Answer
Salam (Peace) Jonathon,
Thank you so much for trusting us with this interesting question.
Please find part one of the answer to your question below. Find the second and final part at the link here.
Your question really reflects that you are a deep thinker, and you are a good reader as well.
The Best of Creators
Yes, indeed, there are few verses in the Quran which address this issue. For example, we read in the Quran:
{Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (fetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!} (Al-Mu’minun 23:14)
In this verse, Allah (God) the Almighty was explaining the process of the creation of the embryo in the womb of the mother. The last segment mentions, “so blessed is Allah the best of creators.”
Also, another verse of the Quran tells us the following:
{Will you call upon Baal (a false god) and forsake the Best of Creators.} (As-Saffat 37:125)
In the above verse, Allah is criticizing the disbelief of those who worship idols, and one of the idols during the revelation of the Quran was known as “Baal”.
Also, the phrase, “the Most Merciful of the merciful ones”, was mentioned in the Quran approximately four times. Then, in another couple of times, there is, “the Best of all merciful”, which basically provides the same meaning.
So, it is true that it is mentioned in the Quran in a couple of verses that Allah is “the Best of all creators” and in several verses that Allah is “the Most Merciful of all merciful”.
To answer your question—Does this mean that there are many creators and that Allah is the Most Merciful of them, and there are many merciful gods and Allah is Most Merciful of them?— No. Allah is the only Creator and God. And the owner of Mercy.
First of all, the word “khaliq” (creator) in Arabic also means “sani” (manufacturer). So, every person who does anything, makes up anything, or manufactures anything is also called “khaliq“.
If we translate the word “khaliq” into English, then the only translation will be “creator”.
There is no competition whatsoever between the creation and Creator. The creation may manufacture things. We, as a part of the creation; create cars, homes, and so on. And this action and these things can also be called creation.
Yet, there is no comparison between what we created and what Allah the Almighty creates.
Moreover, Allah the Almighty says:
{Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs.} (Az-Zumar 39:62)
He created us, enabled us, allowed us, and taught us how to make, manufacture, or construct things. Basically, He is the true and ultimate Creator.
So, when Allah the Almighty describes how He created the human being, He has proven to us how He created us because we had no idea whatsoever at the time these verses were revealed, over 1,400 years ago.
Then, He raises the question: is there anyone who is better in creation than Allah the Almighty? He is indeed the best of all creators.
Another interesting point is that Allah the Almighty says in the Quran that He named some of his creatures and gave them this power of creation, but only by His leave:
{Then will Allah say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold! You make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breathe into it and it becomes a bird by My leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! you bring forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) you when you did show them the clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.'”} (Al-Ma’idah 5:110)
In this verse, Allah the Almighty reminds Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) of His favors upon him. So, every miracle that he was able to do, and when he was able to make the figure of a bird and breathe life into it, all of that was by the leave of Allah.
Please continue reading part two at the link here.
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