Adaptation&Translation: AbulAamaal Misbaah Olagunju (@Bn_Uthmaan)
Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem
Explanation of the Perfect Names and the Lofty Attributes
[16] AL-LATĪF
Allah the exalted said:
أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ
Should not He Who has created know? And He is Al-Latīf (the Most Kind and Subtle to His slaves) Al-Khabīr (All-Aware of everything). - Surah Al-Mulk:14
Al-Latīf
He is most knowledgeable of the minutest of affairs (and their timing), nothing of the secret affairs is concealed from Him, He delivers goodness and benefits to His slaves in unfathomable manners that they cannot enumerate.
Points from the Exemplary Principles:
Bin Al-Uthaymeen said in Qawā'id al-Muthlā:
"Disbelief (Ilhād) with reference to Allah's names –the exalted–, is deviating in whatever is obligatory regarding them, and this manifests in a number of ways:
(4) Lastly, to derive names of idols from Allah's names, like the polytheists did in deriving the name 'al-Uzza from Al-Azīz' and their deriving 'al-Laat from Al-Illah' according to one of the two opinions, they named their idols with Allah's names because they (the names) are most qualified for such, due to Allah's statement (which means): "For Him are all the perfect (and beautiful) names, call upon Him by them" and His statement (which means): "Allah, no god is worthy of worship except Him, for His are the most beautiful names", and His statement (which means): "For Him are the most beautiful names, all that is in the heavens and the earth celebrates His praise".
So just as He is distinctive (singled out) in worship and in divinity, and in that all that is in the heavens and the earth celebrates His praise, He is as well distinctive with the perfect and most beautiful names. Therefore naming other than Him with the names in a manner specific to Allah the mighty and sublime, is straying in something which is obligatory regarding the names.
And Ilhād (disbelief with regards to Allah's names) in all its forms is impermissible because Allah –the exalted– issued a threat to the Mulhideen in His statement:
وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
"And leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names. They will be requited for what they used to do." - Surah Al-A'raf:180
And from it (forms of Ilhād) are those which amounts to polytheism or apostasy, it's severity is measured upon the requirements of the proofs from the Islamic Injunctions.
[17] AL-KHABĪR
Allah the exalted said:
أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِير
Should not He Who has created know? And He is Al-Latīf (the Most Kind and Subtle to His slaves) Al-Khabīr (All-Aware of everything). - Surah Al-Mulk:14
Al-Khabīr
He is the one whose knowledge encompasses the intrinsic (core) apsect of all affairs and their hidden aspects just as it encompasses their outward (noticeable) aspects.
Points from the Exemplary Principles:
Bin Al-Uthaymeen said in Qawā'id al-Muthlā:
The Principles regarding the attributes of Allah; The first of them: All the attributes of Allah —the exalted— are attributes of perfection and completeness, no defects or deficiency in them whatsoever in any viewpoint, from His attributes are; Life, Knowledge, Power, Hearing, Sight, Mercy, Honour, Wisdom, Loftiness, Greatness and so on. And the perfection and completeness of these attributes is proven by textual evidence, intellect, and instinct.
[18] AL-FATTĀH
Allah the exalted said:
قُلْ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا رَبُّنَا ثُمَّ يَفْتَحُ بَيْنَنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَهُوَ الْفَتَّاحُ الْعَلِيمُ
"Say (O Muhammad): "Our Lord will assemble us all together (on the Day of Resurrection), then He will judge between us with truth. And He is Al-Fattāh (the Judge, the opener) Al-Alīm (the All-Knowing)"" - Surah Saba: 26
Al-Fattāh
He is the one who opens from the chests of His dominion and kindness, and enriches as He deem fit upon the discretion of His wisdom and knowledge.
Points from the Exemplary Principles:
Bin Al-Uthaymeen said in Qawā'id al-Muthlā:
Principles regarding the attributes of Allah; The second principle: The aspect of attribute is more expansive that the aspect of names; that is because all names are comprise of attributes, also due to the fact that some of Allah's names are connected to His actions —the exalted–, and His actions never ceases or get exhausted. Like His speeches can never be exhausted, Allah —the most high— said:
وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَامٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
"And if all the trees on the earth were pens and the sea (were ink wherewith to write), with seven more seas behind it to add to its (supply), yet the Words of Allah would not be exhausted. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise." - Surah Luqman: 27
Adapted and Translated from:
Aahkaamu Tahamul Muslim
Sharhu Qawaa'idul Muthlaa'
