In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allah, The Most High, said:

يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ

Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah, Al-Malik (a), Al-Quddoos (b), the Al-Azeez (c), Al-Hakim. (d) [Al- Jumu’ah 1]

Imam As-Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Everything in the heavens and the earth glorify Allah and obey His commands, deify and worship Him, because indeed His dominion is perfect and He owns the world above and below – all are His slaves and under His (absolute) control.

الْقُدُّوسِ

The pure and perfect one- free from all defect and deficiency (or shortcoming).

الْعَزِيزِ

The All Mighty or Invincible – the One (alone) Who has subjected all things (under His control).

الْحَكِيمِ

The All Wise in relation to what He has created and commanded (or decreed).

These great Attributes urges (evokes the creation) to worship Allah alone without associating a partner to Him. [1]

Imam Ibn Al-Jawzi,  may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Allah, The Most High, informed (us) that everything in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him- all the creation, including the inanimate objects, as Allah said:

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. [Al-Israa 44] [2]

هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses, purifying them and teaching them the Book and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah)). And verily, they had been before in mainfest error.

Imam As-Sadi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said:

The intent behind Al-Ummiyyeen  [Unlettered ones] are those who neither had a book [i.e. a revealed book from Allah] nor a fragment of (remaining) divine revelation, (such as) the Arabs and other than them, who are not from the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians).

So, Allah, The Most High, bestowed a great favour on them – greater than His favour on others- because (prior to this), they had no knowledge, goodness (that which would lead them to righteousness in this life and success in the afterlife), and were upon clear misguidance.

They worshipped trees, idols and stones, and behaved like wild beasts -the strong amongst them devoured the weak. They were upon extreme ignorance in (with regards to guidance of the) Prophets.

Thereafter, Allah sent a Prophet from among themselves – they knew his lineage, beautiful characteristics and truthfulness. (Allah) revealed His Book (i.e. the Qur’an) to him;

يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ

reciting to them His Verses;

Meaning: Allah’s clear verses that necessitate Iman and certainty.

[وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ – purifying them] by commanding them virtuous manners, explaining in detail and forbidding them from evil manners.

وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ

And teaching them the Book (this Qur’an) and Al-Hikmah.

Meaning, teaching them the Qur’an and the Sunnah, which combines the knowledge of earlier and later generations.

So, after this education and purification, they become the most knowledgeable among the creation (after the prophets and messengers), rather, they became the leaders of the people of knowledge and religion – the most perfect in their manners among the creation, and the ones with the best guidance and character.

They became guided and others became guided through them, thus. they became the leaders of guidance and guides for the believers. Therefore, the sending of this Messenger to them is the most perfect favour and loftiest honour for them. [3]

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Footnotes:

Al-Malik: The King. The sole, absolute and true sovereign King. Complete and Perfect in His Kingship. The One Who there is no kingship above His Kingship, nor anywhere near it. Everything being incomparable to Him, and beneath Him. The sovereign Owner of everything, Who does whatever He wills with regards to the creation, with nothing to prevent or hinder Him, Whose commands are completely effective within His dominion. The King of all kings.

Al-Quddoos: The Pure and Perfect. The Pure and Exalted One. High above every impurity. The One Whom the noble angels venerate. The One free of any opposites, rivals, consorts, and children. Having Perfection as His attribute. The One declared free of all deficiencies and imperfections. And free of having anyone with the like of His Perfection, or anyone close to it.

Al-Azeez: The Almighty. The Invincible. The Almighty One Whom nothing can overcome. The One Mighty in vengeance when He punishes His enemies. The All-Powerful One Who overcomes all, and before Whose Might all submit, and Who has no need of anyone.

Al-Hakeem: The All-Wise. The One completely Wise in everything He decrees, and completely Wise in His Sayings, and in His Actions. There is no deficiency in anything He decrees, says or does. [4]

[1] An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan. Daar Ibn Hazm’ 1st edition 1424/2003’ Slightly paraphrased

[2] Zaad Al-Maseer Fee Ilm at-Tafseer. 1st edition 1423AH/2002. Dar Ibn Hazm. Slightly paraphrased

[3] An Excerpt from Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan. Daar Ibn Hazm’ 1st edition 1424/2003’ Slightly paraphrased

[4] Source: The Names and Attributes of Allah – By Shaikh Abu Talhah (Dawud Burbank), may Allah have mercy upon him and his wife.