People likewise say of rain and clouds, “This is the power of the All-Powerful,” or, “What a tremendous power this is!” In supplication one may say, “May Allah forgive you His knowledge concerning you,” meaning: may He pardon what He knows about you.
When concrete entities (aʿyān) are ascribed to Allah the Exalted, that ascription is of two sorts.
-
A general ascription shared by all creatures, based on the fact that they are created, owned, and subject to His power. This is the universal, common attribution found, for example, in His words:
“This is Allah’s creation.” ⦗Luqman 31:11⦘ -
A specific ascription that singles a particular entity out from all others, such as: “the House of Allah,” “the She-Camel of Allah,” “the Servant of Allah,” and “the Spirit of Allah.” It is well known that the she-camel given to the prophet Ṣāliḥ was distinguished from all other camels; likewise the Kaʿbah is set apart, as is the righteous servant who worships Allah and obeys His command, and the sanctified spirit that differs from other spirits. All created things share the fact that they are brought into existence, owned, and sustained by Allah and subject to His decree, judgment, and determination. In that general attribution there is no special honor for one thing over another.
Some beings, however, are distinguished because Allah loves, approves of, elects, and draws them near to Him, or because He commands, magnifies, and cherishes them. This distinctive attribution applies to certain creatures—the House, the She-Camel, the Spirit, and the servants of Allah are of this kind.
The Exalted has said in Surah al-Anbiya:
“And she who guarded her chastity—so We breathed into her of Our spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples.” ⦗Al-Anbiya 21:91⦘