The 200 FAQ On Muslim Belief
Q 51: What does the Oneness of the Names and Attributes of Allah mean?
A--- It means to believe in that: we must not name or qualify Allah except with what He or His Messenger (Peace be upon him) has named or qualified Him. None can be named or qualified with the Names or Attributes of Allah. We must believe in all the Attributes of Allah which Allah has stated in, His Book (the Qur'an) or mentioned through His Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him) without 'changing their meaning or ignoring them or twisting their meanings or likening them (giving resemblance) to any of the created things. Almighty Allah says: {He (Allah) knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them (in the Hereafter) but they will never compass anything of His Knowledge}. (Ta-Ha, 110)
Allah the Almighty says: {There is nothing like Him,. and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer}. (As-Shura, 11)
Allah the Almighty says: {No vision can grasp Him, but He grasps all vision. He is Al-Latif (the Most Subtle and Courteous), Well-Acquainted with all things}. (Al-An' am, 103)
On the authority of Ubai Ibn Ka'b (May Allah be pleased with him), the polytheists said to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) when he mentioned their gods, "Tell us about the ancestors of your lord". Allah the Almighty revealed (answering them): {Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)):"He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad [Allah the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]). (Al-Ikhlas, 1, 2) AsSamad: is Him Who {begets not, nor was He begotten}. (AI-Ikhlas, 3) (At- Tirmidhi) For everything that is begotten is going to die; and no one dies, 'but will be inherited. Allah the Almighty neither dies, nor will ever be inherited. {And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him} (Al-Ikhlas, 4) i.e. there is nothing like Him[1].
Q 52: What is the textual proof of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah?
A--- Almighty Allah says: {And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names}. (Al-A' rat, 180)
Allah says: {Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious (Allah), by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names}. (Al-Isra', 110)
Allah says: {Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names}. (Ta-Ha, 8)
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: "Allah has ninety-nine Names, i.e., one hundred minus one, and whoever believes in their meanings and acts accordingly, will enter Paradise,. and Allah is Witr (one) and loves 'the Wit’ (i.e., odd numbers).”(Bukhari and Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "I ask You with all Your Names, whether You called Yourself therewith, or You revealed in Your Book, or You made known to one of Your Creatures, or You kept unseen with You, (I ask You with all these) to make the Glorious Qur'an the spring for my heart". (Imam Ahmed)
Q 53: Cite some examples on the Most Beautiful Names of Allah from the Glorious Qur'an?
A- Almighty Allah says: {Surely, Allah is Ever Most High Most Great}. (An-Nisa', 34)
Allah says: {Verily, Allah is Ever Most Courteous, Well-Acquainted with all things}. (Al-Ahzab, 34)
Allah says: {Verily, He is All-Knowing, All Omnipotent}. (Fatir, 44)
Allah says: {Truly, Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Seer}. (An-Nisa',58)
Allah says: (Truly, Allah is Ever Most Powerful, All-Wise}. (An-Nisa', 56)
Allah says: {Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful}. (An-Nisa', 23, 106)
Allah says: {Certainly, He is unto them full of Kindness, Most Merciful}. (At- Taubah, 117)
Allah the Almighty says: {And Allah is Rich (Free of all needs) and He is Most-forbearing}. (Al-Baqarah, 263)
Allah the Almighty says: {Surely, He (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious}. (Hud, 73)
Allah the Almighty says: {Surely, my Lord is Guardian over ill things}. (Hud, 57)
Allah the Almighty says: {Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His Knowledge), Responsive}. (Hud, 61)
Allah the Almighty says: (Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you}. (An-Nisa', 1)
Allah the Almighty says: (And Allah is Ever All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs}. (An-Nisa', 81, 132, 171 and Al-Ahzab, 3, 48)
Allah the Almighty says: {And Allah is All-Sufficient in taking account}. (An-Nisa', 6 and Al-Ahzab, 39)
Allah the Almighty says: {And Allah is Ever All-Able to do (and also an All- Witness to) everything}. (An-Nisa', 85)
Allah the Almighty says: {Verily! Allah is over all things a Witness}. (Al-Hajj, 17)
Allah the Almighty says: {Verily! He it is Who is surrounding all things}. (Fussilat, 54)
Allah the Almighty says: {Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which Hewills. His Kursi[2] extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great}. (Al-Baqarah, 255)
Allah says: {Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists}. (Al' Imran, 2)
Allah says: {He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of everything}. (Al-Hadid, 3)
Allah the Almighty says: {He is Allah beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. He is Allah beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Him (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise}. (Al-Hashr, 22-24)
Q 54: Cite some examples on the Most Beautiful Names of Allah from the Prophetic Sunnah?
A--- Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Majestic, the Most Forbearing. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Honorable Throne ". (Bukhari & Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "O You, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. 0 You, Who is Full of Majesty, Bounty and Honor. 0 You, to Whom is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth ". (Bukhari & Abu Dawud)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "In the Name of Allah, beside His Name, nothing can hurt neither on earth, nor in the heavens and He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing ". (Bukhari and Ahmed)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "O Allah! Knower of the Unseen and the Witness, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Lord of all that exists and His King ". (Bukhari and Ahmed)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "When anyone of you intends to go to sleep, he should lie on the bed on his right side and then say: "O Allah! The Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Earth and Lord of the Magnificent Throne, our Lord, and the Lord of everything, the Splitter of the grain of corn and the date-stone (or fruit kernel), the Revealer of Torah and Injil (Bible) and Criterion (the Glorious Qur'an), I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of everything Thou art to seize by the forelock (Thou hast perfect control over it). 0 Allah, Thou art the First, there is naught before Thee, and Thou art the Last and there is naught after Thee, and Thou art Evident and there is nothing above Thee, and Thou art Innermost and there is nothing beyond Thee. Remove the burden of debt from us and relieve us from want." (Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "O Allah! All Praise is due to You, Thou art the Light of the Heavens and the Earth and all that exists therein, and all Praise is due to You, Thou art the Sustainer of the Heavens and the Earth and all that exists therein ". (Bukhari and Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "O Allah! I ask Thee by my confession that Thou art Allah, there is no god but Thee, the One, Allah the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, Who begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him ". (Abu Dawud and Ahmed)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "O Allah! Thou turn the hearts!" (Imam Ahmed)
Q 55: How many indications do the Most Beautiful Names of Allah denote?
A--- The indications embodied in the Most Beautiful Names of Allah are of three kinds: Indication of the Entity by conformance, Indication of the Entity's derived Attributes by indication, and Indication of the non-derived Attributes by observance.
Q 56: Cite some examples on this?
A--- Almighty Allah's Name [Ar-Rahman ArRaheem] "the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful " denotes the Entity of the Called Who is Allah the Almighty by conformance, and denotes the Attribute derived therefrom i.e. Mercy, by indication, and denotes other non-derived (therefrom) Attributes such as Life and Omnipotence by way of observance. Such is the case with all His Names and Attributes. Unlike the created entities, created by Him Alone. One can be named 'wise' while he is 'unwise', or 'just' while he is 'unjust', or 'brave' while he is 'coward', or 'happy' while he is 'distressed', or 'beneficent' while he is 'malicious'. Thus, Glory be to Allah, He is Nothing but what He describes Himself with, and He is far beyond the descriptions attributed to Him by His creation.
Q 57: How many indications do the Most Beautiful Names of Allah denote by way of Indication?
A--- The Most Beautiful Names of Allah denote by way of Indication four types:
First: The proper noun that implies all meanings of the Most Beautiful Names, i.e. "ALLAH" which comes modified by all the other Attributes: {He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms}. (Al-Hashr, 24)
Second: The Name that encompasses an Attribute of Allah's Entity, such as [As-Sami '] The All Hearer, that encompasses His Hearing that extends to cover all sounds, no matter they are public or secret. His Name [AI-Basir] The All Seeing, that encompasses His Sight that extends to cover all sights, no matter they are minute or gigantic. His Name [AI-`Alim] The All Knower, that encompasses His Knowledge that extends to cover all things: {Say: "Yes, by my Lord, the All-Knower of the Unseen, it will come to you; not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant) or less than that or greater escapes His Knowledge in the heavens or in the earth but it is in a Clear Book (Al-Lauh Al Mahfuz)}. (Saba', 3)
Allah's Name [AI-Qadir] The Omnipotent, that encompasses His Omnipotence over everything, to create or annihilate whatever He wills.
Third: What implies an Acting Attribute such as: the Creator, the Provider with Sustenance, the Evolver, and the Supreme Fashioner, etc.
Fourth: What implies that Almighty Allah is Far above all blemishes and defects such as: the Sublime Holy and the Peace, etc.
Q 58: How many types are the Most Beautiful Names pertaining to calling Almighty Allah therewith?
A--- Some of them are attributed to Allah without a need to modifiers. They can be also accompanied with other Names. This includes the Perfection Attributes such as: the Ever-Living, The Sublime Self-Subsisting, the One and the Everlasting Refuge, etc.
Others are not attributed to Allah unless accompanied with their antonyms. Someone may regard these Attributes as malicious. They are as follows: the Harm Inflicting and the Benefit Giver, the Abaser and the Raiser, the Giver and the Preventer, and the Supreme Might Giver and the Supreme Humiliator. Hence, it is not permissible to say any of the following Names alone or by themselves without their antonyms: the Harm Inflicting, the Abaser, the Preventer, and the Supreme Humiliator. We can not find anything of this in the Glorious Qur'an or in the Prophetic Sunnah. When the Glorious Qur'an says: {Verily, We shall exact retribution from .the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, and sinners)}. (As-Sajdah, 22)
The Name is related to something, here, it is the criminals, disbelievers, etc. Or, by adding Dhu "Able" to the derived attribute such as in: {...and Allah is All Mighty, All-Able of Retribution}. (Al 'Imran, 4, and Al-Ma'idah, 95)
Q 59: Almighty Allah's Names are divided into two categories: those related to the Entity, and those related to His Acting. Cite some examples on those related to the Entity from the Glorious Qur'an?
A--- Almighty Allah says: {Nay, both His Hands are widely outstretched}. (Al-Ma'idah, 64)
Allah the Almighty says: (Everything will perishsave His Face}. (Al-Qasas, 88)
Allah the Almighty says: {And the Face of your Lord full of Majesty and Honor will remain forever}. (Ar-Rahman, 27)
Allah the Almighty says: (In order that you may be brought up under My Eye}. (Ta-Ha, 39)
Allah the Almighty says: (How clearly He sees ,and hears (everything)!). (Al-Kahf, 26)
Allah the Almighty says: {Verily I Am with you both, Hearing and Seeing}. (Ta-Ha, 46)
Allah the Almighty says: {He (Allah) knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them (in the Hereafter) but they will never compass anything of His Knowledge}. (Ta-Ha, 110)
Allah the Almighty says: {And to Musa (Moses) Allah spoke directly}. (An-Nisa', 164)
Allah the Almighty says: {And (remember) when your Lord called Musa (Moses) (saying): "Go to the people who are Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)}. (Ash-Shu'ra', 10)
Allah the Almighty says: {And their Lord called out to them (saying): "Did I not forbid you that tree}. (Al-A' raf, 22)
Allah the Almighty says: {And (remember) the Day (Allah) will call to them, and say: "What answer gave you to the Messengers?"}. (Al- Qasas, 65)
Q 60: Cite some examples on those Most Beautiful Names that are related to the Entity from the Prophetic Sunnah?
A--- Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: "Allah's Veil is Light. If He removes it, the Light of (the countenance of) His Face will burn what His Sight reaches of His creation ". (Sahih Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "Allah's Hand is full, and (its fullness) is not affected by the continuous spending, day and night." He also says: "Do you see what He has spent since He created the Heavens and the Earth? Yet all that has not decreased what is in His Hand. "He also says: "His Throne is over the water and in His other Hand is the balance (of Justice) and He raises and lowers (whomever He wills) ". (Bukhari and Muslim)
Ad-Dajjal was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). The Prophet (Peace be upon him) says: "Allah is not hidden from you; He is not one-eyed, " and pointed with his hand towards his eye, adding, "While Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal is blind in the right eye and his eye looks like a protruding grape. " (Bukhari and Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "O people! Be merciful to yourselves (i. e. don't raise your voice), for you are not calling a deaf or an absent one, but One Who is with you, no doubt He is All-Hearer, Ever Near (to all things). "(Imam Bukhari) He (Peace be upon him) says: "Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection), 'O Adam.’Adam will reply, 'Labbaik wa Sa' daik', and all the good is in Your Hand. 'Allah will say, 'Bring out the people of the fire.’ Adam will say, 'O Allah! How many are the people of the Fire?’ Allah will reply, 'From every one thousand, take out nine-hundred-and ninety line.’ At that time children will become hoary headed, every pregnant female will have a miscarriage, and one will see mankind as drunken, let they will not be drunken, but dreadful will be the Wrath of Allah." The companions of the Prophet asked, "O Allah's Messenger! Who is that (excepted) me?" He said: "Rejoice with glad tiding' one person will be from you and one-thousand will be from Gog and Magog." (Bukhari and Muslim)
The Hadiths relating Allah's Speaking with His slaves on the Day of Resurrection and the People of Paradise are beyond counting.
Q 61: Cite some of the examples from the Glorious Qur'an that relate some of Allah's Acting Attributes?
A--- Almighty Allah says: {Then He rose over (Istawa) towards the heaven}. (Al-Baqarah, 29)
Allah the Almighty says: {Do they then wait for anything other than that Allah should come to them in the shadows of the clouds and the angels? (Then) the case would be already judged. And to Allah return all matters (for decision)}. (Al-Baqarah, 210)
Allah the Almighty says: {They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand}. (Az-Zumar, 67)
Allah the Almighty says: {(Allah) said: "O Iblis (Satan)! What prevents you from prostrating yourself to one whom I have created with Both My Hands}. (Sad, 75) Allah the Almighty says: {And We wrote for him on the Tablets the lesson to be drawn from all things and the explanation for all things}. (Al-A'raf, 145)
Allah the Almighty says: {So when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He made it collapse to dust}. (AI-A" far, 143)
Allah the Almighty says: (Verily, Allah does what He wills}. (AI-Hajj, 18)
Q 62: Cite some of the examples from the Prophetic Sunnah that relate some of His Acting Attributes?
A--- Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: "Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: "Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?" (Bukhari and Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "So you will see Him, like that. Allah will gather all the people on the Day, of Resurrection, and say, 'Whoever worshipped something (in the world) should follow (that thing), so, whoever worshipped the sun will follow the sun, and whoever worshiped the moon will follow the moon, and whoever used to worship certain (other false) deities, he will follow those deities. And there will remain only this nation with its good people (or its hypocrites). (The sub-narrator, Ibrahim is in doubt.) Allah will come to them and say, 'I am your Lord.' They will (deny Him and) say, 'We will stay here till our Lord comes, for when our Lord comes, we will recognize Him.’ So Allah will come to them in His appearance which they know, and will say, 'I am your Lord’ They will say, 'You are our Lord,’so they will follow Him.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will grasp the whole Earth by His Hand, and all the Heavens in His right, and then He will say, 'I am the King.’" (Bukhari and Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on His Throne, "My Mercy overpowers My Anger.”(Bukhari and Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "Adam and Moses argued with each other. Moses said to Adam. 'O Adam! You are our father who disappointed us and turned us out of Paradise.’ Then Adam said to him, 'O Moses! Allah favored you with His talk (talked to you directly) and He wrote (the Torah) for you with His Own Hand. Do you blame me for action which Allah had written in my fate forty years before my creation?’ So Adam confuted Moses, Adam confuted Moses,” the Prophet added, repeating the Statement three times.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people repent for the fault committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand daring the day so that the people may reprint for the fault committed from dusk to dawn. (He would accept repentance) before the sun rises in the west (before the Day of Resurrection).” (Imam Muslim)
Q 63: Can Names be derived from all the Attributes related to His Acting, Glorified is He?
A--- No, Almighty Allah can not be called by Names other than those He named Himself in His Qur'an with, or those attributed to Him through His Messenger (Peace be upon him). Moreover, every attribute related to His Acting, He Almighty Allah, named Himself with, denotes Praise and Perfection due to Him Alone. Allah did not attribute all these Names to Himself. But, some of them He, Almighty Allah, used to describe Himself with, such as in, {Allah is He Who created you, then provided food for you, then will cause you to die, then (again) He will give you life (on the Day of Resurrection)}. (Ar-Rum, 40) Almighty Allah, called Himself the Creator, the Sublime Provider, the Supreme Death-Bringer, and the Supreme Life-Giver. Some Attributes He, Almighty Allah, called Himself with by way of reciprocity and encountering denoting all the Praise and Perfection due to Him such as in, {Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them}. (An-Nisa', 142) Allah the Almighty says: {And they (disbelievers) plotted (to kill 'Isa (Jesus) (Peace be upon him) and Allah plotted too. And Allah is the Best of those who plot}. (Al 'Imran, 54) Allah the Almighty says: {They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them}. (At-Taubah, 67)
These Attributes can not be attributed to Him in other than the context in which they originally were revealed. Hence, it can not be said that He, All Glory is His due, deceives, plots, forgets, and mocks, etc. In addition, it can not be said that Allah is deceiver, plotter, and mocker. No Muslim or rational man can say so regarding Allah the Almighty. As He, Glory be His, did not describe Himself with these attributes but for encountering the saying of those hypocrites, polytheists, and disbelievers who falsely claimed this. It is well known that encountering and meeting the sin with justice is good on the part of the created, so what about the All Knowing, All Just, and All Wise Creator!
Q 64: What does His Name "the Ever Exalted" denote, along with other Names giving the same connotation such as "the Evident”, "the Sublime Vanquisher", and "the Supremely High"?
A--- Allah is the One Most High in rank. Nothing is as elevated or transcendingly salient as He is. He is the One Who is Above everyone and everything in the whole universe. He is extremely Free from any defects. He is the Example of Infallibility. He is the One Who subdues completely the most powerful of His enemies. There is no being, but subjugated under His Compulsion, and defenseless under His Mastery. He is the One Whose Power is above every power in heaven and earth. He is the Almighty that cannot be defeated or overcome. He is the One Who has the power and perfection to respond to those that faithfully seek His Favor.
Q 65: What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an that Allah is High in Place?
A--- Almighty Allah says: {The Most Gracious (Allah) rose over (Istawa) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)}. (Ta-Ha, 5)
Allah says: {Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not cause the earth to sink with you, and then it should quake? Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall know how (terrible) has been My Warning}. (Al-Mulk, 16, 17)
Allah the Almighty says: {They fear their Lord above them}. (An-Nahl, 50)
Allah the Almighty says: {To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it}. (Fatir, 10)
Allah the Almighty says: {The angels and the Ruh [Jibril (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years}. (Al-Ma' arij, 4)
Allah the Almighty says: (He manages and regulates (every) affair from the heavens to the earth}. (As-Sajdah, 5)
Allah the Almighty says: {And (remember) when Allah said: "0 'Isa (Jesus)! I will take you and raise you to Myself}. (Al' Imran, 55)
Q 66: What is the textual proof from the Prophetic Sunnah that Allah is High in Place?
A ---The evidences are countless: Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: "And the Throne is above that, and Allah is Above the Throne, He rules the Dominion from above seven firmaments”. l (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)
Once, the Prophet (Peace be uP9n him) said to a slave girl: "Where is Allah?” She said: "At Heaven." He (Peace be upon him) said (to its master): "Set her free for she is a believer.”(Muslim and Ahmed)
The Hadiths of the Prophet's (Peace be upon him) Ascension to Heavens [Al-Mi `raj] prove Allah's Highness in Place.
He (Peace be upon him) says: "Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and' Asr prayers. Those who have passed the night with you (or stayed with you) ascend (to the Heaven) and Allah asks them, though He knows everything about you, well, "In what state did you leave my slaves?" The angels reply: "When we left them they were praying and when we reached them, they were praying."(Bukhari and Muslim)'A Weak Hadith.
He (Peace be upon him) says: "If somebody gives in charity something equal to a date from his honestly earned money -for nothing ascends to Allah except good -then Allah will take it in His Right (Hand) and bring it up for its owner as anyone of you brings up a baby horse, till it becomes like a mountain”. (Bukhari and Muslim)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "When Allah ordains something on the Heaven the angels beat with their wings in obedience to His Statement which sounds like that of a chain dragged over a rock. His Statement: “Until when the fear is banished from their hearts, the Angels say, “ What was it that your Lord said?” {They reply, '(He has said) the Truth. And He is the Most High, The Great}. (34:23)" (Sahih Bukhari)
All Muslims admitted these Attributes to Allah the Almighty but the Jahmyyiah (i.e. followers of Jahm Ibn Safwan).
Q 67: What did the earlier godly scholars say pertaining to the issue of [Istiwa’] Rising Over (the Throne)?
A--- The earlier godly scholars unanimously agreed upon the following saying: "The [Istiwa’] Rising Over is known, the [Kaif] how lies beyond our mental capabilities, believing therein is a duty, inquiring about it is a heresy, our knowledge of it comes from Allah, the Messenger must convey what he was ordered to, and all we can do is to submit (our will to Allah)." {We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear verses) are from our Lord} (Al 'Imran, 7) is their usual response when encountering verses and Hadiths pertaining to Allah's Names and Attributes.
Allah says: {We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we submit to Allah)}. (Al' Imran, 52)
Q 68: What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an that Allah is the Sublime Vanquisher?
A--- Almighty Allah says: {And He is the Irresistible, (Supreme) above His slaves}. (Al-An' am, 18, 61)
Allah says: {But glory is to Him! (He is above such things). He is Allah, the One, the Lrresistible}. (Az-Zumar 4)
Allah says: {Whose is the kingdom this Day? (Allah Himself will reply to His Question): It is Allah's the One, the Irresistible!}. (Ghafir, 16)
Allah the Almighty says: {Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "I am only a warner and there is no Ilah (god) except Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) the One, the Irresistible}. (Sad, 65)
Allah the Almighty says: {There is not a moving (living) creature but He has the grasp of its forelock}. (Hud, 56)
Allah the Almighty says: {O assembly of jinn and men! If you have power to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass beyond (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allah)!}. (Ar-Rahman, 33)
Q 69: What is the textual proof from the Prophetic Sunnah that Allah is the Sublime Vanquisher?
A ---There are many evidences thereof from the Prophetic Sunnah, foremost among which are the following:
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: "I seek refuge in Thee from the evil of everything Thou art to seize by the forelock (Thou hast perfect control over it). O Allah, Thou art the First, there is naught before Thee, and Thou art the Last and there is
naught after Thee, and Thou art Evident and there is nothing above Thee, and Thou art Innermost and there is nothing beyond Thee. Remove the burden of debt from us and relieve us from want.”(Bukhari)
He (Peace be upon him) says: "O Allah! I am Your slave, and the son of Your slave, and the son of Your maid, my forelock is at Your Hand, Your Ruling is Effective regarding me, and Your Judgment is Just pertaining to me.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Q 70: What is the textual proof that Allah is the Most High in Rank? What must be negated pertaining to Allah the Almighty?
A--- One should know that Allah's Highness in Rank is what is manifested in His Names: the Sublime Holy, the Peace, the Ever-Great, and the Supremely High, etc. and it is also what is required by all the Attributes describing His Perfection and Glory. No one can share Him His Dominion or part thereof. No one can be held as partner, supporter, or even intercessor before Him except with His Leave and Permission. He is the One Who is Free from all imperfections and defects that are attributed to His creatures. He is the One Who is Free from imperfection, His Attributes free from deficiency and His Dealings free from blemish. All perfection is attributed to Him Alone. He is the One Whose Pride and Utmost Perfection are Absolute. He is Ever-Great in His Entity, Attributes and Action above any similarity to His creatures. He is the One Who is Above everyone and everything in the whole universe. He is extremely Free from any defects. In addition, He is the Example of Infallibility. He, Almighty Allah says: {His is the highest description (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but He, and there nothing comparable unto Him) in the heavens and in the earth. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise}. (Ar-Rum, 27)
Q 71: What is the meaning of the saying of Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) regarding the Most Beautiful Names of Allah that reads: "Whoever knows them will be admitted into Paradise?"
A--- This statement has been differently interpreted. Some have interpreted it as to commit the Most Beautiful Names to one's heart, to invoke Allah the Almighty thereof, and to glorify Him thereof.
Others deemed that they can be divided into various types. Some of which can be held as exemplary, such as, the Most Merciful and the Ever Generous. Man can practice himself to achieve some degree of the connotation of such Divine Names. Some others of Allah's Most Beautiful Names are in toto His Almighty-bounded. Allah makes them particular to Himself, such as, the Sublime Potentate, the Ever Magnificent, and the Supremely Proud. Regarding this type, man can only submit himself and declare his complete and perfect subjection to Allah. Some of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah denote promise, such as, the Ever Forgiver, the Ever Thankful, the Ever Clement, the Ever Compassionate, the All-Forbearing, and the Ever Kindly. Man should stand himself at the gate of desire and wish. Some of the Most Beautiful Names denote intimidation, such as, Exalted in Might, Lord of Retribution, Strict in Punishment, and Quick in Account. Man should stand himself at the gate of fear and submission.
A third party interpreted Allah's Most Beautiful Names as follows: the slave witnesses them and gets to know them by mind and heart as well as to worship Him fully through them. To illustrate; whoever, for example, comprehends the Highness of Allah above His Creation, while encompassing them with His Might and Knowledge, should he worship Him till his heart becomes directly sustained by Him. The slave's heart goes up to Him in private conference with full submission and humiliation. He stands before Allah as a humiliated slave standing before the Great and Honorable King. He feels that all his speech and acts are disclosed before Him, hence, he feels shy to do anything that is deemed shameful before His Sight. Moreover, he witnesses the descending of the Divine Orders and Ordainments upon all corners of the world all the time with all kinds of affair charging: causing death, giving life, giving might, abasing, raising, providing sustenance, preventing benefits, removing agonies, inflicting agonies, and turning the days among the creatures, etc. Almighty Allah says: {He manages and regulates (every) affair from the heavens to the earth; then it (affair) will go up to Him, in One Day, the space whereof is a thousand years of your reckoning (i.e. reckoning of our present world's time)}. (As-Sajdah, 5)
So, whosoever fulfills the obligations due to this witness, he really finds sufficiency and richness in his Lord. Indeed, very few people are given this blessing by Almighty Allah.
Q 72: What does contradict [Tawhid Al-Asma’ was-Sifat] the Oneness of the Names and Attributes of Allah?
A--- Using profanity in Allah's Names and Attributes contradicts observing and respecting the Oneness of His Names and Attributes. This is of three types:
First: [Ilhad Al-Mushrikin] Atheism of the Polytheists: those who attributed Allah's Names after distorting them -to their idols; they derived Al-Lat from Ilah (god), Al-`Uzza from Al-`Aziz (the Almighty), and Manah from Al-Mannan (the Benefactor).
Second: [Ilhad Al-Mushabihah] Atheism of the Likening Ones: those who adapt Allah's Attributes and liken them to the qualities of His Creation. These are the other face of the coin, as they likened Him to the created beings, while the first type elevated their idols and set them as equals to the Lord of the `Alamin(mankind, jinn and all that exist).
Third: [Ilhad An-Nufah Al-Mu`attilah] Atheism of the Negators, the Suspenders (i.e. those who say that Allah's Names and Attributes are created): these are of two types:
(a) a group affirmed the wording of His Names, but negated what they denote of Perfect Attributes. They said: He is the Most Gracious and the All Merciful without mercy, All Knowing without knowledge, All Hearing without hearing, All Seeing without sight, and All Mighty without might, etc. and they said the same regarding the rest thereof.
(b) a group declared the negation of the Names and their connotations entirely. They described Him as pure and complete nothingness and nonexistence that has neither name, nor quality. All Glory, Greatness and Perfection is due to Allah the Almighty. He is {Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, so worship Him (Alone) and be constant and patient in His worship. Do you know of any who is similar to Him?1}. (Maryam, 65)
Allah says: {There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer}. (Ash-Shura,ll)
Allah the Almighty says: {He (Allah) knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them (in the Hereafter) but they will never compass anything of His Knowledge}. (Ta-Ha, 110)
Q 73: Are all types of [Tawhid] the Oneness of Allah correlative?
A--- Yes, they are correlative. Whosoever disbelieves in one type, he disbelieves in the rest as well. For instance, invoking anyone or thing other than Allah and asking him/her/it to do what can not be done but by Allah the Almighty. The invocation itself is some kind of worship, rather, it is the core of worship directed to other than Allah. This is polytheism in AI-Uluhiyyah, the Divinity of Allah. Moreover , if the invocation aims at bringing about or causing some good or defying what is bad thinking he/she/it is capable of carrying it out, this is polytheism in Ar-Rububiyyah the Lordship of Allah, as he thought they can manage the affairs of the universe along with Him, All Glory is His due! Moreover, he made that invocation thinking that he/she/it can hear him anywhere and any time, which is polytheism in AI-Asma’ was-Sifat the Names and Attributes of Allah. Thus, he attributed to him/her/it a hearing compassing all things which can not be blocked either by being far, or being near. This polytheism in the Worship of Allah results in -as clearly evident -polytheism in the Lordship and in the Names and Attributes of Allah the Almighty.
Q 74: What is the textual proof from the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah that a Muslim believes in the existence of Angels?
A--- First: from the Glorious Qur'an: Almighty Allah says: {And the angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and ask for forgiveness for those on the earth}. (Ash-Shura, 5)
Allah says: {Surely, those who are with your Lord (angels) - are never too proud to perform acts of worship to Him, but they glorify His Praise and prostrate themselves before Him}. (Al-A' raf, 206)
Allah says: (Whoever is an enemy to Allah, His Angels, His Messengers, Jibril (Gabriel) and Mikael (Michael), then verily, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers}. (Al-Baqarah, 98)
Second: from the Prophetic Sunnah: Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: "Allah the Almighty created them (the Angels) out of Light.” (Sahih Muslim)
Q 75: What does believing in the Angels mean?
A--- It is to decisively admit and confess their existence and that they are from among the subjugated and worshipping creatures of Allah the Almighty. And that they are: {They (the angels) are but honored slaves. They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His Command}. (Al-Anbiya', 26, 27)
Allah the Almighty says: {Who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded} .(At- Tahrim, 6)
Allah the Almighty says: {And those who are near Him (i.e. the angels) are not too proud to worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship). They (i.e. the angels) glorify His Praises night and day, (and) they never slacken (to do so)}. (Al-Anbiya', 19, 20)
[1] Of course none is similar or co-equal or comparable to Him, and He has none as partner with Him. (Translator)
[2] Kursi: literally a footstool or chair, and sometimes wrongly translated as Throne. The Kursi mentioned in this verse should be distinguished from the 'Arsh (Throne) mentioned in V. 7:58,10:3, 85:15 and elsewhere. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "The Kursi compared to the `Arsh is nothing but like a ring thrown out upon open space of the desert." If the Kursi extends over the entire universe, then how much greater is the `Arsh. Indeed Allah, the Creator of both the Kursi and the `Arsh, is the Most Great. Ibn Taymiyah said. a) To believe in the Kursi. b) To believe in the 'Arsh (Throne). It is narrated from Muhammad Ibn 'Abdullah and from other religious scholars that the Kursi is in front of the `Arsh (Throne) and it is at the level of the Feet. (Fatawa Ibn Taymiyah, Vol. 5, Pages 54, 55] Narrated Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) ordered me to guard the Zakah revenue of Ramadan. Then somebody came to me and started stealing of the foodstuff. I caught him and said "I will take you to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him)." Then Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) described the whole narration and said: That person said (to me (Please don't take me to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) and I will tell you a few words by which Allah will benefit you). When you go to your bed, recite Ayat-ul-Kursi, (2:255) for then there will be a guard from Allah who will protect you all night long, and Satan will not be able to come near you till dawn. "(When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) heard the story) he said (to me), "He (who came to you at night) told you the truth although he is a liar; and it was Satan." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 6, Hadith No. 530) (Quoted by Translator)