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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
[1]
These notes were translated from a lecture given by Dr. Sultana Aal ash Shaykh
in Riyadh Saturday 21st 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.
