Adaptation &Translation: Abul Aamaal Misbaah Olagunju (@Bn_Uthmaan)
Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem
Explanation of the Perfect Names and the Lofty Attributes
[22] ASH-SHĀKIR
Allah the exalted said:
وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
"And whoever does good voluntarily, then verily, Allah is Shākir (Most Grateful), Al-Alīm (All-Aware)" - Surah Al-Baqarah: 158
Ash-Shākir
He thanks those who obeys Him and praises them, and He rewards them for their good deeds even when they are little, and He accepts the thanks of those who are grateful for His favours by giving them increase in this world and by remunerating them (for giving thanks) in the hereafter.
Points from the Exemplary Principles:
Bin Al-Uthaymeen said in Qawā'id al-Muthlā:
Principles regarding the attributes of Allah: Ath-Thubūtiyyah (The Attributes of Affirmation): regarding the proofs of affirming the attributes upon intellectual evidences; For the fact that Allah —the mighty and sublime– informed us of these attributes Himself, and He is the most knowledgeable about them, most truthful with His words and most beautiful in His speeches, then it is binding to affirm them for Him as He has informed about them without any form of rejection, because rejection of statement can only come about when an information is referenced to someone susceptible to ignorance, lie or inarticulation in speech, and all these three imperfections are negated in the rights of Allah –the mighty and sublime–, so it is obligatory to accept (believe) His statement in whatever He inform us about.
[23] ASH-SHAKŪR
Allah the exalted said:
وَاللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
"And Allah is Ash-Shakūr (the most grateful) Al-Halīm (the forbearing)" - Surah At-Taghābun: 17
Ash-Shakūr
He flourishes the small good deeds of His slaves with Him and multiplies for them their rewards, for Allah's appreciation for His slave is His rewarding him for his thankfulness and an acknowledgement of his obedience to Him.
Points from the Exemplary Principles:
Bin Al-Uthaymeen said in Qawā'id al-Muthlā:
Principles regarding the attributes of Allah: The third principle; The attributes of Allah are divided into two; the attributes of Affirmation (Thubūtiyyah) and the attributes of Negation (Salbiyyah).
As-Salbiyyah (attributes of negation): Whatever Allah –upon Him be adoration– negates for Himself in His book or upon the tongue of His messenger –Allah raise his rank and grant him peace– are all attributes of imperfection in their real sense, like: death, sleep, ignorance, forgetfulness, incapacity and fatigue.
It is then obligatory to disclaim them for Allah –the exalted– for reasons which has preceded, and affirm for Him their opposites in their perfect forms, that is so because whatever Allah –the exalted– negates for Himself, the implication is an explanation of His being satisfied with the opposite of it regarded in its perfect form, not solely to negate the attribute; because a negation is not complete until it comprise of something which indicates its completeness.
[24] AL-MAJĪD
Allah the exalted said:
رَحْمَتُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
"The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on you, O the family (of Ibrahim). Surely, He (Allah) is Hamīd (Most-Praiseworthy), Majīd (Most-Glorious)." - Surah Hud: 73
Al-Majīd
For Him is pride, honour, glory and exaltation in the heavens and the earth.
Points from the Exemplary Principles:
Bin Al-Uthaymeen said in Qawā'id al-Muthlā:
Principles regarding the attributes of Allah: The fourth principle; The attributes of affirmation (Ath-Thubūtiyyah) are attributes of praise and perfection, and the more common and multi-various their meanings are, the more manifest the perfection of the one being described by them - Allah.
This is why the attributes of affirmation which Allah has informed us about regarding Himself are more in number than the attributes of negation (As-Salbiyyah) as it is known.
Adapted and Translated from:
Aahkaamu Tahamul Muslim
Sharhu Qawaa'idul Muthlaa'
In the past edition:
