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Courtesy of Submission.orgGreatness of God We learn from Verse 39:67 that God's greatness is far beyond human comprehension - the verse states that all seven universes are "folded within God's hand."
Supported by the Quran's formidable mathematical code, we are taught that our universe is the smallest and innermost of seven universes (41:12, 55:33, 67:5, & 72:8-12). Meanwhile, our scientific advances have shown us that our galaxy, the Milky Way, is 100,000 light years across, and that our universe contains a billion such galaxies and a billion trillion stars, plus countless decillions of heavenly bodies. Our universe is estimated to span distances in excess of 20,000,000,000 light years.
Count the Stars!
If we take only a quintillion [1,000,000,000,000,000,000] of the stars and simply count them [from zero to quintillion] one count per second, day and night, this will take 32 billion years (more than the age of the universe). That is how long it will take to just "count" them; but God "created" them. Such is the greatness of God. We can appreciate the vastness of our universe if we imagine going on a space odyssey. When we leave the planet Earth towards the sun, at the speed of light, we reach the sun after 93,000,000 miles and eight minutes. It will take us more than 50,000 years at the speed of light to exit our galaxy. From the outer limit of the Milky Way, our planet Earth is invisible. Not even the most powerful telescope can detect our tiny "Earth."
We have to spend more than 2,000,000 years at the speed of light to reach our next-door galaxy. At least 10,000,000,000 years, at the speed of light, must be spent to reach the outer limit of our universe. From the outer limit of our universe, even the Milky Way is like a speck of dust in a large room.
The second universe surrounds our universe. The third universe is larger than the second, and so on. More accurately, our universe should be considered the seventh universe, surrounded by the sixth universe, which is surrounded by the fifth universe, and so on. Can you imagine the vastness of the first, outermost universe? No number exists to describe the circumference of the first universe. This incomprehensible vastness is "within the fist of God's hand." From the outer limit of the outermost universe, where is the planet Earth? How significant is it?
On the infinitesimal mote called Earth, such minuscule creatures as Mary, Jesus, and Muhammad lived. Yet, some people set up these powerless humans as gods!
God's greatness is represented not only by the fact that He holds the seven universes in His hand, but also by the fact that He fully controls every atom, even subatomic components, everywhere in the greater universe (6:59, 10:61, & 34:3).
Note: The above is reproduced from appendix 6 of Dr. Khalifa's translation of the Quran.
SOME ATTRIBUTES OF GOD Reproduced below are only a few attributes of God, the Creator of everything that exists.
1. GOD, CREATOR OF ALL THINGS
[6:102] Such is GOD your Lord, there is no god except He, the Creator of all things. You shall worship Him alone.
He is in control of all things.[35:3] O people, remember GOD's blessings upon you. Is there any creator other than GOD who provides for you fromthe heaven and the earth? There is no other god beside Him. How could you deviate? [39:62 ] GOD is the Creator of all things, and He is in full control of all things. [59:24] He is the One GOD; the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer. To Him belong the most beautiful names.
Glorifying Him is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise.2. GOD, SUSTAINER OF EVERYTHING
[91:6] The earth and Him who sustains it. 3. GOD, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL [1:1-4] In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.Praise be to GOD, Lord of the universe.
Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment.4. GOD - NO INTERCESSION CAN TAKE PLACE WITH GOD [2:48] Beware of the day when no soul can avail another soul,no intercession will be accepted, no ransom can be paid, nor can anyone be helped. [2:123] Beware of the day when no soul will help another soul, no ransom will be accepted, no intercession will be
useful, and no one will be helped.[34:23] Intercession with Him will be in vain, unless it coincides with His will. When their minds are finally
settled down, and they ask, "What did your Lord say," they will say, "The truth." He is the Most High, the MostGreat.5. GOD, CONTROLS EVERYTHING
[3:109] To GOD belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth, and all matters are controlled by GOD. [4:85] Whoever mediates a good deed receives a share of the credit thereof, and whoever mediates an evil work, incurs a share thereof. GOD controls all things. [6:102] Such is GOD your Lord, there is no god except He, the Creator of all things. You shall worship Him alone. He is in control of all things. [7:54] Your Lord is the one GOD, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then assumed all authority. The night overtakes the day, as it pursues it persistently, and the sun, the moon, and the stars are committed to serve by His command. Absolutely, He controls all creation and all commands. Most Exalted is GOD, Lord of the universe. 6. GOD, KNOWS OUR INNERMOST THOUGHTS [2:284] To GOD belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. Whether you declare your innermost thoughts, or keep them hidden, GOD holds you responsible for them. He forgives whomever He wills, and punishes whomever He wills. GOD is Omnipotent. [4:63] GOD is fully aware of their innermost intentions. You shall ignore them, enlighten them, and give them good
advice that may save their souls.7. GOD, ALWAYS NEAR [2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided. 8. GOD
[59:22] He is the One GOD; there is no other god beside Him. Knower of all secrets and declarations. He is the Most Gracious, Most Merciful. [59:23] He is the One GOD; there is no other god beside Him. The King, the Most Sacred, the Peace, the Most Faithful, the Supreme, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the Most Dignified. GOD be glorified; far above having partners. [59:24] He is the One GOD; the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer. To Him belong the most beautiful names.
Glorifying Him is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise.WHO IS YOUR GOD? Most people are outraged upon hearing this question. "What do you mean, `Who is your god?' they ask, `My god is the Creator of the heavens and the earth.' " And most of these people will be shocked to find out that their proclamation that their god is the Creator of the heavens and the earth is no more than lip service, and that they are in fact destined for Hell (12:106).
Your god is whoever or whatever occupies your mind most of the time.
Your god can be your children (7:190), your spouse (9:24), your business (18:35), or your ego (25:43). This is why we note that one of the most important and most repeated commandments in the Quran is:
"O you who believe, you shall remember God frequently; glorify Him day and night." [33:41] WORSHIP GOD ALONE - THE MEANING The Quran spells out in various verses what worship of God ALONE means:
[2:2-5] This scripture is infallible; a beacon for therighteous; who believe in the unseen, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and from our provisions to them, they give to charity. And they believe in what was revealed to you, and in
what was revealed before you, and with regard to the Hereafter, they are absolutely certain. These are guided by their Lord; these are the winners.[2:285] The messenger has believed in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and so did the believers. They believe in GOD, His angels, His scripture, and His messengers: "We make NO DISTINCTION among ANY of His messengers." They say, "We hear, and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord. To You is the ultimate destiny." [4:136] O you who believe, you shall believe in GOD and His messenger, and the scripture He has revealed through His messenger, and the scripture He has revealed before that. Anyone who refuses to believe in GOD, and His angels, and His scriptures, and His messengers, and the Last Day, has indeed strayed far astray. WORSHIP GOD ALONE IS TO FOLLOW/OBEY GOD'S WORDS ALONE Following a source other than Quran is idolatry. The following verse makes it clear that the Quran is God's Testimony. Following any other source is defined as idolatry.
Say, "Whose testimony is the greatest?" Say, "God's. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods beside God." Say, "I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your Idolatry." [6:19] The reader might be interested in looking up verse 17:46 which mandates upon the believer to follow Quran alone.