Sometimes Allah Uses the Plural Form and Plural Pronouns in Reference to Himself for Glorification

17-8-2020 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamulaikum wa rahamtullahi wa barakathu.
In Qur'an surah 28, Verse 58 - Allah said indeed we are the inheritors.
My Question is - Allah is one (singular) then why inheritor is plural ?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

On many occasions in the Quran, Allah, The Exalted, speaks of Himself in the plural form and uses the plural pronouns in reference to Himself, like the verse you mentioned. Other examples are the verses that read (what means):

·   {And the earth We have spread out, and excellent is the preparer.} [Quran 51:48]

·   {And [O Muhammad] you are not [engaged] in any matter or recite any of the Qur'an and you [people] do not do any deed except that We are witness over you when you are involved in it…} [Quran 10:61]

·   {Indeed, it is We Who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.} [Quran 15:9]

The wisdom behind using the plural form here is the glorification of Allah, The Exalted. At-Taahir ibn ‘Aashoor said in his book At-Tahreer wa At-Tanweer, commenting on the verse: {And the earth We have spread out, and excellent is the preparer} [Quran 51:48]: “The use of the plural form here is for the purpose of glorification (of Allah).” [End of quote] Moreover, Adhwaa’ Al-Bayaan reads: “The plural pronouns are used in reference to Allah, The Exalted, for the purpose of glorification.” [End of quote]

Allah Knows best.