Al-Quddus
How many times is Allah’s Beautiful Name, Al-Quddus, mentioned in the Holy Qur’an?
Allah’s Beautiful Name, Al-Quddus, is mentioned twice in the Holy Qur’an, and both times this Name is mentioned in the same Juz’ of the Holy Qur’an.
Surah Al-Hashr is in the 28th Juz’ of the Holy Qur’an.
هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
{He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior, Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.} (59:23)
Surah Al-Jumu`ah is also in the 28th Juz’ of the Holy Qur’an.
يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
{Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is exalting Allah, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.} (62:1)
Listen to the beautiful recitation of this verse from Surah Al-Hashr and we will try to memorize it.
What does Al-Quddus mean?
There are actually 4 meanings or concepts for the Name of Allah, Al-Quddus. While explaining each of these 4 meanings, each part will have an activity to go with it!
First meaning of Al-Quddus:
Al-Quddus means Allah is free from any imperfection. Allah is far and above any imperfection, error, fault, and shortcoming. None can attain perfection except Allah. He is complete and perfect in all of His Attributes; meaning He has complete and perfect sight, complete and perfect hearing, complete and perfect knowledge, complete and perfect strength, complete and perfect mercy…
Activity:
Write all the words of the following 4 statements separately on index cards. Jumble up all the cards and ask the students to organize the words into the 4 clear and correct statements.
- Allah has complete and perfect knowledge and NEVER has forgetfulness, or ignorance or lack of knowledge.
- Allah has complete and perfect power and capability and NEVER has weakness, or incapability, or the need to sleep.
- Allah has complete and perfect life and will NEVER have an end or illness or death.
- Allah has complete and perfect justice and NEVER commits oppression or injustice.
Second meaning of Al-Quddus
Al-Quddus means Allah is free from any partner or associate. There is nothing in creation that is like Him or that can resemble Him. Allah does not have nor does He need any son or daughter.
Memorize this part of verse 11 from Surah Ash-Shura in the Holy Qur’an:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
{There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing}.
Activity:
Nothing in creation can be similar to Allah or resemble Allah or be like Allah, nor can anyone in creation reach perfection.
Pass out worksheets with 2 similar pictures, and the students have to spot 10 differences! Have several worksheets ready and split the group in smaller teams. Kids really enjoy this. I usually laminate my worksheets in clear plastic and give kids board markers so we can reuse the worksheets and not waste paper! 
Third meaning of Al-Quddus
Al-Quddus means the Very Pure, the Absolutely Pure. It means the absolutely pure and clean. Allah is free from any impurity or imperfection.
Activity:
Allah is perfectly pure and cannot ever have even a miniscule amount of impurity!
To demonstrate the differences in purity of water, have on hand three glass jars filled with pure, clean water. Students will look closely at the water and examine the water. In the second glass jar, have one student drop in using a medicinal dropper exactly 4 drops of red food coloring. Watch as the color diffuses and spreads and the water is slowly changing to impure water. In the third jar, one student will drop only 1 tiny drop of the red food coloring water, and the students will examine the jar. Even one tiny drop will eventually change the color of the entire jar of water and the water is no longer as clear and clean as before.
Fourth meaning of Al-Quddus
Al-Quddus means the Sacred, the Blessed. Allah is Sacred. We glorify only Allah, we say “Subhan Allah”. We must know that the word “Subhan” cannot be attached to any other being in existence, other than Allah. It is only Allah whom we glorify, we believe is the Greatest, and we worship.
To understand the meaning of sacredness or blessedness, we can think of sacred places or special places. Allah is the One who made these places sacred or special.
Activity:
Pass out beautiful pictures of these sacred places and discuss with the group of students what made these places in particular so sacred and special.
- Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa
- The Ka`bah and Grand Mosque in Makkah
- Maqam Ibrahim
- The Prophet’s Mosque (peace be upon him) in Madinah.
- Mount Uhud
- Jabal Al-Nour
Each of these blessed places has a story of a Prophet (may Allah send His blessings upon all the prophets) behind it and we can learn so much when studying these places.
How do I live by Allah’s Name, Al-Quddus?
Since one of the meaning of Allah’s Name, Al-Quddus, is the One who is Very Pure and the Absolutely Pure, I can try to draw closer to Allah by working hard to purify myself. I will strive to purify my body, my tongue, and my heart.
Encourage everyone to participate and share their ideas!
Purify my body
- Perform wudu (ablution) thoroughly and mindfully.
- Make proper ghusl; shower regularly.
- Brush my teeth 3 times a day.
- Use siwak, it’s sunnah!
- Keep my nails cut short because long nails can harbor bacteria.
- Keep my hair neat.
- Wear clean clothes.
Purify my tongue
- Avoid backbiting.
- I will not lie.
- I will not use bad language.
- Say kind and good words.
- Make dhikr, remembrance of Allah, glorifying and praying Allah.
- Make istighfar, seek forgiveness from Allah.
Purify my heart
- I love for my Muslim brother and sister as I would love for myself.
- Pray my daily prayers with mindfulness and concentration.
- Read the Qur’an regularly.
- Seek forgiveness from Allah.
- Be kind, good, and helpful to my parents.
- Performing umrah and Hajj washes away our bad deeds.
- Give in charity.
Duaa- Supplication with the Names of Allah
Write these supplications in the duaa journal that the students are working on.
Say this during prostration: 
Subbuhun Quddusun, Rabbul-mala'ikati war-ruh
You are the Most Glorious. The Most Holy. You are the Lord of the angels and of Jibril.
After the witr prayer, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to say:
سُبحان المَلِكُ القُدُّوس. سُبحان المَلِكُ القُدُّوس. سُبحان المَلِكُ القُدُّوس.
Subhan al-Malik al-Quddus. Subhan al-Malik al-Quddus. Subhan al-Malik al-Quddus
Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy. Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy. Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy
Arts and Crafts:
The idea for this arts and crafts project came from this part of verse 103 in Surah At-Tawbah in the Holy Qur’an.
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا
{Take, [O Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase}
One way to purify our hearts is to give in charity. We will decorate these donation or charity boxes and keep them in the home. We will encourage our family members and guests to put some money in the charity box. Kids can give from their allowance too. Any loose change lying around the house can go in the box. By the end of each month, we can choose a good cause to donate the money to, and then start collecting money again for someone else in need.
Please feel free to email us if you would like us to send you some free worksheets to print out and use, faithfulkidsfun@gmail.com