The Types of Ilḥād (Deviation) in the Names of Allah and Their Consequences: A Complete Sharʿī Analysis
Reference: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
What is the meaning of ilḥād (deviation) in the Names of Allah, and how many types are there?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
The linguistic meaning of ilḥād is “inclination” or “deviation.” In this sense, the Qur’an uses the term:
﴿لِسانُ الَّذى يُلحِدونَ إِلَيهِ أَعجَمِىٌّ وَهـذا لِسانٌ عَرَبِىٌّ مُبينٌ ﴿١٠٣﴾… سورة النحل
Similarly, the word laḥd (niche in the grave) is derived from the same root, because it inclines to one side.
One’s understanding of ilḥād becomes complete only when one understands istiqāmah (uprightness), for it is a well-known principle: “Things are understood by their opposites.”
To have istiqāmah regarding the Names and Attributes of Allah means to believe in them:
◈ Without taḥrīf (distortion of meaning),
◈ Without taʿṭīl (negation),
◈ Without takīf (specifying how),
◈ Without tamthīl (likening to creation).
One must believe in their reality and essence as befitting only Allah’s Majestic Being. This is the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah.
The scholars have outlined various forms of ilḥād regarding the Divine Names. In summary, deviation from the correct belief regarding Allah’s Names and Attributes is termed ilḥād.
The four principal types are:
◈ To deny any of Allah’s Names.
Example:
✿ The polytheists of Makkah denied al-Raḥmān as a Name of Allah.
◈ To accept the Names but reject the attributes implied by them.
Examples:
✿ Saying Allah is “al-Raḥīm” but without mercy.
✿ Saying Allah is “al-Samīʿ” but without hearing.
◈ To invent for Allah a name not found in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
◈ The Names of Allah are tawqīfī (restricted), i.e., only those that Allah Himself has revealed may be used.
◈ Such deviation involves:
✿ Speaking about Allah without knowledge.
✿ Exceeding rightful bounds in Allah’s regard.
Examples:
✿ Philosophers calling Allah the “First Cause.”
✿ Christians calling Allah “Father.”
◈ To assume that Allah’s Names denote attributes resembling those of the creation.
◈ To interpret them as analogies, as though Allah’s attributes were like human ones.
The corruption in this is:
✿ Diverting Allah’s Names from their true meanings.
✿ Attributing disbelief to Allah’s and His Messenger’s words.
✿ Likening Allah to His creation, which is kufr, for it contradicts the following verses:
﴿لَيسَ كَمِثلِهِ شَىءٌ وَهُوَ السَّميعُ البَصيرُ ﴿١١﴾… سورة الشورى
﴿هَل تَعلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّا ﴿٦٥﴾… سورة مريم
Imām al-Bukhārī’s teacher, Nuʿaym ibn Ḥammād al-Khuzāʿī (رحمه الله), said:
“Whoever likens Allah to His creation has committed disbelief.
Whoever denies an attribute of Allah that He has affirmed for Himself has also committed disbelief.
What Allah has affirmed for Himself contains no resemblance.”
◈ To derive names for idols from Allah’s Names.
Examples:
✿ From al-Ilāh they made al-Lāt.
✿ From al-ʿAzīz they made al-ʿUzzā.
✿ From al-Mannān they made Manāt.
This is ilḥād because Allah’s Names belong exclusively to Him. Transferring their significance to creation is impermissible. It constitutes shirk, since it assigns worship rights to creation that belong solely to Allah.
These are the four foundational forms of ilḥād regarding Allah’s Names. Deviating in any of these ways leads to misguidance and kufr.
May Allah grant us steadfastness upon the correct ʿaqīdah concerning His Names and Attributes, and protect us from every form of ilḥād.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Reference: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
❖ Question
What is the meaning of ilḥād (deviation) in the Names of Allah, and how many types are there?
❖ Introduction
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
The linguistic meaning of ilḥād is “inclination” or “deviation.” In this sense, the Qur’an uses the term:
﴿لِسانُ الَّذى يُلحِدونَ إِلَيهِ أَعجَمِىٌّ وَهـذا لِسانٌ عَرَبِىٌّ مُبينٌ ﴿١٠٣﴾… سورة النحل
Similarly, the word laḥd (niche in the grave) is derived from the same root, because it inclines to one side.
One’s understanding of ilḥād becomes complete only when one understands istiqāmah (uprightness), for it is a well-known principle: “Things are understood by their opposites.”
❖ Definition of Uprightness Regarding Allah’s Names and Attributes
To have istiqāmah regarding the Names and Attributes of Allah means to believe in them:
◈ Without taḥrīf (distortion of meaning),
◈ Without taʿṭīl (negation),
◈ Without takīf (specifying how),
◈ Without tamthīl (likening to creation).
One must believe in their reality and essence as befitting only Allah’s Majestic Being. This is the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah.
❖ Types of Ilḥād in Allah’s Names
The scholars have outlined various forms of ilḥād regarding the Divine Names. In summary, deviation from the correct belief regarding Allah’s Names and Attributes is termed ilḥād.
The four principal types are:
➊ Denying a Name or Attribute of Allah
◈ To deny any of Allah’s Names.
Example:
✿ The polytheists of Makkah denied al-Raḥmān as a Name of Allah.
◈ To accept the Names but reject the attributes implied by them.
Examples:
✿ Saying Allah is “al-Raḥīm” but without mercy.
✿ Saying Allah is “al-Samīʿ” but without hearing.
➋ Attributing Names to Allah Which He Did Not Choose for Himself
◈ To invent for Allah a name not found in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
◈ The Names of Allah are tawqīfī (restricted), i.e., only those that Allah Himself has revealed may be used.
◈ Such deviation involves:
✿ Speaking about Allah without knowledge.
✿ Exceeding rightful bounds in Allah’s regard.
Examples:
✿ Philosophers calling Allah the “First Cause.”
✿ Christians calling Allah “Father.”
➌ Comparing Allah’s Names to the Attributes of Creation
◈ To assume that Allah’s Names denote attributes resembling those of the creation.
◈ To interpret them as analogies, as though Allah’s attributes were like human ones.
The corruption in this is:
✿ Diverting Allah’s Names from their true meanings.
✿ Attributing disbelief to Allah’s and His Messenger’s words.
✿ Likening Allah to His creation, which is kufr, for it contradicts the following verses:
﴿لَيسَ كَمِثلِهِ شَىءٌ وَهُوَ السَّميعُ البَصيرُ ﴿١١﴾… سورة الشورى
﴿هَل تَعلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّا ﴿٦٥﴾… سورة مريم
Imām al-Bukhārī’s teacher, Nuʿaym ibn Ḥammād al-Khuzāʿī (رحمه الله), said:
“Whoever likens Allah to His creation has committed disbelief.
Whoever denies an attribute of Allah that He has affirmed for Himself has also committed disbelief.
What Allah has affirmed for Himself contains no resemblance.”
➍ Using Allah’s Names for Idols
◈ To derive names for idols from Allah’s Names.
Examples:
✿ From al-Ilāh they made al-Lāt.
✿ From al-ʿAzīz they made al-ʿUzzā.
✿ From al-Mannān they made Manāt.
This is ilḥād because Allah’s Names belong exclusively to Him. Transferring their significance to creation is impermissible. It constitutes shirk, since it assigns worship rights to creation that belong solely to Allah.
❖ Conclusion
These are the four foundational forms of ilḥād regarding Allah’s Names. Deviating in any of these ways leads to misguidance and kufr.
May Allah grant us steadfastness upon the correct ʿaqīdah concerning His Names and Attributes, and protect us from every form of ilḥād.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
