Kalimatullah
Definition
Kalimatullah — the Word of Allah — is one of Isa's titles in the Quran and hadith, indicating that he was brought into existence by the divine word 'Kun — Be' without the biological mechanism of a father. Ibn Kathir carefully explains that this title does not make Isa divine or part of the divine essence — just as Allah's attribute of speech (kalam) is His attribute, the 'word' through which Isa was created is the divine command, not a divine person. The title honors the uniqueness of Isa's mode of creation while firmly locating that creation within the same framework as Adam's creation from clay — both came into being by divine command alone, without ordinary biological causality.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Kalimatullah.
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"creation, taking Abraham as a friend. Another said, How remarkable is the speech of Moses whom Allah spoke to. Another said, How wonderful is Jesus, the Word of Allah and His Spirit. Another said, Adam was chosen by Allah. The Prophet came out to them and greeted them, saying, I have heard your conversation and your amazement. Indeed, Abraham is the friend of Allah, and he is such. Moses is the confidant of Allah, and he is such. Jesus is the Spirit and Word of Allah, and he is such. Adam was chosen by Allah, and he is such. Behold, I am the Beloved of Allah, and this is no boast. I carry the banner of praise on the Day of"
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 40: The Book of the Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife
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"In the collection of al-Tirmidhi from the hadith of Bilal ibn al-Harith al-Muzani, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. One of you may speak a word of Allah's pleasure not considering it to reach what it reaches, and Allah writes for him his pleasure until the day he meets him. And one of you may speak a word of Allah's displeasure not considering it to reach what it reaches, and Allah writes for him his displeasure until the day he meets him."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, The Disease and The Cure
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"In both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, from Abu Hurairah, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. A servant may utter a word of Allah's pleasure without giving it much thought, yet Allah elevates him in rank because of it. Conversely, a servant may utter a word of Allah's displeasure without giving it much thought, and it leads him to plunge into hellfire."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, The Disease and The Cure
Appears in
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