7 Sharʿī Guidelines Regarding Allah’s Name “al-Sattār”Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 207
❖ Question
Is “al-Sattār” one of the blessed names of Allah? Some people deny this, stating that this name is not part of the Asmāʾ al-Ḥusnā, and claim that the names of Allah are tawqīfiyyah (restricted to divine revelation), thus it is impermissible to attribute names to Allah without scriptural evidence.
✦ The Response
Wa ʿalaykum al-salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
❖ ① Allah’s Names Are Tawqīfiyyah
Your position is entirely correct: the names of Allah are tawqīfiyyah, meaning that one cannot independently assign names to Allah ﷻ. Only those names proven from Qur’an or authentic Sunnah may be used.
❖ ② Mention of “al-Sittīr” in Authentic Ḥadīth
In Sunan al-Nasāʾī (1/26), Ḥadīth No. 939, with an authentic chain, it is narrated from Sayyidunā Yaʿlā ibn Umayyah (RA):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw a man bathing uncovered in an open field, and ascended the pulpit, praising Allah and then saying:
"إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَلِيمٌ، حَيِيٌّ، سِتِّيرٌ، يُحِبُّ الْحَيَاءَ وَالسِّتْرَ، فَإِذَا اغْتَسَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَسْتَتِرْ"
“Indeed, Allah is forbearing, modest, and concealing (Sittīr). He loves modesty and covering, so when one of you bathes, let him do so privately.”
Also found in: Musnad Aḥmad (4/224), Abū Dāwūd (2/201, Ḥadīth 4012), Mishkāt (1/49, Ḥadīth 447), al-Irwāʾ (7/397, Ḥadīth 2335), Bayhaqī (1/198)❖ ③ Relationship Between “al-Sittīr” and “al-Sattār”
Though the word “al-Sittīr” appears in the ḥadīth, scholars affirm that both “al-Sittīr” and “al-Sattār” convey similar meanings. Hence, it is permissible to describe Allah with either term in meaning, but only “al-Sittīr” is explicitly textually established.
❖ ④ Names of Allah Not Found in the Famous Ḥadīth of al-Tirmidhī
There are numerous divine names authentically established that do not appear in the well-known ḥadīth of al-Tirmidhī:
Examples include:
الحَيِيُّ، السِّتِّيرُ، الْحَنَّانُ، الْمَنَّانُ، المُسْتَعَان، العَلَّام، المُحْسِن، الجَمِيل، المَوْلَى، النَّصِير، السَّيِّد، المُسَعِّر، الطَّيِّب، الوَتْر، الكَرِيم، الأَكْرَم، الشَّافِي، الأَعْلَى، المُبِين، العَالِم، غَافِر الذَّنْب، قَابِل التَّوْب، شَدِيد العِقَاب، ذُو الطَّوْل، الجَوَاد، اللَّطِيف، الرَّفِيق، أَهْل التَّقْوَى، أَهْل المَغْفِرَة، خَيْر الحَافِظِينَ، خَيْر الرَّاحِمِينَ، نِعْمَ المَوْلَى، نِعْمَ النَّصِير، نِعْمَ المَاهِدُون، الظَّاهِر، المُبَارَك، فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يُرِيد، ذُو العَرْشِ المَجِيد، القَرِيب، القَائِم، الأَعَزّ، السُّبُّوح، القَاهِر، الغَالِب، الكَافِي، الصَّالِح، مُقَلِّب القُلُوب
❖ ⑤ Further Aḥādīth Mentioning Divine Names
✔ Allah is Muḥsin (The Benefactor)
“When you judge, judge with justice. And when you kill, do so with ihsān. Indeed, Allah is Muḥsin and loves ihsān.”
Ibn Abī ʿĀṣim, al-Diyāt p. 52; al-Kāmil 6/2145; al-Ṣaḥīḥah 1/761, Ḥadīth 479; Aḥmad 5/154, 177✔ Allah is Jawād and Mājid (The Generous and the Glorious)
In the ḥadīth of Abū Dharr:
“If all of mankind and jinn, living and dead, asked of Me and I granted all their wishes, it would not diminish My treasures…”
“I am Jawād, Mājid. My giving is by My word, and My punishment is also by My word.”
Ibn Mājah (2/1422, Ḥadīth 4257); Mishkāt (1/205, Ḥadīth 2326, 2350)✔ Allah is Ṭayyib (Pure) and Loves Purity
Musnad Aḥmad, Tirmidhī, Muslim, Mishkāt (2/431), Tirmidhī 3186, Muslim (2/322)✔ Allah is Rafīq (Gentle)
Muslim (Ḥadīth 651): “Allah is Gentle and loves gentleness.”✔ Allah is Jamīl (Beautiful)
“Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty.”
Muslim and other collections✔ Weak Narration Mentioning a Duʿāʼ
“O Allah, I ask You by the names which are pure, sacred, blessed, and beloved to You…”
Ibn Mājah (Ḥadīth 3859) — Chain is weak❖ ⑥ Is it Permissible to Use “al-Sattār” as a Divine Name?
Based on deeper investigation:
◈ Although “Sattār” is meaningfully accurate when used for Allah ﷻ,
✘ it is not textually proven as a divine name.
Hence:
Using “al-Sattār” as an actual name — such as in duʿāʼ or naming someone “ʿAbd al-Sattār” — is impermissible,as Allah’s names are tawqīfiyyah, and must only be used if explicitly proven by Qurʾān or authentic Sunnah.
This matter is clarified in Fatāwā (Vol. 8, p. 441), Issue No. 1832.❖ ⑦ Summary of Sharʿī Guidelines
❶ Allah’s names are tawqīfiyyah — no addition without evidence.
❷ “al-Sittīr” is authentically established in ḥadīth.
❸ “al-Sattār” shares meaning with “al-Sittīr” but lacks textual evidence.
❹ Using “Sattār” as a descriptive quality is valid.
❺ Naming someone “ʿAbd al-Sattār” is not permissible.
❻ Use only names that are explicitly proven in Qurʾān or authentic Sunnah.
❼ Exercising caution in divine matters is the way of sound creed.
ھٰذا ما عندي، واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold; and Allah knows best what is correct.
