هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٢٢هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُ ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْجَبَّارُ ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ٢٣هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُ ٱلْبَارِئُ ٱلْمُصَوِّرُ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٢٤

“He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. He is Allah , other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. He is Allah , the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” [Quran 59:22-24]

SCENE:

King Hasan: <examining blueprints> I love creating and inventing things. It's such a good workout for my mind!

Professor Hums: <woodworking> I love making things! It's so satisfactory to see things take shape from raw materials. 

Dr. Fatima: <painting with fine paintbrush> I love designing things. Beautifying and fashioning things with fine detail brings me so much joy!

Aunty Hiba: Oooooh my friends look like they are busy making and creating something today. I love creativity! Dreaming, planning and making something gives me such thrill. It is my favorite! And thinking of creativity, I am reminded of not one, not two, but Three of the beautiful names of Allah. Today we are talking about Al Khaaliq, Al Baari and Al Musawwir. 

Aunty Hiba: These three Names are very similar to each other. It's actually kind of difficult for me just now to tell you the difference between them.  Lets see what our friends King Hasan, Professor Hums and Dr Fatima are up to. Maybe they can help us figure out the differences between the names.

SCENE:

King Hasan: I want to make a masjid in my kingdom. I am coming up with the idea and drawing out the plans.

Professor Hums: Now I am going to get to work at building this mosque. I am gathering all the raw materials that Allah has provided us with and hammering, sawing, nailing everything into place.

Jester: You know, once I told a really great hammer joke. I nailed it.

Dr. Fatima: I am going to add the finishing touches on this mosque to make it more beautiful and give it more detail.

Aunty Hiba: Aha! Ok so observing these three friends...I think I’ve just understood the difference between Al Khaliq and Al Bari and Al Musawwir. ! Let me see if I can explain it to you...

• King Hasan is the creator, the inventor, the planner and the architect of this mosque like the creator of the world, Al Khaaliq. 
• And Professor Hums is the maker with raw materials or the contractor, kind of like The Maker, Al Baari.
• And Dr Fatima is the designer of the mosque with details like Al Musawwir who fashions and designs everything in the universe.

So these words come in the best order in Surah Hashr. Al-Khaaliq is the most general word, al-Baari’ is more specific and al-Musawwir is even more specific.

And the difference between the three in the creation of people: Allah is Al-Khaaliq, the One who created the first man from nothing. Allah is Al Baari, the One who produced mankind from clay. And Allah is Al Musawwir, the One who gave each person various shapes and forms.  

Aunty Hiba: Our three friends building a masjid reminded me of something very important!

Jester: Oopsy daisy, now don’t be lazy, it's time to go to the masjid!

Aunty Hiba: That too! But also..Building a masjid is a wonderful act of Sadaqah Jariyah! The rewards you receive for building a masjid keep on going as long as people are benefiting from the mosque you’ve helped build. Think of all the rewards you will receive for every single prayer made in your masjid!

Professor Hums: I read recently in Al Bukhari a pertinent hadith...The Prophet (s) said, “Whoever builds a masjid, desiring Allah’s pleasure, Allah builds for him the like of it in paradise.” 

Aunty Hiba: So a great reward for building a masjid is being granted a palace in Jannah. Allah (s) will reward us for building His house of worship here on earth by building us a house in paradise! That’s a pretty good deal if you ask me! 

There are many poor communities in our ummah that can’t afford to make repairs to their masjids, and some don’t even have a local masjid at all. In these communities, people pray outside in the hot sun or pouring rain, or walk long miles to a neighbouring town’s masjid or pray alone at home.

Jester: I would build a masjid but I broke my finger last week. On the other hand, I’m okay. 

Aunty Hiba: Oh Jester! We don’t all have to build masjids ourselves! Let's plan to donate some money this Ramadan towards building a masjid! Lets do our own sadqa jaariya!

Do you know that the first ayaat revealed to the Prophet (s) are about Allah creating humans? The first ayah ever revealed has the word for creating, Khalaq, in it. See how many times you can hear the word Khalaq in these ayaat. Recite first two ayaat. How many times did you hear the word? Yes! Two times! You are right! 

اِقۡرَاۡ بِاسۡمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ​ۚ‏ ١ خَلَقَ الۡاِنۡسَانَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ​ۚ‏ ٢ اِقۡرَاۡ وَرَبُّكَ الۡاَكۡرَمُۙ‏ ٣ الَّذِىۡ عَلَّمَ بِالۡقَلَمِۙ‏ ٣ عَلَّمَ الۡاِنۡسَانَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡؕ‏ ٥

“Read, ˹O Prophet,˺ in the Name of your Lord Who created—created humans from a clinging clot.1Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen—taught humanity what they knew not.” [Quran 96:1-5] 

Aunty Hiba: Now that we have learned these three Names, how can we live by these names? How should we be and what should we do to fully appreciate Allah as Al Khaaliq, Al Baari and Al Musawwir?

Practice everyday bravery because only Al Khaaliq should be feared

SCENE:

King Hasan: Let’s not fear created things. Only fear the Creator. Stop fearing people’s opinions, poverty, failure. Focus only on pleasing Allah. The Messenger of Allah (s) said: There is no obedience to the creation, in disobedience to the Creator. Obedience is only in what is good. Ask yourself honestly if what you do is because you want to please creation or the Creator. Then renew your intention to strive for His pleasure only.

Look at nature and appreciate the creation of al-Baari.

Professor Hums: Look at the morning or evening sun, the full moon, the majestic mountains. Study science with the intention of pondering His creation. 

Look closely at plants and admire their delicate markings

Breathe deeply and smell the flowers. 

Look at animals around you and notice their patterned fur. 

Notice the dazzling colors of birds feathers. 

Then praise Al Khaaliq and Al Baari. Thank Him for the beautiful world you live in. 

And thank Al-Musawwir for the blessings of beautiful shapes and designs to look at. 

Jester: <breathing in roses> Thank you Al Baari! Thank you. Thank you. 

Professor Hums: Taking time to stop and smell the roses hmm, Jester?
Jester: Knock knock
Professor Hums: Who’s there

Jester: Cows go

Professor Hums: Cows go who?

Jester: Actually cows go moo. 

Be happy with how al-Musawwir shaped you by celebrating and appreciating diversity.

Dr. Fatima: Love how you look because Al Musawwir made you perfectly how He wanted you to be. Never compare yourself to others. Take care of yourself and when you look in the mirror at yourself, say Alhamdulillah.

Jester: Looking in the mirror, hmm? I can totally see myself doing that.

Dr. Fatima: Your skin tone, your abilities, your weight are all perfectly designed especially for you. 

In the same vein, appreciate the diversity of people in this world. Love how different skin tones, heights, hair colors, weights and shapes of people are. Know that Allah made everyone perfectly for the life circumstances they were given. 

Live up to your potential!

Aunty Hiba: Know your position. Allah says in the Quran: Indeed, We have created the human being upon the best of forms. Al Khaaliq, Al Baari Al-Musawwir created and formed you with a particular brain, heart, face, and limbs, which differentiate us from the animals. How do you use them? You will be questioned on the Day of Judgment about how you used your hearing, your sight, and your hearts. Use your body to worship Allah as best as you possibly can. You should also use these gifts from The Creator to do as many good deeds as you can. Make the world a better place to live. Bring joy and peace to other people.

SCENE:

Jester: Hear me, hear me, its award niiiiiight!

King Hasan: It’s ye. Oh never mind. Dr Fatima! Our records show that you have single handedly saved the lives of hundreds of people from our kingdom this year. Thank you for your service. 

Dr. Fatima: Alhumdulillah. Allah has been very kind.

King Hasan: And Professor Hums, you are in line for an award for your dedicated research in the field of...err..what is his field exactly? <Jester shrugs>

Professor Hums: Alhumdulillah. Allah blessed me with a really good memory so I thought I could best use it with study and research.

King Hasan: Amazing. Wow...You both have such particular gifts! I kind of wish I had some gifts to offer to the world.

Dr. Fatima/Professor Hums: You do! 

Professor Hums: You are a wonderful king

Jester: The kingliest king that ever kinged in the kingdom!

Dr. Fatima: Allah gave you all the qualities of a good leader...you are compassionate, decisive, brave, honest and you believe in justice and goodness. Your leadership is vital for the peace and prosperity of this kingdom. 

King Hasan: Wow subhanallah. I never thought of my qualities as gifts. Thank you for reminding me how Al Khaaliq, Al Baari, Al Musawwir has blessed me! I hope I can do many good deeds with my personality and help all my people as much as possible!

Aunty Hiba: There is one final thing we should all keep in mind when we remember Allah as Al Khaaliq Al Baari Al Musawwir. 

Just as Allah created us from nothing, brought us to life, and fashioned each of us in our current forms, Allah will bring us back to life on the Day of Judgement.

Centuries and centuries after people have been dead on earth, Allah (s) will raise each and every one of us up and bring us back to the extent that even our fingerprints will be restored.

Jester: I’ve always been rather fond of my fingerprints.

Aunty Hiba: SubhanAllah. So much to think about! So much to be grateful for. Oooh I think King Hasan is just putting on our favorite tv show. All of us are going to watch it together. Come with?


Aunty Hiba: Wow, that was really fun! I love a good game show! And I am so glad to learn Al Khaliq Al Baari and Al Musawwir today. Allah is the Creator, the Maker, the fashioner of us all. Thinking of these names, using them to make dua with and remembering them when we look at ourselves and others is super important. It will helps us always be content with what we look like and appreciative of everyone else’s looks. We are all made by Allah! Alhumdulillah!

Ok let’s watch our Surah Hashr ayahs again. See if you can see and hear the beautiful names of Allah Al Khaaliq, Al Baari Al Musawwir!

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٢٢هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُ ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْجَبَّارُ ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ٢٣هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُ ٱلْبَارِئُ ٱلْمُصَوِّرُ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٢٤ 

“He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. He is Allah , other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. He is Allah , the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” [Quran 59:22-24]