'We' in the Qur'an

[Al-Muntadhar313]

Salam,

Does anyone know why Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) uses the word 'we' to refer to himself?

Example:

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتٰبَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ بِالرُّسُلِ  ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنٰهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ  ۗ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوٰىٓ أَنْفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ
"And We did certainly give Moses the Torah and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed."
(QS. Al-Baqara 2: Verse 87)

[Flying_Eagle]

5 hours ago, Al-Muntadhar313 said:

Salam,

Does anyone know why Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) uses the word 'we' to refer to himself?

Example:

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتٰبَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ بِالرُّسُلِ  ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنٰهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ  ۗ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوٰىٓ أَنْفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ
"And We did certainly give Moses the Torah and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed."
(QS. Al-Baqara 2: Verse 87)

For either of two reasons according to Ulemas:

1. To teach humans words of respect such as some languages have very unworthy pronouns used to refer to "you" and therefore God by plural pronouns  teach them manners of talking to God who is king of the world.

2. By these words, God appreciates his creation who have been serving Him for example the angels who came up with revelations to messengers and brought them messages. Hence, by including those angels, He (عزّ وجلّ) teaches us that we be respectable to them. 

[SoRoUsH]

سلام

The conventional view is that it's the "Royal" "We." It highlights God's magnificence. 

However, I can't agree with that. It's too simple, too intellectually lazy.

If you closely examine how the term "We" is used by God in the Qur'an, "We" seems to be used when God accomplishes a task through other agents, such as Angels or others. 

Edited July 15, 2019 by SoRoUsH

[Noor Taleb]

I asked this to Sayed Sistani 

here is the answer :

 

In the Name of Allah, the Most High

 

It means "more glory and respect". 

 

May Allah grant you success.

www.Sistani.org

Istifta Section - Office of His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani

 

[Flying_Eagle]

2 minutes ago, Noor Taleb said:

I asked this to Sayed Sistani 

here is the answer :

 

In the Name of Allah, the Most High

 

It means "more glory and respect". 

 

May Allah grant you success.

www.Sistani.org

Istifta Section - Office of His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani

 

yeah @Soroush and I said same, but in different words, you have to totally agree to us or I challenge you for dual pistol fight brother. one who lives, will be correct. 

[Guest Valor]

In very formal Arabic, "we" could be used to refer to one. As others have mentioned it emphasizes & shows magnificence. In other languages however it may or may not.

[Shahrukh K]

9 hours ago, Al-Muntadhar313 said:

Salam,

Does anyone know why Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) uses the word 'we' to refer to himself?

Example:

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتٰبَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ بِالرُّسُلِ  ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنٰهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ  ۗ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوٰىٓ أَنْفُسُكُمُ اسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ
"And We did certainly give Moses the Torah and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed."
(QS. Al-Baqara 2: Verse 87)

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَلَهُ الْمَثَلُ الْأَعْلَىٰ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيم

 

It is HU who manifests creation and then repeats it! And that is easy for Him (to do)! And to Him belongs the greatest examples in the heavens and the Earth. HU is the Aziz, the Hakim.

 Surah Ar-Rum (30:27)

 

أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ

Is not He Who created the heavens and the Earth able to create the like of them? Yes! HU is the Khallaq, the Aleem.

Surah Ya Sin (36:81)

 Allah has got infinite names (modes). He creates with many names (modes) like Aziz ,Hakim, Khallaq, Alim  as you can see in above ayah.

 That is why "We" used in Qur'an instead of "I".