Du`a – Essence of `Ibadat Part One - Rabbi'l-`alamin (Nourisher of the worlds)
Rabbi'l-`alamin (Nourisher of the worlds)
Tags: Rabbu'l-`alamin, Divine Nourishment
Rabbu'l-`alamin means that God has innumerable worlds. According to some sages of religion, these worlds are of three kinds: The subtle worlds (pure spiritual worlds), the dense worlds (pure physical worlds) and the combined worlds (the worlds which are a combination of body and soul), i.e. the worlds of human personalities.
The worlds that are purely spiritual are beyond space and time and are ever-living angels. For, according to the abovementioned statement, if human beings can be combined worlds of body and soul, then necessarily angels can also be purely spiritual worlds. As for the purely physical worlds, there cannot be any doubt at all that they are the planets and the stars and the elements, vegetables and animals, in which corporeality is predominant and hence they can be called purely physical worlds.
Thus it is evident that in the meaning of rabbu'l-`alamin the nourishment of human worlds is specifically mentioned. For, in the above-mentioned three kinds of worlds, the angels do not need as much nourishment as human beings whereas the pure physical worlds, due to their being devoid of intellect and awareness, are not capable of [receiving] Divine nourishment as are human beings.
Further, it is a clear fact that the word `alamin in the holy Qur'an is used mainly in the sense of human beings, as God says: “Wa ma arsalnaka illa rahmata’l-li'l-`alamin (And We sent you not save as a mercy for the peoples)” (21:107). Thus it is evident that the Divine nourishment, which is mentioned in rabbu'l `alamin is the nourishment of the human worlds in a special sense and that of the other worlds in a general sense. For, if we accept that God nourishes this universe, it has to have fruit; and if there is one, it is humankind. In this case too, the fruit of Divine nourishment is the human being and it is specifically provided for him, just as in reality the nourishment of a tree is for the sake of its fruit.
The wisdom-filled words of the Fatihah or the Ummu'l-kitab, which are like the titles of the details of the Qur'an, have endless meanings, which cannot be described extensively in the present booklet. Therefore, we will explain briefly only those words in whose meanings there is no controversy.
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