Glorious, the Most Holy, Lord of the angels and of the Spirit).” [Narrated by Muslim]
It is also reported that when the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) finished the Witr prayer, he would say: “Subhān Al-Malik Al-Quddūs, subhān Al-Malik Al-Quddūs, subhān Al-Malik Al-Quddūs (Glory be to the King, the Most Holy; glory be to the King, the Most Holy; glory be to the King, the Most Holy).” He would raise his voice in the third time. [Narrated by Ahmad; Sahīh (authentic)]
Linguistically, “Quddūs” means purity and integrity. It also means the blessed one.
Our Lord is the Most Holy, the One free from deficiencies and defects and exalted above having a wife, children, or equals. He is praised with the mention of His virtues and merits and His perfect attributes.
Our Lord is the source of all blessing, Whose favors and gifts exist on earth and in the heavens in abundance and at all times. Blessed is His name and blessed are His actions, essence, and sublime attributes. He is the One Who purifies whomever He wills from among His servants according to His wisdom. {...Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet’s] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification.} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 33]
Our Lord is the One worthy of being sanctified, glorified, and exalted by all creation far above any imperfection.
The angels, inhabitants of the heavens, worship Allah Almighty by sanctifying Him: {...While we declare Your praise and sanctify You?...} [Surat al-Baqarah: 30]
The entire universe sanctifies and glorifies the Almighty Creator: {Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is exalting Allah. To Him belongs dominion, and to Him belongs [all] praise, and He is Capable over all things.} [Surat at-Taghābun: 1] {The seven heavens and earth and whatever is between them glorify Him. And there is not a thing except that it glorifies [Allah] by His praise...} [Surat al-Isrā’: 44]
The worthiest among the created beings of sanctifying the Almighty Lord are humans.
Sanctifying Allah Almighty is by
loving Him and exalting Him far above any deficiency or defect;
by affirming what He affirms for Himself or what the Prophet affirmed for Him;
and by holding Him far exalted above being similar to any of His creation: {...There is nothing like unto Him: He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.} [Surat ash-Shūra: 11]
Sanctifying Allah Almighty is also by exalting Him above having partners, by referring to and being pleased with His Shariah as a source of rule and judgment, and by having good expectations about Him.
Whoever ascribes to Him other than what is established by Him or His messengers or denies any of the attributes by which He is described by Himself or by His messengers has thus mistrusted his Lord and thought ill of Him.
One of the attributes of the Most Compassionate Lord is that He is the Most Holy.
The believer can sanctify, or purify, himself by performing acts of obedience, avoiding sins, refining his heart, and keeping away from unlawfully gained money. Allah Almighty praises such attitude saying: {He who who purifies it has succeeded, And he who corrupts it has failed.} [Surat ash-Shams: 9-10]
Allah Almighty clarified to Mūsa (Moses) (peace be upon him) the purpose behind sending him to Pharaoh, namely to purify himself by sanctifying Allah Almighty: {Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed. And say to him: “Would you purify yourself, and let me guide you to your Lord so you would fear [Him]?”} [Surat an-Nāzi‘āt: 17-19]
Hence, none can attain success without this spiritual purification. {He who purifies it has succeeded, And mentions the name of his Lord and prays.} [Surat al-A‘la: 14-15] Moreover, Allah Almighty removes purity from the wrongful nations.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said: “Indeed, Allah does not purify a nation where the weak do not take their rights from the strong.” [Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra; Sahīh (authentic)] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is also authentically reported to have said: “How could Allah purify a nation where the rights of the weak are not taken from the strong?!”
When Abu al-Dardā’ sent a letter to Salmān al-Fārisi (may Allah be pleased with both of them) inviting him to leave Iraq for the sacred land, Salmān sent him a reply eloquently clarifying the concept of sacredness saying: “Indeed, the land does not purify anyone. Rather, it is one’s deeds that purify him.”
Glory be to the One Who ceaselessly gives sustenance and grants the wishes of His creation.
The worlds depend on Him and feel assured about His provision.
O Allah, the All-Glorious, the Most Holy, we implore You to purify us, forgive our sins, and show mercy to us, O the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!