Sanctification
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (60)
The act of glorification is paired with sanctification in Allah's statement, relayed about the angels: {while we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection?"} [Al-Baqarah: 30].
Ibn Al-Qayyim said: "The root of the word ‘Taqdis’ (sanctification) comes from purity and cleanliness. This is also the reason behind the name Al-Quds (the Holy Land), as it is a place where one is purified from sins. Whoever visits it with the intention of praying there returns from their sins like the day their mother bore them.
So, Sanctification (Taqdis) means purification. It is said: "He was sanctified", meaning "He was purified". In relation to Allah, it refers to declaring Allah, the Exalted, free from any impurities. When we say, "We sanctify You", we attribute to You the qualities of purity from all impurities and what the disbelievers ascribe to You.
Ibn Ashour said: "The meaning of 'we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection'; The first (glorification) is expressed through words, while the second (sanctification) is through the belief in attributes of perfection that are appropriate for the Most High. Therefore, there is no assumption of repetition between 'we exalt' and 'declare Your perfection'.
Just as glorification and sanctification were paired in the previously mentioned verse, the Sunnah also contains the pairing of Allah's name "The Most Glorious" with His name "The Most Sacred''. This is narrated by Aisha, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), who reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say in his bowing and prostration: "Glory (to You) , Most Holy (are You) , Lord of the angels and the Spirit."
Al-Halimi stated in his discourse that sanctification is the affirmation of praise for Allah that entails the negation of any blame against Him, while glorification is the negation of any blame against Allah that entails the affirmation of praise for Him. Thus, when we say; "He is such and such", this appears to be sanctification, and when we say; "He is not such and such," this appears to be glorification. Therefore, glorification is inherently present within sanctification, and sanctification is inherently present within glorification. He noted that Allah Almighty combined both in Surah Al-Ikhlas, where He said: {Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, (1) Allah, the Eternal Refuge. (2) He neither begets nor is born, (3) Nor is there to Him any equivalent." (4)} [Al-Ikhlas: 1-4].
This is glorification, and both matters ultimately relate to His Oneness and Uniqueness, negating partners and comparisons to Him. The essence of his statement is that sanctification is an affirmation that entails a negation, while glorification is a negation that entails an affirmation. The attributes of Allah Almighty that are affirmed fall within the meaning of sanctification, while the attributes that are negated fall within the meaning of glorification. This is a good explanation of the meanings of sanctification and glorification and their interrelationship. And Allah knows best.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 449-451.
- Tasbih in the Qur’an and Sunnah, Kendo, 1/113.
- Al-Tahrir wal Tanwir, Ibn Ashur, 1/406.
- Lisan al-Arab, Muhammad bin Makram bin Manzur, Dar Sadir, Beirut, 6/186.
- Tafsir al-Tabari, 1/248, Tafsir al-Baghawi, 1/79.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
