Robyn E Lebron of religion is meant to take us common folk from our everyday perception of our individual existence to this utmost height The way to this pinnacle of human perceptions is a gradual progression from our current perception to a deeper contemplative revelation Simple intellectual understanding from an outside source may create an awareness, but it does not lead to an insight that transforms Section 1: Characterization of the Infinite and the Infinitesimal Names are meaningful They characterize the named In that sense, names may be considered as attributes of the named “Allcomprehensive spirit” in itself is difficult to comprehend But we form an idea of it by observing its manifestation We enter into a relationship with it Some may relate to it as father, others in some other way “Just as a person is in relation to you a father and in relation to another either son or brother So the names of God in their number have relations: He is from the viewpoint of the infidel the Tyrant (qaher); from our viewpoint, the Merciful.” (63) Spirit “manifests itself outwardly in certain modes that can be summarized as the divine names mentioned in the Qur’an For example, God calls Himself Merciful, Seeing, and Forgiving Hence we know that He possesses the Attributes of Mercy, Sight, and Forgiveness It is important to remember that in Ibn al-’Arabỵ’s school, the terms Name and Attributes provide the framework for describing God’s nature, and, more particularly, for explaining how He displays Himself outwardly within creation just as a light throws out rays.” (64) The Noble Qur’an offers a rich variety of ninety-nine names through which the one and only God displays Himself outwardly, 110