Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salams

i was really astonished to read what i didnt know before.  I would like to ask a couple of questions which i would appreciate are answered.

There are some mystic words in the Quran which scholars say they dont have any meanings assigned to it and / or only Allah knows about it.  If that's true, then as we say that Quran is a guidance for mankind, and if mankind cannot take guidance from such words, what's the use of them being in the Quran? Mystic words such as Ha-Mim, Ta-Seen, Alif-Laam-Meem, etc.

Why does not suran Tobah starts with Bismillah Ar Rehman Nir Rahim

What does "Imam Mubin" mean in english.

Why in translation has "I" not been placed to denote individuality of Allah, instead Allah is denoted by "We".  Why?

In one surah, Allah has said that He has created the heavens and earth in six days, whereas in one surah He has said the heavens and earth was created by saying "Kun"(Be). Why is this contradictory?

Anticipating an early response.

Wassalam 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What is the meaning of Imam Mubeen?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Brother, your questions 1, 2, and 4 have been asked by our other esteemed readers on the forum and we are attaching the reply to their questions which are very similar to your questions. The other two we shall try to answer, Insha Allah.

Your question: What does "Imam Mubin" mean in english.

The words ‘Imam in Mubeen’ are used by Allah Subhanah in The Holy Quran in Chapter 36 Surah Yaa-Seen verse 12:

We shall certainly One Day raise the dead to life. We are recording all the deeds they have done, and also that which they have left behind. We have preserved everything in an ‘imaam in mubeen’.

In the context of the above aayah and the preceeding aayahs of the Holy Quran, it is evident that these words ‘imaam in mubeen’ mean ‘an open Book’.

The scholars are of the opinion that this ‘open Book’ is either the Holy Quran, or the Book of Records which is with Allah, which He has called ‘Lauh al Mahfoodh’ in the Quran. The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that the ‘open Book’ referred in the above aayah is the ‘Lauh al Mahfoodh’. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Your comment: In one surah, Allah has said that He has created the heavens and earth in six days, whereas in one surah He has said the heavens and earth was created by saying "Kun"(Be). Why is this contradictory?

Firstly, we must understand that there is nothing contradictory in the Holy Quran, simply because the Author of this Book is the same Lord Who Himself Created the heavens and the earth and everything that exists between it. Allah Himself confirms in the Quran that there are no contradictions in this Glorious Book!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 82: Do they not ponder over the Quran? Had it been from any other than Allah, surely there would have been many contradictions in it.

The Quran indeed confirms that Allah created the heavens and the earth and everything that exists in six days. Allah also declares in the Quran, that whenever He wills to create something, all He says is ‘Be’, and it ‘is’! Glorified is Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

Although the above statements might seem contradictory, the truth is brother, they are not. Had Allah willed, He could have created everything instantly! That is easy for The All Mighty. But whatever the Merciful Lord does, it has wisdom in it, though often times we do not understand this Supreme Wisdom.

Allah has decreed a time for everything, according to His Knowledge and His Wisdom. Had He willed, he could create humans in one split second, but He decreed a term of approximately nine months for the birth of each human! Similarly with every vegetation and animate kingdom… He has decreed a term for everything, and this term is based on His Knowledge and Wisdom.

Also, we must keep in mind, that according to the Quran, one-day according to the timeframe of Allah, might be 1,000 years or even 50,000 years according to our reckoning!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 47: These people are demanding of you to hasten the chastisement. Allah will never fail to fulfill His threat! But a day with your Lord is equal to a thousand years according to your reckoning.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 70 Surah Maarij verse 4: The angels and the Spirit ascend to His Presence in a day whose measure is fifty thousand years!

Thus, it is not clear whether Allah created the heavens and the earth in six days of our reckoning, or six days of His Measure! These are obviously knowledge of the unseen, which none but Allah possesses. Allah gave us this information, not to confuse us, nor for us to challenge it, but rather to make us understand and comprehend His Omnipotence and His Might, as the Creator of everything that exists in this Universe! Glorified indeed is Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan