Al-Quddus (The Holy One)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well and in the best of spirits and iman.

The Name, Al-Quddus, is one of Allah's Most Beautiful Names, which suggests the highest degree of glorification, exaltation, sacredness, adoration, sanctity and purity. The Name Quddus gives the meaning of sanctity, holiness and sacredness that belong to Allah, who is glorified, exalted, hallowed and deemed far above any kind of defect or imperfection.

With this meaning, the angels used it in their response to Allah Almighty, when He told them He would make a vicegerent on the earth.

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Remember) when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to create a deputy on the earth!” They said, “Will You create there one who will spread disorder on the earth and cause bloodshed, while we proclaim Your purity, along with your praise, and sanctify Your name?” He said, “Certainly, I know what you know not.”

(Qur'an Al-Baqara 2:30)

The Name Al-Quddus appears twice in the Qur'an.

هُوَ اللَّـهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّـهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god;- the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.

(Qur'an Al-Hashr 59:23)

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

Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is exalting Allah, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

(Qur'an Al-Jumu'a 62:1)

To say that the Name Quddus is to exalt, sanctify and deem Allah far above any kind of defect or imperfection, by no means be limited by words we use to define those characteristics from our point of view. He Almighty is, by all measures, beyond all of our limited descriptions and definitions.

If we intend to acquire the characteristic to which this Name refers, we should set ourselves free from all bad manners, vile and wicked habits, and keep ourselves away from what is suspicious and doubtful.

When a person is described as a holy person, this is because they see in him his loftiness and supremacy, which cause him to refrain from committing mistakes, desist from falling into evil act or deed, and keep himself far from doing what is wicked and suspicious. He seems to be like angels in their merits, though he is no more than a human being; and if his people are to be asked about him, they will say the same as the women of Yusuf said when he came out before them, and they saw his loftiness and excellence:

وَقُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلَّـهِ مَا هَـٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَـٰذَا إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ .....

"Allah save us! This is no mortal! This is no other but a noble angel!

(Qur'an Yusuf 12:31)

Glory be to Allah, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Creator: if it is His Plan, He could remove you, and bring a new creation, and this is not difficult upon Allah Almighty. O the Holy One, Who is Pure from evil, like unto Whom there is nothing amongst His creatures!

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam