Abdur Raheem Kidwai - Blessed Names and Attributes of Allah

BLESSED NAMES AND ATTRIBUTES

of

Allah

Abdur Raheem Kidwai

Blessed Names and Attributes of Allah

First published in England by

Kube Publishing Ltd

Markfield Conference Centre

Ratby Lane, Markfield,

Leicestershire LE67 9SY

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1530 249230

Fax: +44 (0) 1530 249656

Website: www.kubepublishing.com

Email:

Abdur Raheem Kidwai, 2016

All rights reserved.

The right of Abdur Raheem Kidwai to be
identified as the author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with the

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 84774 087 8 casebound

ISBN 978 1 84774 092 2 Box set edition

ISBN 978 1 84774 089 2

Typeset N.A. Qaddoura

Design Imtiaze Ahmed

Printed Imak Offset, Istanbul, Turkey

CONTENTS

Arabic Consonants

Initial, unexpressed medial and final:

With a shaddah, both medial and final consonants are doubled.

Vowels, diphthongs, etc.

THIS work represents a compendium, listing and elucidating 99 excellent names of Allah which figure in the Qurn and standard adth collections. Both the Qurn and Adth (plural) state the importance of learning these beautiful names, and promise reward for those who invoke Allah in their supplications with reference to His excellent names. These names offer a conspectus of the articles of Islamic faith and introduce concisely the being and attributes of Allah.

With its elucidation of an important facet of Islamic faith, the present work supplements and complements the earlier three volumes of the series Daily Wisdom, brought out by Kube Publishing, which explicate select Qurnic passages, Adth, and Islamic prayers and supplications, respectively. It is hoped this volume too, will enable readers to gain a better understanding of Islamic faith. Written in simple, easy to understand English, the present work seeks to bring out the lesson conveyed to us by each name of Allah. Its study may enable readers to appreciate better the Islamic scheme of things about this world and the next and instruct us how to invoke Allah in our supplications and petitions to Him. This work may facilitate, also, our conceptualization of Allah Whose glory and greatness is limitless.

I must thank Brothers Yahya Birt and Haris Ahmad of Kube Publishing, UK for having entrusted this valuable assignment to me, notwithstanding my inadequacies. May Allah accept this modest effort (mn).

Abdur Raheem Kidwai

Professor, Department of English

Aligarh Muslim University, India

Muarram 1437 AH

October 2015 CE

Allahs are the names most beautiful. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth extols His glory.

(al-ashr 59: 24)

Allah there is no God but He. His are the most excellent names.

( H 20: 8)

Say to them (O Prophet!): Call upon Him as Allah or call upon Him as Al-Ramn; call Him by whichever name you will, all His names are beautiful.

(al-Isr 17: 110)

Allah has the most excellent names. So call on Him by His names and shun those who distort them.

(al-Arf 7: 180)

Apart from the above Qurnic assertions, the excellence of Allahs name is also pressed home by the following Adth:

On the authority of Ab Hurayrah, it is related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah has 99 names. Whoever remembers these, will enter Paradise. Companions report that they had memorized and counted these names well.

(Bukhr, Kitb Al-Tawd, 2, 1,099)

Another report recounted by Ab Hurayrah is as follows: Allah has 99 names. He who remembers these will certainly enter Paradise.

(Bukhr, Kitb Al-Daawt, 2, 949)

Ab Hurayrah quotes the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: Allah 99 names. He who memorizes these is destined to enter Paradise.

(Muslim, Kitb Al-Dhikr wa Al-Du, 2, 342)

According to Tirmidh, Ab Hurayrah reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah has 99 names. He who learns these by heart will enter Paradise. Tirmidh adds that this adth does not specify those 99 names of Allah and that it is a asan a adth.

(Tirmidh, Abwb Al-Daawt, 2, 1889)

In his gloss over Jmi Al-Tirmidh, Q Ab Bakr ibn Arab maintains that there are 1,000 names of Allah and the Prophet Muammad (peace be upon him) each.

(Maqrz, ImtAl-Asm, 2, 138)

These divine names provide a graphic account of Allahs attributes. While going through these, we realize how perfect and unique He is. His excellent names evoke our love, fear and admiration for Him. We should gain a clear understanding of His names, memorize these and act in accordance with the message imparted by these. As noted in Adth, this will insh Allh facilitate our entry into Paradise. If we assimilate their message, we will enjoy a peaceful, happy life in this world both as individuals and as a community.

The Qurn brands these as excellent names in view of these considerations: (i) Since Allah is Perfect, Unique and the Most Exalted, His names underscore the same. It is common knowledge that a being is known and characterized by the name. (ii) As we memorize and grasp the meaning of these names, we are in a better position to bring to our mind His greatness and glory when we invoke Him, especially for seeking His help and favours. In that state our whole being testifies to His numerous and perfect attributes. (iii) There is no one equal unto Allah in His glorious and excellent attributes. Since He has spelled out His names, our invocation to Him by these names may prompt His mercy and pleasure.

We are told in adth reports that Allahs love for His creatures exceeds far more than mothers love for her child. As we address Him by His authentic names, we are more likely to get some response to our petitions to Him.

Invoking Allah with reference to these names and memorizing these amounts to this Qurnic mode of worship of glorifying and mentioning Allah:

Believers Remember Allah much and glorify Him morning and evening.

(al-Azb 33: 4142)

It goes without saying that this exercise of mentioning Allahs name inspirits us. The Qurn affirms the same:

Believers are those who believe (in Allah and the message of the Prophet) and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in Allahs remembrance do hearts find rest.