Section o­ne:
Principles Concerning the Names of Allah

The First Principle Concerning Allah’s Names
All of Allah’s Names are Beautiful:

All of Allah’s Names are beautiful, meaning that they reach the utmost limits of beauty.  Allah the Exalted has said:

“And to Allah belongs the most Beautiful Names” { Surah A’raaf; 7:180}

That is because they include perfect Attributes that have no defects in any way whatsoever.  No o­ne could assume a defect from them, nor could they claim the existence of o­ne outright.

An example of this is that Al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) is a Name of Allah the Exalted, and it includes the Attributes of perfect Life, not preceded by absence, nor followed by death.  Such Life necessitate other perfect Attributes as well as, like Knowledge, Capability, Hearing, Sight, and others.

Another example is that al-Aleem (the All-Knowing) is o­ne of Allah’s Names, and it includes perfect Knowledge, not preceded by ignorance, nor followed by forgetfulness.  Allah the Exalted said,

“Knowledge of it is with my Lord, in a Book.  My Lord is not unaware, nor does he He forget.” {Surah Taa-Haa 20:52}

The knowledge referred to here is comprehensive, and it encompasses everything generally and specifically, whether it be related to His Actions or the actions of His Creation.  Allah the Exalted has said,

“And with Him are the keys of the Unseen, no o­ne knows of them except Him.  And He knows what is o­n land and at sea.  Not a leaf falls, except that He knows of it.  There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything fresh or dried, except that it is {written} in a clear book.” {Surah An’aam, 6:59}

“And there is no walking creature o­n earth, except that it’s provisions are provided by Allah.  And He knows of its temporary place and permanent abode.  All of it is in a clear Book.  {Surah Hood; 11:6}

“He knows what is in the heavens and o­n earth, and He knows what you hide and what you do openly.  And He knows what is within the chests.” {Surah Taghaabun, 64:4}

A third example is that ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful) is a Name of Allah the Exalted.  It includes perfect Mercy, about which the Messenger of Allah (alayhee salatul wasalaam) said,

“Verily, Allah is more Merciful to His Servants than this woman is to her son."***
***{ Related by al-Bukhari {no. 5999} and Muslim {no. 6912}.  This is from a hadith of Umar ibnul Khataab {radiallahu anhu}, who said, “A group of war captives came before the Messenger of Allah (alayhee salatul wasalaam), and a woman was searching for her child.  When she found her child there, she brought him close and breast-fed him.  So the Messenger of Allah (alayhee salatul wasalaam) said, ‘Could you see this woman casting her son into the Fire?’ We said, ‘No, by Allah, not as long as she is capable of preventing it.’ So the Messenger of Allah (alahyee salatul wasalaam) said, ‘Verily Allah is more merciful to His Servants than this woman is to her son."}

The name ar-Rahman, also includes the Attributes of expansive Mercy, about which Allah has said,

“And my Mercy has encompassed everything.” {Surah A’raaf, 7:156}

And He has said about the supplications of the Angels for the Believers,

“O Our Lord!  You have encompassed everything by your Mercy and Knowledge!” {Surah Ghaafir, 40:7}

The beauty of the Names of Allah the Exalted can be expressed through every Name o­n it’s own.  Furthermore, it can be expressed by combining Names.  By combining a Name with another, perfection upon perfection is achieved.  An example of that is al-Azeez (the All-Mighty) and al-Hakeem (the All-Wise), since Allah the Exalted combines these Names in many places within the Qur’aan.  When used separately, each of the two Names includes a particular kind of perfection.  al-Azeez includes ‘izzah (Might), and hukm (Judgement) and hikmah (Wisdom) is understood from al-Hakeem.  When combined, there is another form of perfection, tht the Might of Allah the Exalted is coupled with His Wisdom.  So His Might does not include oppression, tyranny and evil actoins, as is the case with the mighty o­nes from amongst the creation.  The mighty o­nes from amongst them may use their might for sin.  So they oppress, tyrannize, and behave in evil ways.

Likewise, the Judgement and Wisdom of Allah the Exalted is coupled with perfect Might and Honor, contrary to the judgement and wisdom of the Creation, as they are often subject to disgrace and humiliation.