99 Names of Allah
1. Allah
He is the One and Only Deity, the One Who is Worshipped and the One Who deserves to be worshipped by the whole of His creation due to the Perfect Godly Attributes that He is described with.
"Allah! There is none worthy of worship but He, the Living, the Sustaining. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. Who is there that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He Knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world and in the Hereafter. They will not encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He Wills. His Footstool extends over the heavens and the earth and he feels no fatigue in guarding them. He is the Most High, the Most Great." (2:255)
2. Al-Ilaah (The Deity)
This is comprehensive and inclusive of all the perfect attributes and sublime characteristics. Every one of the beautiful names are included as well. Correct is the statement that the word ilaah is the root of the name Allah and that Allah is the name inclusive of all the beautiful names and high characteristics and attributes and Allah is the All-Knowing.
"Allah the High and Sublime states: Verily Allah is the One and Only Deity (Ilaahun Waahid). Far Exalted is He from having a son and to Him belong everything in the heavens and the earth and Sufficient is Allah as a Caretaker. [Soorah An-Nisaa, Aayah 171]
3. Ar-Rabb (The Lord)
This name has been repeatedly mentioned in many verses. Ar-Rabb is the One Who nurtures and sustains all of His servants through regulating the affairs and granting all types of favors and blessings. More specifically He is the One Who nurtures and sustains those close to Him (awliyaa) by correcting and purifying their hearts, souls and manners. This is why their supplications are frequently made with this Noble Name because they seek this specific nurturing.
"And your Lord is Most Forgiving, Owner of Mercy. Were He to call them to account for what they had earned then surely He would have hastened on their punishment. But they have their appointed time beyond which they will find no escape." (18:58)
4. Al-Waahid (The One)
5. Al-Ahad (The Singular)
He is the One Who is singled out in all aspects of Perfection such that nothing else shares with Him in them. It is obligatory upon the servants to single Him out alone in belief, saying and action by acknowledging His unrestricted perfection, His uniqueness and singling Him out Alone for all types of worship.
"'O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible?'" (12:39)
"Say: I am only a warner and there is no god except Allah the One, the Irresistible." (38:65)
6. As-Samad (The Self-Sufficient)
He is the One upon Whom the whole of creation relies upon in all of their needs, predicaments and necessities. This due to His unrestricted perfection with regard to His Essence, His Names, His Attributes and His Actions.
"Say: He is Allah the One. Allah the Self-Sufficient." (112:1-2)
7. Al-Hakeem (the All-Wise)
He is the One to Whom belongs the highest wisdom, the One Who is All-Wise in His creating and commanding, Who perfected everything He created, "and Who is better than Allah in judgment for a people who have firm faith?" (5:50)
Therefore He has created nothing out of mere frivolity and He has legislated nothing that is vain and of no use. The One to Whom belongs wisdom in the beginning and the end. He has three areas of ruling which nothing else has a share in: He rules between His servants with respect to His Law, His Decree and His Recompense. Wisdom is to place something in its correct place.
"For those who believe not in the Hereafter is an evil description and for Allah is the highest description. He is the All-Mighty, All-Wise." (16:60)
"It is He Who is the only God worshipped in the heaven and on the earth. He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing." (43:84)
And He is the Irresistible (supreme), above His slaves, and He is the All-wise, Well-Acquainted with all things. [Al-Anam (6):18]
He, the Exalted, the Most Wise, is described as having perfect wisdom and perfect judgment between His creatures. Thus, the Most-wise is He who has vast knowledge and understanding of the beginnings of all matters and their ending. He is vast in His praise, perfect in His power and abundant in His mercy. He is the One who puts things in their (proper) places and settles them in their suitable position according to His creation and His command. He cannot be questioned (concerning what He does) and He cannot be criticized regarding His Wisdom.
His Wisdom Is Of Two Types:
1. One of them is His wisdom concerning His creation. For verily, He created the creation in Truth comprising all of the Truth. His aim and His intention in doing so was truth. He created all of the creatures with the best organization and He arranged them in the most perfect arrangement. He gave every creation a created form that is suitable for it. He even gave each part of the parts of the creatures, and every limb from the limbs of the animals, its form and its shape. No one sees in His creation any mistake, deficiency or shortcoming. If the intellects of all of creation, from the first of them to the last of them, gathered together to invent something like the creation of the Most Beneficent (Allah) or anything close to what He has placed in existence of perfection, organization and excellence, they would not be able to do so, how could they have any power to do anything like this? It is sufficient enough that the intelligent and wise ones amongst them know much of His Wisdom and they discover some of the beauty and perfection of His Wisdoms. This is something known with certainty due to what is known of His magnificence, and the perfection of His attributes and the results of His Wisdoms in the creation and the command. Verily, He challenges His slaves and commands them to look and look again, and to notice whether they find any defect or deficiency in His creation. Their vision will return to them weary, dim and unable to find a blemish in anything of His creations.
2. The second type is the wisdom in His legislation and command. For verily, He legislates the laws, reveals the scriptures and sends the messengers so that the slaves may know Him and worship Him. So what wisdom can be greater than this? And what bounty and generosity can be more magnificent than this? For verily, the awareness of Him, worshipping Him alone without any partner, doing deeds solely for Him, praising Him, thanking Him and lauding Him are the best gifts from Him to His slaves. This is the greatest bounty for whoever Allah favors with it. This is the most perfect pleasures and joy for the hearts and the souls. Likewise, this is the only cause of attaining eternal happiness and everlasting pleasure. If there were not in His command and His legislation anything other than this great wisdom-which is the foundation of good acts, the most perfect of pleasures, and because of it the creation was created, the rewards will be deserved and Paradise and Hell-fire were created then it would be sufficient and healing.
Along with this, His legislation and His religion contain every good. Thus, His information (concerning His religion) fills the hearts with knowledge, conviction, faith and correct creed of beliefs. The hearts can remain firm with this (wisdom) and their deviation is removed, It (this wisdom) harvests every beautiful character, righteous deed, correct guidance and sensible conduct. His commands and prohibitions revolve around the goal of this wisdom and rectifying and setting aright the religion and the worldly aspects of life. For verily, Allah does not command anything except that it is entirely beneficial. He also does not prohibit anything except that it is entirely harmful or mostly harmful.
From the wisdom of Islamic Law is that just as it is concerned with correcting the hearts, the character, the actions and firm establishment upon the straight path. It is likewise concerned with correcting the worldly affairs. For the affairs of the worldly cannot be truly corrected except by the true religion that Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) came with. This is evident and perceived by every person of sound intellect. For verily, the followers of Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam), when they firmly established this religion by acting according to its fundamentals, its branches and everything that it guided to, their conditions were straight and correct. But when they deviated from it, left most of its guidance and did not seek to be guided by its exalted teachings, their worldly affairs deviated just as their religion had. Likewise, look at other nations who achieved power, honor and respectful worldly status but when they were empty of religious spirit its mercy and justice, their harms were greater than their benefits, their evils were greater than their goodness. Their scholars, wise men and rulers were unable to mend the evils that developed amongst them. They would never be able (to remove those evils) as long as they remained in that condition. For this reason, it was from Allah's wisdom that what Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) came with of the Religion (Islam) and the Quran is the greatest of evidences of his truthfulness and the truthfulness of that which he brought. This is because of its being perfect and flawless which Muhammad could not have achieved without Allah.
In summary, the attribute of being the Most Wise relates to the creatures and the legislation. All of these (creation and laws) are according to the greatest wisdom. For Allah is Most Wise in His Laws and Decree, His Laws of Religious Sanctions and His Laws of Recompense. The difference between the Laws of Decree and the Laws of Religious sanctions is that the decree relates to what Allah causes to exist, and what He decrees to actually be. Whatever He willed will be and whatever He does not will, it will not be. However, the laws of the religious sanction relate to that which He has legislated. The slave (creature) is maintained and he cannot do without these two sets of laws or even one of them. Thus, whoever amongst them who does what Allah loves and is pleased with them, both of these two laws have come together in him. Whoever does the opposite of what Allah loves, then he has in him the law of Decree. For verily, what he did occurred by the preordainment of Allah and His decree. However, his act is outside the law of religious sanctions because he abandoned what Allah loves and is pleased with. Therefore, the good, the evil, the obedience and disobedience, they are all related to and consequences of the law of decree. Whatever Allah loves of these things, then it is a consequence of the Law of religious sanction (or legislation) and it is directly related to it. And Allah knows best.
8. Al-Haleem (The Most Forebearing)
Allah, the Exalted, says, And know that Allah knows what is in your souls, so fear Him, and know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing. [Al-Baqara (2):235]
He is the One Who causes apparent and hidden bounties to follow graciously unto His creation, even though have many sins and flaws. He is gentle with the disobedience of the disobeyers. He gives them an opportunity to repent and grants them time to turn unto Him.
He is the One Who possess perfect mildness that encompasses the people of disbelief, disobedience and wickedness, in that He gives them time (respite) and He does not hasten on their punishment. This is so that they may repent. If He willed He could seize them because of their sins immediately when they perform those acts. For verily the sins require arranged consequences from hastened punishment of various types. But Allah's gentleness is what necessitates their respite.
This is as Allah says :
And if Allah were to punish men for that which they earned, He would not leave a moving (living) creature on the surface of the earth; but He gives them respite to an appointed term: and when their term comes, then verily, Allah is Ever All-Seer of His slaves. [Al-Faatir (35): 45]
Allah also says :
And if Allah were to seize mankind for their wrong-doing, He would not leave on it (the earth) a single moving (living) creature, but He postpones them for an appointed term and when their term comes, neither can they delay nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment). [An-Nahal (16): 61]
Al-Haleem is the One Who bestows favors, both outward and inward, lavishly to His creation despite their many acts of disobedience and transgression. He is gentle upon those that disobey him and in censuring them so that perchance they may repent and gives them respite so that they may become sorrowful.
"And know that Allah Knows what is in your minds, so fear Him. And know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, the Forbearing." (2:235)
"If you lend to Allah a goodly loan He will double it for you and will forgive you. Allah is the appreciative and rewarding, the Forbearing."
09. Ar-Rahmaan (The Most Beneficent)
10. Ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful)
11. Al-Barr (The Generous)
13. Al-Jawwaad (The Bestower of Good)
15. Al-Wahhaab (The Bestower)
All of these Names are close in meaning and all of them point to describing the Lord with Mercy, Generosity, Kindness, and to the great expanse of His Mercy and Generosity that encompasses all that is existence being granted in accordance to what His Wisdom dictates. The believers have been specifically singled out for this and they are granted a goodly and the best portion of this as Allah said, "My Mercy encompasses all things and I shall decree it for those who have taqwaa." (7:156) So the blessings and the good are all from the effects of His Mercy, Generosity and Kindness just as all the goodness in this world and in the Hereafter is from the effects of His Mercy.
"'Verily, we used to invoke Him Alone before. Verily He is the Generous, the Most Merciful." (52:28)
"O man! What has made you careless concerning your Lord, the Kind." (82:6)
"And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, (Allah would have hastened the Punishment). And that Allah is the Kind, the Most Merciful." (24:20)
"(They say): Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us Mercy from You. Truly you are the Bestower." (3:8)
16. Al-Hameed (the One Who is praised)
In His Essence, Names, Attributes and Actions. He possesses the best of names and the most perfect of attributes and the best and most complete actions for indeed the Actions of Allah are based upon Grace and Justice.
"Alif Laam Raa. A Book which We have revealed to you that you might lead mankind out of darkness into the light by the leave of their Lord, the Mighty, the One Who is praised." (14:1)
"And indeed We bestowed upon Luqmaan wisdom saying: 'Give thanks to Allah,' and whosoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good) of his own self. And whoever is ungrateful then verily Allah is All-Rich, Worthy of All praise." (31:12)
O you mankind, you are needy of Allah and Allah is the Most Wealthy, the Most Praiseworthy. [Fatir (35):15]
Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned that Allah is praiseworthy from two aspects:
The first of them is that all of the creation pronounces His praise. Thus, every praise occurs from the inhabitants of the heavens and earth, the first of them and the last of them; and every praise that occurs from them in this life and the hereafter; and every praise that has not occurred from them, but was decreed and destined throughout the continuation of time and the connecting of all eras; then it is praise that fills all the existence. It fills the existence of the uppermost world, the lower world and the parallel existences without any counting or calculating. For verily Allah deserves this praises from many different aspects. From these is that Allah is the one who created them and sustains them, He bestows upon them apparent and hidden bounties, religious and worldly bounties. He averts from them vengeance and adversities. Whatever bounty that the servant may have, then it is from Allah. None wards off evils except He. Therefore, he deserves from them that they praise Him at all times and that they laud Him and thank Him at every moment.
The second aspect is that He is praised for what He possesses of the Most Excellent names and the Most Lofty and Perfect Attributes, His are the praise, exaltations and descriptions that are magnificent and beautiful. Unto Him belongs every perfect characteristic and from these characteristics, His are the most perfect and the most great. Thus, every attribute of His Attributes deserves the most perfect praise and exaltation. Therefore, how about all of His Holy Attributes combined? So unto Him belongs the praise due to his self, His attributes and His actions. This is because His actions rotate between actions of blessing and goodness, and action of justice and wisdom, which due to them He deserves the most perfect praise. To Him belongs praise because of His creating, His legislation and the laws of recompense in the beginning (this life) and the end (the hereafter). The classifying of His praise and that which He is praised cannot be encompassed by the intellects, or calculated by the pens.
17. Al-Afuww (the Forgiving)
18. Al-Ghafoor (the Forgiving)
19. Al-Ghaffaar (the All-Forgiving)
The One Who was and is known with the Attribute of Forgiveness. The One Who is described as having Forgiveness and Compassion. Everyone is in dire need of His forgiveness just as they are in dire need of His Mercy and Kindness. Allah has promised forgiveness to the one who fulfils its conditions.
"Whether you disclose a good deed, or conceal it, or pardon an evil verily Allah is the Forgiving, Most Merciful." (4:152)
"And indeed I am the All-Forgiving to him who repents, believes and does righteous deeds and then remains constant in doing them." (20:82)
20. At-Tawwaab (the Oft-Returning)
The One Who is continuously turning (in forgiveness) to those that turn to Him (in repentance), Who forgives the sins of the penitent. Everyone who turns to Allah sincerely, Allah turns to them by firstly granting them the ability to repent and turning their hearts towards Him, and after this He turns to them by accepting their repentance and forgiving their errors.
"Know they not that Allah accepts the repentance from His slaves and takes the charity and that Allah is the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful?" (9:104)
"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it! Fear Allah, indeed Allah is the oft-Returning, Most Merciful." (49:12)
21. Al-Quddoos (the Holy)
22. As-Salaam (the Peace)
The One Who is far greater and far removed from any imperfection, or that He resemble any of His creation. Hence he is far removed from any defect just as He is far removed from anything resembling Him or coming close to resembling Him in any of His Attributes of Perfection.
"There is nothing like Him"(42:11)
"There is no one equal to or comparable to Him"(112:3)
"Do you know of any who is similar to Him?" (19:65)
"Then do not set up rivals to Allah." (2:22)
Al-Quddoos is similar in meaning to as-Salaam in that they both negate any form of imperfection while at the same time including unlimited perfection in every way. This because when deficiency has been removed then all that remains is perfection.
"Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah - the King, the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (62:1)
24. al-A`laa (the Highest)
25. Al-Mutaaal (The Exalted)
To Him belongs highness in all of its aspects, Highness of His Essence, Highness of His Attributes and esteem, Highness of Strength and Power. He is the One Who has risen over His Throne and the One Who Has encompassed the dominion. He is the One in Whom all the attributes of greatness, grandness, magnificence and beauty find perfection and fulfillment.
"To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth, and He is the High, the Great." (42:4)
"Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High" (87:1)
“And He feels no Fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” [Al-Baqarah(2):225].
“He, the Exalted said, “All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Most Great, the Most High (Or Exalted).” [Ar-Ra’d (13):9].
This shows all of the meanings of highness that are affirmed for Allah in every aspect. He is lofty in His essence because He is above all creation. He has ascended over the throne, which means that He rose and elevated (over it). He has loftiness in His ability. This refers to His Exalted attributes and their greatness. The attributes of the creation cannot compare to Him. The creatures all together could not encompass even some of the meaning of one attribute of His attributes! He, the Exalted said; “They cannot encompass anything of His knowledge.” [Taa Haa (20): 110] by this it is known that nothing is similar to Him in any of His characteristics. He also has loftiness in His subjugation. Verily He is the One, the Irresistible, who compels all of the creation with His might and exaltedness. The forelocks of the creatures are in His hand. Whatever He wills will be, and there is none who can resist Him in that. Whatever He does not will, it will not be. If all the creation gathers together to bring about what Allah does not will, they would not be able to do so. Also, if they gathered together to prevent what has been determined by His will, they could not prevent it. This is due to the perfection of His Might, the authority of His will, and the severity of all the creations need of Him in every aspect.
26. Al-Mannaan (The Bestower)
Al-Mannaan is one of the Excellent Names of Allah mentioned by the Prophet (peace be upon him). In a hadeeth from Anas Ibn Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) heard a man saying: “Oh Allah I ask and beseech you because for You is the praise and there is nothing worthy of worship besides You [You are Alone and without partner] Al-Mannaan, Oh Badee’us samaawaati wal-ard (Originator of the heavens and the Earth), Oh Dhul Jalaali wal ikraam (Possessor of Majesty and Honor), Oh Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyoom (Ever-Living and Self-Subsistent), I beg You for Al-Jannah and seek Your refuge from An-Naar.” So the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, This man has beseeched Allah with His Greatest Name by which if one asks by it he is given and if he supplicates by it he will be answered.
Al-Mannaan is: The One Who bestows grace and Who gives from Himself and gives freely and profusely. It is He who gave life, the ability to think, speak and shape to the creation. He bestows provision, health, security and internal and external favors and most importantly He bestowed guidance to Islam and eemaan
27. Al-Jabbaar (the Compeller)
28. Al-Mutakabbir (the Supreme)
This includes the meaning of Al-Alee and Al-A`laa, the meaning of Al-Qahhaar, and the meaning of Ar-Ra`oof. The One Who is Compelling over dejected hearts, to the one who is weak and impotent, to the one who resorts to Him and seeks refuge with him.
"He is Allah, other than whom none has the right to be worshipped. The King, the Holy, The One free from defects, the Giver of Security, the Ever-Watcher, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) Above all that they associate as partners with Him." (59:23)
29. Al-Khaaliq (the Creator)
30. Al-Baari (the Originator)
31. Al-Musawwir (the Shaper)
The One Who created all that is in existence, Who made everything correct and in its place in accordance to His Wisdom, Who Shaped it in accordance to His praise and Wisdom. He is continuously doing so.
"He is Allah, the Creator, the Originator, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (59:24)
32. Al-Mumin (The Giver of Security)
The One Who Has praised Himself with Perfect Attributes and with perfection of magnificence and beauty. The One Who sent His Messengers and revealed His Books containing signs and clear proofs. Who testified to the truth of His Messengers by giving them every sign and proof that would prove the truth of what they came with.
"He is Allah, other than whom none has the right to be worshipped. The King, the Holy, The One free from defects, the Giver of Security, the Ever-Watcher, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) Above all that they associate as partners with Him." (59:23)
33. Noorus-Samaawaati Wal-Ardh (Light of the Heavens and the Earth)
Allah says:
"Allah is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. the parable of His light is as if there were a niche and within it a lamp; the lamp is in a glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow forth of itself, though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything." [An-Noor 24:35]
The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:
Oh Allah for You is the praise and You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth and all therein... [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
This is a great Attribute since it describes the One Possessing Majesty and Honor and deserving of glorification and praise and Who if He were to remove the veil from His Noble Countenance all that would be exposed to it in the creation would be disintegrated and His Light would illuminate all the creation and it is the Light from his Countenance that brings light to all darkness and that lights up the Arsh, the Kursi and the seven levels of heaven, indeed all the universe.
His Light is of two types:
- That which is perceived (hissee) such as the light that emanates from the universe and that would not exist without His light.
- The spiritual (ma'nawee) which reaches the hearts and the hearing and the vision and that constitutes the light for the slaves in this life and the next.
"Allah guides with His Light whom He wills". And just as Allah has mentioned, He is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth, He has also called His Book and His Messenger and the Revelation light. - As-Sadee
The believer who perfects his faith is given light in his heart from Allah so that he sees the reality of things and he can clearly distinguish between falsehood and truth until it becomes a part of his life and his power toward good in knowledge and action. He is cleared of doubts and confusion and gets knowledge and clarity and is freed from lusts and negligence and darkness. His speech and actions are characterized as light and he is surrounded by it, while the disbeliever or the hypocrite, the rebellious and unmindful wander about confused and in darkness and all this is due to what they have themselves done.
34. Al-Muhaymin (the Ever-Watching)
The One Who sees all the hidden matters, all that the hearts keep concealed, the One Whose Knowledge encompasses everything.
"He is Allah, other than whom none has the right to be worshipped. The King, the Holy, The One free from defects, the Giver of Security, the Ever-Watcher, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) Above all that they associate as partners with Him." (59:23)
35. Al-Qadeer (All-Powerful, the Able)
The One Who has complete and perfect power and ability, by His Power He brought everything into existence, by it He arranges all the affairs, by it He fashioned and perfected the creation, by it He brings to life and causes to die, by it He will resurrect the servants for their recompense - rewarding the one who did good with His good and the one who worked evil with His Hellfire. The One Who, when He wills a thing to be he merely says 'Be!' and it is. By His power and ability he turns the hearts and directs them to whatsoever He Wills and Desires.
"For every nation there is a direction which they face, so hasten towards all that is good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you together, Allah is Able to do all things." (2:148)
"(What is the matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: From where does this come to us? Say: It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds). And Allah is the All-Powerful." (3:165)
36. Al-Lateef (the Most Subtle, the Kind)
The One Whose Knowledge encompasses all the secret and hidden matters, Who is Aware of all that is hidden (in the deepest depths of the heavens and the earth) and is Aware of everything down to the most minute and finest details. The One Who is Kind to his believing servants guiding them to that which would benefit them and aid them via means that they are not aware, this by His Kindness and Beneficence. It also carries the meaning of al-Khabeer and ar-Ra'oof.
"No vision can grasp Him, but His Grasp is over all vision. He is the Most Subtle, the Well-Acquainted." (6:103)
"Do you not see that Allah sends down the water from the sky and then the earth becomes green? Indeed Allah is the Kind, the Well-Acquainted." (22:63)
37. Al-Haseeb (the Reckoner)
The One Who is All-Knowing of His servants and sufficient for those who put their trust in Him. The One Who recompenses his servants with either good or bad in accordance to His Wisdom and His Knowledge of the most minute and greatest of their actions.
"When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it or at least return it equally. Allah is the Reckoner of all things." (4:86)
"Those who convey the Message of Allah and fear Him and none save Him, Sufficient is Allah as Reckoner." (33:39)
38. Ar-Raqeeb (the All-Watcher)
The One Who sees what is hidden in the hearts, the One Who charges every soul for what it earned, the One Who preserves all that is in creation and regulates them with the best organization and most complete and perfect planning.
"O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord Who created you from a single person, and from Him He created his wife, and from them both He created many men and women. Fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual rights, and (do not cut the relations of) the womb (kinship). Surely Allah is the All-Watcher over you." (4:1)
39. Al-Hafeedh (The Guardian)
The One Who protects and preserves what He created and Whose Knowledge encompasses all that He brought into existence. The One Who protects His friends from falling into sins and the destructive matters. The One Who is Kind to them during their periods of activity and rest. The One Who accounts the actions of the servants and their rewards.
"And Iblees did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of the true believers. And Iblees had no authority over them - except that We might test he who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is the Guardian over everything." (34:20-21)
"As for those who take friends and protectors besides Him - Allah is the Guardian over them and you are not a disposer of their affairs." (42:6)
40. Al-Muheet (The Encompassing)
The One Who has Knowledge of everything, has power over everything, his Mercy encompasses everything and He is dominant over everything.
"If good befalls you it grieves them but if some evil overtakes you they rejoice at it. But if you remain patient and become of the God-fearing, not the least harm will their cunning do to you. Allah Encompasses what they do." (3:120)
"And be not like those who come out of their homes boastfully, to be seen of men, and hinder from the Path of Allah. Allah is encompassing all that they do." (8:47)
41. Al-Qahhaar (The Subduer)
42. Al-Qaahir (The Irresistible)
The Irresistible over everything. The One before Whom the whole creation has humbled itself, and submitted before His Grandeur, Power and perfect Strength.
"And He is the Irresistible, Above His servants. He sends guardians (writing all of your deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers take his soul and they never neglect their duty." (6:61)
"So think not that Allah will fail to keep His promise to His Messengers. Certainly! Allah is All-Mighty, Owner of Retribution. On the Day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will the heavens, and they (all creatures) will appear before Allah, the One, the Subduer." (14:47-48)
43. Al-Muqeet (The Powerful)
The One who provides everything that is in existence with what would strengthen it, Who provides its nourishment and sustenance and directs it however He Wills in accordance to His Wisdom and Praise.
"Whosoever intercedes for a good cause will have the reward thereof, and whosoever intercedes for an evil cause shall have a share in its burden. Allah is Able to do everything." (4:85)
44. Al-Wakeel (The Disposer of Affairs, the One Who is relied upon)
The One Who has the responsibility to dispose the affairs of the creation in accordance with His Knowledge, perfect Power and all-encompassing Wisdom. The One who looks after His friends and makes the good easy for them, preserves them from the evil and suffices for them in all of their affairs. Therefore the one who takes Him as One to be relied upon, He suffices him.
"Allah is the Friend of those who believe, He guides them from the darknesses into the light." (2:256)
"Such is Allah your Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Creator of all things. So worship Him Alone, and He is the Disposer of all affairs." (6:102)
"And put your trust in Allah, and Allah is Sufficient as a Disposer of Affairs." (39:62)
45. Al-Wudood (The Loving)
The One Who Loves His Prophet and Messengers and those who follow them and they in turn love Him - He is more beloved to them than anything else. Their hearts have been filled with love of Him, their tongues are constantly moist with praising Him and their hearts are always drawn to Him in love, sincerity and repentance.
"And ask forgiveness from your Lord and turn to Him in repentance. Verily my Lord is the Most Merciful, the Loving." (11:90)
"And He is Oft-Forgiving, the Loving." (85:14)
46. Al-Fattaah (The Judge, The Opener)
The One Who will judge between His Servants through His laws of the Sharee`ah, His laws of Decree and His laws and recompense. The One who opens the eyes of those who are truthful and sincere by His Kindness. The One who opens their hearts so that they can know Him, love Him and repent to Him. He opens the doors of mercy and sustenance for His servants and provides them the means of attaining both the good in this life and the Hereafter,
"Whatever mercy Allah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it and none can grant it thereafter." (35:2)
"Say: Our Lord will assemble us all together (on the Day of Resurrection), then He will judge between them. He is the Judge, the All-Knowing." (34:26)
"He said: My Lord! Verily, my people have belied me. Therefore judge You between me and them, and save me and the believers who are with me." (26:117-118)
47. al-Maalik (The Master and Owner)
47. Alladhee lahu al-Mulk (the One to Whom belongs the dominion)
He is described with the Attribute of The Master and Owner. These are Attributes of Grandeur, Majesty, Omnipotence and Regulation of the affairs of creation. The One Who directs all of the affairs to do with creation, command and recompense. To Him belongs the whole of Creation, all of it is subservient, owned and in continuous need of Him.
"Then High above all be Allah, the True King. And be not in haste with the Qur'aan before its revelation is completed and say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge." (29:114)
"Say: O Allah! Owner of the dominion, You give the kingdom to whom You will and You take the kingdom from whom You will. You endue with honor whom You will and You humiliate whom You will. In your Hand is the good. Indeed You are Able to do all things." (3:26)
48. Ar-Razzaaq (The Provider)
The One Who provides for all of His servants, there is not a creature on the earth except that Allah provides for it. His provisions for His servants are of two types:
- The general provision which extends to the righteous and the sinner, the first and the last. This is the provision that is required by the bodies.
- The specific provision - this being granted to the hearts, nourishing them with knowledge and faith. Also the lawful provision that has been appointed for the benefit of the religion, this being specific to the believers and apportioned in accordance to their differing levels and what His Wisdom and Mercy dictates.
"Say: Come I will recite to you what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near shameful sins whether openly or secretly; kill not anyone who Allah has forbidden except for a just cause. This He has commanded you that you may understand." (6:151)
"I created man and jinn only that they may worship Me. I seek not any provisions from them nor do I ask that they feed Me. Indeed Allah is the Provider, Owner of Power - the Most Strong." (51: 56-58)
The One who judges between His Servants in this life and the Hereafter with His Justice and Fairness. He will not oppress anyone to the extent of an atoms weight and none will be made to carry the encumbrance of another. No servant will be recompensed in a way that is greater that the magnitude of his sin, he will be given only what he deserves. Not a single persons right will be denied him, He is Just in His regulation and decree.
""Indeed My Lord is upon the Straight Path." (11:56)
"Say: I am on clear proof from my Lord, but you deny (the truth). I do not have what you are impatient for (i.e. the Punishment). The judgment is only for Allah, He declares the truth, and He is the best of judges." (6:57)
51. Jaami`un Naas (The Gatherer of Mankind)
The One Who will gather mankind on the Day about which there is no doubt. He will gather their actions and provisions and will not leave out a single thing, be it large or small, except that He will take it to account. He will gather together the disintegrated remains of those that have died, the early and later by His perfect Power and All-Encompassing Knowledge, (and resurrect them).
"Our Lord! Indeed it is you who will gather mankind together on the Day about which there is no doubt! Verily Allah never breaks His promise!" (3:9)
"I swear by the Day of Resurrection. And I swear by the self-reproaching soul. Does man think that We shall not assemble his bones? Yes, We are Able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers." (75:1-4)
53. Al-Qayyum (The Sustainer)
The One Who has perfect life, existing in and of Himself and not dependant upon anyone else. The Sustainer of the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, the One Who regulates their affairs and provisions. The Living includes all of the Attributes of His Self and The Sustainer includes all the Attributes of His Actions.
"Allah! There is no deity worthy of worship but Him, the Living, the Sustaining." (3:1)
"All faces shall be humbled before (Allah), the Living, the Sustaining. And the one who carried the burden of wrong-doing shall be in complete loss!" (20:111)
[See Tafseer of Ayaatul-Kursi]
The Light of the heavens and the earth, the One Who illuminates the hearts of the gnostics with knowledge of Him, faith in Him and His guidance. He is the One Who has lighted the heavens and the earth with lights that He has placed therein. His veil is light and were He to uncover it then the Face of the Glorious would burn everything from the creation that His Sight fell upon.
"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as if there were a niche and within it a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, and the glass as if it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east or of the west, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) even though no fire touches it. Light upon light! Allah guides to His Light whom He Wills. Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah Knows everything." (24:35)
55. Al-Qaabid (The Taker)
56. Al-Baasit (The Extender)
The One Who takes the provisions and souls, the One Who gives provisions freely and gives (life to) the hearts - all of this in compliance to His Wisdom and Mercy.
"Who will lend to Allah a goodly loan so that He may multiply it for him many times? And it is Allah Who takes and increases (your provisions) and unto Him you shall return." (2:245)
"And they made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. On the Day of Resurrection His Hand will grasp the whole of the earth and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified be He, High is He above all that they associate as partners with Him!" (39:67)
57. Ash-Shaheed (The Witness)
The One Who is Aware of everything. The One Who hears every voice in existence - the loud and quiet. The One Who Sees everything in existence - the insignificant and significant, the small and large. The One Whose Knowledge encompasses everything. The One Who will testify for or against His servants for what they did.
"Say: What thing is the greatest witness? Say: Allah is Witness between you and I; this Qur'aan has been revealed to me that I may warn therewith - you and whomsoever it may reach." (6:19)
"It is He Who sent His Messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth that He makes it prevail over all religions. And sufficient is Allah as a Witness." (48:28)
58. Al-Mubdi` (The Starter)
59. Al-Mueed (The Recaller, The One Who Repeats Creation)
"He is the One Who started the creation and He will repeat it" (10:4)
He began their creation to test them as to which one was best in action then He will recall them to reward those who did good and punish those who did evil for their evil. Similarly, He is the one Who began by creating each individual thing and then continuously repeats it.
"Is not He (better than your false gods) Who originates creation and shall thereafter repeat it, and Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth?" (27:64)
"Allah originates the creation and then repeats it, then to Him you will be returned." (85:13)
"He is Allah, other than whom none has the right to be worshipped. The King, the Holy, The One free from defects, the Giver of Security, the Ever-Watcher, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) Above all that they associate as partners with Him." (59:23)
60. Al-Fa`aalul Limaa Yureed (The One Who does what He Wills)
This is from the perfection of His Power and the implementation of His Will, Desire and Decree that anything that He Wishes to do, He does and there is none to prevent Him or protest. He has no assistant or supporter in anything that He does, rather when He Wills a thing to be He merely says, "Be! And it is." Despite the fact that He does what He Wills, His Will is according to His Wisdom and Praise. He is described with Perfect Ability and Power, and can implement His Will and He is described with complete and all-encompassing Wisdom.
"As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, moaning in a high and low tone. They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endured except as your Lord Will. Indeed your Lord does what He Wills." (11:106-107)
61. Al-Ghanee (The Self-Sufficient, The Rich)
62. Al-Mughnee (The Sufficient)
He is Self-Sufficient completely and unrestrictedly, honor is given to His perfection and the perfection of His Attributes. He has absolutely no deficiency of any kind, it is not possible that He be anything but Self-Sufficient, for self-sufficiency is from the necessary consequences of His Essence. Similarly it is not possible for Him to be anything but the Creator, The All-Powerful, the Provider and the Bestower of good. He is not in need of anything or anyone, He is the Self-Sufficient in Whose Hand lie the treasures of the heavens and the earth, and the treasures of this life and the Hereafter. He suffices for the whole of His creation generally, and is specifically sufficient for the believers in that He confers upon their hearts nurturing knowledge and the realities of faith.
"Kind words and forgiving faults are better than giving in charity. Allah is the Rich, the Forbearing." (2:263)
"And your Lord is Self-Sufficient, full of Mercy. If He Will He could destroy you and out in your place make who He Will to be successors, just as He raised you from the seed of another people." (6:133)
"And that it is He (Allah) who gives much or a little (of wealth and contentment). [An-Najm (53):48)]
"O Mankind! It is you who are in need of Allah, and Allah is Self-Sufficient (free of all needs), worthy of all praise. [Faatir (35):15]
Thus He, the Exalted, is the Most Self-Sufficient, the One unto Whom belongs the most absolute and perfect Sufficiency in every aspect. This is due to His perfection and the perfection of His attributes which are unaffected by any deficiencies from any aspect. It is impossible for Him not to be Self-Sufficient, for verily His wealth is from the necessities of His existence.
This is just as it is impossible for Him not to be Beneficent, Generous, Good, Merciful and giving. The entire creation is totally dependent upon Him in every situation. The creation is in need of Him for its coming into existence, its remaining in existence, and for all of its needs and necessities. From the beneficence of His wealth is that the treasures of the heavens, the earth and mercy are all in His Hand. Also, His generosity is perpetual at every moment and at all times. His Hand gives throughout the night and the day, and His goodness towards the creation continuously flows.
From the perfection of His wealth and generosity, He commands His slaves to call upon Him and He promises them that He will respond to their supplications and requests for help in everything that they desire. He gives them from His bounty whatever they ask for and also what they do not ask for. From the perfection of His wealth is that if the first of creation to the last of creation all gathered together at one elevated place and all asked Allah (for something), and then He gave every one of them what he requested, their wishes would not diminish His dominion in the least.
From the perfection of His Self-Sufficient and the capacity of His endowments, He distributes amongst the dwellers of Al-Jannah from pleasures, continuous delights and perpetual goodness that no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart has ever conceived.
From the perfection of His Self-Sufficiency, He has not taken nor has any need of a mate, a child nor any partner in His sovereignty. He needs no protector or supporter due to submissive lowliness. He is the Most Wealthy who also enriches all of His creatures.
In conclusion, Allah is He who possesses the complete and absolute Self-Sufficiency in every aspect. He is also the One who enriches all of His creation in wealth in general, and He enriches the chosen ones of His creation in that which He fills their hearts with of righteous knowledge and faithful realities. *[Tafseer-Ush-Sheikh Abdur-Rahman As-Sadee, 5/629]
63. Al-Mubeen (The Clear)
"On that Day Allah will pay them the recompense of their deeds in full, and they will know that Allah, He is the Manifest Truth. (Q. 24:25)
This is a verbal noun indicating making something clear or manifest either by action or word. Allah is the One who makes all things clear to His slaves by guiding them to the guided path and making clear to them the deeds by which they will deserve reward or punishment. He makes clear all which they bring forth. Allah has make clear the paths to guidance as well as those to misguidance. He sent the Messengers and scriptures to people for this reason.
"Verily those who would conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance which We have sent down after we have made it clear to the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers. [Q. 2:159]
This very harsh threat is made to those who would conceal that which the Messengers brought of clear proofs and its correct aims and guidance and benefit to the hearts.
64. Ash-Shaakir (The Recognizer and Rewarder of good)
65. Ash-Shakoor (The Appreciative)
The One Who recognizes and rewards the small quantity of action, Who forgives the large quantity of sins. He is the One Who multiplies the rewards of His sincere servants manifold without any measure. He is the One Who recognizes and rewards those who give thanks to Him and remembers the one who remembers Him. Whosoever seeks to get close to Him by doing any righteous action, Allah draws close to Him by a greater degree.
"Indeed Safa and Marwa are two of the symbols of Allah. So it is not a sin on him who performs Hajj or Umrah to perform saiy (the going between them). And whoever does good voluntarily, then Allah is the Recognizer, the All-Knowing." (2:158)
"Indeed those who recite the Book of Allah, and establish the prayers and spend out of that which we have provided them, secretly and openly, hope for a sure trade-gain that will never perish. That He may pay them in full and give them even more out of His Grace. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Appreciative." (35:29-30)
66. Al-Qareeb (The Close)
67. Al-Mujeeb (The Answerer)
He, Exalted is He, is close to everybody, this closeness being of two types:
- The general closeness which means His being close to everyone with respect to His Knowledge, Awareness, Seeing, Witnessing and Encompassing.
- The specific closeness which is specific to His worshippers, those who ask of Him, and those who love Him. The reality of this type of closeness cannot be comprehended, all we can see is its resultant effects - His kindness to His servants, His care of them and His making them to be firm upon the Straight Path.
From the consequences of this closeness is His answering those who supplicate to Him and His granting them the ability to be penitent. He is the One Who answers, in a general sense, those who supplicate to Him whomsoever they may be and wherever they may be and whatever condition they may be in, as He has promised them. He is the One Who answers, in a specific sense, those who love Him, those who imitate and follow His Sharee`ah. He is also the One Who answers the one in dire need and those who have given up all hope of being answered by the creation and therefore their connection to Him has been strengthened in terms of love, hope and fear.
"And when My slaves ask you concerning Me, I am indeed near to them. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when He calls upon Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me so that they may be led aright." (2:186)
"And to the Thamood We sent their brother Saalih saying: O my people! Worship Allah besides whom there is no other deity. He brought you forth from the earth and settled you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him, and turn to Him in repentance. Certainly My Lord is Near, Responsive." (11:61)
68. Al-Kaafee (The Sufficient)
The One Who suffices His servants in everything that they are in need of. The One Who suffices, in a specific sense, those who believe in Him, put their trust in Him and seek their worldly and religious needs from Him.
"Allah drove back those who disbelieved in their rage and they gained no advantage. Allah sufficed for the believers in the fighting. Allah is the Strong, the Mighty." (33:25)
"Is not Allah sufficient for His servant? Yet they try to frighten you with those who they worship besides Him! And whomsoever Allah sends astray, for him there will be no guide." (39:36)
71. Adh-Dhaahir (The Manifest)
72. Al-Baatin (The Inward)
"He is the First, the Last, the Manifest and the Inward. He is the All-Knower of everything." (57:3)
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) explained this verse in a succinct and clear way while addressing his Lord, You are the Al-Awwal, there was none before You. You are the Al-Aakhir, there will be none after You. Your are the Ath-Thaahir, there is nothing above You. You are the Al-Baatin, there is nothing closer than You. (Muslim 4/2084)
Thus the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) explained every name with its magnificent meaning, and he negated from what opposes and contradicts them. Pay attention to these splendid meanings which indicate the uniqueness of the magnificent Lord (Allah) with absolute perfection and comprehensiveness, He is the First and the Last, He is the Most High and Most Near.
His name, the First (Al-Awwal), proves that everything besides Him occurs and exists after its non-existence. The servant (of Allah) is obligated to observe the bounty of his Lord for every blessing, whether religious or worldly. This is because the cause and effect are from Him, The Exalted. His name, the Last, proves that He is the final goal, and the Eternal, who is turned to by (all) of creation with their deification, hope, fear and all of their requests His name, the Most High, alludes to the greatness of His attributes. It also implies insignificance of everything when compared to His greatness.
The essence and attributes of everything fades when compared to His loftiness. His name, the Most Near, alludes to His awareness of the secret and hidden matters. He is cognizant of the concealed, and fine intricacies of things. Likewise this name alludes to His perfect nearness, and closeness to His creatures.
However, His being the Most High and the Most Near is not contradictory because there is nothing like Allah in any of (His) characteristics. (1)[Al-Haqq ul-Waadih ul-Mubeen pg. 25, and Sharhun-Nooniyyah by Al-Harraas, 2/67].
73. Al-Waasi'` (The Vast)
He is the One Who is vast with respect to His Attributes and qualities and those things linked to them - this from the point of view that none can enumerate His praise as He deserves, rather He is as He has praised Himself. Vast in grandeur, authority and dominion, Vast in bestowing grace and good and Vast in Goodness and Nobility.
"The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. Allah is the Vast, the All-Knowing." (2:261)
"O you who believe! Whoever from amongst you turns back from his religion, Allah will bring about a people whom He will Love, and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah and never afraid of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He Wills. Allah is the Vast, the All-Knowing." (5:54)
74. Al-Haadee (The Director)
75. Ar-Rasheed (The Guide)
He is the One Who guides and directs His servants towards all that would be of benefit to them and away from all that would bring them harm. He is the One Who teaches them what they did not use to know and guides them with a guidance that keeps them firm upon the Straight Path. He is the One Who inspires their hearts with taqwaa and made them penitent and compliant to His Commands.
Ar-Rasheed also carries the meaning of Al-Hakeem (the Wise). He is Ar-Rasheed in His Actions and Sayings. All of His legislation is good, correctly guiding and wise.
"Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy amongst the disbelievers. But sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper." (25:31)
He is the Truth in His Essence and Attributes, He is the most necessary of all existence, He is what the whole of existence needs to exist. He is the One Who was and is described with Magnificence, Beauty and Perfection. He is the One Who was and is known to be Beneficent.
His saying is the truth, His Actions are the truth, the meeting with Him is the truth, His Messengers are the truth, His Books are the truth, His religion is the truth, worshipping Him Alone is the truth, everything that has to do with Him is the truth. This is because Allah is the Truth and what they supplicate to other than Him is false and invalid and because Allah is the Most High, the Great.
"And say: the Truth is from your Lord, so let whosoever who wills believe, and whosoever who wills disbelieve." (18:29)
"And what is there after truth apart from falsehood?" (10:32)
That is because Allah He is the Truth (the only true God of all that exists, Who has no partners or rivals with Him), and what they (the polytheists) invoke besides Him, it is Baatil (falsehood) And verily, Allah He is the Most High, The Most Great. [Soorah 22 Al-Hajj, Aayah 62]
"And say: The truth is from your Lord (Rabb). Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills let him disbelieve. [Soorah 18 Al-Kahf, Aayah 29]
Such is Allah, your Lord in truth. So after the truth, what else can there be, save error? [Soorah 10 Yunus Aayah 32]
“And say: Truth (i.e. tawheed, or this Quraan or Jihaad) has come and Baatil (falsehood) has vanished. Surely, baatil is ever bound to vanish.” [Soorah 17 Al-Israa, Aayah 81]
“And Allah taaala said, On that Day Allah will pay them the recompense of their deeds in full, and they will know Allah, - He is the Clear Truth.” [Soorah 24 An-Noor, Aayah 25]
The great descriptions of Allah are true as are His promise of reward and threat of punishment. His accounting is just and there is no injustice therein.
77. Al-Atheem (The Most Magnificent)
"Allah the Exalted says: And he feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them, and He is the Most High, the Most Magnificient. (Al-Baqarah (2):225)
Allah, the Exalted is Magnificent, and unto Him belongs every description and meaning that necessitates magnification. No creature can praise Him as He truly deserves and His praises are enumerable. Rather He is as He has praised Himself, and above what praise His servants laud Him with. Know that the meanings of the magnification that are affirmed for Allah alone are of two types:
The first of them is that He is described with every attribute that is perfect. He has the most perfect of this perfection, and the most magnificent of it, and the most extensive of it. He has all encompassing knowledge, and authoritative power. He is the ultimate greatness and magnificence. From His magnificence is that the heavens and the earth are in the Palm of the Most Beneficent, smaller than a mustard seed. This was stated by Ibn Abbaas and others.
"Allah the Exalted said: And they did not make just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole earth will be grasped by His hand, and the heavens will be rolled up His right Hand. [A-Zumar (39):67]
"The Exalted said, Verily Allah grasps the heavens and the earth lest they should move away from their places, and if they were to move away from their places, there is no one that could grasp them after Him. [Fatir (35):41].
"And He the Exalted said: The heavens may nearly be rent asunder above them (by His majesty). [Ash-Shooraa (42):5].
In the Saheeh it is reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, Verily Allah says, Pride is my cloak, and magnificent is my lower garment, so whoever dispute me concerning either one of them, I will punish him severely. [Muslim 4/2023], Abu Dawud (4/59), and Ibn Majaah (2/1397), and Ahmad (2/376) with similar wording]. Therefore greatness and pride belong to Allah, and magnificent as well the amount of these two attributes (of Allah) cannot be estimated, and their essence cannot be fully comprehended.
The second type from the meanings of His, The Exalteds Magnificence is that no one of the creation deserves to be magnified as Allah is magnified. He, majestic is His majesty, deserves that His servants should magnify Him in their hearts, on their tongues, and with their limbs. They should do this by exerting their energies in learning about Him, loving Him, submitting to Him, showing humility to Him, being humble to His greatness and fearing Him. They should make their tongues praise Him, and make limbs perform thanks and worship of Him.. From His Magnification is that He should be feared with just fear as He deserves, and He should be obeyed and not disobeyed, He should remembered and not forgotten. He should treated with gratitude and not ungratefulness. From His magnification is magnifying what He has made sacred, and what He has legislated as the ritual rites. This includes special times, places and deeds.
"Thus it is, and whosoever honors the symbols of Allah, then it is truly from piety of the hearts. [Al-Hajj (22):32]
"He the Exalted said: That (the Hajj rites) and whoever honors the scared things of Allah, then that is better for him with his Lord. [Al-Hajj (30):30]
From His magnification is that He is not opposed in anything of His creation or His legislation. (3) [Al-Haqq ul-Waadhih ul-Mubeen, pg. 27-28, and Sharh ul-Qaseedah An Nooniyyah by Al-Harraas (2/71)]
78. Al-Majeed (The Most Glorious)
Al-Majeed means the one who possesses the most magnificent glory. This Majd (glory) is the greatness of the attributes and their extent. Thus, every description of His attributes shows the magnificence of His status. For He is Al-Aleem (the all knowing) who is perfect in His knowledge. He is Ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful) whose Mercy encompasses everything. He is Al-Qadeer (the All-powerful), who is not disabled or weakened by anything. He is Al-Haleem (the Most Gentle), who is Al-Hakeem (The Most wise), who is perfect in His wisdom. Likewise are the rest of His names and attribute that reach the limits of absolute glory. [Al-Haqq ul-Waadhih ul-Mubeen, pg. 33, and Sharhul-Qaseedah in Nooniyyah by Al-Harraas (2/71)]
"There is not any deficiency in any of His attributes nor any short comings. Allah, the Exalted said: The mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you, O family [of Ibrahim]. Surely, he (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, most Glorious. [Hood (11):73]
79. Al-Kabeer (The Most Great)
He, glory be unto Him, the Most High, is described with the attributes of glory, grandeur, magnificence, and majesty. He is greater than everything, more Sublime and Exalted than everything. Magnificent. Magnification and grandeur belong to Him, in the hearts of His close and sincere awliyaa (amongst His slaves). Their hearts are filled with His magnificence and His splendor. Their hearts are humbled towards him, and submissive to His grandeur. [Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahman Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan, by As-Sadee, 5/622].
"Allah, the Exalted, said: This is because, when Allah Alone was invoked (in worship) you disbelieved, but when partners were joined with Him, you believed! So the judgment is only with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great! [Ghaafir (40):12]
80. As-Samee (The All Hearing)
"And Allah is the All Hearing, the All Seeing. [An-Nisaa (4):134]
Allah often combines the mentioning of these attributes of hearing and seeing. Both the hearing and seeing (of Allah) encompass all of that which is related to the apparent, as well as the hidden. Therefore, the All-Hearing is the One whose hearing encompasses all that can be heard. Therefore everything in the world, whether it be high or low, that makes any sound, then He hears it. It makes no difference whether the sound is made secretly or openly. With Allah it is as if they were all one sound (i.e. He hears them all soft or loud). Yet, the sounds do not mix or become confusing to Him. All of the languages are not hidden from Him. The close (sound), the far, the secret and the open, they are all the same (i.e. heard) to Him.
"It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hidden by night or goes forth freely by day. [Ar-Rad (13):10]
Indeed Allah has heard the statement of her that disputes with you (O Muhammad) concerning her husband, and complains to Allah. And Allah hears the argument between you both. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All Seeing. [Al-Mujaadilah (58):1].
Aisha said (radiallahu anhaa), Blessed be hearing encompassed all sounds. Verily, the disputing woman came complaining to the messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and I was beside the room, but I still could not hear some of her speech. Then Allah revealed,
"Verily, Allah heard the statement of her that dispute with you (O Muhammad) concerning her husband. (Al-Mujaadilah (58):1]
Allah's hearing is two types:
- The first is His hearing all sounds whether apparent, concealed, hidden or manifest, His hearing encompasses them completely.
- The second is His hearing of response which is for those who ask of Him, call upon Him, and worship Him. He answers them and rewards them. From this type is Allah's statement, Verily, my Lord is the Hearer of Supplication. [Ibrahim:39). Also, there is the statement of one who is praying, Allah hears whoever praises Him. This means that He answers them.
81. Al-Baseer (The All Seeing)
""Say: Shall I inform you of things far better than those? For the God-fearing there are Gardens with their Lord underneath which rivers flow. Therein is their eternal home and pure wives. And Allah will be pleased with them. Allah is the All-Seer of His slaves." (3:15)
"Neither your relatives nor your children will benefit you on the Day of Resurrection. He will judge between you and Allah is the All-Seer of what you do." (60:3)
He is the One whose sight encompasses all invisible things in every part of the heavens and the earth even the most hidden thing in existence, He still sees it. Therefore, He sees and hears the footstep of the black ant, on a silent rock, on a dark night. He sees all of its internal organs, its external limbs and its fine organs. He sees the hidden waters in branches of the trees and their veins, and in all of the plants with their various types, however small and minute. He sees the individual veins of the ant, the bee, the mosquitoes and whatever is even smaller than that. Glory be unto Him! Intellects are bewildered due to His Greatness! His attributes are far greater than that which is comprehendible. His perfect Greatness, Subtleness, Awareness of the seen and the unseen, the present and the absent, is all beyond comprehension. He sees the treachery of the eyes, the flipping of the eyelids and the movements of the heart. Allah says:
"He who sees you (O Muhammad) when you stand up (Alone at night for Tahajjud prayers). And your movements among those who fall prostrate (To Allah in the congregational prayers). Verily, He, only He, is the All-Hearer, The All-Knower. [Ash-Shuara (26):218-220]
"Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal. [Ghaafir (40):19]
"To whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth! And Allah is witness our over everything.
This means that His knowledge, Sight and Hearing encompasses and is aware of All that exists. [Al-Haqq ul-Waadhih ul-Mubeen, pg. 34-36, and Sharh ul-Qaseedah An Nooniyyah by Al-Harraas (2/72)]
82. Al-Aleem (The All Knowing)
83. Al-Khabeer (The All-Aware)
"And He is the Irresistible (Supreme), above His slaves and He is the All-Wise, Well-Aware of all things. [Al-Anam (6):18]
"Verily Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, he sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow and no person knows in what land he will die. Indeed Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware." (31:34)
"O Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other. Verily, the most honorable of you in the Sight of Allah is the most God-Fearing of you. Indeed Allah is the All-Knower, the All-Aware." (49:13)
He is the One Whose Knowledge encompasses all the outward and hidden matters, the open and secret, all those things that must necessarily occur, all those things that are impossible to occur and all things that can possibly occur, of the affairs of the whole of creation, of the past, the present and the future. There is absolutely nothing that is hidden from Him.
Thus, He knows His Noble self, His most Holy descriptions and His most Great attributes. These things are the necessities, which must exist. He also knows the impossibilities in their condition of impossibilities, and what would happen if they did ever come into existence.
"This is as He, the Exalted said: Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allah, then verily, both would have been ruined. [Al-Anbiya (21):]
"And He Says, No son (or Offspring) did Allah beget, nor is there any God along with Him. (If there had been many gods), then each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would been tried to overcome others! [Al-Muminoon (23):91]
This and its like are example of His knowledge of the impossibilities, which He knows, and His awareness of what would occur if they existed. This is in reference to suppositions and hypothetic conjecture. Allah also knows the possibilities. These are those things which may or may not exist. What exists of it and what does not exist of it is of those things which the supreme wisdom has not necessitated its occurrence. So Allah is the All Knowing, Whose knowledge encompasses the world above and below. No place or time escapes His knowledge. He knows the unseen and the seen, the apparent and the hidden, the manifest and the concealed. Allah, the Exalted said:
"Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of everything. Al-Anfal (8):75]
In the Saheeh it is reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, Verily Allah says, Pride is my cloak, and magnificent is my lower garment, so whoever dispute me concerning either one of them, I will punish him severely. [Muslim 4/2023], Abu Dawud (4/59), and Ibn Majaah (2/1397), and Ahmad (2/376) with similar wording]. Therefore greatness and pride belong to Allah, and magnificent as well the amount of these two attributes (of Allah) cannot be estimated, and their essence cannot be fully comprehended.
The texts that mention the encompassing of Allah's knowledge, and explanations of its fine points, are many. These texts are innumerable and limitless. They also clarify that there is nothing even the weight of a speck of dust in the heavens or earth, or even smaller than that or larger, that escapes Him. He is not unaware, nor does He forget. All of the knowledge of the creation, with its vastness and many types, vanishes as if were nothing when compared to Allah's knowledge. Likewise, their powers are nothing when compared to the power of Allah. He is the one who teaches them that which they did not know. And He gives them the ability to do that which they were not able to do. His knowledge encompasses all of the world above and below, and whatever creations therein. He knows their essences, their attributes, their deeds and all of their matters. He knows what was and what will be in the future, which has no end, He knows what does not exist and how it would be if it did exist. He knows the conditions of all people since the time of His creating them and after He causes them to die and after He brings them to life again. His knowledge encompasses all of their deeds, both the good and the evil. The reward of these deeds and the details of that is in the Final abode. [Al-Haqq ul-Waadhih ul-Mubeen, pp. 37-38, and Sharh Al-Qaseedah An Nooniyyah by Al-Harraas (2/73)]
In conclusion, we say that Allah is He Whose knowledge encompasses the apparent and the hidden, the secret and the obvious, the necessities, the possible and the impossible. His knowledge encompasses the world above and below, the past, the present and the future. There is not a single thing that is hidden from Him. [Tafseer Al-Allamah Ash-Sheikh Abdur Rahmaan As-Sadee, 5/621]
84. Al-Azeez (the Mighty)
The One to Whom belongs might/honor in its entirety, the might/honor of strength, the might/honor of conquest and the might/honor of preventing. So He has prevented any of His creation from encompassing and grasping Him, He is Omnipotent over everything that is in existence, the whole of creation is subjected and indebted to Him and yielding before His greatness.
"It will be said: 'Seize him and drag him into the midst of the blazing Fire. Then pour over his head the torment of boiling water. Taste you this! Indeed you were (pretending to be) the Mighty, the Generous!'" (44:47-49)
"Blessed be He in Whose Hand in the dominion, and He is Able to do all things. Who has created death and life that He may test which of you is best in deed. And He is the Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving." (67:1-2)
85. Al-Muqtadir (The Omnipotent)
86. Al-Qawiyy (The Most Powerful)
87. Al-Mateen (The Most Strong)
[These fall under the meaning of al-Azeez]
All of these magnificent names have similar meanings. For He, the Exalted, is perfect in strength great in power and complete in might.
"Verily, all power (and might) belongs to Allah. [Yunus (10):65)
"Verily, your Lord is the Most Strong, the Most Mighty. [Hud (11):66]
"Those who have been expelled from their homes unjustly only because they said, 'our Lord is Allah' - for had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, wherein the Name of Allah is mentioned much, would surely have been pulled down. Indeed Allah will help those who help Him and Allah is the Strong, the All-Mighty." (22:40)
The word might has three meanings which are perfect with regards to Allah, the Most Great:
1. Might of Strength and Power. This is proved by His names, Al-Qawee (the Most Strong) and Al-Mateen (The Extremely Strong). This (Might of Strength) is His great description and He the One whom the strength of the created beings cannot be compared to Him, no matter how great it may be. Allah, the Exalted says,
Verily, Allah is the All Providing, the Passer of Strength, the Most Strong. [Adh Dhariyyat (51):58]
And Allah is Powerful, and Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Al-Mumtahinah 960):7]
Say (O Muhammad), He is the Most Able to send a torment upon you from above you, or from beneath your feet, or to make you all into confused sects, and make some of you taste the harms (violence) of others. [Al-Anam (6):65]
And Allah is able to do everything. [Al-Kahf (18):45]
Verily, the pious will be in the midst of gardens and rivers (of Paradise) . In a seat of truth (i.e. paradise), near the Omnipotent King. [Al-Qamar (54):55]
2. Might of Impossibility (to be affected). For verily, He is the Most wealthy, being Self Sufficient in His Self. He does not need anyone nor do the creatures (His Slaves) have any ability to harm Him or benefit Him. Rather, He is the One who cause harm, gives benefit, gives and withholds.
3. Might of Compelling Force. This is His ability over all of existence. All of existence is compelled by Allah, submissive to His greatness and complaint to His desire. All of the forelocks of the creatures are in His hand none of them can move or change position except by His power strength and permission. Thus, whatever He willed will be and whatever He does not will it will not be. There is no power and no strength except by Him (Allah). From His strength and His power is that He created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days. He also originated the creation, then He will cause them to die, then He will bring them to life (again) and to Him they will be returned.
The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all are only as (the creation and resurrection of) a single person. (Luqman (31):28]
And He it is who originates the creation, then He will repeat it (after it has been perished); and this is easier for Him. [Ar-Rum (30):27]
From the results of His Power is that you see the earth still (and lifeless), then when water (rain) descends upon it, it moves, grows and brings forth every kind of lovely growth (plants). Also, from the results of His power is what He made happen to the rejecting nations and the wrong doing disbelievers from the various types of punishment and lasting lessons. Also, their plans, their plotting, their wealth, their armies and their fortresses cannot benefit them anything against the torment of Allah when the command of your Lord comes (to them). All of these things only increase them in utter destruction. This is especially important to note in these times (today). For verily, this dreadful power and these dazzling inventions that the nations (of today) have achieved is only from the power that Allah has allowed them to have and His teaching them what they did not know. Therefore, from the signs of Allah is that their strength, powers and inventions cannot benefit them anything in preventing what will befall them of adversities and destructive punishments. No matter how much they exert their efforts and exhaust their energies to protect themselves from Allah's punishment, they cannot do so. The command of Allah is always dominant and all the elements of the upper (highest) world and the lower are dependent upon His power.
From the perfection of His Might and Power, and their completeness, is that just as He is the Creator of the slaves (creatures), He is also the Creator of their deeds, their obedience and their disobedience. These are all of their actions. These actions are attributed to Allah in their being created and predetermined, and their actual performance is attributed to them (the creatures) and particularly at the time of their occurrence. There is no contradiction between the two matters. For verily, Allah created their power (ability) and their will. The Creator of the cause is also the Creator of the effect (i.e. what results).
"Allah, the Exalted, says, And Allah created you all and whatever you do. [As-Saffat 37:96]
From the results of His power is what He mentioned in His Book of His helping His (i.e. pious believers) even though they were small in number and lacked preparation against their enemies who excelled them in great numbers and preparation. Allah says:
"How many times has a small group overcome a large group by Allah's leave? [Al-Baqarah (2):249]
From the results of His Power and His Mercy is what He will make happen to the people of the Hellfire and the people of Paradise from the various punishments and pleasures that are numerous, continuous, eternal and forever. * [Al-Haqq Ul-Waadhih ul-Mubeen, pg. 45-46, and Sharh ul-Qaseedah In Nooniyyah by Al-Harraas (2/78) and Tafseer As-Sadee, 5/624]
Therefore, by His Power He brought everything into existence. By His Power, He controls the affairs of everything. By His Power, He rectifies and perfects everything. By His power He gives life and death and He will resurrect the slaves (creatures) for the final recompense. Thus, The good-doer will be rewarded for his good and the wrong doer will be punished for His Evil. By His power, He turns the hearts and directs them to whatever He wishes. He is the One who, whenever He wants something, He says BE and it is (i.e. it comes into existence). * [Tafseer Al-Allaamah As-Sadee, 5/624, and this is taken from Surah Ya-Seen (36): Verse 82]
"Allah says also, Whosoever you may be, Allah will bring you together (on the Day of Resurrection). Truly, Allah is able to do all things. [Al-Baqarah (2):148]
88. Al-Afuw (The Oft-Pardoning)
88. Al-Ghafoor (The Oft-Forgiving)
88. Al-Ghaffaar (The Most Forgiving)
"Verily, Allah is Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving. [Al-Hajj (22): 60]
He is the one Who never ceases (to exist) and He does not cease being kind by pardoning and He is described as forgiving and overlooking of the errors of His slaves. Everyone is in need of His Pardoning and His Forgiving just as they are in need of His Mercy and His Generosity. Verily, He promised forgiveness and pardoning to whoever does what deserves them (These two attributes).
"Allah says: And verily, I am Oft-Forgiving for whoever repents, believes, works righteousness (deeds) and then is rightly guided. [Taa-Haa (20): 82]
The Oft-Pardoning is He who has complete and total pardoning that suitably covers whatever sins that may be committed by His slaves. This is especially the case if they do that which necessitates their pardoning, such as seeking (His) forgiveness, repentance, having faith and performing righteous deeds. For He, Glory be unto Him, accepts His slaves and pardons their evil deeds. He is Oft-Pardoning and He loves to Pardon and He loves from His slaves that they should rush to attain the things that will cause them to do those things that bring them towards pardon like hurrying to please Him and doing good towards His creatures. Also from the perfection of His Pardoning is that He forgives all of His servants crimes, whether small or big, no matter how much he wrongs himself, as long as he repents and recants from the evil. He (Allah) made (the acceptance of) Islam the expiation of whatever one did before and repentance the expiation of whatever one did before it. * [Sharh Ul-Qaseedah An-Nooniyyah by Al-Harras, 2/86, and Al-Haqq Ul-Waadhi Al-Mubeen, pg.56]
"Allah says: O Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Az-Zumar (39):53]
In a Hadeeth the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Verily, Allah says: Oh son of Adam, verily if you come to Me with an earth full of sins, and you meet me without having associated anything with Me (as a partner), Then I would come to you with an earth full of forgiveness. Recorded by Al-Tirmidhee, 4/122, and declared Hasan (Good) by Al-Albanee in Saheeh Al-Jaami, 5/548]
"Allah, the Exalted says, Verily, Your Lord has vast forgiveness. [An-Najm 953):32].
Verily, Allah has opened the means of attaining His forgiveness through repentance, seeking forgiveness, faith, doing righteous deeds, doing good towards His slaves, pardoning them, having strong hope for Allah's favor, thinking good concerning Allah and other things that Allah has made a means of drawing near to Him and attaining His Forgiveness. * [Al-Haqq Ul-Waadhih Al-Mubeen, pp.73-74
89. Badeeus-Samaawaati Wal-Ard (The Originating Creator) of the Heavens and the Earth
"The Originator of the heavens and the earth. If He decides a matter He merely says Be and it is. [Soorah 2 Al-Baqarah, Aayah 117]
That is, He created them and originated them from nothing with the utmost perfection and marvelous original creation, as well as with wondrous and precise order.
"And Allah taaala stated: He is the one who originates the creation, then will repeat it (after it has been perished)[Soorah 30 Ar-Room, Aayah 27]
He began their creation to test which of them is the best in deeds, then He returns them (to life in the Hereafter) to reward those who do righteous deeds and to give what is due to those who commit evil for their evil deeds.
Likewise, He brings into existence created things bit by bit and brings them back all the time. Allah taaala also says:
"Verily your Lord is the doer of what He wills. [Soorah 11 Hood, Aayah 107]
"And He Subhaanahu (Who is free from and above any imperfection) said: He does what He wills. [Soorah 85 Al-Burooj, Aayah 16]
This extends from His Perfect Power, and implementation of His Will and His Ability. Every matter that He wants He does and there is nothing that can pose obstruction or resistance to Him. Indeed, if He wants anything He merely says, Be and it is. The fact is that He is the Doer of all He wishes and His Will is according to His Wisdom. Allah is described as Perfect in Power and implementation of Will. He is also characterized as having complete and comprehensive wisdom in all that He has done or does.
90. Al-Kaafi (The Sufficient)
"Is not Allah Sufficient for His slave? [Soorah 39 Az-Zumar, Aayah 36]
He, Who is free from and above all imperfection is the Sufficient for His slaves for all their needs and they are force to depend upon Him. He is the Sufficient to a special extent for whosoever believes in Him and depends upon Him and asks from Him that which he requires for his religion (deen) and his worldy life (ad-dunyaa).
91. Al-Waasi (The Vast, Extending, Abounding, Far-Reaching, All-Sufficient)
"And Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and Bounty and Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures needs, All-Knowing. [Soorah 2 Al-Baqarah, Aayah 268]
He, subhaanahu wa taaala, is Vast in His attributes, and characteristics and all that is tied to them. None can encompass or bring forth all the praise due to Him. Indeed He is the One Who is most fitting to extol Himself. His Greatness, Authority, and Sovereignty are all extremely extensive as are His Kindness, and Goodness along with greatness of Generosity and Magnanimity.
92. Al-Jameel (The Beautiful)
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) stated, Verily Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty. [Muslim] For Allah subhaanahu is beautiful in His Self, His Names, His Attributes and His actions. It is not possible for a created being to express some of His beauty. Even the inhabitants of Al-Jannah -despite what they will have of everlasting ease and bounties, happiness and pleasure that cannot be measured - upon seeing their Rabb and enjoying His beauty, they will forget all that they have been granted of bounties and all that they have of happiness will amount to nothing and they will desire to forever remain in that state (i.e. of looking at Allah). They will acquire from His beauty and light that which adds to their beauty. Their hearts will be perpetually yearning and longing for the sight of their Rabb. They will be overjoyed on Yaum Al-Mazeed with such joy that will cause the hearts to nearly fly.
Likewise, He is beautiful in His names for all of them are beautiful and good. Indeed, they are absolutely the best names and the most beautiful of names.
Allah said, To Allah belong The Most Beautiful Names, therefore call upon Him by them. [Soorah 7 Al-Araaf, Aayah 180]
And He said, Do you know of any who is similar to Him [i.e. in name]? [Soorah 19 Maryam, Aayah 65]
All of that points to the utmost degree of praise, magnificence and perfection. He is not called by any name that is divisible between perfection and other than that.
Likewise, He is beautiful in His attributes. Each and every one of His attributes are attributes of perfection, and qualities of praise and magnificence. They are broader in description and more general and more linked (to His Self). Especially the characteristics of Mercy (Ar-Rahmah), Kindness (Al-Birr), Generosity (Al-Karam), and Liberality (Al-Jood).
Also all of His actions are beautiful. They all revolve around his Actions of Kindness and Goodness for which He is praised and extolled and thanked; and those actions of Justice for which He is praised due to their being in accordance with wisdom and praise. There is nothing useless or wasted or foolish nor vain nor unjust in His actions. All of them are good, all are guidance, mercy, reasonable and fair.
Verily my Rabb is on the Straight Path. [Soorah 11 Hood, Aayah 56]
It is due to His perfection that none can glorify Him enough. All His actions are perfect therefore each of His judgments and rulings are the most perfect of rulings, and that which He produces and makes is the best of creation and production. What He has fashioned is most precise and perfect:
The Work of Allah, Who perfected all things [Soorah 27 An-Naml, Aayah 88]
His has made His creation the best: Who made everything He has created good [Soorah As-Sajdah, Aayah 7]
And Who is better in judgment than Allah for a people who have firm faith? [Soorah 5 Al-Maaidah, Aayah 50]
The Cosmos is composed of many kinds and categories of beauty and that beauty is derived from Allah taaala for He is the one Who covered it with beauty and Who gave it exquisiteness. He indeed is more entitled (of the description of beauty) for the giver of the beauty is more deserving of beauty. Every type of beauty in this life and in the next, whether internal or external is due to Him. Especially that which the Ultimate Lord and Protector (Al-Mawlaa) gives to the inhabitants of Al-Jannah of excessive beauty. For if just one of the Hoorul-Een (Hooris - maidens of Al-Jannah) was to expose her shin to the world it would obliterate the light of the sun and the stars. Is not the One Who endowed them with this beauty and blessed them with such excellence and perfection, indeed more entitled than them to a beauty that has no similitude? This is clear, rational, evidence that is indisputable with regard to this tremendous issue and others relating to His attributes.
Allah taaala stated: And for Allah is the highest description. [Soorah 16 An-Nahl, Aayah 60]
Any perfection found in created things necessarily means there is no shortcoming in its Creator. Indeed the Grantor, Allah, is more deserving than those who are granted, of attributes that are not equally mutual, as there is no connection between their essence and His, or their attributes and His. The One who granted them hearing, sight, life, knowledge, ability, and beauty is far more entitled than them to those attributes.
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) stated in an authentic hadeeth: There are none more patient with being harmed by what he hears than Allah. They make for Him a son, nevertheless He overlooks and forgives them and provides for them. [Al-Bukhari]
He (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also stated, as collected by Al-Bukhari:
The son of Adam denies Me when it is not fitting for him to do so. The son of Adam abuses Me when it is not fitting for him to do so. As far as his denial of Me he says: He will not bring me back as He brought me out. Yet his initial creation was no easier than will be returning him. (i.e. both are easy) As far as his abuse of Me is his saying that I have a son. Yet I am Al-Ahad (The Unique and Singular), As-Samad (The One eternally sought by all) Who neither was born nor gives birth and there is none like unto Him.
Allah taaala abundantly gives to His slaves (all creatures) their provision whether they are obedient or disobedient and rebellious. The disobedient yet continue in their denial of Him and His messengers rush to extinguish His Deen. Nevertheless Allah is patient with all they say and do. They follow evil upon evil and He follows with favor upon favor. His Patience is the most perfect and complete patience due to His perfect and complete Ability and Independence from His creation along with perfection and completeness in His Mercy and Kindness. Most blessed is the Most Merciful Provider Who there is none comparable and Who loves the patient and provides for all their needs.
93. Ar-Rafeeq (The Gentle)
This is derived from the statement of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) from a authentic hadeeth: Allah is Gentle and loves gentleness and He gives with gentleness to the extent He does not give with harshness nor does He give of anything in equal measure to it. [Muslim]
Allah taaala is gentle in His actions. He created all creation gradually, bit by bit, according to His wisdom and gentleness despite the fact that He was capable of creating it all at one time and in a moment. Whoever considers the creation and thinks about His Laws and how they are brought about gradually, they would attest to the most amazing wonders.
The one who is deliberate and reflective is one who deals with affairs with gentleness, calmness and sobriety following the sunan (ways) of Allah in the creation and following His Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). This is his direction and manner that eases affairs for him especially one who is in need of dealing with the affairs of people and guiding and instructing them. He is then forced to use gentleness and easiness. Likewise, whoever is harmed by the creation with offensive speech and preserves his tongue from vilifying them and defends himself with gentleness and ease, their harm will be pushed away from him in ways not possible through confrontation with them in the manner they speak or act. From confrontation in their manner, just comes the loss of attaining comfort, tranquility, composure, and forbearance.
Allah the Mighty and Majestic sends the rain to His slaves if they appeal to Him, Most Glorified and Perfect is He. It is related by Anas Ibn Malik (radiallahu anhu) that a man entered the masjid on Friday while the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was delivering the sermon and he said, Oh Messenger of Allah.
Our possessions are being destroyed and the highways cut off, so please ask Allah to send rain upon us. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Allah the Mighty and Majestic sends nourishing rain upon His slaves in times of hardship and adversity. It is He who sends rain to all creatures when their circumstances become strained and they fall into a state of distress and hardship. He feeds the hungry and provides clothing for them. He lifts their hardship from them and sends the rains upon them in their time of need. Likewise He answers grievances, i.e. the supplications of those in distress, anxiety and predicament. Who sincerely seeks His relief is being provided. The Quran and the Sunnah both mention His relieving the troubles and removing distress and making ease from hardship over and over.
95. As-Sitteer (The Coverer)
This is derived from his statement (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam): Verily Allah is Al-Hayee (The Shy). He is shy to let His slave return empty-handed if he outstretches his hands to Him. [Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah] Also is his statement (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam): Verily Allah Mighty and Majestic is Haleem (Forebearing), Hayee (Shy), Sitteer (Covering). He loves modesty and shyness and covering. Therefore when any of you bathe let him cover himself (i.e. from the sight of people). [Abu Dawud, An-Nasaaee, al-Baihaqi, Ahmed, graded as saheeh]
This is from His Mercy, Generosity, and Perfection. His forbearance is in that His slave openly sins although he is intensely dependant upon Him to the degree that it is not even possible for him to disobey if not for the favor of Allah giving him any power. Yet Ar-Rabb (The Ultimate Creator, Sustainer and Provider) is of such complete independence from all of His creation, it is out of His generosity that He is shy to uncover and disgrace him and make lawful the punishment for him, so He covers him through opening means to cover him by. He overlooks and forgives and He shows His love for His slave through His favors, yet they commit sins hateful to Him. His good is upon them every moment yet their evil is rising. He is still the Sovereign and Most Generous although their disobedience and every shameful deed goes up to Him. Allah taaalaa is shy to punish the one that tarnishes his Islam as well as to leave the one who outstretches his hands to Him empty handed. He calls upon His slaves to ask Him and He promises to answer them.
He is the Coverer and the Shy Who in turn loves those who possess a sense of shame and who cover faults. Whoever covers the faults of a Muslim, Allah will cover him in this life and in the hereafter. For this reason it is detested that the slave of Allah announces his sin after its commission. Rather the repentance of the slave is between him and his Rabb and not revealed to people. It is the most loathsome of people who commit sin in the night and Allah covers that sin only to remove the covering of Allah in the morning by announcing that sin.
Allah taaalaa said: Verily those who like that (the crime) of illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. [Soorah An-Noor, Aayah 19].
All of this is the meaning of His name Al-Haleem (The Forbearing) Whose forbearance encompasses the disbelievers, the sinful and the disobedient. He holds back His punishment from hurriedly descending upon the wrongdoers for He gives them respite in order to repent. However He does not give them unlimited respite if they persist and continue in their tyranny and excesses without repenting.
96. Al-Qaabid (The Constrictor)
97. Al-Baasit (The Munificent)
99. Al-Maani` (The Preventer)
And it is Allah Who decreases or increases your provisions and unto Him you shall return. [Soorah Al-Baqarah, 188]
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Indeed Allah is Al-Musair (The Pricesetter), Al-Baasit, Ar-Raaziq (the Provider) [Ibn Maajah, At-Tirmidhi, Abu dawud, Ahmad, Ad-Daarimi]. He (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also stated: Whoever Allah wants good for He gives him understanding in religion and Allah is Al-Mutee and I am Al-Qaasim [Al-Bukhaari]
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Verily Allah azza wa jall, does not sleep nor is it fitting that He sleep. He decreases the amount (of provision) and raises it. Every matter of the night is raised to Him before the deeds of the day an the deeds of the day before those of the night. [Muslim]
Allah taaalaa stated: Say: O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give possession to whom You will, and You take possessions from whom You will, and you endue with honor whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily You are able to do all things. [Soorah Aale Imraan, Aayah 26]
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Verily Allah raises a people with this Book (Al-Quraan) and makes lowly another. [Al-Bukhaari] The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would say after making the salaam at the end of the prayer and turning towards the people: There is no deity worthy of worship in truth except Allah Who is Alone and without partner. For Him is the Sovereignty and for Him is the praise and He is in control of all things. O Allah there is none who can withhold that which You have given and none who can give that which You have withheld. No wealth or majesty can benefit anyone as You are from Who all wealth and majesty come. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
There is none who can prevent what He gives and none who can give what He prevents. Every thing that can bring goodness or benefit is sought and desired from Him. He is the One Who gives to whomsoever He Wills and prevents from Whosoever He Wills, all of this in accordance to His Wisdom and Mercy.
