. J (cont.)

Every wrongdoer will pay for the wrong he has done. When they are purged of all ills and cleansed, they will be allowed into Paradise."1 As al­ Qurtubi has said, this qantarah will be the second bridge which the Believers will have to cross. However, no one will fall from this bridge. Allah knows best.2 "The phrases subhaanallaah ('High is Allah above every imperfection and need; He is pure and perfect') and al-hamdulillah ('All praise be to Allah') together fillor each fillwhat is between the heavens and earth." The narrator of the hadith could not recall if each of these statement fills what is between heaven and Earth or if the two of them together fill what 1Recorded by al-Bukhari. It was not recorded by Muslim. 2 lbn Abu al-Izz, vol. 2, pp. 608-614. Al-Haitami, Fath, p. 185, also has a beneficial discussion of the concept of the Balance. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi is between heaven and Earth. In either case, it definitely points to the importance of these two phrases. Nowadays, people have some understanding of the great distance between earth and the lowest heaven. There are stars that are billions of miles away from the Earth. However, these two important phrases fill the space between the Earth and heaven. The Meaning and Importance of Subhaanallaah When one states the phrase subhaanallaah it means that he is denying that Allah could have any blemish, shortcoming, imperfection or defect whatsoever. He is complete and perfect and not in need of anything or anyone. This also denies that He could have or be in need of a spouse, son and so forth. Allah is free, for example, of any imperfection or blemish with respect to His names. Allah has said, "And to Allah belong the. most beautiful and excellent names" (al-Araaf 1 80). Allah is also free of any imperfection or blemish with respect to His attributes and qualities. This is the meaning or implication of the words al-mathal al- 'ala in the following verse, ., ,.,, (.. ,,,. ,,,. ,,,., J " ,.,, , M ,, ,.,, ,, ,,,.,, ,,,,._ ђ?I 8j г·Ø1 jW I >j ~j..:J I ଁ ./ 0) 0о pq д\ "For those who disbelieve in the Hereafter there is an evil description. And for Allah is the highest and loftiest description (al-mathal al- 'ala). And He is the ' All-Mighty, the All-Wise" (al-Nahl 60). Allah's acts are also free from any blemish or shortcoming. His creation, for example, is according to His wisdom and excellence. That which He has commanded and ordered is also free of any blemish or shortcoming. Allah has said, "' .. ,,,. ,,,, ,, (.. ., ,.,, ., ,,,. Â ஫஬' ஭/:;I ம J.11 / ' / p i , // ய ர,/ -:..:1.,:__11 / ('-:.._/;.i u.P .J-:! ണy--_, /  u->- i.:r J u຃ ഡ r-""-- / / "Do they then seek the judgment of the Days of Ignorance? And who is better in judgment than Allah for a people who have firm faith" (al-Maaidah 50). The phrase subhaanallaah implies all of the above aspects. 1 The Prophet (peace be upon him) described the merits and importance of this concept when he said, 1 Cf., ibn Uthaimeen, Sharh Riyaadh, vol. 1, p. 1 35. Hadith #23: "Purification is Half of Faith . . . " "There are two statements that are light on the tongue but heavy in the scale and beloved to the Most Merciful [Allah]: Subhaanallaahi-1-Adheem ('High is Allah above any imperfection or want, the Great, from every imperfection') and Subhaanallaahi wa bihamdihi ('Far above is Allah from every imperfection and I glorify His praises')." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) lbn Rajah astutely points out the difference between al-hamdulillah and subhaanallaah and why, in general, subhaanallaah is stated in conjunction with other statements, as in the hadith just mentioned. lbn Rajah stated, [In another narration, it states,] "Subhaanallaah is half of the Scale while al-hamdulillah fills it." The reason for that is that al-hamdulillah confirms all praises for Allah. It makes reference to all of the Perfect Attributes and Majestic Qualities. However, subhaanallaah simply negates from Allah any shortcoming, blemish or deficiency. Confirmation is more important than negation. In fact, for this reason subhaanallaah is not stated by itself. It is joined with something that indicates confirmation of completeness and perfection. Sometimes it is accompanied with praises, as in, "Subhaanallaah and to Him is the Praise," or "Subhaanallaah and al-Hamdulillah" [as in this hadith]. Sometimes it is accompanied with [one of Allah's] names that indicate His greatness and grandeur, such as in the statement, "Subhaanallaah, [Allah] the Great (al-Adheem)." If this hadith of Abu Malik means that together subhaanallaah and Allahu Akbar1 fill what is between the heaven and earth, the matter is clear. If the meaning is that each of them fills what is between the heaven and earth, the scale is more spacious than what is between the heaven and earth. Therefore, what fills the Scale fills something more than what is between heaven and earth.