Allah's spirit and Allah's 99 names

[Christian3]

Copied from an Islamic site:

It creates our "spirits." Allah Almighty uses it to blow into our mothers' wombs our human-spirits. That is why abortion is prohibited in Islam, because the fetus or foetus does have spirit (life) and it is a human being. It's not just a little piece of unliving flesh:

"But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His Spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give! (The Noble Quran, 32:9)"

"When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him. (The Noble Quran, 38:72)"

"When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him. (The Noble Quran, 15:29)"

"And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples. (The Noble Quran, 21:91)"

"And Mary the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our Spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants). (The Noble Quran, 66:12)"

The 99 names:

99 Names of Allah (Al Asma Ul Husna) - with Meaning and Explanation

Clip:

The Beneficent
The All-Prevailing One, etc.

tawheed: The oneness of Allah.

Question: Since Allah is one can all 99 names be said of Allah's spirit too?

Thank you.

[siam]

Copied from an Islamic site:

It creates our "spirits." Allah Almighty uses it to blow into our mothers' wombs our human-spirits. That is why abortion is prohibited in Islam, because the fetus or foetus does have spirit (life) and it is a human being. It's not just a little piece of unliving flesh:

"But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His Spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give! (The Noble Quran, 32:9)"

"When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him. (The Noble Quran, 38:72)"

"When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him. (The Noble Quran, 15:29)"

"And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples. (The Noble Quran, 21:91)"

"And Mary the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our Spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants). (The Noble Quran, 66:12)"

The 99 names:

99 Names of Allah (Al Asma Ul Husna) - with Meaning and Explanation

Clip:

The Beneficent
The All-Prevailing One, etc.

tawheed: The oneness of Allah.

Question: Since Allah is one can all 99 names be said of Allah's spirit too?

Thank you.

Spirit (ruh) is not God in Islam.

[siam]

Spirit (Ruh)

Islam (as religion/way of life) developed over time and so there are a variety of opinions and interpretations within one framework. This is especially true on the subject of Ruh because the Quran declined to elaborate on this matter---a verse in the Quran clearly states so....

The term Ruh (Spirit) has different expressions in the Quran for example there is the expression Ruh-al-Qudus (Ruach Hakodesh---Judaism) which translates to Holy Spirit....some interpretations equate it, on occassion, to the Angel Gabriel......but the term itself in both Hebrew and Arabic also means "breath" (God's breath) and that is the understanding when it is "breathed' into "Adam" (human beings)
An interesting point to consider is that this term does not have a grammatical plural---so for example, the word "soul" (nafs) has a plural anfus/nufoos. It makes for interesting speculation....

The "spirit" is breathed into humans---but when this occurs differs according to different schools of thought---the general opinion (as I understand it) is 120 days (?) but some may say 40 days or others after birth....?...

....in any case...anything that is said on this subject by a Muslim will inevitably have degrees of speculation....

[Christian3]

Spirit (Ruh)

Islam (as religion/way of life) developed over time and so there are a variety of opinions and interpretations within one framework. This is especially true on the subject of Ruh because the Quran declined to elaborate on this matter---a verse in the Quran clearly states so....

The term Ruh (Spirit) has different expressions in the Quran for example there is the expression Ruh-al-Qudus (Ruach Hakodesh---Judaism) which translates to Holy Spirit....some interpretations equate it, on occassion, to the Angel Gabriel......but the term itself in both Hebrew and Arabic also means "breath" (God's breath) and that is the understanding when it is "breathed' into "Adam" (human beings)
An interesting point to consider is that this term does not have a grammatical plural---so for example, the word "soul" (nafs) has a plural anfus/nufoos. It makes for interesting speculation....

The "spirit" is breathed into humans---but when this occurs differs according to different schools of thought---the general opinion (as I understand it) is 120 days (?) but some may say 40 days or others after birth....?...

....in any case...anything that is said on this subject by a Muslim will inevitably have degrees of speculation....

It seems to me that anything that proceeds from Allah has to be Allah or something of himself.

Can Allah's spirit act as a messenger?

[siam]

It seems to me that anything that proceeds from Allah has to be Allah or something of himself.

Can Allah's spirit act as a messenger?

"From" God---Since Islam rejects incarnation (Hindu or Christian), a thing from God is not God---all creation is from God but is not God, the Angels and Humans are from God but not God, the Quran is from God but not God...etc....
...somewhat like....a child comes from the Parent but is not the Parent....

The Quran gives a reason why it does not elaborate on the "Ruh" (Spirit)---it says that misunderstanding can lead to Shirk (Division, multiple Gods)--My speculation is that Ruh does not have plurality which makes it conceptually similar to God (which is One) and this overlap could lead to misunderstanding...?....maybe....?....

Spirit as messenger---Possible..."The Holy Spirit (Hebrew: רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, Modern ruach hakodesh, Tiberian ruaħ haqqodɛʃ) in Judaism, also termed "Divine Inspiration," generally refers to the inspiration through which attuned individuals perceive and channel the Divine through action, writing or speech.
In other contexts, Holy Spirit may refer to the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the universe or over His creatures
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirit_in_Judaismhttps://jewishconcernsforum.com/2014...uach-hakodesh/

In the East, speech (word) is understood in its essence as vibration and breath as life-force---and Divine word (primordial sound) as the essence (?) of creation and Divine breath as the "force" of life...thus the recitation of sacred scripture (vibration) itself is a healing/balancing.....Islam and Judaism have similar concepts......chanting is a special tool for worship in Eastern mysticism as well as in Sufism.
In Sufism it is called Dhikr(remembrance). The 99 names (Asma al Husna) are useful as recitation as well as meditation.

Sufism (Islamic mysticism) is understood as the science of spirituality (tassawuf)....."science"= it is replicated/repeatable and has a methodology (Tariqa)...the end purpose/goal is to seek Truth (God) and reach enlightenment. (Fana....?)

[siam]

It seems as I am the only Muslim, this section lacks diversity... if it is Ok, I would like to add info related to Sufism.....(I am not a Sufi)

The Sufi practice of meditation requires concentration---and so, there is a connection between Sufis and coffee.....
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22190802
Although a beverage made from the wild coffee plant seems to have been first drunk by a legendary shepherd on the Ethiopian plateau, the earliest cultivation of coffee was in Yemen and Yemenis gave it the Arabic name qahwa, from which our words coffee and cafe both derive.
Qahwa originally meant wine, and Sufi mystics in Yemen used coffee as an aid to concentration and even spiritual intoxication when they chanted the name of God.

By 1414, it was known in Mecca and in the early 1500s was spreading to Egypt from the Yemeni port of Mocha. It was still associated with Sufis, and a cluster of coffee houses grew up in Cairo around the religious university of the Azhar. They also opened in Syria, especially in the cosmopolitan city of Aleppo, and then in Istanbul, the capital of the vast Ottoman Turkish Empire, in 1554.

Some Muslims also use prayer beads....
https://www.thenational.ae/arts-cult...ed-for-1.67166
In Islam, a string of 99 beads represents each name of Allah. While subha consisting of 33 beads relate to a hadith that calls on Muslims, after they have prayed, to repeat subhanallah (glorious is God) 33 times, alhamdulillah (all praise be to God) 33 times and Allahu Akbar (God is great) 33 times.
http://dharma-beads.net/history-pray...se-beads/islam

[siam]

An important aspect of Sufism is contemplation of Taqwa (love of God) and the Sufi that had and continues to have the most influence on this matter is Rabia al Basri (713 CE - 801 CE)...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabia_of_Basra
Some examples of her poetry-
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poet...sri/index.html

Another Sufi who speaks of love is Ibn Arabi (1165 -1240 CE)
Prof William Chittick explains the intersections between Divine breath (Ruh), the 99 names, and Tawheed....
start at 5:30 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9VyctYI_4

[siam]

Rumi is a Sufi poet most loved in the West.
His Sufi order---the Mevlevi order use sema as a way of meditiation

[siam]

For more information in English about Mevlevi Sufism go here
https://sufism.org/

In the East (India, China...etc) there is a Sufi order known as the Naqshbandi...I may give more info on this later....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqshbandi

In some parts of Africa, the Mouridiya order may be well known....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouride

In some parts of Europe and subcontinent the Chisti order may be well-known...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chishti_Order
(they seem to be into devotional singing as a way to nearness to God)


There are many Sufi orders as well as what some call neo-sufism (?) (---which may not be "Islamic")

The philosopher and Sufi--Al Ghazzali was also influential.
One of the philosophical ideas of Sufism is that God can be "known" through the Intellect/reason (Aql) and the heart (does not refer to biological heart) (Qalb) (= Intuition/Instinct). This way of "knowing" is balanced.
here is a simplified summary of explanations of Al Gazzali about "knowing" Divine presense-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TQSI3Km9NU

[siam]

This is a perspective of a Non-Muslim (Western-centric) scholar on Islamic Mysticism and Neo-sufism

[Christian3]

I think the following verses in the Qur'an shows that Allah's spirit acts as a messenger:

"Raised high above ranks (or degrees), (He is) the Lord of the Throne (of Authority): by His Command doth He send the Spirit (of inspiration) to any of His servants he pleases, that it may warn (men) of the Day of Mutual Meeting,- (The Noble Quran, 40:15)"

"Say, the Holy Spirit has brought the Revelation from thy Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a Guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims. (The Noble Quran, 16:102)"

[siam]

I think the following verses in the Qur'an shows that Allah's spirit acts as a messenger:

"Raised high above ranks (or degrees), (He is) the Lord of the Throne (of Authority): by His Command doth He send the Spirit (of inspiration) to any of His servants he pleases, that it may warn (men) of the Day of Mutual Meeting,- (The Noble Quran, 40:15)"

"Say, the Holy Spirit has brought the Revelation from thy Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a Guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims. (The Noble Quran, 16:102)"

....would this fit with the general Christian understanding of Spirit/Holy Spirit?

[Christian3]

....would this fit with the general Christian understanding of Spirit/Holy Spirit?

http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/gabriel.htm

[Bibleuser]

Copied from an Islamic site:

It creates our "spirits." Allah Almighty uses it to blow into our mothers' wombs our human-spirits. That is why abortion is prohibited in Islam, because the fetus or foetus does have spirit (life) and it is a human being. It's not just a little piece of unliving flesh:

"But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His Spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give! (The Noble Quran, 32:9)"

"When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him. (The Noble Quran, 38:72)"

"When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him. (The Noble Quran, 15:29)"

"And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples. (The Noble Quran, 21:91)"

"And Mary the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our Spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants). (The Noble Quran, 66:12)"

The 99 names:

99 Names of Allah (Al Asma Ul Husna) - with Meaning and Explanation

Clip:

The Beneficent
The All-Prevailing One, etc.

tawheed: The oneness of Allah.

Question: Since Allah is one can all 99 names be said of Allah's spirit too?

Thank you.

99 NAMES OF ALLAH
AL-QUDDUS
(The Holy)

AL-MALIK
(The Sovereign Lord)

AR-RAHIM
(The Merciful)

AR-RAHMAN
(The Beneficent)

ALLAH
(The Name of God)

AL-JABBAR
(The Compeller)

AL-AZIZ
(The Mighty)

AL-MUHAYMIN
(The Protector)

AL-MU'MIN
(The Guardian of Faith)

AS-SALAM
(The Source of Peace)

AL-GHAFFAR
(The Forgiver)

AL-MUSAWWIR
(The Fashioner)

AL-BARI
(The Evolver)

AL-KHALIQ
(The Creator)

AL-MUTAKABBIR
(The Majestic)

AL-ALIM
(The All Knowing)

AL-FATTAH
(The Opener)

AR-RAZZAQ
(The Provider)

AL-WAHHAB
(The Bestover)

AL-QAHHAR
(The Subduer)

AL-MUIZZ
(The Honourer)

AR-RAFI
(The Exalter)

AL-KHAFIZ
(The Abaser)

AL-BASIT
(The Expender)

AL-QABIZ
(The Constrictor)

AL-ADL
(The Just)

AL-HAKAM
(The Judge)

AL-BASIR
(The All Seeing)

AS-SAMI
(The All Hearing)

AL-MUZILL
(The Dishonourer)

AL-GHAFUR
(The All-Forgiving)

AL-AZIM
(The Great One)

AL-HALIM
(The Forbearing One)

AL-KHABIR
(The Aware)

AL-LATIF
(The Subtle One)

AL-MUQIT
(The Maintainer)

AL-HAFIZ
(The Preserver)

AL-KABIR
(The Most Great)

AL-ALI
(The Most High)

ASH-SHAKUR
(The Appreciative)

AL-MUJIB
(The Responsive)

AR-RAQIB
(The Watchful)

AL-KARIM
(The Generous One)

AL-JALIL
(The Sublime One)

AL-HASEEB
(The Reckoner)

AL-BA'ITH
(The Resurrector)

AL-MAJEED
(The Most Glorious One)

AL-WADUD
(The Loving)

AL-HAKEEM
(The Wise)

AL-WASI
(The All-Embracing)

AL-MATEEN
(The Firm One)

AL-QAWI
(The Most Strong)

AL-WAKIL
(The Trustee)

AL-HAQQ
(The Truth)

ASH-SHAHEED
(The Witness)

AL-MU'ID
(The Restorer)

AL-MUBDI
(The Originator)

AL-MUHSI
(The Reckoner)

AL-HAMEED
(The Praiseworthy)

AL-WALI
(The Protecting Friend)

AL-WAJID
(The Finder)

AL-QAYYUM
(The Self-subsisting)

AL-HAYEE
(The Alive)

AL-MUMIT
(The Creator Of Death)

AL-MUHYI
(The Giver of Life)

AL-QADIR
(The Able)

AS-SAMAD
(The Eternal)

AL-AHAD
(The One)

AL-WAHID
(The Unique)

AL-MAJID
(The Noble)

AL-AAKHIR
(The Last)

AL-AWWAL
(The First)

AL-MU'AKHKHIR
(The Delayer)

AL-MUQADDIM
(The Expediter)

AL-MUQTADIR
(The Powerful)

AL-BARR
(The Source of All Goodness)

AL-MUTA'ALI
(The Most Exalted)

AL-WALI
(The Governor)

AL-BATIN
(The Hidden)

AZ-ZAHIR
(The Manifest)

MALIK-UL-MULK
(The Eternal Owner of Sovereignty)

AR-RAOOF
(The Compassionate)

AL-'AFUW
(The Pardoner)

AL-MUNTAQIM
(The Avenger)

AT-TAWWAB
(The Acceptor of Repentance)

AL-MUGHNI
(The Enricher)

AL-GHANI
(The Self-Sufficient)

AL-JAAMAY
(The Gatherer)

AL-MUQSIT
(The Equitable)

ZUL-JALAL-E-WAL-IKRAM
(The Lord of Majesty and Bounty)

AL-HAADI
(The Guide)

AN-NOOR
(The Light)

AN-NAAFAY
(The Propitious)

AD-DAARR
(The Distresser)

AL-MAANAY
(The Preventer)

AS-SABOOR
(The Patient)

AR-RASHEED
(The Guide to the Right Path)

AL-WARIS
(The Supreme Inheritor)

AL-BAQI
(The Everlasting)

AL-BADEI
(The Incomparable)

From: http://www.dawateislami.net/general/...ames/index.htm

Not one "name" among them. They are all titles!
BU

[siam]

99 Names.

name
nām
noun
1.a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to.

synonyms: designation, honorific, title, tag, epithet, label; informal moniker, handle; formal denomination, appellation

Here in the East "names" are not a string of meaningless sounds---rather they give meaning and definition. For example, the Latin "name" Paulus means humble/small.

Consider....human language is used for communication and in order for this communication to be effective, the "words" that make up the language are defined so as to differentiate---for example, the word "chair" defines an object/thing that is different from "table". This is necessary because there are many things/objects in our world. Likewise, the "names" that our parents give us also differentiate ---this is because there are many people/humans.

You and I both agree that there is only ONE God---correct? So why 99 names?
(Judaism has 7 names for God https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_Judaism)

This is because God should not be confined by language. To do so is idolatry---because we have made an "image" of God with words/language. That is why it is important that any concept of "name" be a mystery. In Islam this intention is kept by the 99 names---it gives Muslims meaning and intimacy to reflect on when contemplating God and yet keeps it open-ended so that idolatry is avoided.

The "name"/label---Allah---is mostly considered a generic Arabic term for "God" and both Arab speaking Christians and Jews used it before Islam even came on the scene.....(Arabic and Hebrew are sister languages)

Consider also---If we insist that "your" God and "my" God are different because the "name" is different--then we have made 2 "gods"---yours and mine. In Islam this not permissible because it is Shirk---division of God.
This also applies to our conceptions of God---these conceptions are articulated in language and one language is different from another----these differences of expression do not necessarily mean that there are 2 or more gods in existence---it simply means that human language and imagination has its limitations and so human expressions are confined within those limitations. God is greater than the limitations of human language or human imagination.....