The Explanation and the Message

The Official Website of Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

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Salaam and MuminQaahir- Qahhaar- Ghalib

The origin of Qaahir and Qahhaar is “Qahr”. According to Maqayis-ol-Loghat it means an overwhelming superiority and this is why a very had stone is called “Qahhaar.

According to Mafuradat of Raghib “Qahr” means success but when it is used to compare and disgrace the opposition and so is used in both the meanings.

Khalil bin Ahmed says in the book Al Aiyn that “Qahr” means dominance or to catch some thing or someone from above and this meaning has also been subscribed by Tajol Uroos and Lisan-ol-Arab.

When the words “Qaahir and Qahhaar” are used for God then it means His supremacy over all authorities in this universe and their weakness in front of Him. No being can be an obstacle in the doings of God but as Qahhaar is a hyperbole this is the meaning it will stress upon.

These two attributes tell us humans that they we should never be proud about our strength, never lay the foundation of oppression and never consider ourselves as an over powering authority because vanity and pride are the fountainheads of damnation. We should consider our desires subjugated to God and should know that our strength is nothing compared to the might of God. This realization of His supremacy will keep us from being cruel and ruse in victory.

The word Ghalib originates from the word Ghalba and means dominance also. This is the sign of the immense power and might and this is why those with thick necks are called “Aghlab” and “Moghallib” is he who is victorious over the enemy. (1) Since the meanings of Qahr and Ghalib are similar, therefore they give a similar message to the enlightened and the wise.

The important point here is that only after mentioning the God’s prevalent dominance does the verse say, “But most people do not know”

They do not know that the reins of the affairs of the world are in God’s hands.

Whatever God desires will come true and water, air and earth are all subservient to Him. Since not much attention is given to Him people get lost in the world of causes. They are happy when the causes favor them but are despondent when they become unfavorable. They would not have been so affected by despondency had they believed in God and they should never be vain about their successes.

Incidentally, this verse is about Hazrat Yusuf whom his brothers wanted to kill. They tortured him and threw him into a well so that they would get all the attention of their father (Jacob) but God brought Yusuf to the throne of Egypt because of these brothers.

The other face of God’s dominance is that He uses his enemies as the medium of the success for human beings and this is something that most people are aware of.

 


 

1. Maqayis-ol-Loghat, Mafuradat, and Lisan-ol-Arab

 

Salaam and MuminQaahir- Qahhaar- Ghalib
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