Ayah 2:
َم ِل ِك ال ّنا ِس
Maliki an-Naas
King (or Ruler) of Mankind,
Malik al Naas - King of the people.
Illaah al Naas - God of the people.
Allah repeated - al Naas [the People] - 3 times, when He could have said; Rabbi al Naas (Master
of the people), Maliki him (King of them), Illaahi him (God of them).
But instead He repeated - al Naas - three times.
Why did He do this?
Psychological Progression:
1 - People are in need of a Provider and Carer [Rabb]
A child has a primary need for a Murrabi (one who gives them a good healthy upbringing
[tarbiyyah].)
A slave goes to the Master when he is in need.
An employee turns to their boss.
2 - But if the problem is not solved, the people go to someone who has greater authority;
The King (Malik). The government.
3 - If the king cannot answer your request, you have none of creation who can help you - so
people pray to God (Illaah)
Ayah 3:
ِإ َٰل ِه ال ّنا ِس
Illaahi an-Naas
God of Mankind
Most people turn to their boss, owner, then the government, and then finally God.
Allah is telling us that the height of intellectual progression is to turn to Him fully.
So He is the true Master (Rabb), He is the true King (Malik), and He is the true God (Illaah) that
you should turn to.
Prophet Ibraheem/Abraham who fully internalised this - he was a man who turns to Allah for everything.
He truly knew that Allah is the One who can only fix your problems
Dr Faadil Hassaan ar-Ra'i:
The Aayaat progress from more in number, to less.
Rabb is the One who is a Master/owner of something and takes care of it and is concerned for
it. And there are many owners in the world.
But for any society - how many kings are they? There are less kings than the amount of
owners.
But how many Illaah are they? One. There is only One true God. There are no worldly
implications to the word Illaah (God).
َوِإ َٰل ُه ُك ْم ِإ َٰل ٌه َوا ِح ٌدۖ ّل ِإ َٰل َه إِّل ُه َو ال ّر ْح َٰم ُن ال ّر ِحي ُم
And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely
Merciful, the Especially Merciful. [Baqarah 2:163]
YOU ARE READING
Surah An-Nas
SpiritualYou have heard the verses of the Quran, the holy book of Muslims haven't you? And then you might have wondered what the words meant, right? The detailed translation of the last chapter of the Quran,Surah Nas.
