Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Al-Quddus is Allah, the One who is transcendent above every deficiency and defect, purified from everything that does not befit His majesty, described by perfection, and exalted above opposites, equals, consort, and offspring. No one resembles Him in any of His attributes of perfection.
“Al-Quddus” means the Blessed and the Pure, transcendent above every impurity, and He is the One praised for all virtues and excellences.
This name includes the meaning of transcendence and glorification. Allah is transcendent above every deficiency and defect, and He is far above having any partner, equal, consort, or offspring.
He is also characterized by absolute perfection, and no one can approach or resemble Him in any attribute of perfection.
Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding the meaning of sanctification:
“Sanctification means purification and glorification.”
This is reflected in the words of Allah concerning the angels:
“And we glorify You with Your praise and sanctify You.”
[Al-Baqarah 2:30]
That is: We attribute to You what befits You of purity and transcendence from impurities and deficiencies, and we declare You free from what the people of disbelief and falsehood attribute to You.
The exegetes have mentioned several meanings for the angels’ sanctification of Allah, including prayer, glorification, praise, magnification, and obedience. These meanings all ultimately refer to declaring Allah transcendent and purifying Him from what the people of disbelief attribute to Him.
The name “Al-Quddus” indicates the complete transcendence of Allah. Nothing is comparable to Him, and no one shares His perfection.
He is transcendent above:
Opposites and equals.
A consort and offspring.
Defects and deficiencies.
Resemblance to created beings.
Anyone approaching or resembling Him in any attribute of perfection.
Therefore, glorifying and declaring Allah transcendent is not merely a matter of words. Rather, it means affirming the attributes of perfection that He affirmed for Himself, while declaring Him free from everything that does not befit His majesty.
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“Among His descriptions is Al-Quddus, possessing
sanctification through glorification of the Most Merciful.”
Al-Quddus is Allah, the Pure and the One transcendent above every deficiency and defect, exalted above opposites, equals, consort, and offspring, characterized by absolute perfection, and incomparable to anyone in any of His attributes of perfection.
This name encompasses the meanings of purification, transcendence, glorification, and exaltation. He is far above everything that does not befit His majesty and perfection.
And Allah knows best.