Verse 4
Mankind • makkah
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In the present Surah three Divine attributes—Rabb (Lord of mankind), Malik (King of mankind), and Ilah (God of mankind), have been invoked as against one attribute, viz. Rabbul-Falaq (Lord of the dawn) in the preceding Surah, because this one attribute comprises all the three above- mentioned attributes. Whereas one Divine attribute—Lord of the dawn—has been invoked against four kinds of mischief in the previous Surah, in the present Surah three Divine attributes have been invoked against one mischief, i.e. whispering of the Evil One. This is because the promptings or insinuations of Satan cover all conceivable evils.
The three Divine attributes have a subtle connection with the physical, moral and spiritual conditions of man. Man’s physical and moral developments take place under the attribute Rabb, and his thoughts, words and actions are punished or rewarded by Malik; and the attribute Ilah signifies that God is th