Knowing Allah through the Beautiful Names
1 : Allah : The True God
The command of Allah Almighty is:
هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا
“He is Allah, besides Whom there is no true god.”
2 : Ar-Rahman : The Most Merciful Beyond Limits
Allah Almighty says:
قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ ۖ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا
“Say, call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever name you call – to Him belong the best names. And do not recite loudly in your prayer nor quietly but seek a way between.”
At another place He said:
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اسْجُدُوا لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ قَالُوا وَمَا الرَّحْمَٰنُ أَنَسْجُدُ لِمَا تَأْمُرُنَا وَزَادَهُمْ نُفُورًا
“And when it is said to them, ‘Prostrate to the Most Merciful,’ they say, ‘And what is the Most Merciful? Should we prostrate to that which you command us?’ And it increases them in aversion.”
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes:
“For the polytheists of Makkah, the descriptive names of Allah, Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem, were unfamiliar, and in some narrations it is mentioned that some polytheists heard the words ‘Ya Rahman wa Raheem’ from the blessed tongue of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said that he tells us to call only Allah but he himself is calling two deities, upon which this verse was revealed.”
Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem are among the attributes and beautiful names of Allah, but the people of ignorance did not recognize Allah by these names, as when during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم written at the beginning of the agreement, the polytheists of Makkah said: We do not know Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem, so write باسمك اللهم instead.
At another place it is stated:
مَّنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمَٰنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُّنِيبٍ
“And he who feared the Most Merciful unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].”
3 : Ar-Raheem : The Most Merciful
Allah Almighty says:
وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي ۚ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّي ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“I do not claim my soul to be pure; indeed, the soul commands evil, except those upon whom my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.”
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.”
In another place, Allah Almighty says:
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
“And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
Further He says:
وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ ۖ أَنَّهُ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“And when those come to you who believe in Our verses, say, ‘Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy: that any of you who does wrong out of ignorance and then repents after that and corrects himself – indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.'”
The command of Allah Almighty is:
وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمٌ وَدُودٌ
“Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is Merciful and Loving.”
In another place in the Quran it is mentioned:
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ ۖ قُلْ إِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهُ فَلَا تَمْلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۖ كَفَىٰ بِهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Or do they say, ‘He invented it’? Say, ‘Then bring ten surahs like it that have been invented and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allah, if you should be truthful.’ But if they do not respond to you – then know that it was revealed with the knowledge of Allah and that there is no deity except Him; so will you not be Muslims? And We did not give him [Prophet Muhammad] knowledge of poetry, nor is it befitting for him. It is not but a message and a clear Qur’an That he may warn whoever is alive and justify the word against the disbelievers. Do they say, ‘He is mad’? Rather, he brought them the truth, but most of them, to the truth, are averse. But if you could see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], ‘Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant.'”
Say: “If I have invented it, then you have no power to protect me from Allah. He is the Knower of what you are engaged in. He is sufficient as a witness between me and you, and He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”
إِلَّا مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًا بَعْدَ سُوءٍ فَإِنِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“But those who do wrong and then repent after that and correct themselves – indeed, Allah will forgive them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Abdur Rahman Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
“Allah Almighty is characterized by the attributes of mercy, kindness, generosity, and grace. His mercy and bounty are unlimited, which according to His wisdom is granted to every existing being. Among them, the believers have been given a plentiful and more perfect share. Allah Almighty says:
وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ۚ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ
“My mercy encompasses all things. I will decree it for those who fear Me.”
“All blessings and favors are manifestations of His mercy and His generosity and grace, and all the goodness of this world and the Hereafter are signs of His mercy.”
4 : Al-Malik The True King
The true king of the universe is only the blessed Being of Allah Almighty. The Quran describes Him as follows:
وَتَبَارَكَ الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَعِندَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
“And He is the Most Blessed, the Owner of the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and with Him is the knowledge of the Hour. And to Him you will be returned.”
In another place it is stated:
يَوْمَ لَا تَمْلِكُ نَفْسٌ لِّنَفْسٍ شَيْئًا ۖ وَالْأَمْرُ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلَّهِ
“The Day when no person will have power over another person (will do any good), that Day the command will be Allah’s alone.”
5 : Al-Quddus: The Most Pure, Completely Free from Every Defect and Fault
Among the beloved names of Allah Almighty is the name Al-Quddus. The Divine command is:
يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
“Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth declares His purity; He is the King, the Most Pure, the Most Dominant, the Most Wise.”
6 : As-Salam: The Source of Peace, The Giver of Peace, Absolute Peace
Several verses of the Holy Quran indicate that Allah is the Source of Peace,
Below we mention a few verses:
سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِّن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ
“They will be greeted with peace from a Merciful Lord.”
قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
“We said: O fire! Be cool and safe for Abraham.”
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“The angels take the souls of the righteous while they are in a state of purity, saying: Peace be upon you; enter Paradise for what you used to do.”
7 : Al-Mu’min: The Giver of Peace, The Giver of Faith, The Confirming One
Only the Being of Allah truly grants peace. The following verses indicate this matter:
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ فِيكُمْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ۚ لَوْ يُطِيعُكُمْ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَزَيَّنَهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْيَانَ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الرَّاشِدُونَ
“And know that indeed there is Allah’s Messenger among you. If he were to obey you in many matters, you would surely be in difficulty. But Allah has made faith beloved to you and has adorned it in your hearts, and has made disbelief, sin, and disobedience hateful to you. Those are the rightly guided.”
And He said:
لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ ۖ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those are the ones whose hearts Allah has inscribed faith upon and has strengthened them with a spirit from Him. He will admit them into Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. Those are the party of Allah. So truly, the party of Allah—they are the successful.”
8 : Al-Muhaymin : The Guardian, Protector, Overseer
Allah the Exalted says:
وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ ۖ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ
“And We have sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and as a guardian over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth.”
9 : Al-Aziz : The All-Mighty, The One Who Gives Victory
Allah Almighty’s essence is dominant over all, and He is the One who grants dominance. The following verses of the Holy Quran explain this reality clearly:
الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِم بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّا أَن يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا ۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
“Those are the ones who were unjustly expelled from their homes only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah alone.’ And if Allah did not repel some people by means of others, then monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is much mentioned, would have been demolished. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.”
مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
“They did not appreciate Allah as He should be appreciated. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Dominant over all.”
الر ۚ كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ
Alif, Lam, Ra. This is a Book which We have revealed to you so that you may bring people out from darkness into light by permission of their Lord – to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy Allah.”
10 : Al-Jabbar : The Compeller, The Restorer, The Almighty, The Most High, The Most Powerful
The Creator of the two worlds states in His sacred scripture:
هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
“He is Allah, besides Whom there is no deity; the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.”
11 : Al-Mutakabbir : The Supreme, The Majestic
The command of the Almighty is:
هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
“He is Allah, besides Whom there is no deity; the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.”
12 – Al-Khaliq : The Creator, The Fashioner
Allah Almighty alone is the true Creator; there is no creator besides Him. Allah Almighty says:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ لَمْ يَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ ﴿١١﴾ قَالَ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ ﴿١٢﴾
“And indeed We created you, then We shaped you, then We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ so they prostrated except for Iblis; he was not of those who prostrated. He said, ‘What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you?’ He said, ‘I am better than him; You created me from fire and created him from clay.'”
At another place, it is stated:
قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ اللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
“She said, ‘My Lord, how will I have a boy when no man has touched me?’ He said, ‘Thus Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.'”
Also, it is stated: إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
“Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.”
13 : Al-Baari : The Creator, The Evolver, The Infuser of life, The Giver of life
The Quran states this explicitly:
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوا إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
“And when Musa said to his people: O my people! Indeed you have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf [for worship]. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves. That is best for [all of] you in the sight of your Creator.” So He accepted your repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.
14 : Al-Musawwir : The Fashioner
هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِي الْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَاءُ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
“He shapes you in the wombs however He wills. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
15 : Al-Ghaffar : The Great Forgiver, The Repeated Forgiver, The Ever-Forgiving, The One Who Forgives Every Sin, The One Who Always Forgives Sins
The command of the Almighty is:
خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ يُكَوِّرُ اللَّيْلَ عَلَى النَّهَارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ النَّهَارَ عَلَى اللَّيْلِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۗ أَلَا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفَّارُ
“He created the heavens and the earth with perfect purpose. He wraps the night over the day and wraps the day over the night, and He has subjected the sun and the moon, each running for an appointed term. Indeed, He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, states: “The attribute of Allah’s forgiveness has always been known, and forgiving the sins of His servants has always been His glory. Everyone is in need of His pardon and forgiveness, just as no one can do without His mercy and grace. He has promised that whoever seeks means of forgiveness will surely be forgiven. Allah the Exalted says:
وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِّمَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىٰ
Indeed, I am the Oft-Forgiving, to him who repents, believes, does righteous deeds, and then remains on the right guidance.
16 : Al-Qahhar : The Most Overpowering, the One who controls everyone, the One who prevails over all
The command of the Almighty is:
وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ
“And He is dominant over His servants, and He sends guardians over you. Until, when death comes to one of you, Our angels take his soul, and they do not neglect (their duty).”
He also said:
وَقَالَ الْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ أَتَذَرُ مُوسَىٰ وَقَوْمَهُ لِيُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَيَذَرَكَ وَآلِهَتَكَ ۚ قَالَ سَنُقَتِّلُ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ وَنَسْتَحْيِي نِسَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّا فَوْقَهُمْ قَاهِرُونَ
“And the chiefs of Pharaoh’s people said, ‘Will you leave Moses and his people to cause corruption in the land and abandon you and your gods?’ Pharaoh said, ‘We will surely kill their sons and keep their women alive, and indeed, we are dominant over them.'”
In another place, He described His attribute of being the Subduer as follows:
يَوْمَ هُم بَارِزُونَ ۖ لَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ شَيْءٌ ۚ لِّمَنِ الْمُلْكُ الْيَوْمَ ۖ لِلَّهِ الْوَاحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ
“The Day when all will appear, none among them will be hidden from Allah. Whose is the dominion today? It is Allah’s alone, the One, the Prevailing.”
17 : Al-Wahhab : The Most Giving, the Bestower of All
One of the attractive and enchanting names of Allah Almighty is also this. Allah Almighty says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
“All praise is for Allah, who has granted me in old age Ishmael and Isaac. Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.”
At another place, it is stated:
قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَهَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لَّا يَنبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِّن بَعْدِي ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
“He said: O my Lord! Forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower.”
18 : Ar-Razzaq : The Provider
The command of the Almighty Allah is:
وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ
“Your provision is easy, and that too which is promised to you.”
The attribute of providing sustenance is exclusively with the Lord of the worlds. Below we mention some verses:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
“Indeed, Allah is the Provider, the Honorable, the Powerful.”
وَمِنَ الْأَنْعَامِ حَمُولَةً وَفَرْشًا ۚ كُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
“And [He] has made for you from the grazing livestock eight mates; He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted?”
(Note: The original Urdu text seems to have a different verse here; the translation corresponds to the Arabic marker.)
“And eat from what Allah has provided for you of lawful and good things, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.”
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
“O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.”
وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
“And Allah is the best of providers.”
19 : Al-Fattah : The Opener, The Helper, The Reliever of Difficulties
The command of Allah Almighty is:
قُلْ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ لَا يَنفَعُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِيمَانُهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
“Say: The decision of the Day of Judgment will not benefit those who disbelieved, nor will they be granted any respite.”
At one place, Allah Almighty says:
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكَاتٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
“And if the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied, so We seized them for what they used to earn.”
At another place He said:
فَافْتَحْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ فَتْحًا وَنَجِّنِي وَمَن مَّعِيَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“So decide between me and them with truth, and save me and those who believe with me.”
Also He said:
قُلْ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا رَبُّنَا ثُمَّ يَفْتَحُ بَيْنَنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَهُوَ الْفَتَّاحُ الْعَلِيمُ
“Say: Allah will gather you all together, then He will judge between you with justice. And He is the Knowing Judge.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, in the Tafsir of Al-Fattah says:
“Allah Almighty judges between His servants through Shariah rulings, through the decisions of destiny, and through reward and punishment. By His grace and kindness, He opens the insight of the truthful people, opens their hearts for His recognition, love, and inclination towards Him, opens the doors of mercy and various provisions for His servants, provides them with the means by which they attain goodness in this world and the Hereafter. It is stated:
مَّا يَفْتَحِ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحْمَةٍ فَلَا مُمْسِكَ لَهَا ۖ وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلَا مُرْسِلَ لَهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
“No one can withhold the mercy that Allah sends down to the people, and if He withholds it, then no one can send it after Him.”
20 : Al-‘Aleem : The All-Knowing, the One with Vast Knowledge
In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty has described this attribute of His repeatedly. Below we mention a few verses from which this attribute of Allah Almighty becomes evident:
وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِهِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَالِمِينَ
“We made the fierce wind subservient to Solomon, which proceeded according to his command towards the land which We had blessed, and We are fully aware of everything.”
وَقَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلِلَّهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الْكُفَّارُ لِمَنْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
“Before them, people did not cease in their cunning, but all plans belong to Allah. Whatever a person does is known to Allah. The disbelievers will soon come to know for whom the reward of this world is.”
الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ فَأَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوءٍ ۚ بَلَىٰ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“The disbelievers who wronged their own souls, when the angels begin to take their souls, they bow down (and say), ‘We did not do any evil.’ Why not? Allah is well aware of what you used to do.”
يَعْلَمُ خَائِنَةَ الْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِي الصُّدُورُ
“He knows the treachery of the eyes and what the hearts conceal.”
عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا
“He is the Knower of the unseen and does not disclose His unseen to anyone.”
21 : Al-Qabid : The Withholder, the Restrainer of Sustenance
مَّن ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
“Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.”
22 : Al-Basit : The Expander, the One who makes sustenance ample, the Spreader
The Divine command is:
مَّن ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
“Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And Allah restricts and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.”
In another place it is stated:
Also He said:
وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَّا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ
“And if Allah were to give provision to His servants in abundance, they would surely cause corruption on the earth; but He sends it down in due measure. Indeed, He is fully aware and observant of His servants.”
اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ
“Allah enlarges the provision for whom He wills and restricts it for whom He wills. And they rejoice in the life of this world, while the life of this world compared to the Hereafter is but a brief enjoyment.”
If someone is receiving much wealth in this world despite being disobedient to Allah, this is not a cause for joy and happiness because it is a respite; no one knows when this respite will end and when the disobedient servant will fall into Allah’s grip.
It is mentioned in a hadith that the status of this world compared to the Hereafter is like a man dipping his finger into the sea and then withdrawing it to see how much water is on his finger compared to the vastness of the sea.
In another hadith it is stated: “The Prophet’s breath passed by the dead kid of a goat, and upon seeing it, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: By Allah! The world is even more insignificant to Allah than this dead kid is to its owners when they threw it away.”
23 : Al-Khafid: The One Who Lowers, The One Who Humiliates
Allah Almighty has said:
لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“Do not raise your eyes towards that which We have given enjoyment to various groups of them, nor grieve over them, and lower your wing to the believers.”
24 : Ar-Rafi’: The One Who Raises, The One Who Elevates
Only the Being of Allah elevates a servant to heights and exaltations.
Allah the Exalted says:
وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ
“And We have raised your mention.”
At another place, He says:
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَمَكْرُ أُولَٰئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ
“Whoever desires honor – then to Allah belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But those who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those will perish.”
Allama Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
“Righteous deeds elevate good words to Allah, meaning that merely mentioning Allah with the tongue is nothing unless accompanied by righteous deeds, i.e., fulfilling commands and obligations. Some say: The meaning is that Allah elevates righteous deeds to pure wisdom because through righteous deeds it becomes known that the doer is truly sincere in glorifying and praising Allah. It is as if words without deeds are worthless before Allah.”
25 : Al-Mughfir : The Honorer
The Honorer is Allah, and there is no other Honorer.
The divine command is:
يَقُولُونَ لَئِن رَّجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الْأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا الْأَذَلَّ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“They say, ‘If we return to Medina, the Honorer will surely expel the humiliated from there.’ Say, ‘Honor belongs only to Allah and His Messenger and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.'”
Also, Allah Almighty states in His sacred scripture:
الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ الْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ الْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا
“Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of believers, do they seek honor from them? Indeed, all honor belongs to Allah.”
26 : Al-Mudhill : The Humiliator, The One Who Degrades, The One Who Dishonors
It is Allah alone who causes humiliation and disgrace. The Divine command is:
قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“Say, O Allah, Owner of all dominion, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”
At another place it is stated:
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ وَالنُّجُومُ وَالْجِبَالُ وَالشَّجَرُ وَالدَّوَابُّ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنَ النَّاسِ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابُ ۗ وَمَن يُهِنِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ
“Have you not seen that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of mankind? But upon many the punishment has been justified. And he whom Allah humiliates – for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, Allah does what He wills.”
27 : As-Sami’: The All-Hearing, the Hearer of every sound
It is stated:
قَدْ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَوْلَ الَّتِي تُجَادِلُكَ فِي زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ
“Indeed, Allah has heard the statement of the woman who argued with you concerning her husband and complained to Allah. And Allah hears your dialogue; indeed, Allah is Hearing and Seeing.”
In another place it is stated:
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“And if an evil whisper comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing.”
28 : Al-Basir : The All-Seeing, Sees Everything Everywhere
The command of the Exalted Allah is:
فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُوا فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوا ۖ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
“So if they obey, then indeed they are guided; but if they turn away, then you are only to convey. And Allah is Seeing of [His] servants.”
In another place He said:
وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِن يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَّا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ
“And if Allah had extended provision for His servants, they would have committed corruption throughout the earth, but He sends it down in due measure. Indeed, He is, of His servants, Acquainted and Seeing.”
The Exalted Allah’s command is:
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مِن بَعْدِ نُوحٍ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا بَصِيرًا
“And We destroyed many generations after Noah, and your Lord is, over all things, Witness.”
29 : Al-Hakam: The Judge, the Decider, and the Enforcer of Decree
The attribute of Allah’s sovereignty is mentioned multiple times in the Holy Quran. Below we mention a few instances:
أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ
“So should I seek a judge other than Allah while He is the One who has revealed to you the detailed (clear) Book? And those to whom We gave the Scripture know that it has been revealed from your Lord with truth, so never be among the doubters.”
In another place it is stated:
وَاتَّبِعْ مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيْكَ وَاصْبِرْ حَتَّىٰ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ
“And follow what is revealed to you, and be patient until Allah gives judgment. And He is the best of judges.”
And He said:
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ ۚ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالْأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوا مِن كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَكَانُوا عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاءَ ۚ فَلَا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers.”
30: Al-Adl: The Just
Allah Almighty says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Indeed, Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and giving to relatives; and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you that you may take heed.”
31: Al-Lateef: The Subtle, Most Kind, Most Gentle, All-Aware
Allah Almighty states in His Holy Book:
أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ
“Does He who created not know? And He is the Subtle, the Acquainted.”
At one place, Luqman (peace be upon him) verbally advised:
يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهَا إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِي صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ أَوْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ
“O my son, if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed and it is within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Indeed, Allah is Subtle and Acquainted.”
32: Al-Khabeer: The All-Aware, Fully Informed
The command of Allah Almighty is:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
“O you who have believed! Fear Allah and let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow, and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.”
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.”
33 : Al-Halim : The Most Forbearing, The Most Patient
The command of the Almighty Allah is:
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
“Seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts Allah by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.”
At one place it is stated:
إِن تُقْرِضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَاعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
And He said:
“If you loan Allah a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. And Allah is Most Appreciative and Forbearing.”
قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ
“A kind word and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing.”
34 :Al-Azeem : The Greatest, The Magnificent
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ. . . . . وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
“There is no deity except Allah, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence… and the protection of both (the heavens and the earth) does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
35 : Al-Ghaffur : The Forgiving. The One Who forgives all sins
The Divine command is:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَىٰ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.”
At another place it is stated:
رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي نُفُوسِكُمْ ۚ إِن تَكُونُوا صَالِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ لِلْأَوَّابِينَ غَفُورًا
“What is in your hearts, your Lord knows it well. If you are righteous, He is ever Forgiving to those who turn to Him.”
36 : Ash-Shakur : The Appreciative
Allah Almighty is Most Appreciative. The Quran mentions this as follows:
لِيُوَفِّيَهُمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
“So that He may give them their rewards in full and increase them out of His bounty. Indeed, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Appreciative.”
At another place, it is stated:
ذَٰلِكَ الَّذِي يُبَشِّرُ اللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ ۗ قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ ۗ وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَّزِدْ لَهُ فِيهَا حُسْنًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
“This is the glad tidings which Allah gives to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say, ‘I do not ask you for any reward for it except the love of kinship.’ And whoever does a good deed – We will increase for him good therein. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Appreciative.”
37 : Al-‘Aliyy: The Most High, Exalted
The Quran mentions:
وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذْنِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ
“It is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a veil or by sending a messenger to reveal by His permission whatever He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise.”
38 : Al-Kabeer : The Greatest
The one deserving of greatness is only the Lord of the worlds. It is stated:
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ
This is because Allah alone is the truth, and all those whom these people call besides Him are false, and indeed Allah is the Most High and the Most Great.”
At another place it is stated:
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ
Also He said:
“This is because Allah alone is the truth, and whoever they call besides Him is false, and indeed Allah is the Most High, the Most Great.”
ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُ إِذَا دُعِيَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ كَفَرْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِ تُؤْمِنُوا ۚ فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِ
“This (punishment) is upon you because when Allah alone was mentioned, you disbelieved, but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So now the dominion belongs to Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.”
39 : Al-Hafeez : The Preserver, The Protector
The Exalted Allah alone is the true Protector.
In the Holy Quran, it is stated:
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُم مَّا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ إِلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ رَبِّي قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّونَهُ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيظٌ
“Then if you turn away, indeed, I have conveyed to you that with which I was sent to you. And my Lord will substitute for you another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And my Lord is, over all things, Guardian.”
In another place, it is said:
قَالَ هَلْ آمَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَا أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
“(Jacob) said, ‘Shall I entrust you with him except as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.'”
40 : Al-Muqeet : The One Who Oversees Everything, The Powerful
The command of the Exalted Allah is:
مَّن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً حَسَنَةً يَكُن لَّهُ نَصِيبٌ مِّنْهَا ۖ وَمَن يَشْفَعْ شَفَاعَةً سَيِّئَةً يَكُن لَّهُ كِفْلٌ مِّنْهَا ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقِيتًا
“Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a share of it, and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a portion of it. And Allah is, over all things, Keeper.”
41 : Al-Haseeb: The Reckoner, The Sufficient
Allah Almighty describes this matter as follows:
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا
“And He provides for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.”
In another place He said:
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
“[Those] who, when people said to them, ‘Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.’ But it [only] increased them in faith, and they said, ‘Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.'”
In another place, He described His swift reckoning as follows:
إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ ۗ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ
“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them – out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah, then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account.”
Furthermore, He said:
الَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَالَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا
“[Those] who convey the messages of Allah and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant.”
42 : Al-Jaleel: The Majestic, the Absolutely Independent
The Divine command is:
تَبَارَكَ اسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِي الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
“Your Lord, the Most Majestic and Honorable.”
43 : Al-Kareem: The Most Generous, the Most Benevolent, the Honorable
At one place, His attribute of generosity is described as:
يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ
“O man, who has deceived you concerning your generous Lord?”
44 : Ar-Raqeeb: The Watchful, the Observing Protector
Allah Almighty has said:
مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ ۚ وَكُنتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَّا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِي كُنتَ أَنتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنتَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
“I said nothing to them except what You commanded me to say: ‘Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them. But when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a witness over all things.”
45 : Al-Mujeeb: The Responsive, the Answerer of Prayers
The essence of Allah Almighty is ”مجيب الدعوات“. The Quran describes Him as follows:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the call of the caller when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they may be guided.”
At another place, it is stated:
إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ
“Indeed, My Lord is near and responsive to prayer.”
46 : Al-Wasi’ : The All-Encompassing, the Vast
He said:
وَلِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ ۚ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“And to Allah belongs the east and the west, so wherever you turn, there is the face of Allah. Indeed, Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.”
In another place He said:
الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ
Also He said:
“Those who avoid major sins and immoralities, except minor sins. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness.”
وَإِن يَتَفَرَّقَا يُغْنِ اللَّهُ كُلًّا مِّن سَعَتِهِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ وَاسِعًا حَكِيمًا
“And if they separate, Allah will enrich each from His bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Wise.”
47: Al-Hakim: The Most Wise, All-Knowing, All-Perceiving
وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَامٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَّا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
“And if all the trees on earth were pens, and the sea (were ink) to write with, and after that, seven more seas (were added), the words of Allah would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مَّا أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
“And He has put affection between their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have put affection between their hearts, but Allah has put affection between them. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise.”
In some Quranic verses, عليم حكيم حكيم خبير ، تواب حكيم، واسع حكيم ، حكيم حميد ، على حكيم and others also appear.
Abdul Rahman Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
“Allah Almighty has created everything in the best manner:
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
“Who is better in judgment than Allah for a people who have firm faith?”
He does not create anything without purpose, nor does He enact any law without benefit. His judgment is enforced in this world and the Hereafter. The three types of rulings are for Him alone, and He has no partner in them, meaning in Shariah (and the enforcement of rulings), He judges among His servants, in destiny, and in reward and punishment. Wisdom means
“to place everything in its proper place and rank.”
48 : Al-Wadud: The Most Loving, The One Who Loves Goodness, The One Who Befriends
The Almighty Allah says:
وَاسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي رَحِيمٌ وَدُودٌ
“And ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is Most Merciful, Most Loving.”
He further said:
وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ
“He is the Most Forgiving, Most Loving.”
49 : Al-Majid: The Most Glorious, The Most Honorable, The Most Noble
Allah Almighty says:
قَالُوا أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
“They (the angels) said: Do you wonder at the command of Allah? May the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, O family of the house! Indeed, He is the Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.”
50 : Al-Ba’ith: The Resurrector of the Dead
The Almighty Allah says:
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاكُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
He also said:
“Then We gave you life after your death so that you may be grateful.”
وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ آتِيَةٌ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهَا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ مَن فِي الْقُبُورِ
“And indeed, the Hour is surely coming, there is no doubt about it, and indeed Allah will resurrect those in the graves.”
51 : Ash-Shahid: The Witness
He said:
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
“Allah, the angels, and those endowed with knowledge bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, the One who maintains justice in the world. None is worthy of worship except Him, the Almighty, the Wise.”
He further said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدًا
“Indeed, Allah is a witness over all things.”
52 : The Truth
Allah Almighty says in His Holy Book:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمُ الرَّسُولُ بِالْحَقِّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَآمِنُوا خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
“O people! A messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord, so believe; it is better for you. But if you disbelieve, then indeed, to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. And ever is Allah Knowing and Wise.”
In another place He says:
إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَا إِلَّا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
“Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth, but most of them do not know.”
Furthermore He says:
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا ۖ فَإِن يَشَإِ اللَّهُ يَخْتِمْ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ ۗ وَيَمْحُ اللَّهُ الْبَاطِلَ وَيُحِقُّ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
“Or do they say, ‘He invented it’? Say, ‘If I have invented it, then upon me is my sin, but I am free of what you are guilty of.’ And it is not for me to invent about Allah falsehood. Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed.”
53 : Al-Wakeel : The Trustee, The Doer, The One Who Rectifies, The One Who Controls
The Divine command is:
﴿إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلًا﴾
“No one has control over My true servants, and your Lord is sufficient as a trustee.”
Further He said:
إِنَّمَا أَنتَ نَذِيرٌ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
“You are only a warner. And Allah is the One in control of everything.”
Also He said:
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ
“This is because Allah alone is the Truth, and whatever they call upon besides Him is falsehood. And indeed, Allah is the Most High, the Greatest.”
54 : Al-Qawi: The Powerful, The One with Great Strength
Allah Almighty has said:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ
“Some people take others as partners with Allah, loving them as they should love Allah, while those who believe love Allah most. If only the polytheists knew, when they will see the punishment of Allah, that all power belongs to Allah alone. And Allah is severe in punishment.”
At another place He said:
وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
“And indeed, Allah will surely help those who help Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.”
And He said:
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْقَوِيُّ الْعَزِيزُ
“Indeed, your Lord is Most Powerful, Strong and Mighty.”
55 : Al-Mateen : The Strong, Possessor of Great Strength
He has said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
“Indeed, Allah is the Bestower of Sustenance, the Possessor of Strength, the Most Strong.”
56 : Al-Wali : The True Friend, Helper, and Supporter
Allah the Exalted says:
وَلَا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا السَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ
“Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with what is better, then your enemy will become as close as a devoted friend.”
Consider also these few blessed verses which indicate that Allah alone is the true disposer of affairs.
There is no other maker of deeds besides Him.
أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ ۖ فَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْوَلِيُّ وَهُوَ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“Or have they taken other than Allah as creators who create nothing, while Allah is the Creator, the Originator, the Fashioner? To Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”
And He said:
إِنَّ وَلِيِّيَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْكِتَابَ ۖ وَهُوَ يَتَوَلَّى الصَّالِحِينَ
“Indeed, my protector is Allah, who has sent down the Book; and He is an ally to the righteous.”
In Surah Al-Baqarah it is stated:
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“The protector of those who believe is Allah; He brings them out of darkness into the light. And those who disbelieve, their allies are Taghut (false deities). They take them out of the light into darkness. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.”
57 : Al-Hameed: The Praiseworthy, The One Who is Praised
The command of Allah Almighty is:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنفِقُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّا أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ ۖ وَلَا تَيَمَّمُوا الْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُم بِآخِذِيهِ إِلَّا أَن تُغْمِضُوا فِيهِ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ
“O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it yourselves except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.”
Also, in the Quran, (Hamid) means that everything in the universe praises Him, and this name is described in this manner, حميد مجيد حكيم، حميد عزيز حميد، غني حميد، ولي حميد، and so on.
58 : Al-Muhsi: The Enumerator, the Encompasser, the Counter
He said:
لِّيَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ أَبْلَغُوا رِسَالَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَحَاطَ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ وَأَحْصَىٰ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عَدَدًا
“So that he may know that indeed they have conveyed the messages of their Lord; and He has encompassed all things that are with them, and has enumerated everything precisely.”
وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَٰذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
“And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, ‘Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?’ And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.”
59 : Al-Mubdi’ : The Originator, The Initiator
The Divine Command is:
قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ۚ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ يُنشِئُ النَّشْأَةَ الْآخِرَةَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“Say, travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.”
Also He said:
الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ ۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلْقَ الْإِنسَانِ مِن طِينٍ
“Who perfected everything which He created, and began the creation of man from clay.”
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا كَيْفَ يُبْدِئُ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
“Do they not see how Allah begins creation and then repeats it? Indeed that, for Allah, is easy.”
60 : Al-Mu’id: The Restorer
It is stated:
قُلْ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَائِكُم مَّن يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ۚ قُلِ اللَّهُ يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
“Say, is there among your partners anyone who begins creation and then repeats it? Say, Allah begins creation and then repeats it. So how are you deluded?”
61 : Al-Muhyin : The Giver of Life
هُوَ الَّذِي يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَإِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
“He it is Who gives life and causes death, and when He decides upon a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
Further He said:
فَانظُرْ إِلَىٰ آثَارِ رَحْمَتِ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“So observe the effects of Allah’s mercy—how He gives life to the earth after its death? Indeed, He is the One who gives life to the dead, and He is over all things competent.”
62 : Al-Mumit : The Giver of Death
The command of Allah Almighty is:
He also said:
وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ
“He has full power over His servants and sends guardian angels over you until, when death comes to one of you, Our angels take his soul, and they do not neglect their duty at all.”
كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
“How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were dead and He gave you life, then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you back to life, and then to Him you will be returned.”
In one place it is stated:
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُّؤَجَّلًا ۗ وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَن يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الْآخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا ۚ وَسَنَجْزِي الشَّاكِرِينَ
“No soul can die except by Allah’s permission at a predetermined time. We give some of those who desire the worldly life some of it, and to those who seek the reward of the Hereafter, We will give them that as well. And We will reward the grateful quickly with a good reward.”
Also in the Quran it is:
وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ نُحْيِي وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحْنُ الْوَارِثُونَ
“Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and We are the inheritors.”
63 : Al-Hayy: The Ever-Living
The Divine command is:
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ
“There is no deity except Allah, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.”
64 : Al-Qayyum : The Sustainer, The Maintainer
وَعَنَتِ الْوُجُوهُ لِلْحَيِّ الْقَيُّومِ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ حَمَلَ ظُلْمًا
“And all faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and indeed he who has carried injustice will be unsuccessful.”
65 : Al-Wajid : The Finder, The Provider of Everything
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ مَاءً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئًا وَوَجَدَ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسَابَهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ
“And the deeds of the disbelievers are like a mirage in a desert; a thirsty one thinks it is water from afar, but when he comes to it, he finds nothing. But Allah is with him, and He fully recompenses him. Indeed, Allah is swift in account.”
66 : Al-Majid : The Glorious, The Most Honorable
Among the beautiful names of Allah Almighty is ” الْمَجِيدُ “. Allah Almighty alone is the possessor of greatness and majesty. Allah Almighty says:
وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ ﴿١٤﴾ ذُو الْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيدُ
“And He is the Forgiving, the Loving. Owner of the Throne, the Glorious.”
67 : Al-Wahid: The One Alone
It is stated:
وَقَالَ اللَّهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا إِلَٰهَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ ۖ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ
“And Allah said: Do not make any other deity besides Me. There is only One God. So fear only Me.”
68 : Al-Ahad: The Only One, Unique
The statement of Allah Almighty is:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ ﴿٤﴾
“Say, He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
69 : As-Samad: Self-Sufficient, Independent, Free of Need
The statement of Allah Almighty is:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾
“Say, He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge.”
70 : Al-Qadir: The All-Powerful
Allah Almighty says:
قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ
“Say! Allah is the All-Powerful, that He may impose punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet, or He may divide you into sects.”
71 : Al-Muqtadir: The All-Determining, Possessor of Power
Allah Almighty says:
كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ
“They denied Our verses, so We seized them with a seizure of one having power.”
72: Al-Muqaddim: The One Who Brings Forward, The Initiator
Allah the Exalted says:
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ
“Indeed, We give life to the dead, and We record what they send before them and what they leave behind, and everything We have enumerated in a clear Book (Preserved Tablet).”
He further said:
قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا لَدَيَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِالْوَعِيدِ
“Allah will say: Do not dispute before Me, for I had already informed you of it.”
73: Al-Mu’akhkhir: The One Who Delays, The One Who Puts Behind
It is stated:
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ شَقُوا فَفِي النَّارِ لَهُمْ فِيهَا زَفِيرٌ وَشَهِيقٌ
“And We have delayed it for a specified term.”
74: Al-Awwal: The Very First, The First, Everlasting
Allah the Exalted says:
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Hidden; and He is, of all things, Knowing.”
75: Al-Akhir: The Last, The One After All, The Ultimate, Everlasting
The command of Allah Almighty is:
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Hidden; and He is, of all things, Knowing.”
76 : Az-Zahir : The Most Evident, Manifest
The command of Allah Almighty is:
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Hidden; and He is, of all things, Knowing.”
At another place He said:
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً ۗ وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَادِلُ فِي اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَابٍ مُّنِيرٍ
“Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth and has perfected His favors upon you both apparent and unapparent? But among the people are those who dispute about Allah without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening Book.”
77 : Al-Batin : The Hidden
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه says that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم taught this supplication:
أنت الاول ليس قبلك شيء ، وأنت الآخر فليس بعدك شيء ، وأنت الظاهر فليس فوقك شيء ، وأنت الباطن فليس دونك شيء ، اقض عنى الدين وأغنني من الفقر
“O Allah! You are the First; there was nothing before You. You are the Last; there is nothing after You. You are the Most High; there is nothing above You. You are the Most Inner; there is nothing beyond You. Settle my debt and enrich me from poverty.”
78 : Al-Wali : The Protector
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ
“Indeed, He has appointed guardians over you who protect you by Allah’s command, both before you and behind you. Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends punishment for a people, there is no repelling it. And there is not for them besides Him any patron.”
79 – Al-Muta’ali: The Most Exalted, The Most High and Superior
Allah Almighty says:
فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ ۗ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُ ۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
“So Allah, the Most Exalted, the True and Real King, and do not hasten with the Qur’an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, ‘My Lord, increase me in knowledge.'”
Also, Allah Almighty says:
وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ الْجِنَّ وَخَلَقَهُمْ ۖ وَخَرَقُوا لَهُ بَنِينَ وَبَنَاتٍ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۚ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
“And they have taken jinn as partners with Allah, while He created them. And they falsely attribute to Him sons and daughters without knowledge. Exalted is He and high above what they describe.”
80 : Al-Birr: The Doer of Good, The Benefactor, The One Who Does Kindness
Allah Almighty says:
إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلُ نَدْعُوهُ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْبَرُّ الرَّحِيمُ
“Before this, We used to call him. Indeed, he is the Great Doer of Good, the Most Merciful.”
81 : At-Tawwab: The Accepter of Repentance, The One Who Grants the Ability to Repent
The command of Allah Almighty is:
إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا ﴿١٧﴾ وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّي تُبْتُ الْآنَ وَلَا الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
“Allah only accepts the repentance of those who do evil out of ignorance, then quickly repent after that, and Allah is Ever-Knowing, Wise. Their repentance is not accepted who continue to do evil until, when death comes to one of them, he says, ‘Indeed, I have repented now.’ Nor is their repentance accepted who die in disbelief. Those are the ones for whom We have prepared a painful punishment.”
He also said:
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
“And He it is Who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.”
Further He said:
وَعَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوا أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
“And [He also accepted repentance] from the three who were left behind [and delayed their repentance] until, when the earth was constrained for them despite its vastness, and their souls constrained them, and they realized that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him, then He accepted their repentance that they might repent. Indeed, Allah is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir As-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, in the Tafsir of the name At-Tawwab says:
“Allah Almighty has always been the One who accepts the repentance of those who repent and forgives the sins of those who turn back. Therefore, whoever sincerely repents before Allah, He accepts his repentance. He first turns His attention to His servants in such a way that He grants them the ability to repent and turns their hearts towards Him. Then He turns His attention in such a way that He accepts their repentance and pardons their mistakes.”
82 : Al-Muntaqim: The Avenger, The One Who Takes Revenge
The command of Allah Almighty is:
عَفَا اللَّهُ عَمَّا سَلَفَ ۚ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَيَنتَقِمُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انتِقَامٍ
“What has happened before this command has been forgiven by Allah, but whoever repeats it, Allah will take revenge from him. And Allah is Mighty, the One who takes revenge.”
83 : Al-‘Afuww: The Pardoner, The Most Forgiving
The command of Allah Almighty is:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ
“Indeed, Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Pardoning.”
Also He said:
وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ
“Whatever affliction befalls you is because of what your own hands have earned, and He pardons many things.”
84 : Ar-Ra’uf: The Compassionate, The Kind, The Most Loving
The command of Allah Almighty is:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
“And among the people is he who sells himself seeking the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is Most Kind and Merciful to the servants.”
85 Malik-ul-Mulk: The Owner of Sovereignty and Kingdom
قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“Say, O Allah! Owner of the kingdom (King of kings), You give sovereignty to whom You will, and You take sovereignty away from whom You will, and You honor whom You will, and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is all good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”
86 : Dhu al-Jalali wal-Ikram : The Possessor of Glory and Honor
The command of Allah the Exalted is:
وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ ﴿٢٧﴾ فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
“And the Face of your Lord will remain, full of Majesty and Honor. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?”
87 : Al-Muqsit: The Just One
Allah Almighty says:
سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّالُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ ۚ فَإِن جَاءُوكَ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَن يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْئًا ۖ وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِالْقِسْطِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
“They are very eager listeners to falsehood and devourers of unlawful gain. If they come to you, then judge between them or turn away from them. And if you turn away from them, never will they harm you at all. And if you judge, judge between them with justice. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.”
Also He said:
وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ
“And We will set up the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all.”
88 : Al-Jami’ : The Gatherer
The command of the Almighty Allah is:
رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
“O our Lord! Surely You will gather all people on a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise.”
Further He said:
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جَمَعْنَاهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
“So what will be the case when We gather them on a Day about which there is no doubt, and every soul will be fully compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.”
89 : Al-Ghani: Carefree, Self-Sufficient
It is mentioned in the Quran:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ
“O mankind! You are in need of Allah, while Allah is the Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.”
Elsewhere in the Quran it is stated:
قَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ
“Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing.”
91 : Al-Mughni : The One Who Makes Carefree, The Self-Sufficient
The command of the Almighty is:
وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَىٰ
“And He found you poor and made you rich.”
Further He said:
يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِي مَوْلًى عَن مَّوْلًى شَيْئًا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
“The Day when no friend will avail another friend at all, nor will any intercession be accepted from him.”
Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Al-Sa’di, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in his Tafsir المُغْنِي:
“Allah is Self-Sufficient, possessing complete and unlimited richness and independence from every aspect and consideration, because He Himself is characterized by perfection, and His attributes are so perfect that no defect can be imagined in any respect. It is not possible for Him to be in a state opposite to richness, because richness is among His essential and necessary attributes. The treasures of the heavens and the earth, indeed the treasures of this world and the Hereafter, are in His hands. He grants general richness to all His creations, and enriches the hearts of His special servants by bestowing divine knowledge and the blessings of faith.”
91 : Al-Mani’: The Preventer
Forbidding and granting are also attributes of Allah Almighty. Accordingly, after completing the obligatory prayers, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite this supplication:
اللهم لا مانع لما أعطيت ، ولا معطي لما منعت ولا ينفع ذالجد منك الجد
“O Allah! Whomever You grant, none can withhold, and whomever You withhold, none can grant, and no wealthy person can benefit from his wealth with You.”
92 : Al-Darr : The One Who Causes Harm
Allah the Exalted says:
قُلْ إِنِّي لَا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا رَشَدًا
“Say: Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right direction.”
In another place, He says:
وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“And if He should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him; and if He intends for you good, then there is no repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
93 : Al-Nafi’ : The One Who Gives Benefit
Allah Almighty Himself is the only one who brings benefit. The Quran describes this reality as follows:
قُل لَّا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْ كُنتُ أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ لَاسْتَكْثَرْتُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ وَمَا مَسَّنِيَ السُّوءُ ۚ إِنْ أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
“Say, I do not possess for myself any benefit or harm except what Allah wills. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much good, and no harm would have touched me. I am only a warner and a bringer of good tidings to those who believe.”
Also mentioned in the Quran:
وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“Say: Shall we call upon besides Allah those who neither benefit us nor harm us?”
In Surah Yunus it is stated:
قُل لَّا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۗ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۚ إِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
“Say, I do not possess for myself any harm or benefit except what Allah wills. Every nation has a term appointed; when their time comes, they cannot delay it by a single hour, nor can they advance it.”
94 : An-Nur: Bright, Light
Allah Almighty says:
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a shining star, lit from a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills.”
95 : Al-Hadi : The Guide, The One Who Gives Guidance
Allah Almighty is the only One who guides; no one else can give guidance. Consider the following blessed verses:
وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ هَادِيًا وَنَصِيرًا
“And your Lord is the Guide, and He is the sufficient Helper.”
At another place, it is stated:
مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“No calamity befalls except by Allah’s permission, and whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart. And Allah is All-Knowing of everything.”
Furthermore, He said:
وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَآتَاهُمْ تَقْوَاهُمْ
“And those who have been guided, He has increased them in guidance and granted them their piety.”
And in Surah Al-Baqarah, He said:
لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
“Your guidance is not upon them, but Allah guides whom He wills. And whatever wealth you spend, it is for yourselves, and do not spend except seeking Allah’s pleasure. And whatever wealth you spend, you will be fully repaid, and you will not be wronged.”
96 : Al-Badi‘ : The Incomparable, The Originator, The Inventor
The command of the Almighty is:
بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
“He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
Elsewhere, regarding this attribute, He states:
بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ صَاحِبَةٌ ۖ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“He is the Originator of the earth and the heavens. How can He have a child when He has no wife? He created all things, and He is, of all things, Knowing.”
97 : Al-Baqi : The Everlasting
The command of the Almighty is:
وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
“Only the presence of your Lord will remain, full of Majesty and Honor.”
He further said:
مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ ۖ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ ۗ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“Whatever you have will come to an end, but what Allah has is everlasting. And We will surely reward those who were patient according to the best of what they used to do.”
98 : Al-Warith : The True Heir
The Divine command is:
وَزَكَرِيَّا إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ
“And (remember) Zakariya when he called to his Lord, ‘O my Lord! Do not leave me alone (childless), while You are the best of inheritors.'”
At another place it is stated:
قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ اسْتَعِينُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاصْبِرُوا ۖ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
“Moses said to his people, ‘Seek help from Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills among His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous.'”
Also He said:
وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ نُحْيِي وَنُمِيتُ وَنَحْنُ الْوَارِثُونَ
“Indeed, We give life and cause death, and We are the Inheritor.”
99 : Ar-Rashid: The Guide, The One Who Shows the Straight Path
The command of Allah, the Exalted, is:
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَالِمِينَ
“And indeed We gave Abraham guidance before, and We were of him well-Knowing.”
100 : As-Sabur: The Patient One
Among the names of Allah Almighty is الصبور, as mentioned in a hadith narrated from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, this name of Allah is included.
