Why even begin to learn the ninety names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ ?
Take a second to guess what subject is the most repeated in the entire Qur’an? Did you guess the day of resurrection? Or maybe marriage? Perhaps various chapters describing what paradise is like? Given this is a page dedicated to the 99 names Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ you might’ve figured out that we’re alluding to the correct answer, which is in fact the names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ.
The attributes of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is the most repeated subject in the entire Qur’an. It’s very hard to go by a page where we don’t learn something about Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. We read about how he is the most kind, the most merciful, the most wise, the knower of everything, the see-er of all that you do, free from all wants, worthy of all praise. Imam Al-Shafi’i mentioned, “Whatever the Umma says is merely a commentary on the tradition of the Prophet ﷺ, and whatever the traditions of the Prophet say is merely a commentary on the Qur’an, and whatever the Qur’an says, it is a mere commentary on the excellent names of Allah.”
It can seem like memorizing the names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is not a rigorous academic pursuit. It can seem basic, but the reality is knowing the names of Allah is a strong foundation of tawhid. Part of believing in Allah and his oneness is to know his names and attributes. Being able to paint a clear picture of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ, having that clarity starts with knowing his essence, and we can start this journey by a study of His names.
Is it possible you could love and respect someone you do not know at all? It’s hard to have a deep connection with a random stranger across the world who you do not know. That’s not to say you can’t have respect for that person or be empathetic towards their struggle. But as you converse with them, and learn about their background, his or her upbringing, passions, or interests, you begin to establish a deeper connection. Similarly, the more you engage and learn the names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ, the more you’ll love, fear, respect, and obey Him. Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is close to us, “And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein” (50:16) The million-dollar question is what effort have we made to be close to Him? These names were revealed, so we could learn about Him and deepen our connection with our creator. But like with any relationship, the strongest and most enduring relationships require effort and hard work.
We must note, that these names are not superficial either. Some of the names of Allah may seem similar, but they are not synonymous. Each name represents a unique attribute. They highlight some virtue or value that is noble in Islam. To know them is a source of knowledge. What’s even greater is to try and integrate them into your life to be lived and emulated to the best of your ability.
When we come to understand the ninety names of Allah, we can begin to see the world in a new light. If we understand how Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is Al-Alim (the all-knowing), Al-Hakeem (the wise one), and Al-Muqsit (the just one) we would come to understand that whatever happens to a believer, that whatever Allah decrees would be good for him or her. Suhaib reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it. [3] If you believe in Allah and know his attributes you would not question, complain, or curse the world around you when faced with a difficult situation. Knowing the beautiful names of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ and understanding what they mean would help you, it would guide you to endure patiently. They would bring you comfort and give you peace.
There is nothing greater than Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. Therefore a study of his attributes will be one of the greatest pursuits you can undertake.
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