Attributes of God

[itsme]

Surah al-Ghafir (The Forgiver)
Chapter 40: Verses 2-3

"The revelation of this Book is from Allah, Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge,Who forgiveth Sin, accepteth Repentance, is Strict in Punishment, and hath a Long Reach (in all things). There is no god but He: to Him is the Final Goal."

"Exalted in Power"
He is Dominant over everything. His every decree concerning anybody is always enforced; none can fight Him and win; none can escape His grasp.

"Full of Knowledge"
He does not say anything on mere conjecture, but has the direct knowledge of everything. He knows in what lies the true success of man and what rules and laws and commands are necessary for his well-being. His every teaching is based on wisdom and correct knowledge, which does not admit of any error. Nothing from the acts and deeds of man can remain hidden from Him; so much so that He even knows the intentions of man, which are the real motives of his deeds.

"Forgiveth Sin, accepteth Repentance"
This attribute brings hope and causes inducement, which has been mentioned so that the people who have led lives of sin, should not despair but should reform themselves with the hope that if they refrained from their behaviour even now, they could still be redeemed by Allah's mercy. But one should remember that the concession of forgiveness of errors only refers to those believers who are free from defiance and who committed sins due to human weakness and not persistence in pride and sin.

"Strict in Punishment"
By this the people have been warned that just as Allah is Merciful for those who adopt the way of His service, so is He stern for those who adopt an attitude of rebellion against Him. When a person transgresses the limits where he can still deserve pardon and forgiveness from Allah, then he becomes worthy of His punishment, and His punishment is so dreadful that only a fool would persist in his wrongdoing.

"Hath a Long Reach"
He is Generous and Beneficent: all creatures are being showered with His blessings and favours every moment. Whatever the servants are getting, they are getting only through His bounty and beneficence.

After these five attributes, two realities have been stated expressly: (1) That none but Allah is the Deity no matter how many false gods the people might have set up; and (2) that to Him everyone must return: there is no other deity which can call the people to account and reward or punish them. Therefore, if somebody makes another his deity, apart from Him, he will himself face the consequences of his folly.

Source:
"Towards Understanding the Quran" - Abul A'la Mawdudi