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Surahs 01-05
Allah in Himself
1. Choose any two of the following passages from the Qur’an, and:
(a) briefly describe the main theme(s) in each passage. [4]
(b) briefly explain the importance of the themes in the daily living of Muslims. [4]

(a) _Main Theme: [2] Marks

• The main theme of the passage is Allah in Himself. It is also known as the verse of throne (ayat al
kursi).
• It begins with the expression of the shahada (declaration of oneness of God) and elaborates that
the God is beyond human comprehension and He is free from all limitations and weaknesses.
• He is unlike other beings because He knows everything and can do everything and enjoys
autonomy in exercising His authority. Surah al Anaam says, “To Him is due the primal origin of the
heavens and the earth…..” [6:101]
• Throne (Kursi) is a symbol of authority which means that He is the King ruling over all that exists.No
one shares His attributes and kingdom. His powers never weaken or waver.
(b) Importance: [2] Marks
• The importance of these themes is that these verses allow Muslims to learn and understand something
about God in a way relevant to them. This verse is declared by the Prophet (pbuh) as one of the treasures
of Paradise.
• He has the knowledge and power over all things, and this could make Muslims more cautious of
their practices which eliminates the possibility of shirk in practical lives and Muslims donot look
towards others for the fulfillment of their needs.
• The theme of God’s self-subsistence shows how certain attributes that affect humans do not affect
Him, for example, sleep, , slumber, fatigue etc. so they can rely entirely on Him.
• It is recited by Muslims for seeking Allah’s protection in their daily lives against all evils.

(6:101-103)
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(a) Main theme: [2] Marks

• These verses discuss the fundamental Quranic theme of Allah in Himself. It gives the message of
Tauhid by expressing that God does not have partners and the entireuniverse is the creation of His
will and design.
• He is free from all physical relations especially wife and children. The Quran says, “He begets
not nor is He begotten.” [Ch112:V3]
• God is beyond human comprehension. Although humans cannot understand Him, He
understands everything in creation.
• God is the most powerful He is the one who has the power to help humans, and He hears and
sees all that they do, therefore they should worship Him and pray to Him to reward their actions.
(b) Importance: [2] Marks

• These teachings emphasise the importance of tawhid for Muslims for their spiritualpurification. It
also protects them from shirk in daily living.
• Mankind is asked to worship Him as only He can fulfill their needs, so Muslims should be carefulto
pray and fast, etc., to fulfill their obligation to Him.
• When Muslims believe in Allah as Al-Knowing-Well Aware, they refrain from committing sins even
secretly and become fair in dealings with people.
• In a world where there are lots of distractions, this surah reminds Muslims that they should always
remember their Creator as He is the ultimate authority over their affairs .

(a)Main Theme: [2 marks]

• This verse discusses the theme of Allah in Himself. It is directing attention to the concept of Tawhid
(Oneness of God) by saying that God creates and controls everything; in this verse specifically the sun
and the moon.
• celestial bodies and the cycle of nature on earth are the signs of God’s power for mankind and help them
to identify our true Lord and His presence. The Quran says, “Behold! in the creation of the heavens and
the earth and the alternation of Night and Day – there are indeed signs for men of wisdom.” (3:190)
• The order of the sun and the moon shows that God alone should be praised and worshipped and nothing
should be associated with Him. It is a negation of paganism; the sun and moon are not to be worshipped.
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(b) Importance [2 marks]

• This passage is important in daily lives of Muslims because it creates a strong link with God so Muslims
do not look up to anything/anyone else, famous people, money, etc., and they worship only Him.
• It stops them from committing shirk by making them realise that all created things are not permanent.
• God's signs invite Muslims to observe their environment and ponder over His signs. It creates awe and
wonder to help get closer to Him.
• Muslims in their daily lives learn from this passage that God administers all affairs. Thus, they consider
themselves humble servants of God and turn to Him for salvation through prayer, fasting and other acts
of worship.

(a) Main theme: [2] marks

• These verses represent the theme of God in Himself. These verses confirm God’s power, majesty and His
ultimate authority over all that exists in this Universe. God is the owner of everything because He created
everything
• His majesty is so much that the heavens tremble and are almost ready to tear out by His glory. Everything
in the Universe acknowledges His power and supremacy by praising Him. The Quran says, “Praise be to
Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”
• It further discusses that angels always glorify God’s attributes of forgiveness and mercifulness for those
who repent and request Him for their forgiveness. Humans are reliant on God’s mercy as He is the most
forgiving, the most merciful

(b) Importance [2 marks]

• The importance here is that God tells humankind of His power and control over all things, so they
should remember that they do not have any power in comparison which in turn protects them from
arrogance.
• In their daily lives Muslims need to show humbleness like Angels who despite having magnificent power
to dispose different affairs but they fear God and seek His mercy day and night. The obedience of angels
to God can encourage humans to be obedient to God too.
• Humans should not despair of Him or give up on His mercy – even if they have sinned, they should turn
back to Him and He will forgive. They must keep trust in God who would help them in all their
problems.
• As God is merciful to humankind, they in turn should be grateful through acts of worship like
prayer,fasting etc and also try to be forgiving of others, even if they have been hurt or injured.
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(a) Main Theme : [2] marks

• It presents the fundamental Quranic theme of Allah in Himself. It explains the concept of Tauhid for the
purity of faith (ikhlas). Ahad — The Only One, the Unique means that He is the One who was, is, and will
ever remain alone.
• Samad is an important description of God as it encompasses many meanings – power, independence,
absolute, etc. It means that God is independent of all but all are dependent upon Him and He needs
nothing for His sustenance. “Allah, there is no god but He, the living, the self-subsisting, the eternal.”(Ch
2:V255).
• He is free from all limitations of time and space. He has no partners or family, does not have anyone to
share His authority nor any children.
• It tells about God’s uniqueness in his personality attributes and actions and sums up the whole argument
by warning against the tendency of comparing Him with anyone or anything.

(b) Importance : [2] marks

• This passage is important for Muslims because it protects from different forms of Shirk so that people do
not take other people or created things as their Lord, so they should not replace God with things like
famous people/saints, or place anyone or anything alongside Him.
• It ensures they know that God does not have family, so they will avoid making the mistake of believing in
God having children or a partner, or anyone to share in His authority. It gives them clarity and allows them
to develop a relationship with God.
• This surah is often recited by Muslims in their daily prayers after surah Fatiha. Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) told
that this sura is equivalent to one third of Quran because the theme of tawhid is summarised in it. It is
one of the surahs of protection (Quls).
• In daily lives of Muslims this sura helps them to have clarity of faith and allows them to develop a
relationship with God through acts of worship like prayer,fasting etc .

Themes of Quran
Allah in Himself
O/N 2013
2 (a) Using passages you have studied, write about the main teachings about God in the
Qur’an. [10]
M/J 2017
2(a) Choose two from the following passages and write in detail about the various ways in
which God describes in them how He is unique: 6.101–103, 42.4-5, 112, 41.37. [10]
O/N 2022
2 (a) Write about how God describes Himself so humans can know Him using:
(i) Sura 2.255 (Ayat al–Kursi)
(ii) (ii) Sura 114 (Ikhlas) [10]
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The passages set for special study which represent the fundamental Quranic theme of ‘God in Himself’,
give us the prefect knowledge about God’s personality, Oneness and attributes. In the first place these passages
shed light on the concept of Tawhid in different ways. It is the first and the main principle of Islamic faith. It means
that Allah is the Supreme Being, Creator, Sustainer and Master of the Universe. The language and descriptions
used are there for humans to understand aspects of the nature of God in ways that would be understandable and
relatable, as the reality is that God is far beyond a human being’s comprehension.
Surah Baqarah (2:255) also known as the Verse of Throne (Ayat al Kursi) clearly mentions Tauhid
(Oneness of God) “Allah, there is no god but He the Living, the self-subsisting, Eternal.”
so He depends on no one, but everyone depends on Him. He is eternal so He was always there and will exist
forever. He does not get tired, nor does he sleep – God is using examples that humans can relate to, to show
how He can never be unaware nor become negligent in His duties. “No slumber can seize him nor sleep…”
Everything is owned by Him showing His control and power. No one can appeal to God, or intercede, without His
permission. His knowledge is all encompassing, knowing everything before and after them. No one will gain
knowledge unless He allows it. The Kursi is His Throne and encompasses many meanings, including His power,
His dominion and His Knowledge. And in all this there is no fatigue, with His attributes being beyond human
understanding.
Surah Anaam 6. 101-103 speaks of the absolute unity and Authority of Allah over the entire universe,
being the only Creator and Protector of everything . Therefore, He alone is to be worshipped .Allah creates on
His own without any help which shows that not only the Creation ,but the plan and means of creation are all on
account of His Will .Quran says “To Him is due to primal origin of the heavens and the earth.”
Since everything is creation of Allah, the question of His heaving a son does not arise. Allah, unlike humans, is
free from all human attributes and far superior to be in need to have children or spouse. “How can He have a
son when he has no consort.”
It is further states that human vision does not comprehend Him, but He comprehends everything of the universe
and nothing remains hidden from Him. Nothing is conceived from Him. He watches us all the time and knows
our intentions, “He created all things and He has full knowledge of all things.” Allah’s nature is so subtle and
far beyond our limited conception so as to be invisible to the physical eye and to be imperceptible to the senses.
His presence can only be felt through the manifestation of His creation and His total control over it.
Surah Fussilat 41.37
This passage speaks of the cosmic sign of the universe as the great signs of Allah’s lordship, authority, wisdom
and power. These signs are not to be worshipped. Instead, by pondering over them one can understand the
reality of Allah’s Greatness and creative power. People have repeatedly been told in the Quran that natural
objects on earth and sley are creation of Allah with no power or authority .Night and day are not conflicting
power but are both creations of Allah. Allah is the sole cause and the source of all that exits and whatever exits
is a sign of His creative power. The objectives in this verse is to express the glory of Allah and His exclusive
worthiness for worship in the minds of the human beings. This verse invites people to look over the wondrous
creation of Allah and believe in Him. Quran says, “Behold! In the creation of the heavens and earth and the
alternation of night and day there are indeed signs for men of understanding”
The cycle of the night and day clearly points to the fact that sun and moon are not the objects of divine power,
but are helpless and powerless objects . They are moving according to the law of Almighty Allah . So Allah alone
should be worshipped and not the things which he has created which are actually subservient to His commands.
Thus these passage reflect that Allah is unique in His attributes and power. He alone is worthy of worship and
praise.
Surah ash Shura 42. 4-5
This passage highlights Allah’s total authority and ownership. All that is in the heaven and on the earth is the
exclusive property of Allah and He has full authority and controls to deal with it in any manner He wants. He is
the Master and Owner of the earth and heavens and everything contained in them, in any form whatsoever, and
no one else has any part or share in His ownership, His attributes and His Power. It is said in Quran, “His are all
things in the heavens and on earth.”
Allah’s glory and praise is so majestic that even the magnificent heavens tremble before His Might and
Splendour above them and are almost ready to burst asunder by His glory . “The heavens are almost rent
asunder from above them.” The angels, who are noble and pure beings glorify Allah. They look after the safety
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of all beings on earth and pray to Allah for their forgiveness .They reflect on one side on Allah’s glory and praise
and on the other, to His forgiveness and mercy.
As all humans beings are weak and are liable to err and sin , Allah has willed upon Himself the law of grace and
mercy. Allah is forgiving and Merciful is clear from the fact that people persist in transgressing His commands
and rejecting His message, yet He mercifully goes on giving them respite so that they may realize their mistakes
and come to the right path. The Quran says, “He has inscribed for Himself (the rule of ) Mercy.”
Surah Ikhlas 112
The name of this sura is Ikhlas meaning “Purity of faith” which is core matter because faith in the absolute unity
of Allah is the foundation of Islam. Allah is one, without any hint of plurality, He has no one to share in His
lordship, neither in His essence or His attributes. He is the only one to whom worship is due, all other things or
being are His creatures and in no way resemble Him are comparable to Him in rank, attributes work or power
“Say, He is Allah, the one and only.”
Allah is Eternal and Immortal without beginning or end , not limited by time or place or circumstances. He is
absolute no sustained or dependent on any other person or thing whereas all other are dependent on Him for
beginning as well as their continued existence. “Allah, the eternal, absolute.”
This sura negates the concept of polytheism and destroys all assumptions of family relations of Allah when it is
said, “He begets not nor is He begotten.”And there remains no room for confusion in this regard the Quran says
, “No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with Him.”
The fact that Allah is matchless and unique in every respect beyond the range of human imagination explains
why any attempt at depicting Him by means of figures or symbols must be denial of truth. “And there is none
like him.”

2(b) In your opinion, why should Muslims try to understand God’s attributes? Give
reason(s) for your answer. [4]

• It is extremely important for Muslims to understand God’s personality and attributes

because now a days, many Muslims are becoming detached from God.
• Learning about God’s attributes allows them to have an understanding of Him which
increases their understanding of the world around them, or their faith, etc.
• Because God is beyond humankind’s knowledge/perception, understanding Him through
what He says about Himself in the Qur’an allows humans to know why God is important to
them in their lives.
• Knowing God gives substance, reason, and purpose to our worship. Once we know him, it
makes perfect sense to worship him.
• We understand our relationship with God more clearly when we see not only how he
differs from us, but also how we can relate to him in spite of that.

2.b) “The Qur’an is not as relevant to Muslims now as it was 1400 years ago.” Give two
reasons to agree or disagree with this statement. [4]

• I strongly disagree with this statement as Quran is meant for the guidance of all mankind and its
teachings will never be outdated or irrelevant.
• These teachings are universal and eternal i.e for mankind and for all ages and disciplines. For
example, the following command about honesty in business dealings is for all mankind till the dayof
judgement , “Give full measure when you measure and weigh with the balance that is straight.”
• Moreover, It helps Muslim to understand the duties to their Creator and therefore, it’s a link
between God and Muslims. It guides Muslims in beliefs and practices and guarantees successful in
this world and in the Hereafter. For example, the pillars of Islam i.e prayer, fasting, zakat etc are
primarily the rights of Allah but at the same time these acts of worship develop a sense of
responsibility and brotherhood being a part of Muslim community.