Say ‘'blessing‘' in the Quran is often associated with abundant goodness, both material and spiritual. Blessings are also often associated with the grace and gifts of Allah SWT.
There are 32 verses in the Qur'an that use several terms that refer to the meaning of words blessing. Like; tabârak, blessings, mubarakatun, barakna, in various forms.[1]
In the Encyclopedia of the Meaning of the Qur'an, say al-Barakah divided into 2 (two): First, in a way hissîy, This means that all the goodness that Allah has sent down to the earth and its blessings can be enjoyed by the people of the country and can attract other countries in all corners of the world.
Second, in a way meaningful, that Mecca is the direction of prayer for those in the East and West. This refers to the Qur'an, Surah al-Imran, verse 96.
God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing. مُبٰرَكًا وَّهُدًى لِّلْعٰلَمِيْنَۚ ٩٦
“"Indeed, the house that was originally built for (a place of worship) for humans was the Baitullah in Bakkah (Mecca), which was blessed and became a guide for all humans."”[2]
Expression blessing, either in form noun and form fi'il all of them refer to positive things that save, provide peace and grace.[3]
Meanwhile, Imam al Qurtûbhî interpreted the letter al-a'raf Verse 96 "Allah made Mecca a blessed city, because the reward for good deeds done in it is multiplied." So, blessing in this verse it means a lot of goodness.[4]
As for Badiuzzaman Said Nursi's view, the sentence blessing also contained in the sentence Bismillahir Rahman Nirrâhîm. In Said Nursi's view said Bismillah is the beginning of all goodness and the beginning of all important matters.
That is why we begin with it. Know that besides being a symbol of Islam, this good and blessed sentence is a dhikr for all entities through lisân hâl (state).
According to Said Nursi, blessings are possessed by a rational person who continues on the path without encountering difficulties. This is because they think of beautiful things because they possess noble morals. This blessing is likened to a clear mind that thinks of something beautiful and good.[5]
Sheikh Mutawallî asy-Sya'rawi in his tafsir, explains the meaning blessing. What does it mean blessing? Blessing is when someone is given more than they should; like someone whose salary is fifty pounds and we find him and his children living in prosperity and happiness, without trouble.
Then you ask: How does he live? And he answered: That blessing. And blessings have a cosmic explanation because people always—as we said before—look at their income in terms of positive fortune, and ignore negative fortune.
Positive fortune is that Allah, the Almighty, makes your income thousands of pounds, but you may need it many times more.
Negative fortune increase your income by a hundred pounds and reduce many of your expenses, such as giving you welfare so you don't have to pay doctor's fees or medical expenses.[6]
And Allah knows best
[1] Faidullah al-Husni, Fath al-Rahmân lî Thalîb averses of the Qur'an, 2019. (Surabaya: Al-Hidayah Book Store), 50-51
[2] The people of the book say that the first house of worship built was in Baitul Maqdis, therefore Allah denies this.
[3]Mr. Dhuha Abdul Jabbar. Encyclopedia of the Meaning of the Qur'an Syarah Alfâzhul Qur'’ân, (Bandung: Fitrah Rabbani, 2012). See, Barakâ, 88-89
[4] Sheikh Imam Al Qurtubi, Al Jami' Al Ahkam Al Qur'an, translated by Muhammad Ibrahim Al Hifnawi and Muhammad Hamid Ustaman, Tafsir al-Qurthubi Volume IV (Jakarta: Pustaka Azam, 2008), 358
[5] Badiuzzaman Said Nursi, Al-Kalimat, transl. Fauzi Faisal Bahreisy, (Tangerang: Risalah Nur Press, 2021), 3, 41.
[6] Interpretation al-Khawâthîr ((Ash-Sya'rawi), 4257
