Understanding Allaahs Beautiful Names and Attributes. The creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal- Jamaaah in regard to Allaahs Names and His Attributes is affriming that which Allaah has affirmed for himself from the Names and Attributes, without: 1) tahreef (changing/distorting a Name and/or Attribute of Allaah to other than its true meaning, i.e. from Allaah to al-Laat, and al-Azeez to al-Uzzah); 2) tateel (denying some or all of Allaahs Names and Attributes); 3) takyeef (questioning as to how (Allaahs Name or Attribute is), i.e. How does Allaah descend, etc.?); 4) tamtheel (to imply a similarity between Allaahs Names and Attributes and that of His creation). And the difference between a Name and an Attribute is that a Name is that which Allaah has named Himself by; and an Attribute is that which Allaah has described Himself by. And between them is a clear difference. So a Name is that which is considered a Name of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Taaala), (and that) which incorporates an Attribute. And affirmation of a Name necessitates affirmation of an Attribute. For example: al-Ghafoor (the Most Forgiving) is a Name, and (its affirmation) necessitates the (affirmation of the) Attribute of Maghfirah (Forgiveness); And ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful) is a Name and (its affirmation) necessitates the affirmation of ar-Rahmah (Mercy). And the affirmation of an Attribute does not necessitate the affirmation of a Name. For example: al-Kalaam (Speech) does not necessitate the affirmation of the Name al-Mutakallim (the Speaker) for Allaah. So, based upon this, the Names are more wider (in scope), since every Name encompasses an Attribute, however, every Attribute does not encompass a Name. Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen Fataawa Arkaan al-Islaam - Page 73, Fatwa No.30
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 10:16:11 +0000