Adaptation and Translation by Abul Aamaal Misbaah Olagunju
Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem
Indeed the belief in the Names of Allah and His Attributes is one from amongst the pillars of belief in Allah —the exalted—, which includes: believing in Allah's Wujuud (Allah's existence), His Rubuubiyyah (Lordship), His Uluuhiyyah (Worship), and His Asmaa' wa Sifaat (Names and Attributes).
And unification of Allah by way of His Names and Attributes is one from amongst the three (3) categories of Tawheed which are: Tawheed Ar-Rubuubiyyah, Tawheed Al-Uluuhiyyah and Tawheed Al-Asmaa' wa Sifaat, and its station in the religion is lofty and its importance is colossal, for it is impossible for no one to worship Allah perfectly until it is done upon a foundation of knowledge about Allah's names —the exalted— and His attributes, so he can worship Him upon understanding and certainty, Allah the exalted said:
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا
"And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them," - (Al-A'raaf: 180)
The above verse is inclusive of duaa'ul mas'alah (supplication of request) and duaa'ul ibaadah (supplication of worship).
As for duaa'ul mas'alah: It is that you put forth before your request, what is in conformity with it (your request) from the names of Allah —the exalted—, for instance, that you say: "O! Oft-forgiving, forgive me". and "O! Merciful, have mercy on me" and "O! guardian, guard me". And whatever is similar to that.
As for duaa'ul ibaadah: It is that you worship Allah —the exalted— by the characteristics that these names are implicative of, such that you repent to Him because He is At-Tawaab (The accepter of repentance), and you engage your tongue in His rememberance because He is As-Samee' (All-Hearer), and you worship Him with your body part because He is Al-Baseer (All-Seer), and you fear Him in secret because He is meticulously cognizant, and similar to these.
Explanation of the Perfect Names and the Lofty Attributes
[01] AR-RAHMAN
Allah the exalted said:
الرحمن على العرش استوى
"The Most Beneficent Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)." - Surah Ta-Ha:5
Ar-Rahman
A name indicative of the expansiveness and encompassment of His (Allah) benevolence to the entirety of His creations, it is a name specific to Allah the most high alone and it's not permissible to issue it to other than Him.
Points from the Exemplary Principles:
Bin Al-Uthaymeen said in qawā'id al-muthlā: The beauty in Allah's names —the exalted— is expressed in each and every name on its own, and can also be expressed through combining one of His names with another, and through combining one of His names with another we achieve perfection upon perfection. For example; Al-Azeez Al-Hakīm, Allah combined between the two in so many places in the Qur'an and for every of these places, it indicates the specific perfection of what the name demands, which is the mightiness from Al-Azeez and the authority and wisdom from Al-Hakīm. And when combined, it expresses yet another perfection which is that the mightiness of Allah is accompanied by wisdom, and also that His mightiness doesn't call on to injustice, prejudice and evil.
[02] AR-RAHEEM
Allah the exalted said:
نبئ عبادي أني أنا الغفور الرحيم
"Declare (O Muhammad) unto My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, Ar-Raheem." - Surah Al-Hijr:49
Ar-Raheem
The most compassionate most forgiving to the believers in this world and the hereafter for they have been guided to His worship, and He honours them with paradise in the hereafter.
Points from the Exemplary Principles:
Bin Al-Uthaymeen said in qawā'id al-muthlā: Allah the most high names are both titles and descriptions:
A Title; considering it's connotation of His person (essence)
A Description; when consider it's implication in meaning.
[03] AL-'AFUWW
Allah the exalted said:
إن الله لعفو غفور
"Verily Allah is indeed Afūw Ghafūr (oft-Forgiving)" - Surah Al-Hajj: 60
Al-Afuww
He is the one who wipe out (abolish, scrape off, erase, expunge) sin and pardons from it and never inflict punishment over it. Bearing the fact that the slave is entitled to punishment
Points from the Exemplary Principles:
Bin Al-Uthaymeen said in qawā'id al-muthlā: "Allah described Himself with so many attributes, bearing the fact that He is The One The Indivisible. He —the exalted— said:
إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ*إِنَّهُ هُوَ يُبْدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ*وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ*ذُو الْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيدُ*فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يُرِيدُ
"Verily, (O Muhammad) the Grip (Punishment) of your Lord is severe. Verily, He it is Who begins (punishment) and repeats (punishment in the Hereafter) (or originates the creation of everything, and then repeats it on the Day of Resurrection). And He is Oft-Forgiving, full of love, Owner of the throne, the Glorious. He does whatever He wills." — Surah Al-Burūj: 12-16
He again said:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى*الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ*وَالَّذِي قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ*وَالَّذِي أَخْرَجَ الْمَرْعَىٰ*فَجَعَلَهُ غُثَاءً أَحْوَىٰ
"Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High, Who has created (everything), and then proportioned it; And Who has measured (preordainment for each and everything); then guided. And Who brings out the pasturage, And then makes it dark stubble." - Al A'la: 1-5
In these magnificent verses are several descriptions describing the same entity and it doesn't imply that the one who affirms these descriptions has affirmed multiple deities.
Translated and Adapted from:
Aahkaamu Tahummul Muslim
Sharhu Qawaa'idul Muthlaa'
