Surah Al-Hashr (59) — Ayah 24

(Ayah 24) ➊ { هُوَ اللّٰهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ :} Creation (khalq), origination (bara’), and fashioning (tasweer) are the three stages of creation. The first stage is that before making something, its complete estimation and design are made; this is khalq. Allah Almighty has already determined the estimation and design of everything, what it will be like—for example, what the shape of a human will be, what a tree will be like, etc. The second stage is to bring into existence the things from which it is to be made, and to carve and shape them so that they become capable of accepting the form that has been determined for them. This is “bara’.” For example, man was made from clay, the clay was made into mud, then the frame of Adam (peace be upon him) was made. The third and final stage is tasweer (fashioning), with which something is completed and comes into existence. Allah Almighty has granted a form to every big and small thing in the universe, whether it is the earth and the heavens or an ant and a particle; all stages of creation of everything are in His hand. Even if man makes something, the Originator of all his works is also Allah Almighty, as He said: « وَ اللّٰهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَ مَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ» [ الصافات : ۹۶ ] “And Allah created you and what you do.” Each of these three names is also used in the absolute sense of making and creating. See also the commentary of Surah Al-A’raf (11).
➋ { لَهُ الْاَسْمَآءُ الْحُسْنٰى :} That is, in these verses, the names and attributes that have been mentioned, Allah Almighty is not only characterized by these, but He alone is worthy of every best name and attribute. See the commentary of Surah Al-A’raf (180).
➌ {يُسَبِّحُ لَهٗ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ هُوَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ:} The beginning of the Surah is also with this same subject and the end as well. At the beginning is {’’ سَبَّحَ لِلّٰهِ ‘‘} and at the end is {’’ يُسَبِّحُ لَهٗ ‘‘}. In this, the past, present, and future—all three tenses—are included. For the commentary of the verse, see the first verse of Surah Al-Hadid and the commentary of Surah Bani Isra’il (44).
➍ It is narrated from Ma’qil bin Yasar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever says in the morning three times {’’ أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ السَّمِيْعِ الْعَلِيْمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ ‘‘}, then recites the last three verses of Surah Al-Hashr, Allah Almighty appoints seventy thousand (70,000) angels with him who keep praying for him until the evening. If he dies that day, he will die as a martyr, and whoever recites them in the evening will also attain this rank.” [ ترمذي، فضائل القرآن، باب في فضل قراء ۃ آخر سورۃ الحشر : ۲۹۲۲۔ مسند أحمد : 26/5، ح : ۲۰۳۰۶ ] The researchers of Musnad Ahmad and Shaykh Nasiruddin Al-Albani have declared this hadith to be weak (da’if). For details, see the research of Musnad Ahmad.

24. 1 It is said that خلق means to determine according to one's will and intention, and برا means to create it, to fashion it, to bring it into existence.
24. 2 The discussion of the Beautiful Names (Asma’ al-Husna) has already passed in (وَلِلّٰهِ الْاَسْمَاۗءُ الْحُسْنٰى فَادْعُوْهُ بِهَا ۠ وَذَرُوا الَّذِيْنَ يُلْحِدُوْنَ فِيْٓ اَسْمَاۗىِٕهٖ ۭ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوْا يَعْمَلُوْنَ 180۔) 7. Al-A'raf:180).
24. 3 Both by the state of being and by speech, as has been mentioned earlier.
24. 4 Whatever He decides, it is never devoid of wisdom.

24. He is Allah, the Originator [39], the Originator [40], the Fashioner [41]. To Him belong the best names [42]. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

[39] The word ﴿الخَالِق﴾ ﴿خلق﴾ comes in three meanings. (1) To estimate or design something in order to make it; thus, the act of creation can also be mental, and its attribution can be made to other than Allah. (2) Sometimes this word also comes in the meaning of "ibda‘", that is, to make something for the first time and to make it without any model or imitation, to make something unique. In the Noble Quran, just as ﴿خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالاَرْضَ﴾ is used for Allah Almighty, so is ﴿بَدِيْعُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالاَرْضِ﴾. In this case, its attribution cannot be made to other than Allah. (3) And the general meaning of "khalaq" is to make one thing from another thing; that is, if the material already exists, then to make something else from it. In this case, its attribution can also be made to other than Allah. And in this respect, Allah is not only the Originator but the Best of Creators.

[40] ﴿البَارِيُ﴾ ﴿برأ﴾ means to bring something into existence from non-existence, to clothe it in the garment of creation, to bring the material of something into existence and then create from it, or to create without any material, and this attribute belongs only to Allah. No one else can be the Originator.

[41] ﴿المُصَوِّرُ﴾ means the One who gives form, the One who shapes. There are several aspects to this: one is that He draws features on the sperm-drop and the lump of flesh in the mother's womb—some with sharp features, some with coarse, some with large eyes, some with small, some with short stature, some with tall. The second aspect is that every living being has a different form and shape: the form of a human is different, that of a horse is different, that of a lion is different, that of a goat is different, and so on. The third aspect is the forms and shapes of plants and various kinds of flowers. In short, Allah has granted every thing a form, and He is the best of those who give form.

[42] All the names of Allah, except "Allah" itself, are attributive names. And since all the attributes of Allah are the best, therefore all His names are also good, which indicate the highest degree of excellence and perfection. There is no attribute of defect or deficiency in Him. According to authentic ahadith, the number of these names is ninety-nine. Memorizing them and reciting them morning and evening is a source of goodness and blessing.