Ar-Rahman: (78) Tabaraka ism Rabbika...

Issues Discussed Here:

There are several viewpoints regarding the placement of this verse:

1. Contrast with the End of the Previous Section: Since Allah concluded the blessings of this world with the verse, "And there remains but the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor" (Ar-Rahman: 27), He concludes the blessings of the Hereafter here with, "Blessed is the Name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor." This indicates that what remains and endures by itself is Allah alone. The world is transient, and although the Hereafter is enduring, its endurance is through Allah's sustaining power.
2. Connection to Divine Presence: In the concluding parts of all these Surahs, Allah mentions His Name. In the Surah preceding this one (Al-Qamar), He said, "With a Mighty King" (Al-Qamar: 55). Being in the presence of Allah is the ultimate blessing. Similarly here, after mentioning Paradise and its blessings, He says, "Blessed is the Name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor," indicating that the ultimate blessing and the most complete delight is the mention of Allah. Furthermore, in the Surah following this one (Al-Waqi'ah), He mentions, "So, [there will be] rest and ease and a Garden of Pleasure" (Al-Waqi'ah: 89), and concludes the Surah by saying, "So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Great" (Al-Waqi'ah: 96).
3. Mention of Hearing: Allah mentioned all the physical delights in Paradise but omitted the delight of hearing, which is one of the most sublime types of pleasure. Instead, He mentioned them reclining on green cushions, "hearing the mention of Allah."

The root of Tabarak comes from Barakah (blessing), which signifies permanence and stability. Examples include the kneeling of a camel (buruk) and a water source (barakah), as the water remains there constantly. There are three interpretations:

1. His Name endures and is established.
2. Goodness remains with Him, because although Barakah implies stability, it is specifically used concerning goodness.
3. Tabarak means exalted and elevated in station, not in physical location.

After mentioning the blessings of this world, Allah said, "And there remains but the Face of your Lord" (Ar-Rahman: 27). After mentioning the blessings of the Hereafter, He says, "Blessed is the Name of your Lord."

• The reference after enumerating the world's blessings points to the annihilation of all contingent beings in their very essence. The Name of Allah benefits those who remember Him, and in that place (Paradise), there will be no rememberer except one who glorifies Allah to the utmost degree of Tawhid (Oneness). Thus, He says: The Face of Allah remains.
• The reference here points to the fact that the inhabitants of Paradise remain because Allah sustains them, remembering His Name and delighting in it. Thus, He says: "Blessed is the Name of your Lord," meaning, on that Day, no one's name will remain except the Name of Allah. Tongues will revolve around it, and no one will have need of another's mention, nor fear from anyone. If they converse, they will converse by the Name of Allah.

There are two views:

1. It is Redundant (Superfluous): This is the more famous view, similar to the word Wajh (Face) in the verse, "And there remains but the Face of your Lord." Evidence for this is found in verses like, "So blessed is Allah, the best of creators" (Al-Mu'minun: 14) and "Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the Sovereignty" (Al-Mulk: 1), and other usages of the word Tabarak.
2. The Name is Essential and Carries a Profound Meaning:
   • If we take Tabarak to mean "exalted," then how is the Name exalted if the Named Entity is the ultimate reality? When a king's status is magnified, his name is not mentioned except with a degree of reverence. When the speaker reaches the point of mentioning him, their reverence increases further. The ultimate reverence for a name is when the listener stands up upon hearing it, as is the custom with kings when they hear the name of a great sovereign mentioned in a message. If the sovereign himself appears instead of his written message, they prostrate themselves on the ground before him. This is clear evidence that the exaltation of the Name indicates a superior exaltation in the Named Entity.
   • If we take it to mean "Goodness remains with Him," it indicates that the remembrance of Allah's Name removes evil, causes Satan to flee, increases goodness, and brings happiness closer.
   • If we take it to mean "The Name of Allah endures," it points to the endurance of the rememberers in Paradise, as we previously mentioned.

The famous reading here is "Dhī al-Jalāl" (Owner of Majesty), just as in the verse, "And there remains but the Face of your Lord, Dhū al-Jalāl."

This is because Majesty (Jalāl) belongs to the Lord (Rabb), whereas the Name (Ism) is separate from the Named Entity (Musammā). The Face of the Lord, however, is the Lord (metaphorically or by association). Therefore, in the previous verse, the Face was described, while here, the Lord is described, not the Name.

If Allah had said, "And the Lord remains," it might be assumed that if the Lord remains, He must have a created being (mabūb) in that time. By saying "the Face," the annihilation of the created is implied, thus confirming the permanence of the Truth (Allah). The description of the Face serves this purpose.

And Allah knows best. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad, his family, and his companions.