Introduction and Benefits to Allaah's Beautiful Names

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Introduction and Extracted Benefits from

‘Understanding Allaah’s Beautiful Names’[1]

Understanding Allaah’s Beautiful Names is a noble branch of knowledge. Rather it is the greatest fiqh. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Whoever Allaah wants good for, he gives him understanding of the religion.”

Understanding Allaah’s Beautiful Names is the pillar of the journey to Allaah.

The foundation upon which the religion is built consists of belief in Allaah, the Glorified, and His Names and Attributes. Allaah the Exalted says,

أَفَمَنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ تَقْوَىٰ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانٍ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّنْ أَسَّسَ بُنْيَانَهُ عَلَىٰ شَفَا جُرُفٍ هَارٍ فَانْهَارَ بِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ

Is it then he who laid the foundation of his building on piety to Allaah and His Good Pleasure better, or he who laid the foundation of his building on the brink of an undetermined precipice ready to crumble down, so that it crumbled to pieces with him into the Fire of Hell.

Surah at Tawbah [9:109]

Correcting the foundation and perfecting it is of utmost importance. The foundation is the strength for the body. 

There are two foundations of the religion:

a.       Correct knowledge of Allaah, His Names and Attributes.

b.      Making obedience solely for Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and not anyone else.

There are many proofs in the Qur’aan to firmly establish this foundation.

Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism) is the purpose for which Allaah created the creation:

1.       Tawheed al Ma’rifah wal ithbaat – Knowledge and Affirmation

2.       Tawheed al Iraadah wat Talab – Intentions and Actions

Allaah mentions His Names and Attributes in the Noble Qur’aan numerous times more than any other topic. It is the greatest, best and most lofty topic mentioned in the Qur’aan. See Suratul Ikhlaas, Suratul Faatihah and Aayatul Kursee.

The Virtues of Knowing Allaah’s Names and Attributes:

1.       The Call of the Prophets revolved around three matters:

a.       Knowing the Lord

b.      Knowing the Path

c.       Knowing the rewards and punishments

2.       Whoever has in his heart the smallest bit of life or love for his Lord and wishing to see His Face and longing to meet Him, his greatest aim, objective and motivation would be this topic of knowing Allaah and increasing in reflecting upon this topic.

3.       Sound hearts and souls at peace have more desire to know Allaah and are most happy in succeeding in knowing the truth.

4.       Happiness, reaching perfection and acquiring blessings revolves around knowing Allaah in this Life and the Next.

5.       The journey to Allaah is by way of Allaah’s Names and Attributes. Knowing them and learning them is an amazing matter. The one who knows them drinks happiness while he is on his bed.

Whoever loses this life, how can he spend his time and life with a covered heart. He leaves the world and has not tasted the best of what was in it.

His life is weakness and failure, his death is grief, his destination in the Hereafter is regret and sorrow.

أَن تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَا حَسْرَتَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِي جَنبِ اللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ السَّاخِرِينَ

O how I regret what I neglected in regards to Allaah. Alas my grief that I was undutiful to Allaah (I have not done what Allaah has ordered me to do).

Suratuz Zumar [39:56]

The Benefits of Knowing Allaah’s Names and Attributes

1.       It is the most noble of sciences.

2.       Knowing Allaah draws a person to love Allaah.

3.       It strengthens your faith.

4.       Allaah created the creation to know (and worship) Him.

5.       It is one of the 6 pillars of Faith

6.       Knowing Allaah is a profitable trade.

7.       Allaah loves it and loves to see the effects apparent on His creation. For example:

a.       Al Witr The One, He loves oneness

b.      Al Jameel The Beautiful – He loves beauty

c.       Al ‘Aleem The All-Knowing – He loves knowledge

d.      Al Jawaad The Most Generous – He loves generosity

e.      Al Qawwiyy The Strong – He loves strength

f.        Al Hayyiyy The One Possessing Honourable Shame – He loves modesty

g.       At Tawwaab The One who accepts Repentance again and again – He loves repentance

h.      Ash Shakoor The One most ready to appreciate and reward abundantly – He loves gratefulness

i.         Al Muhsin The Once whose actions are all perfect and good – He loves perfection

j.        Ar Raheem The Bestower of Mercy – He loves mercy

8.       Knowing Allaah’s Names and Attributes is:

a.       Protection from mistakes

b.      Protection from slipping and difficulties

c.       Opens the door of hope

d.      Helps you to have patience

e.      It distances you from lethargy and laziness

f.        An encouragement to do good deeds

g.       Discouraging a person from committing sins

h.      A solace in times of hardships

i.         A protection from shaytaan

j.        It fosters love

k.       It encourages generosity

The Pillars of Faith regarding the Beautiful Names of Allaah:

1.       Belief in the Name

2.       Belief in what the Name indicates

3.       Belief in what is connected to the name in terms of effects

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[1] These notes were translated from a lecture given by Dr. Sultana Aal ash Shaykh in Riyadh Saturday 21^st April 2018. This was her introduction after which she went on to explain the names ar Razzaaq, al Khaaliq and as Samad. She based her lecture on the book ‘Fiqhul Asmaa was Siffaat’ by Shaykh Dr. AbdurRazzaaq Badr. The translation of those names can be found on the blog: Allaahsbeautifulnames.blogspot.com.

Translated by Umm ‘AbdirRahmaan Tara Hashim. 1439.

Explanation of As Samad The Perfect Master

Here is the explanation from the chapter in Shaykh AbdurRazzaaq's Book: Fiqhul Asmaa al Husnaa.

Please note that the Shaykh wrote two books on the same topic: a full version and a summarized version. The translation is of the chapter from the full version.

To download the English translation of this chapter on as Samad  Click here


Mukhtasir (Summarized) Fiqh al Asmaa al Husnaa Download pdf in Arabic    Click here

Full version Fiqh al Asmaa (in Arabic) Shaykh 'Abdur Razaaq 'Abdul Muhsin al Badr Click here

Understanding Allaah’s Beautiful Names

Fiqhul Asmaa al Husnaa

by Shaykh Dr. AbdurRazzaaq bin ‘Abdul Muhsin al Badr[1]

Chapter (p111-114):         as Samad الصمد The Self-Sufficient Master[2]

This name is found in Suratul Ikhlaas: 

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (1) اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ (2) لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ (3) وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

1. Say (O Muhammad): "He is Allah, (the) One.

2. "Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).

3. "He begets not, nor was He begotten;

4. "And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him."

This is the Surah that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم informed us is equal to a third of the Qur’aan. In Saheeh al Bukhaari, Abee Sa’eed al Khudree said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to his Companions, “Would one of you not be able to read a third of the Qur’aan in one night? This was difficult upon them and they said, “Which of us would be able to do that O Messenger of Allaah?” So he صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Allaah al Waahid as Samad is a third of the Qur’aan.” [3]

‘As Samad’ means السيد العظيم The Great Master who has complete and perfect knowledge, wisdom, forbearance, power, honour, greatness and is Perfect in all His Attributes and descriptions.

So He possesses great and encompassing descriptions. All of the creation depend upon Him. All beings, even the most hidden, call upon Him in all their affairs. They do not have a Lord other than Him. They do not have anyone other than Him that they can call on to rectify their religious or worldly matters. They take refuge in Him at times of calamities and troubles. They humbly implore Him when disasters and hard times strike. They ask Him for help during hardships and trials. This is because they know that He can meet their needs and remove the calamities due to His Perfect and complete Knowledge, encompassing Mercy and Compassion, His perfection, great Ability, His Honour and His Authority.

Ibn Jareer at Tabaree narrated in his Tafseer from ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Abbaas رضي الله عنهما that he said, “As Samad The Self-Sufficient Master: The Master who is complete in his Mastership; The Sublime الشريف who is complete in His Sublimity; The Great who is complete in His Greatness; The Forbearing who is complete in His Forbearance and Clemency; The Rich who is complete in His Richness; The Wise who is complete in His Wisdom.

He is the One who is complete and perfect in types of Exaltedness and Mastership. He is Allaah, the One removed from every defect who deserves these descriptions which are only befitting for Him.”[4]

It is worth mentioning that this great name is from a group of Allaah’s Beautiful Names that indicate numerous descriptions and not one meaning. This name الصمد as Samad points to Allaah’s many great and perfect Attributes.

Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله said, As Samad: The Master who is complete in His Mastership. Due to this reason the Arabs used to call their nobles with this name because of the many praiseworthy descriptions contained within it. Their poets said:

Did not the announcer of death come early for the two good ones from Banee Asad

                                                                        Amru bin Mas’ood and as Sayyid as Samad

As samad is the master whom the hearts turn to in hope and fear. This is due to the many characteristics of good and the many praiseworthy attributes in him.

Due to this the consensus of the Salaf (including ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Abbaas رضي الله عنهما) said:

“as Samad is the One who is perfect in his Mastership. He is the Knowing with perfect knowledge, the Able with complete Ability, the Wise with complete Wisdom, the Merciful with complete Mercy and the Generous with complete generosity.”[5]

Ibnul Qayyim explained that its derivatives point to that. It is from gathering and intending. He is the One who all the people’s desires and purposes are gathered towards and in Him are gathered all the Attributes of Mastership. This is the origin in the language.

The Arabs call their Nobles ‘as samad’ because the people’s intentions and focus are on them and also because the characteristics of nobility are all gathered in them.[6]

Due to this the Pious Predecessors (Salaf) differed in expressions in the tafseer of this Name as Samad.

Some of them said:

1.     

As Samad the Self-Sufficient Master is not hollow. He does not eat nor drink.

2.    He is the One to Whom the creation turns to for their needs and requests.

3.    He is the One from Whom nothing issues forth. For example, no prominent noble comes from Him and He does not have children.

4.    He is the Master with ultimate mastery.

5.    He is the One with no-one above Him.

Ibn Jareer at Tabaree brought all of these sayings in his Tafseer [7] and mentioned which of the Imaams of the Salaf said them رحمهم الله. Al Haafidth Ibn Katheer also mentioned the sayings in his Tafseer[8]. Other Mufassiroon who explained the Qur’aan also did the same. All of these sayings are true because this Name (as Samad) indicates many descriptions and not only one as we have previously made clear.

Al Haafidth Ibn Katheer quoted Abul Qaasim at Tabaraanee in his book ‘As Sunnah’ after bringing many of the sayings in the explanation of ‘as Samad’ by saying, “and all of this is correct and from the descriptions of our Lord the Exalted and Mighty. He is the One who is turned to when in need; He has the complete Mastership; He is the Perfect Master who is not hollow and does not eat nor drink; and He is the Eternal after His creation.[9]

Al-Baghawee رحمه الله said,

“It is better that the word ‘as Samad’ carries all of these meanings that have been said about it because it encompasses them all. So this means that no samad (perfect master) exists except Allaah the Exalted, the Great, the Able to do all things. This is a name specific to Allaah alone. He has beautiful Names and lofty Attributes.”

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

There is nothing like Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.

Shooraa [42:11][10]

Shaykh Muhammad al Ameen ash-Shinqeetee رحمه الله said,

“It is well-known in the speech of the Arabs that they use ‘as samad’ meaning the Great Master and the One who is turned to who has no hollowness. So Allaah, the Exalted is the Master who is turned to alone during hardships and needs. He is the Purified and above having characteristics of the creation such as eating food and so on. Far removed indeed is Allaah the Exalted from that.[11]

If a servant knows that His Lord is described with this Perfection and Majesty and that He, the far removed from every imperfection, there is nothing above Him, and that nothing is impossible for Him. He the far removed from every imperfection, is a sanctuary and refuge for the creation. There is no refuge nor safe haven from Him except to Him. To Him alone is the escape and to Him alone does the creation turn to for their needs, requests and wishes.

It is obligatory upon a person that he does not seek refuge in other than Him, that he does not ask anyone except Him for his needs, that he does not direct his worship except to Him and that he does not seek help except from Him and that he does not put his trust except in Him.

أَمَّن يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ الْأَرْضِ ۗ أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ

“Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations? Is there any ilaah (god) with Allaah? Little is it that you remember.”

Suratun Naml [27:62]

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[1] Translated by Umm AbdirRahmaan Tara Hashim. 1439/2018

[2] (TN) الصمد  as Samad has been translated in different ways:

The Noble Qur’aan – The Self-Sufficient Master

Abu Talhah رحمه الله  - The Perfect Lord and Master upon whom everything depends totally

Moosa Richardson – The Eternal

[3] Saheeh al Bukhaaree no. 4727.

[4] (24/736 At Turki Print); Suyooti in ‘Dur al Manthoor’ (15/780) Ibn al Mundhir; Ibn Abee Haatim. Abee ash Shaykh in ‘al Udthmaa’. Al Bayhaqi in ‘The Names and Attributes’.

[5] As Sawaa’iq al Mursalah (3/1025).

[6] Faa’idah al Jaleelah fee Qawaa’id al Asmaa al Husnaa. P21-22

[7] (Tafseer at Tabaree) 24/731-737

[8] (Tafseer Ibn Katheer) 8/548

[9] As above.

[10] Ma’aalim at Tanzeel. 7/321

[11] Adwaa al Bayaan (2/187).