And if all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean (were ink), with seven oceans behind to add to it, yet The Kalimaat Allah (Words of Allah) would not be exhausted. Verily Allah is All Mighty, All Wise. (Quran 31:27)
Say, ‘If the Ocean were Ink for The Words of my Lord, the ocean would be exhausted before The Words of my Lord would finish, even if We brought another like it for its aid.’(Quran 18:109)
Object of the Parable
Think of the Ocean with its magnificent supply of water covering as much as 75 percent of the earth’s surface. Not only is the ocean immense regarding its surface region, its depth is far reaching and the deepest realm is still a mystery. The deep waters are filled with dark blackness with their complete contents unknown to man. Massive amounts of water contained within magnificent basins, sculptured and molded by He Who bestows form to His creation, Al Musawwir. Hugh reservoirs of water with the oceans filled to their brim.
On land trees grow tall, ascending to various heights as they culminate with a spectacular display of foliage. A canopy of green leaves and colored fruits upon a crown of slender wood dipping within the nutritious soil as water is drawn in from below. A rich collection of living trees scattered abundantly across different landscapes, too numerous for our counting.
Meaning of Kalimaat Allah
The expression Kalimaat Allah means The Words of Allah, and describes various attributes of Allah including His Knowledge, His Speech, His Writings and His Decree.
Khaula bint Hakim Sulamiyya reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When anyone lands at a place, and then says:" I seek refuge in the Perfect Kalimaat Allah from the evil of what He has created," nothing would harm him until he marches from that stopping place. (saheeh of muslim)
At times our Prophet would seek refuge in Allah without calling upon any particular Attribute of Allah. He would invoke Allah by His Name Allah. Other times He would seek refuge in Allah’s Attributes, such as His Face, His Speech, or His Might. These are all legislated ways to invoke Allah for all His Attributes belong to Him. And in the above hadeeth the expression Kalimaat Allah refers to The Blessed Speech of Allah. Our Prophet used to seek refuge in The Words of Allah, The Speech of Allah.
And if anyone from the Polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear The Kalaam Allah. Then deliver him to a place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know (Quran 9:6)
Allah’s Book, Al Lawh Al Mahfoodh (The Preserved Tablet), contains the Writings of Allah concerning His creation. These Writings are His Words, and from it He sent The Quran and previous divine scriptures as Words from Him. This is why The Quran is also known as Kalaam Allah for it is His Speech and His Word.
And were it not for a Kalimah that preceded from your Lord, it would have been judged between them concerning that wherein they differed. (Quran 10:19)
The Word of Allah can also refer to His Decree, which He issues as a command from Him in accordance with His Will and Wisdom. He simply says, 'Kun' and it is. And All Decrees are issued from His Book of Decrees with nothing appearing in space nor occurring in time except it has a decree issued from The Mother of Books, Al Umm Al Kitaab, which is known by many other names including Al Kitaab Mubeeen (The Clear Book) and Al Lawh Al Mahfoodh (The Preserved Tablet). His Magnificent Book which He keeps with Himself above His Glorious Arsh.
However in the above parable Kalimaat Allah refers to The Absolute Perfect Knowledge of Allah, together with His All Perfect Decree. This was the understanding of many from amongst the Salaf including Rabee bin Anas and Hasan Al Basree.
Meaning of the parable
Allah draws a beautiful parable informing us that if all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean was full of ink with seven oceans behind it, the oceans would run dry and the trees would be worn out before His Knowledge and Decree would be exhausted.
Although Allah adorned Adam with knowledge and gave his offspring the potential to acquire it, the knowledge possessed by human beings is a drop in the ocean. The most knowledgeable amongst mankind were the Prophets but even their knowledge was limited. Verily above all those endowed with knowledge is Al Aleem.
Allah is Al Aleem, The All Knowing One with absolute perfect knowledge. The depths of His knowledge cannot be imagined nor comprehended by His creation. His Knowledge is without exhaustion or limitation, May He Be Glorified deeply and praised abundantly. He brought creation into existence by virtue of His Knowledge. He created The Pen and dictated all that would occur from the beginning of creation to The Day of Judgment with the writings being preserved as divine decree in His Book, Al Lawh Al Mahfoodh. He willed creation into existence, creating whatever He wished whenever He pleased, with everything being created and commanded in due proportion and known measure. What He decreed will occur and what He did not decree will never occur. And if all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean was filled with ink with seven oceans adding to its supply, the decrees contained within His Book would not be exhausted. His decrees are vast. There is a decree for everything within creation from the number of sand grains on earth to the number of angels residing within the seven heavens; from the movement of electrons within an atom to the movement and course of celestial bodies in the heaven above. There is a decree for everything. Truly, He is Al Khabeer, Al Lateef.
Allah ends the parable with a reminder that He is Al Azeez, Al Hakeem. He is Al Azeez, the All Mighty One, with Might in His decree. Nothing can contend with His decree for His decrees must come to pass. Rather He subdues everything, subjecting creation to His command. And He is Al Hakeem, The All Wise One, having perfect wisdom in all that He decrees. He causes neither injustice nor oppression, fully aware of the perfect reasoning and wisdom of His decrees. Magnificent Knowledge, Might and Wisdom in The Perfect Words of Allah.
Written by Kamillah Khan
