(cid:52)(cid:41)(cid:38)(cid:42)(cid:44)(cid:41)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:35)(cid:47)(cid:1)(cid:54)(cid:53)(cid:41)(cid:34)(cid:58)(cid:46)(cid:38)(cid:38)(cid:47) (cid:53) (cid:41) (cid:38) (cid:1) (cid:47) (cid:42) (cid:47) (cid:38) (cid:53) (cid:58) (cid:1) (cid:47) (cid:42) (cid:47) (cid:38) (cid:47) (cid:34) (cid:46) (cid:38) (cid:52) (cid:1) (cid:48) (cid:39) (cid:1) (cid:34) (cid:45) (cid:45) (cid:34) (cid:41) (cid:34)(cid:1)(cid:46)(cid:38)(cid:46)(cid:48)(cid:51)(cid:42)(cid:52)(cid:34)(cid:53)(cid:42)(cid:48)(cid:47)(cid:1)(cid:53)(cid:48)(cid:48)(cid:45)(cid:1)(cid:56)(cid:42)(cid:53)(cid:41)(cid:1)(cid:53)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:52)(cid:45)(cid:42)(cid:53)(cid:38)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:53)(cid:42)(cid:48)(cid:47)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:37)(cid:1)(cid:46)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:42)(cid:47)(cid:40)(cid:52) (cid:52)(cid:41)(cid:38)(cid:42)(cid:44)(cid:41)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:35)(cid:47)(cid:1)(cid:54)(cid:53)(cid:41)(cid:34)(cid:58)(cid:46)(cid:38)(cid:38)(cid:47) The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said: “Verily to Allah belongs ninety-nine names. One hundred less one. Whoever enumerates (learns, memorises, understands and acts upon them) them will enter paradise.” (Muslim) Allah: Concerning the name Allah, Ibnul-Qayyim (Rahimuallah) said: The name Allah indicates all of the perfect names and lofty attributes in all three ways of indication since it indicates His divinity, which indicates affirmation of all the characteristics of divinity for Him, along with negation of their opposites for Him. The attributes of divinity are the attributes of perfection – being free from any likeness with the creation and free of any deficiency or imperfection. AAss ffoorr tthhee ppaarrttiiccuullaarr vviirrttuueess ooff tthhee mmeeaanniinngg ooff tthhiiss nnaammee AAllllaahh,, tthheenn iinn tthhiiss rreeggaarrdd tthhee most knowledgeable of the creation Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said: “I could not praise you enough as you deserve, you are as you have praised yourself.” (Muslim) Ibnul-Qayyim said: So how could we enumerate the special virtues of the name of the one who comprises every perfection, unrestrictedly, and every praise and commendation, and every laudation and exaltation and all splendour and all ppeerrffeeccttiioonn aanndd aallll gglloorryy aanndd aallll bbeeaauuttyy aanndd aallll ggoooodd aanndd aallll eemmiinneennccee aanndd aallll generosity, excellence and goodness is for Him, and is from Him. So this name Allah is not mentioned upon a small amount of something except that it causes it to increase. It is not mentioned in a state of fear except that it removes it, nor is it mentioned upon any misfortune except that it relieves it, nor in any state of anxiety and distress except that it brings relief, nor upon any state of difficulty except that it brings ease to it. None who is weak resorts to it except that it brings strength to him, nor anyone in a state of humiliation except that it brings honour to him, nor anyone in poverty except that he is enriched, nor anyone who feels estranged and uneasy except that it causes him to feel at ease. It is not mentioned by one who has beenovercome except that it brings aid and victory for him, nor by one who is in straitened circumstances except that his difficulty is removed. It is not mentioned by a fugitive except that he finds refuge. So it is the name through which distress iiss rreemmoovveedd,, through which the descent of blessings is sought, through which supplications are answered, through it slips are corrected, sins are warded away and good deeds are brought closer. It is the name with which the earth and heavens were established and with which the revealed books were sent down and with which the Messengers were sent. With it the legislated laws were prescribed and through it the prescribedpunishments were established. Through this name the creation will become divided into the fortunate and the wretched, with it the true and tremendous ddaayy iiss eessttaabblliisshheedd,, aanndd with it the scales of justice are set up, the bridge laid down and the paradise and the fire established. With it the Lord of all creation is worshipped and praised. For its right the Messengers were sent and it will be asked about in the grave and for it will be the resurrection. Dispute is regarding it, and judgement is to it, and alliance and enmity are for it, through it those who know it and establish its rights will be the fortunate ones. And through it those who are ignorant of it and leave its rights are wretched ones, so it is the reason for the creation and command and tthhrroouugghh iitt tthheeyy aarree established and confirmed and to it they arrive at a conclusion, so the creation comes about through it, returns to it and exists because of it. So there is nothing in the creation and no command, no reward and no punishment except that it starts from it and ends with it. That is what brings it about and its reason, and he quotes the Ayaat: “Oh Lord you have not created all of this without purpose, free and far removed are you from that, so save us from the punishment of the fire.” (Quran 3:191) Allah With regard to the name Allah, a brief indication of the meaning is the one who is truly venerated and worshipped, the one deserving that He be singled out with all wwoorrsshhiipp,, because of His perfect attributes of divinity. Al-Ahad The Unique, the one who is alone and unique in every sense, the one alone in His oneness, in His self and in His attributes, and alone in His divinity. Al-A'laa The Most High, the one who is above everything having power and control over everything and the one who is exalted above every deficiency. Al-Akram The Most Generous, the one unequalled in His perfect generosity. 1 Al-ilah The Deity, the one who alone deserves to be worshipped. Al-Awwal The First, the one who was before everything, without any beginning. Al-Aakhir The Last, the one who remains after everything else, with no end. 2 Al-Baseer The All-Seeing. The one who sees everything such that nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him. 3 Al-Haafidh The Protector. The one who alone guards and protects the heavens and the earth and whatever they contain, and who protects His servants from destruction and evil. Al-Haseeb The Reckoner Who Suffices, the one who preserves the deeds of the creation, and will bring them for account for them, and the one who suffices and protects His servants. 4 Al-Haqq The True One, the one true and certain in His existence, in His self, in His attributes, in His sayings and in His actions. Al-Mubeen The Clear And Manifest One, the one whose sole Lordship and right to be worshiped is clear and manifest. Al-Hakeem The All-Wise, the one fully wise in everything He decrees, and fully wise in His sayings and in His actions. There is no deficiency or error in anything He decrees, says or does. 5