Topic: Al-Awwal (The First)
View Aspects
هُوَ ٱلْأَوَّلُ وَٱلْءَاخِرُ وَٱلظَّٰهِرُ وَٱلْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
God is the First Cause of all things.
He is the Last and Final Cause.
He is manifest in His works; or is more manifest than anything else.
There is nothing hidden from God; or whereas He comprehends everything He Himself is Incomprehensible.
Commentary:
الاول (the First) meaning that there was nothing before God, signifies that He created everything and He is the First Cause of all things. الاخر (the Last) means that there is and there will be nothing after Him, i.e. He is the Last and Final Cause of all things or that whereas everything is subject to death and destruction, He alone will remain after all things had ceased to exist. الظاھر (the Manifest) may signify that all things are subject to divine laws and God has power over all things and is subordinate to no one and is subject to no laws, or that He is manifest in His works, or is more manifest than anything else, or that He comprehends everything. الباطن (the Hidden) may signify that God is the Knower of all things, so that there is nothing hidden from Him, or that whereas He comprehends everything He Himself is Incomprehensible. The expression may also signify that there is nothing nearer than God or that there is no refuge besides Him.
These four Divine attributes show that God is above the limitations of space and time.
4148
Commentary:
الاول (the First) meaning that there was nothing before God, signifies that He created everything and He is the First Cause of all things. الاخر (the Last) means that there is and there will be nothing after Him, i.e. He is the Last and Final Cause of all things or that whereas everything is subject to death and destruction, He alone will remain after all things had ceased to exist. الظاھر (the Manifest) may signify that all things are subject to divine laws and God has power over all things and is subordinate to no one and is subject to no laws, or that He is manifest in His works, or is more manifest than anything else, or that He comprehends everything. الباطن (the Hidden) may signify that God is the Knower of all things, so that there is nothing hidden from Him, or that whereas He comprehends everything He Himself is Incomprehensible. The expression may also signify that there is nothing nearer than God or that there is no refuge besides Him.
These four Divine attributes show that God is above the limitations of space and time.
2983
God is the First Cause of all things.
2984
He is the Last and Final Cause.
2985
He is manifest in His works; or is more manifest than anything else.
2986
There is nothing hidden from God; or whereas He comprehends everything He Himself is Incomprehensible.