[Taken from Tayseer al-Kareem ar-Rahmaan, Abdur-Rahmaan Naasir as-Sa`dee’s Tafseer]
A large number of the Beautiful Names of Allah are repeated manifold in the Qur`aan as demanded by the occasion and it is necessary to explain their meanings in a succinct way. So we say:
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 favours and blessings. More specifically He is the One Who nurtures and sustains his sincere friends 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)
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)
Al-Malik (The King), and al-Maalik (The Master and Owner)
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 Grandjeur, 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.” (20:114)
“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 honour 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)
Al-Waahid, al-Ahad (The One)
He is the One Who is singled out in all aspects of Perfection such that nothing else shares with Him in these. 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 Irresistable?'” (12:39)
“Say: I am only a warner and there is no god except Allah the One, the Irresistable.” (38:65)
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 regards to His Essence, His Names, His Attributes and His Actions.
“Say: He is Allah the One. Allah the Self-Sufficient.” (112:1-2)
Al-Aleem (the All-Knowing), al-Khabeer (the All-Aware)
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.
“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 honourable 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)
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 judgement 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 the on the earth. He is theAll-Wise, the All-Knowing.” (43:84)
Ar-Rahmaan (The Most Beneficent), ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful), al-Barr (The Generous), al-Kareem (the Kind), al-Jawwaad (The Bestower of Good), ar-Ra`oof (the Kind), 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)
As-Samee` (the All-Hearing)
The One Who hears all sounds and voices, in all of their different languages and all their many and various needs.
“Say: if they believe as you (O Prophet and Companions) believe then they are rightly guided, but if they turn away then they are only in opposition. So Allah will suffice you against them and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” (2:137)
“And Allah judges with truth while those to whom they invoke besides Him cannot judge anything. Indeed Allah is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” (40:20)
Al-Baseer (the All-Seeing)
The One Who sees all things even if they be insignificant and minute. He sees the black ant on a black stone in a black night. He sees what is below the seventh earth and what is above the seventh heaven. Also He is Hearing and Seeing of those that deserve recompense in accordance to what His Wisdom dictates.
“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)
Al-Hameed (the One Who is praised)
In His Person, 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 ownself. And whoever is ungrateful then verily Allah is All-Rich, Worthy of All praise.” (31:12)
Al-Majeed (the Glorious), al-Kabeer (the Great), al-Adheem (the Exalted), al-Jaleel (the Noble)
He is described with the Attributes of Glory and Grandeur and Greatness and Magnificence. He is the One Who is greater, more exalted and magnificent than anything. He is glorified and magnified in the hearts of His friends and close ones. Their hearts overflow in exalting and magnifying Him, submitting to him and humbling themselves before his Grandeur.
“Owner of the Throne, the Glorious.” (85:15)
“All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Great, the Most High.” (13:9)
“Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.” (56:74)
Al-Afuww (the Forgiving), al-Ghafoor (the Forgiving), 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, He said,
“and indeed I am All-Forgiving to him who repents, believes, associates none in worship with Me, does righteous deeds and then remains constant in doing them.” (20:82)
“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)
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)
Al-Quddoos (the Holy), 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)
Al-Alee (the High), al-A`laa (the Highest)
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 fulfilment.
“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)
Al-Azeez (the Mighty)
The One to Whom belongs might/honour in its entirety, the might/honour of strength, the might/honour of conquest and the might/honour 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 subject 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)
Al-Qawee (the Strong), al-Mateen (the Powerful)
These fall under the meaning of al-Azeez.
“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)
“Indeed Allah is the Provider, Owner of Strength, the Powerful.” (51:58)
Al-Jabbaar (the Compeller)
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.
Al-Mutakabbir (the Supreme)
The One Who is above any evil, defect and deficiency due to His greatness and grandeur.
“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)
Al-Khaaliq (the Creator), al-Baaree (the Originator), 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 acordance 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)
Al-Mu`min (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)
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)
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. Wheresoever 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)
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)
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 minutesr 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)
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 organisation 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)
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)
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)
Al-Qahhaar (The Subduer), Al-Qaahir (The Irresistable)
The Irresistable 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 Irresistable, 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)
Al-Muqeet (The Powerful)
The One who provides everything that is in existence with what would strengthen it, Who provides it it’s nourishment and directs it howsoever 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)
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.”
“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)
Dhul Jalaal wal Ikraam (The One possessing Majesty and Honour)
Meaning the One possessing Greatness and Grandeur, possessing Mercy and Generosity. The One Who shows beneficence in both its general and specific aspects. The One Who honours His friends and close ones – those who glorify, exalt and love Him.
“Everything in the earth will perish. And the Face of your Lord, full of Majesty and Honour, will abide forever.” (55:27)
“Blessed be the name of your Lord, the Owner of Majesty and Honour.” (55:78)
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)
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 the 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 those of the believers who are with me.” (26:117-118)
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 providing for His servants is 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)
Al-Hakam (The Judge), al-Adl (The Just)
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 the 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 judgement is only for Allah, He declares the truth, and He is the best of judges.” (6:57)
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)
Al-Hayy (The Living), 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)
An-Nur (The Light)
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 lit 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)
Badee`us Samaawaati wal Ard (The Originator of the heavens and the earth)
Meaning their Creator and Orginator, done so in the best of ways, with the most marvellous of creations in amazing and perfect order, structure and harmony.
“The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When he decrees a thing to be, He merely says: Be! – and it is.” (2:117)
“He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife? He created all things and He Knows everything.” (6:101)
Al-Qaabid (The Taker), 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)
Al-Mu`tee (The Giver), Al-Maani` (The Preventer)
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.
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 make it prevail over all religions. And sufficient is Allah as a Witness.” (48:28)
Al-Mubdee` (The Starter), Al-Mu`eed(The Recaller, The One Who repeats creation)
Allah says, “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)
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 acts in accordance to His Wisdom and Praise. He is described with Perfect Ability and Power, and with the implementation of 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)
Al-Ghanee (The Self-Sufficient, The Rich), al-Mughnee (The Sufficient)
He is Self-Sufficient completely and unrestrictedly, deference 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 Forebearing.” (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)
Al-Haleem (The Forbearing)
The One Who bestows favours, 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 Forebearing.” (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 Forebearing.” (65:17)
Ash-Shaakir (The Recogniser and Rewarder of good), Ash-Shakoor (The Appreciative)
The One Who recognises 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 recognises 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 the going between them. And whoever does good voluntarily, then Allah is the Recogniser, 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)
Al-Qareeb (The Close), 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 them may be and wheresoever 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 Thamud 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)
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)
Al-Awwal (The First), Al-Aakhir (The Last), Adh-Dhaahir (The Manifest), Al-Baatin (The Inward)
The Prophet ﷺ explained these in a succinct and clear way while addressing his Lord,
“You are the First, there was none before You. You are the Last, there will be none after You. Your are the Manifest, there is nothing above You. You are the Inward, there is nothing close to you.”
“He is the First, the Last, the Manifest and the Inward. He is the All-Knower of everything.” (57:3)
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)
Al-Haadee (The Director), 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)
Al-Haqq (The Truth)
He is the Truth in His Essence and Attributes, He is the most necessary of existences, 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)
“Say: the truth has come and falsehood has been vanished, indeed falsehood by its nature is bound to be vanished.” (17:81)
And all praise is due to Allah by whose grace all good actions are completed and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and upon his companions and those who follow them until the Day of Judgement.
(NOTE: If you want to build a strong and powerful relationship with Allah, check out Islamia TV, where you can watch Islamic speakers from across the globe deliver inspiring and motivational courses. Learn more at www.islamia.tv.)
