Importance of Studying the Names of Allah and His Attributes – Sunday 23rd Dhul-Qa’dah,1434 ( 29th September, 2013)
Posted by Enlightenment into Islam Center
Undoubtedly , the knowledge about Allah’s Names and Attributes are the most noble of knowledge (the religious knowledge). And acquiring the knowledge about Allah’s Names and Attributes is the Greatest and utmost goals because it pertains with the most noble One and that is Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala).
Knowing Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) by His names, attributes and actions is the most glorified (dignified) of all the religious knowledge , seeking His countenance is the most noble (dignified ) of goals, worshiping Him is the most noble deed, praising Him by his names and attributes and glorifying Him (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) is the most noble of statements.
And this the basics of Haneefiyah (Millat) Ibraheem (‘Alayhis-salaam) i.e the religion which all the Prophets were on. Their Dawah from the beginning of time, was based on teaching the people who is Allah by His names and attributes.
Ibn al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said: ” The Dawah of the messengers was revolving around three matters:
Introducing/defining the Lord by His Names, Attributes and Actions to the people.
The second bases is knowing (teaching) the way that one reaches (approaches ) Him, which is by remembering Him, being grateful to Him, worshiping Him with complete love and total submission and humility to Him.
The third bases (of their Dawah) is to define to the people what they will attain after reaching (approaching) Him, delight of the attainment of the the dignified abode (Jannah), attaining His pleasure and seeing Him which is the utmost delight that they can achieve in addition to receiving his Salaam (greeting) and His talking to them.’‘ [Sawa’iq al-Mursalah].
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) taught (defined to) the people about their lord, explaining to them and mentioning His names and attributes profusely until knowing Him (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) became very clear in the heart of His believing slaves and overcome every doubt regarding Him (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala), and the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did not leave his nation to be in need of this knowledge to anyone before him or after him, rather he sufficed them and enriched them (with this knowledge).
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “I have left you upon the white (clear white path) its night is like its day, no one deviates from it except one who is destroyed.” [Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Majah and Authenticated by al–Albani in ‘Silsilah as-Saheehah # 937)]
Abu Dharr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: ”The Messenger of Allah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) left us and there was no bird flapping its wings in the air except that he had taught us some knowledge about it . Then he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said : “Nothing remains that brings you closer to paradise or keep you further from the hellfire except that it has been explained to you.” [Reported by at-Tabaraani in Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer]
Whoever is seeking success and happiness in this life and the hereafter, he should seek the knowledge of Allah and know who He is.
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) mentions about the people who don’t know Him, saying they are like the cattle or even worse.
In Surat Al-Furqan: 44,
أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ ۚ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَالْأَنْعَامِ ۖ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the Path. (i.e. even worse than cattle).
There are three categories of people regarding this knowledge:
- People who know Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) more i.e. His Names and Attributes
- People who don’t know Allah much
- People who don’t know Allah at all!
It is an honour that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) chooses us to teach us about Himself. Whenever a slave knows about His Lord, he abandons Allah’s prohibitions.
He will love Allah. If he loves Allah, he will obey Allah. If he obeys Allah, he will stay away from prohibitions. And if he stays away from prohibitions, he will be of those who are loved by Him. The more you love Allah, the more you will be motivated to please and obey Him.
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) says in Surat Fatir: 28,
ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ
“ It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.”
Now according to this verse, what does الْعُلَمَاءُ (‘Ulama’) mean?
The people who have knowledge. because the more they know about Him, the more they fear Him. What is the indication that you fear Allah? You abstain from sins.
Ali bin Abi Talha reported , that Ibn ‘Abbas (radhiAllaahu ‘anhu) commented on this verse, ‘Those who know Allah is able to do all things.”. Ibn Abbas also said, “The one among His servants who knows about Ar-Rahman, is the one who does not associate anything in worship with Him; the one who accepts as lawful that which He has permitted and accepts as unlawful that which He has prohibited. He obeys His commands and is certain that he will meet Him and be brought to account for his deeds.” [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
Knowing Allah will make you careful about everything you say and do. It increases the faith in your heart. It strengthens the fear in the heart. Also strengthens the hope in Allah, as result it will bring forth all the types of acts of worship ( as a fruit).
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) loves His Names and Attributes, and loves to see the impact of His names and attributes in His creation.
Allah is Al-Hayyee (the Modest), He loves shyness, and He loves those among his slaves who are modest.
Allah is Al-Jameel (the Beautiful), and loves beauty.
Allah is Merciful and loves those who show mercy.
Allah, Al-Afuww (the Oft-Pardoning), loves to pardon and loves those who pardons others.
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) praised the believers in Surat al Baqarah in the first few verses, 2 – 5:
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
“This is the Book (the Qur’aan), whereof there is no doubt, guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much…]”
الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
“Who believe in the Ghaib and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and spend out of what we have provided for them [i.e. give Zakat , spend on themselves, their parents, their children, their wives, etc., and also give charity to the poor and also in Allah’s Cause – Jihad, etc.].”
وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
“And who believe in (the Qur’aan and the Sunnah) which has been sent down (revealed) to you (Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam ) and in [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), etc.] which were sent down before you and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter. (Resurrection, recompense of their good and bad deeds, Paradise and Hell, etc.).”
Who are these pious? The first description is that they believe in the Ghaib (unseen). And believing in Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) is the greatest unseen. Belief in the unseen is to believe in all what Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) has informed of and what His messenger have mentioned.
“And perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and spend out of what we have provided for them”
This is the impact. If you believe in Allah, you will perform Salat and spend in the way of Allah.
“And who believe in (the Qur’aan and the Sunnah) which has been sent down (revealed) to you (Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and in [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), etc.] which were sent down before you….’’
They believed in the Qur’aan and the previous books.
“And they believe with certainty in the Hereafter.”
They believed in the last day.
أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
“They are on (true) guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful.”
If we want success in our lives, we must believe in Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala)!
So now how can I know Allah? How can I believe in Allah? From the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.